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10. Sufjan Stevens - “Decatur”
The song’s shuffling tempo and plunking banjo don’t exactly scream “get psyched!” but it’s hard to find many songs that make glancing mention of a “wild alligator.” Yes, I realize that in context the lyric mentions that someone “caught” the aforementioned wild alligator, however Stevens neglects to finish that plot thread, which ends with the gator escaping captivity and brutally mauling 28 Alabama fans.
9. The Strokes - “Reptilia”
It’s
pretty obvious that this song is a paean to the Florida Gators. For one thing,
the title isn’t exactly subtle. Also, according to Wikipedia, Julian
Casablancas attended the University of Florida and graduated “sumo good
lawdy” with a degree in Sports Management. And that cool
sliding-around, pre-chorus guitar riff is awesome just like the Gators
are awesome. Coincidence? Hardly.
8. Death Cab For Cutie - “We Looked Like Giants”
Even
though many fans of college football have commented that the Gators
have the speed and power of an NFL team, Ben Gibbard was the first to
put the sentiment to verse.
7. Santogold - “My Superman”
In
the chorus of this creepy-sounding tune, Santi White sings, “Make it
fly / Bless your soul.” I find it really sweet how she wrote this song
for Tim Tebow and invites her superman to the make the football fly
through the air into the hands of the Gators’ absurdly talented
receiving squad. Don’t be surprised when she abruptly changes her stage
name to Santo-blue-and-orange.
6. will.i.am - “Yes We Can”
I’ll
concede that Barack Obama may not be a Gator fan (…yet!). After all, he
went to law school at Harvard so he’s probably a huge Pilgrim fan, the
prestigious university’s mascot being John Harvard, a pilgrim. But
will.i.am’s inspiring YouTube hit reminds me why Americans gave the
boot to Republicans in this past election. Not because of George W.
Bush’s low approval rating. Isn’t it obvious? Because the Republican
party—represented by the elephant—just so happens to be the official mascot of the
University of Alabama.
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Heather Greene - Moon Hangs Fire
James Yuill - This Sweet Love (Earth…
Orenda Fink - That Certain-Something Spring
Colin Hay - Down Under
Pete Yorn - Last Summer
Great choices Jason, I'll be listening to the songs and cheering along Florida in their utter destruction of 'bama.
No. 1 best way to make a Paste reader to choke on her morning coffee: Write a blog entry that includes the Gators logo.
I'm glad Patty betrayed you. ROLL TIDE.
I knew I loved that Patty Griffin. But I'll be playing me some Blondie, "The Tide is High."
I love it! It's good to see Paste not only has a command of music, movies, and culture, but college football too!
Go Gators. Go Paste.
Eff the Gators and their fans!
But if I must...Modest Mouse does a rocking "Florida" that will make any Crimson Tide a simple creek. And what about FLO rida's "Apple Bottom Jeans"?
I almost included Modest Mouse but, in the refrain, Isaac Brock sings, "Even as I left Florida / Far away, far away wasn't far enough." Didn't want to set myself up.
Mmmmm, thanks for that, Jason. I'll be sure to include it on MY SEC championship playlist. One of the best decisions I ever made was leaving Florida for Alabama.
I interviewed you on the phone a couple of years ago for a UF j-school assignment, Jason. Good to see the Gator love. Thanks again for the time you gave. Was a fun chat.
--jamison webb
I'll be listening to "Proud Mary" (Ike and Tina version).
Rollin', Rollin', .....
Go TIDE!
Another brilliant pick that I was told should be in the list is "City Middle," by the National. The album it is on is called "Alligator." This is from the chorus (I kid you, not):
"I wanna go gator around the warm beds of beginners,
I'm really worked up."
Other good selections not on the list (I do like the list):
--"Florida" by Modest Mouse. Added bonuses, it's a great song, it has the lead singer from the Shins, and Modest Mouse's Brock lived in Gainesville.
--"Hope" by REM. Here are some lyrics:
"...you dreamt of alligators..." and, "you want to cross your DNA with something reptile..."
There are also some references to "killing alligators," but, whatever. Also a great song. (There's also a reference to a "volunteer" on the last song on the album, "Falls to Climb.")
