Sirius (instrumental)
| "Sirius" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Singlebythe Alan Parsons Project | ||||
| from the albumEye in the Sky | ||||
| A-side |
| |||
| B-side | "Mammagamma" | |||
| Released | August 1982 | |||
| Recorded | 1981–1982 | |||
| Studio | Abbey Road,London | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 1:48 | |||
| Label | Arista | |||
| Songwriter(s) | ||||
| Producer(s) | Alan Parsons | |||
| The Alan Parsons Projectsingles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"Sirius"is aninstrumentalby Britishrockbandthe Alan Parsons Project,recorded for their sixth studio album,Eye in the Sky(1982). Nearly two minutes long, it segues into "Eye in the Sky"on the original recording. From the 1990s onward," Sirius "has become a staple of many college and professional sporting events throughout North America, most prominentlyChicago BullsandNebraska Cornhuskersgames.
Overview
[edit]On the album, "Sirius" segues into "Eye in the Sky". The former is usually followed by the latter on airplay, though not always in live performances — at theWorld Liberty ConcertSiriuswas played as the introduction to "Breakaway" (from the Alan Parsons solo albumTry Anything Once), withCandy Dulferon saxophone.
Background
[edit]The genesis of "Sirius" began whenAlan Parsonswanted the first song on the album to be "Eye in the Sky", but felt there needed to be an introduction leading up to it. As he was working on ideas at home on hisFairlight CMI,he wrote ariffthat he liked, which ultimately became "Sirius".[2]This riff was played using aclavinetsample with addedtape delay.[3]Originally, "Sirius" was not written in the same key as "Eye in the Sky", but was re-recorded in the studio once the band realized it would lead into "Eye in the Sky" well.[2]
Usage in media
[edit]Sports
[edit]Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboatused an abbreviated version of "Sirius" as his entrance music during the 1980s in his tenures withWWEand in Jim Crockett Promotions/World Championship Wrestling (NWA).
"Sirius" is best known in the U.S. as the instrumental song that was used to introduce the starting lineup of theChicago Bullsfor home games at bothChicago Stadiumand theUnited Centerbefore, during, and after their run of sixNBA championshipsfrom 1984 to 2004.[4]The song was chosen by public address announcerTommy Edwardsafter he heard it playing in a local movie theater two years after the song's release in 1982.[4]Since 2006, a version arranged byEthan Stollerand Kaotic Drumline's Jamie Poindexter has been used.[5]"Sirius" was the opening number of the 2000 documentaryMichael Jordan to the Max.[5]The piece has also been used by theNBAteams thePhoenix Sunsand theMilwaukee Bucksto introduce their starting lineup during home games, and was the starting lineup music for theKentucky Wildcats men's basketballteam duringRick Pitino's tenure as head coach in the 1990s. However in college sports the song is most closely associated with Nebraska. Since the National Championship winning1994 season,"Sirius" has been played before theNebraska Cornhuskers' home football games as part of the pre-game tunnel walk ever since, as well as for theNebraska Cornhuskers women's volleyballteam in 2023.[6][7]TheKansas City Chiefsused the song during kickoffs during the CoachMarty Schottenheimerera (which lasted from 1989 to 1998), and still occasionally use it. It was used by theNew Orleans Saintsin 2009 as their entrance music forSuper Bowl XLIV.It is also used by theWorld of Outlawsbefore the cars do the four-wide salute during parade laps before the A Main feature.
In Italy,Serie AteamSassuolouse the song when the team enters the pitch at the home games. In France,Ligue 2teamAS Nancyuses the song to introduce their starting players before home games. InIsrael,IBPLteamMaccabi Tel Avivuses it to introduce the home team starting lineup beforeEuroLeaguegames. In Australia the piece is used by theMelbourne Rebelsrugby team when introducing their starting lineup, as well as thePerth Wildcatsbasketball team. The song was played leading up to matches atUEFA Euro 2012,and France's tennis team used the song as their entrance theme for the2014 Davis Cupfinal against Switzerland. The song was used during finals at the2013 World Artistic Gymnastics Championshipsin Antwerp, Belgium. It was played while the gymnasts were introduced to the crowd at the beginning of the finals.[citation needed] TheRepublic of Irelandsoccer team also use the song to introduce their starting players before home games.
It was used as an intro song by the Swiss national football team atEuro 2020.It was also used as the walkout song for AnEsonGib before his fight against Tayler Holder for the Battle of the Platforms.
The Germanhandballteam,SC Magdeburguse the song to introduce their squad.
TheTexas RangersBaseball Team used this song from 1996-2001 while waiting for the team to take the Field.
In athletics, the track is played in the final moments before the start of several major marathon races, including the Chicago and Berlin marathons.
