The Beat:
The Soundtrack of Our Week

Where sports and music are (forcefully) combined.

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Epic.

Any week that AC/DC sells an absurd 748,000 albums is a good one for sports. [Or, it's 1982. -Ed.] Scoff at the lack of complexity in the chords, the rampant misogyny in the lyrics or the formulaic beat all you want. They own the genre. Hell, Jamba Juice doesn't sell burgers, right?

AC/DC has been a staple of sports soundtracks live and on screen for decades. "Hell's Bells" was written for a closer, with his Clint Eastwood wannabe stare. "Back in Black" graces the PA of any stadium when the home team dons their special noir-tinted "third jersey." Even "Dirty Deeds (Done Dirt Cheap)" makes us pine for the loose morals of the steroids era. Sigh. This week inspired some hits here at The Mag offices and we feel compelled to share the gift of music. For this week, here's The Beat.

Soundtrack of the Week

Song: "The Deep South"
Artist: The Promise Ring
The Story: This anthem speaks to the state of college football this year, 'cept the Volunteers.
Lyrics: In the deep south of heaven, on the wavering line / Where Tennessee will leave just in time
Buy It

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Song: "The Ark"
Artist: Dr. Dog
The story: "The Ark" details disappointment in the face of great expectations. Well, it's officially backup season in the NFL.
Lyrics: Man, he called for war / So I built a gun and I joined the corps / But I was unsure
Buy It

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Song: "Soldier On"
Artist: Oasis
The Story: Kellen Winslow soldiers on despite a nip by the Browns' nasty staph bug. (This version is tragically epic.)
Lyrics: Who's to say that you were right / And I was wrong / Soldier On
Buy It

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Song: "The Boys Are Back in Town"
Artist: Thin Lizzy
The Story: The boys, nay, men(!), of the NBA are back.
Lyrics: Man when I tell you she was cool, she was red hot
Buy It

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Song: "Blame it on the Rain"
Artist: Milli Vanilli
The Story: Nobody watch. What else can Bud do?
Lyrics: You can blame it on the rain / Cos the rain don't mind / And the rain don't care / You got to blame it on something
Buy It

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Tom Waits. Short sentence; brilliant dude.

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Song: "I Might Be Wrong"
Artist: Radiohead
The Story: Give us a week, any week, where an NFL official doesn't have to apologize for something.
Lyrics: I might be wrong / I might be wrong / I could've sworn I saw a light coming on
Buy It

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Song: Gamma Ray
Artist: Beck
The Story: Joe Pa must have been struck by a gamma ray (or a good schedule).
Lyrics: Trying to hold, hold out for now / With these ice caps melting down / Come a little gamma ray / Standing in a hurricane
Buy It

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Song: "The Sporting Life"
Artist: The Decemberists
The Story: We think J.T. O'Sullivan can take some comfort in this song.
Lyrics: There's my Coach, he's looking down / The disappointment in his knitted brow / 'I should have known,' he thinks again / 'I never should have put him in'
Buy It

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Song: "Frank's Wild Years"
Artist: Tom Waits
The Story: You think Lute ever thought about just burning it down on his way out?
Lyrics: One day Frank was on his way home from work / picked up a couple of Mickey's big mouths.
Buy It

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Song: "Goin' Out of Business"
Artist: Babyface
The Story: A song about unrequited love and cleaning up the pieces of a dysfunctional relationship, backed up by pedestrian adult-contemporary beats. EliteXC and any fan? Sure.
Lyrics: You take your Usher CD / I'm'a take my Luther [Vandross] with me.
Buy It

The Beat Athletics Bonus Fact of the Week: Original AC/DC frontman Bon Scott used to gargle port to gravel up his voice before shows. The moral? Gargle port, people!

The Beat Birthday: Rob Van Winkle, aka Vanilla Ice, turns 40 today. Pour one out, people.

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