--"Orange Crush" by REM. I don't like this one as much, though. Love the song, but it's a song about Vietnam, and the Broncos already called themselves the Orange Crush way back when, and it could be turned around by a Gator opponent, "we are Orange Crushers.")
One more thing, the list includes a Sufjan Stevens song. Another song on that same album of Stevens' is called "Jacksonville." So, you could make some kind of claim that the song is about the scene of the beat down of Florida's challenger in the SEC East, an event that helped Florida get to Atlanta to wham (also could make the list) on 'Bama.
-ed.-Santogold made the list. She has a song on that same album called "Shove It." It is with a group called "Spank Rock," which is a good enough reason to include it in such a list, but the lyrics also apply:
"We think you're a joke,
shove your hope where it don't shine."
also, an attack on Alabama's backwoods culture in the same song:
"...got guns for the strength they lack"
and, an attack on their traditionalism and anti-Darwinism?:
"I pay for what's called
eccentricity and my will to evolve."
Ode to the Gators
Nice list, though I would go with Muddy Waters' "Deep Down in Florida," which includes the lyrics, "Well, I believe I'll go down in Gainesville, oh, just to see an' old buddy of mine. Well, you know if we're not too busy, I believe that I'm gonna drop over in Newberry sometime."
Molly Hatchet's Gator Country!!
Brenda, don't you ever, EVER come around here and show me up again :) Seriously, amazing picks!
Here's my Alabama corollary (just in case, right?):
10. Patty Griffin - Florida
"[Something about getting] the Tide to wash you away"
Ok, that was a freebie.
9. Steely Dan - Deacon Blues
This one was gift-wrapped: "They got a name for the winners in the world/I want a name when I lose/They call Alabama the Crimson Tide/Call me deacon blues"
Of course, "orange and blues" will be much more fitting come tomorrow.
8. Spoon - The Underdog
"You've got no fear of the underdog/That's why you will not survive"
Despite their lower ranking, Florida have been heralded as overwhelming favorites in this matchup. Britt Daniel and company know better though. Florida has already lost once this season by underestimating their opponent. This time, Spoon not only predict that they'll lose again, but that they may not even survive!
7. A Tribe Called Quest - Can I Kick It?
Florida punter Chas Henry has probably been a little frustrated by his lack of PT this season, and understandably so. The Gators haven't had to punt much this season, thanks to the pansy defenses they've been playing against. Lucky for Henry, he'll get plenty of opportunities to get his kicks blocked against the Tide. "Can I kick it?" Yes you can, Chas.
6. Against Me! - Sink.Florida.Sink
Scientists are concerned that the train Alabama runs on the Gators might be so severe that the entire state of Florida would literally sink several feet, causing irreparable damage and claiming millions of lives. It would be a wise precaution to evacuate immediately just in case.
5. Drive-By Truckers - The Boys from Alabama
"Don't piss off the boys from Alabama"
In this song, the Truckers relate to us what happened when some out-of-staters tried to stop some Alabamians from getting their bootleg on. If you thought the boys from Alabama took things too far over some silly little thing like their alcohol or money getting messed with, wait till you see what goes down when there's something that's actually important at stake. Say, for instance, football. Or maybe football.
4. Bon Iver - Blindsided
Florida QB Tim Tebow is sure to have this song stuck in his head for several days after the game.
3. Andrew Bird - Sic of Elephants
"Sic [sic] of Elephants"
Gator nation is sure to have this song stuck in its collective head for years after this game.
2. Wu-Tang Clan - Rushing Elephants
The Wu have known for about a year now that RB Glen Coffee and the Tide would rush all over Florida's porous D in this game. Would you like some C.R.E.A.M. with that Coffee? [DL Terrence] Cody Rules Everything Around Me, that is.
1. Lil Wayne - A Milli
The aforementioned Coffee will have, like, this many rushing yards tomorrow in Alabama's rout of Florida on their way to a thirteenth national championship.
Roll tide folks.
20-31
spanked.
great game. amazing effort from both teams.
song: ghostland observatory-- dancing on my grave