Bronco 'battle cry' a failure
By Erin Hussey
The first time I heard Santa Clara had a fight song, my memory flashed to the early Saturday mornings when the sounds of bold brass, thunderous tympanis and sharp snares resounded throughout my house like a live concert. I would jump out of bed, don a green shirt and join my dad as he marched to the fight song of his alma mater: the University of Notre Dame.
Now I realize that the Broncos aren't the Fighting Irish, but when I listened to our school's fight song, I was quite disappointed.
In an effort to increase Bronco spirit, the university decided to re-introduce the fight song.
But when I sat amongst the other student athletes at a welcome back gathering in Malley, I didn't hear a fight song, but rather a scratchy recording.
It sounded like it was being played from an ancient phonograph. The static was overwhelming. It was like trying to watch a television program covered with the annoying black and white snow -- you just couldn't get past it.
The instruments were barely recognizable. They all mushed together, forming a muck of instrumental mud. And instead of rousing the crowd to a stand and cheer, the song's muffled, weak sense of self invited the phrase, "just turn it off."
The vocal accompaniment didn't help either. The lyrics sounded like they were sung by a 1940's all men's church choir. Their tone was flat and monotonous and couldn't motivate a sleeping dog, let alone a sports team.
However, not all is lost. Underneath the static, lack of instrumentation, and bland vocals the foundation of the song, its lyrics appear solid.
Like any fight song, they talk about victory, heroes, and strength. And of course contain the infamous "Rah! Rah!'s."
Winnie Cutter, class of 1905, who composed the song, would surely agree the recording should be as fierce and fiery as her lyrics.
So, if Santa Clara is going to have a fight song, let's have a fight song. Not some lousy, unclear, lack of force and inspiration recording that we happen to find in the archival room.
Why not gather the talented musicians on-campus and re-record the song or better yet, play it live? Let's "remember the right and might of the Red and White."
We may not have a 360-plus member marching band like the Irish, but we could have a fight song worth playing.
*Ã Ã Contact Erin Hussey at (408) 551-1918 or ehussey@scu.edu