NYTimes on Mr. Brightside

Submitted by LLG on December 9th, 2023 at 9:17 AM

"How ‘Mr. Brightside’ Became a Generation’s Anthem" in New York Times Weekender 

I found an archived version of the article.  In the middle of the article:

"There’s even a football angle.

At a 2017 University of Michigan game against its rival Michigan State, in the midst of a torrential downpour, the song came over the loudspeakers at the end of the third quarter and everybody in the sold-out stands (capacity: 109,901) kept singing a cappella after the D.J. cut the music. Belting “Mr. Brightside” has been a third-quarter ritual ever since. You can even buy 'Mr. Brightside' Michigan-themed merch.

'It’s a weird song to have be a college football anthem,' acknowledged Alejandro Zúñiga, a Michigan alum who covers his alma mater for 24/7 Sports. 'The subject of the song is not related to sports, and it’s not a fight song.,' he added. 'But it just had so much momentum that it became what it is.'"

Personally, I wish that the article had linked to the MGoBlog store rather than Etsy for the Michigan-themed merch.  Folks, you can buy the shirt here.  (Although I checked out the Etsy stuff by A2 Printables and I liked the shirt that said "Leave Harbaugh Alone.")

My personal view is that Harbaugh's enthusiasm played a big role with this song.  "Attack each day with an enthusiasm unknown to mankind" causes the crowd to roar now.

That idea, along with the pain of losing before Harbaugh arrived, matches pretty well with the end of song:

"But it's just the price I pay, destiny is calling me
Open up my eager eyes, 'cause I'm Mr. Brightside"

Go Blue!

 

 

Football
bright side

LLG

December 9th, 2023 at 9:22 AM ^

I wish I could delete.  I searched for it, I promise.  And it was in the NYTimes Weekender (and you know it is now the weekend, so I thought it was an old article -- not two days old).

I will say that it kind of does not bother me that it was already posted in the sense that I check MGoBlog pretty often so let's talk again.  But that's just cognitive dissonance.  I like cognitive dissonance sometimes.  Makes me feel better.

Let's give it up for the Michigan Daily article five years ago though:

https://mgoblog.com/mgoboard/how-killers-made-mr-brightside-one-most-enduring-rock-songs-all-time

 

Joined: 05/28/2017

MGoPoints: 2255

LLG

December 9th, 2023 at 9:21 AM ^

And of course this was already posted here:

https://mgoblog.com/mgoboard/siap-nyt-mr-brightside

I actually searched (I swear) for this, but it was on the second page.  Also, the Weekender comes out on the Weekend (hence I saw the front page of the New York Times today online) but the article came out two days ago (buried online).

Anyway, to quote Fletch: it takes a big man to admit when he is wrong, and I am not a big man.

P.S. I did find the archived version and links to the "Leave Harbaugh Alone" shirt.

Joined: 05/28/2017

MGoPoints: 2255

Swayze Howell Sheen

December 9th, 2023 at 12:55 PM ^

The original phrase, "A Michigan Man if there ever was one," uses "was," which is the past tense form of "to be" in the indicative mood. This is the most straightforward and common way to express this idea.

The alternative, "A Michigan Man if there ever were one," employs "were," which can be an example of the subjunctive mood. The subjunctive is used to express wishes, hypotheticals, or conditions contrary to fact. In some instances, especially in more formal or traditional English, the subjunctive "were" is used instead of "was" in conditional clauses.

Both versions are grammatically correct and convey the same general meaning, though "was" is more common in contemporary usage.

Joined: 10/05/2008

MGoPoints: 47108

MFanWM

December 9th, 2023 at 9:42 AM ^

Fans embrace the song, so it is what it is, but it would be great to have something that doesn’t scream alternative Michigan experience.

There’s times when it would be great to see some energy that screams the team is about to kick your teeth down your throat vs we are too polite to make you feel uncomfortable.

Just an observation - but maybe have the team enter for the second half of the game more along the lines of VA Tech and Enter Sandman?

 

 

 

Joined: 09/19/2010

MGoPoints: 5221

Hensons Mobile…

December 9th, 2023 at 11:33 AM ^

https://kcou.fm/mr-brightside-is-known-as-a-mizzou-anthem-for-everyone-except-its-creator/

Michigan did not start the tradition of playing “Mr. Brightside” at its football games. Michigan was not the first to do it, nor second, nor third. Schools have played this song basically since it came out, and Michigan was way late to the trend.  Michigan started playing “Mr. Brightside” at its football games in October 2016.  My Twitter searching found that Mizzou has been playing “Mr. Brightside” at basketball games as early as 2007.  Mizzou borrowed its anti-KU adlibs from Kansas State, whose students chanted the song for even longer. Michigan does not own “Mr. Brightside.” Get out of my face with that.

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