Well, the artistic gymnastics is over, and while I will miss it, I hope I never have to hear that lame song again! Oh, my God: it felt like a punishment for watching the gymnastics, all schmaltzy and American Idol-pop: ugh! (Hey, maybe it's a great song and I have no taste, but I don't like it.) But what it sounds like isn't even what's wrong with this picture for me. The real problem is, it's totally inappropriate for gymnastics!
Look, gymnastics is an extremely kinetic and intense sport, with gobs of energy and enthusiasm. That's the opposite of that song they played as the gymnastics theme on NBC, and shame on them for that! (Personally, I think it's the only reason our girls didn't win every available gold medal!) What I would propose would be something much more in line with the intensity of this sport: "Whiplash" by Metallica. Now that's an appropriate song for gymnastics! It almost sounds like they're singing about gymnastics. (Swap out "leather and spikes" with "spandex and sparkles", and it's perfect!)
And, in this spirit of appropriate songs for Olympic sports, might I suggest some other songs for event coverage (in the NBC spirit of trying to make the music intolerably annoying):
"Bicycle Race" by Queen, for the cycling marathon: just play it on an endless loop during the whole race!
"Locked and Loaded" by Jackyl, for the skeet and trap shooting: ditto.
"Sailing" by Christopher Cross, for the sailing events: ditto.
"Running on Empty" by Jackson Browne, for the distance running events (just the chorus, on an endless loop).
"Kicked in the Teeth" by Zeke, for the soccer game intros.
"You Better Run" by Pat Benetar, for the sprinting events (just the chorus).
"Jump" by Van Halen, for the jumping events (just the chorus).
"Kung Fu Fighting" by Paul Douglas, for the taekwondo events.
"You Spin Me Round (Like A Record)" by Dead or Alive, for the discus throwing event.
And, of course: "Row, Row, Row Your Boat" (the children's song), for all the rowing events (just play in an endless loop for the whole coverage).
