Gary Glitter’s won’t-die stadium anthem “Rock and Roll: Part II” plays a tiny role in Oscar-nominated twisted rom-com Silver Linings Playbook, thanks to the important role of sports, in general, and Philadelphia Eagles football, specifically, in the film. Glitter’s song plays in a few trailers for the movie as well, and for that he’s raked in almost $4.8 million–300,000 in European monopoly money–in royalties.
24! 18! 33! Pedo-bear! HIKE!
It really shouldn’t come as a surprise: the song is ubiquitous. It was Phillip Phillip’s “Home” before there was Phillip Phillip’s “Home.” And “Rock and Roll: Part II” isn’t the only Glitter song still earning him some cash, thanks to an HP ad that used another one of his songs.
In other news, Gary Glitter had other songs.
And yet could never afford a shirt.
In light of Glitter’s notorious history and his tarnished reputation, should Silver Linings Playbook be embarrassed? Maybe a tiny bit, but who can blame them (or the bajillion other movies from The Replacements to The Sandlot)? Is there another stadium song that truly evokes the feeling of being in a stadium about to watch grown men run into each other and fall down? ”The Sabre Dance”? ”Yakety Sax” from The Benny Hill Show? Nah. Our woeful failure of the public imagination is to blame for Gary Glitter’s earning power.
And so, MamaPoppers, I believe it’s our job to come up with the new “Rock and Roll: Part II” and put Glitter out of business.
First, there are the obvious: Queen’s “We Will Rock You” and “It Takes Two” by Rob Base and DJ Easy Rock. Rhythmic, repetitive, catchy – and with health doses of yelping and stomping. Perfection.
Loses points for not being internationally known.
But what of the less obvious contenders?
- Modest Mouse’s “Float On” – for when you cheer for the losers. Or live in Detroit.
- Kenny Roger’s “The Gambler” – because there is no other song that more drunk men insist they are “reeeeeaaaaally good *hiccup* at shinging.”
- Dexys Midnight Runner’s “Come On Eileen” – because (a) you can stomp your way through the big finish and (b) the song is now thirty years old and to preserve it as a stadium standard would be a sort of cultural anthropology.
- Pat Benatar’s “Hit Me With Your Best Shot” – obvy.
- Ozzy Osbourne’s “Crazy Train” – which I include to get stuck in your head so you forget that I just said, “obvy.”
I shall further distract you with these two impossibly attractive people.
What do you like to sing at the stadium when you’re watching lions chase Christians [or whatever sport is your pleasure]? Because while we can’t deny a con his right to make a living (or we’d be denying it to people falsely accused or who made stupid mistakes, too), we CAN deny that con our dollars and our earworms.
Other nominees? Leave them below!
About Molly Martin
