Perhaps it’s just dated. Maybe it was awe-inspiring when the club joined the AFL in the late 80s? No. It’s a dud.
The best thing you could say about West Coast’s theme song is that it resembled a lot of pop music – made specifically for the time, but deserves to stay there.
Actually, the more I listen to this I’m starting to doubt that Port Adelaide’s song is worse. Because ‘We’re the Eagles’ sucks.
It’s like being stuck watching a budget, community TV commercial for roller-doors. One of those ones where they’ve spent the whole budget on a misguidedly funny but poorly animated roller door called ‘Roley’, and left the jingle section up to the manager’s nephew’s grade four classmates.
Which is fine if you’re trying to sell roller-doors, but not when you’re trying to musically encapsulate the joy of a hundred thousand people across the continent when their team wins.
Like Port Adelaide’s use of Thunderstruck, ‘We’re the Eagles’ takes second place to Daddy Cool’s ‘Eagle Rock’ in the pre-game build up, and rightly so.
In the Eagles’ anthem we get treated to one verse repeated three times, sandwiched with a one-line reminder that eagles fly slopped all over it.
Too long, too hokey, too bad. Roley the Roller-door wouldn’t put up with it, and neither should you.
bilbo
Guest
Liked that original, but cheese still old on that flight. What staggers me (its not #18?) is that for a state so rich in musical cred, this dead waffle is offered up. If Freo can adapt Volga Boatmen and somehow make it work, why can't West Coast do same for an Eagles number (Life in Fastlane) (Greeks don't like no Freaks) (Heartache Tonight). The list is endless from '80's pop/rock. Genuinely, this is the only club song, where the players and supporters are embarassed to sing/gurgle it. Its an anti-club song. Should've been drowned at birth.
Xavier
Guest
What about the original song? The current recording just contains the chorus - at least the original got stuck into the Victorians (though still very cheesy). http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L8Kk0bm0nl8
JR Salazar
Guest
Airline song. Or something you do the Michael Jackson moonwalk to.
bryan
Guest
The Bombers have the lamest excuse for a song I've heard!! :)
Nev
Guest
Iam an Eagles follower and Think the eagles song is not the best but certainly not the worst there are others that are also very ordinary , dockers Port Adelaide ,Swans , Bulldogs and most of the newer teams songs are pretty ordinary I think. The team songs that I like are Richmond , Melbourne, Collingwood , Carlton the older clubs Just my opinion
Floyd Calhoun
Guest
Yep, it's funny how games at the MCG begin with ACDC blaring out through the PA, and sometimes end with tunes from Vaudevillle or some orchestrated barbershop quartet. It's weird, but somehow, it still manages to work.
Steve
Guest
Who ripped off the oldest 'non-national anthem' tune though? My guess is Collingwood, because 'Goodbye Dolly Grey' is from, I believe, the 1900's. I guess Geelong's Bizet effort must be older still though. This calls for a trip to Wikipedia!
Floyd Calhoun
Guest
Wasn't Sky a classical/ modern hybrid type ensemble? From the early eighties I think. I can't be too hard on Mr Peek for his effort, because I'm sure the instructions were for a strident, but tuneless dirge. In that regard at least, job well done!
Geoffrey
Roar Pro
Good pick-up Johno - turns out the tune was composed by Kevin Peek, who played with Australian band Sky, who at times were not entirely un-Air Supply-like. As well as Cliff Richard, Tom Jones, Manfred Mann, the Alan Parson Project, Jeff Wayne, etc. The key might be in the fact that he's from Adelaide, so may have been trying interstate audio sabotage...
Dalgety Carrington
Guest
Spot on with the assessment of the WC theme song. It really sells the cheese and makes me want to cut the cheese when I hear it, so cheesy it is. I reckon all footy songs are generally lame, even Tigerland, yerrgh makes me think we need some guys dancing in sailors suits and a oompah band to complete the picture. In fact most theme songs either rip off tunes from musicals of the 1930's or 40's or national anthems. I rather like the GWS one, so hopefully that review(ed)s favourably.
Australian Rules
Guest
+1
johno
Guest
Whenever I hear this song I think of bands like Chicago and Air Supply. That and permed hair.....
JohnD
Guest
Love these articles, Geoffrey. Looking forward to the next one. Too bad you picked the worst first, however, as it has extracted some of the enjoyment from the exercise. Still, I suppose we have "the Pride of South Australia" to look forward to.
Australian Rules
Guest
If this was America, "Eagle Rock" would be blared around the stadium pre-game. But "We're the Eagles"...yes, it's a product of its time, and not the best.
Stavros
Guest
An absolutely lame song, surprised they haven't changed it. Have never got their jumpers right either. Blue and yellow can be a good combination but their designs are ordinary.
Jack Smith
Roar Guru
Dockers has a good beat. Eagles is annoying though to no end. Bet some supporters feel stupid 'singing' it.
Black Serenade
Guest
It may be bad, but worse than the Dockers? Really? I've suggested they use Dirty Deeds and change the lyrics.