Film, television, and video games
[edit]"Sirius" is played during the climactic scene of the 1988Godfrey HofilmAmerican Commando 3: Savage Temptation.It’s also played inJohn Hamburg’s 1998 debut movieSafe Men,as a stolenStanley Cuprises out of the dance floor at Bernie (Little Big Fat) Gale'sBar Mitzvah."Sirius" is used as incidental music in the 1990 MexicantelenovelaCuando llega el amor."Sirius" is played in the8th-seasonepisode ofFrasier,"Hooping Cranes", during a sequence whereNiles Craneshoots and scores from half-court atKeyArena.The music makes a brief appearance in the 2015Simpsonsepisode "Friend with Benefit".
On UK TV it was played in the background when a participant was taking part in a record-breaking challenge onBBC'sRoy Castle's Record Breakers.
In recent years, the song has been used in the trailer forAnchorman 2: The Legend Continues,in the filmCloudy with a Chance of Meatballs,and was played in aNissan AltimaTV advertisement. It is featured on the soundtracks toNBA 2K11,which is used in theMichael Jordanintro, and a remixed version of the song is used inNBA 2K18.A soundalike version was used inThe Adventures of Jimmy Neutron, Boy Geniusepisode "Vanishing Act". It appears in 2017TV commercialsforBest Buy.[8]The 2018 movie,Blockersalso plays the song.[9]The track appears in series one of the 2018 YouTube Red productionCobra Kaiwhen Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka) tells Miguel Diaz (Xolo Maridueña) "I'm gonna be your sensei." It was also played at the end of the first episode ofThe Last Dance,a ten-part documentary miniseries byESPNandNetflixcentering around theChicago Bulls1997-1998 season, when they won their sixth NBA Championship. The opening guitar arpeggio is similar to that of the track, "Corridors of Time" in the progressive rock influenced score for the game,Chrono Trigger.The song is heard briefly inSpace Jam: A New Legacy,which is a sequel tothe original film,during the scene whereSylvester the Cattries to summonMichael Jordanto help the Tune Squad win the game against Al-G Rhythm and the Goon Squad, only to find out that it is the actor,Michael B. Jordaninstead.
In June 2024, it was used in a promotional clip forDeadpool & Wolverine.
Track listing
[edit]All tracks are written byAlan ParsonsandEric Woolfson
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Sirius" (instrumental) | 1:48 |
| 2. | "Eye in the Sky" | 4:33 |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Mammagamma" (instrumental) | 3:34 |
Personnel
[edit]- Ian Bairnson– electric guitars
- Stuart Elliott– drums, percussion
- Alan Parsons–clavinet,Fairlight CMI,delay
- David Paton– bass guitar
- Andrew Powell– orchestral arrangement, orchestral conductor
- Eric Woolfson– keyboards
Covers
[edit]- "Sirius" is sampled in "The Saga Continues (Intro)", the opening track ofP. DiddyandThe Bad Boy Family's 2001 albumThe Saga Continues.The song is also sampled in "B.O.M.B.S." byFabolousand "Miami Shit"byPitbull.[10]
- Armin van Buuren& AVIRA released the new cover in trance version.[11]
- "Sirius" was covered along with "Eye in the Sky" byZombion their 2022 album "Zombi & Friends, Volume 1".[12]
References
[edit]- ^Pitchfork Staff (24 August 2015)."The 200 Best Songs of the 1980s".Pitchfork.Retrieved16 October2022.
Never mind that the song's spacey instrumental intro ( "Sirius" )...
- ^abCohen, Jonathan (24 April 2020)."Alan Parsons, Writer of Chicago Bulls' Theme Song and Former Beatles Engineer, Talks 'Sirius' and 'Let It Be'".Variety.Retrieved6 August2020.
- ^Mikula, Jeremy (29 April 2020)."'Aaaaaaaand now...' Everything you need to know about the Chicago Bulls' intro song, Ray Clay vs. Tommy Edwards and why Alan Parsons isn't collecting many royalties ".chicagotribune.com.Retrieved6 August2020.
- ^ab"How Alan Parsons Project Became the Soundtrack to Jordan's Bull".Ultimate Classic Rock.9 May 2020.
- ^abCohen, Ben (12 April 2016)."The One Record the Warriors Can't Take From the Bulls: Even as Golden State closes on a historic 73rd win, Chicago's pre-game music still sets the standard".Wall Street Journal.
- ^"Tunnel Walk Tradition".Huskers.com.NU Media Relations. 4 June 2015.Retrieved8 July2015.
- ^"Nebraska Tunnel Walk".YouTube.Retrieved8 July2015.
- ^"Best Buy TV Commercial, 'Sprint Savings' Song By The Alan Parsons Project".ispot.tv.Retrieved21 December2017.
- ^"Sirius by the Alan Parsons Project - Song Info - List of Movies and TV Shows".
- ^Pitbull (31 December 2014)."Miami S***".YouTube.Retrieved20 May2020.
- ^Armin van Buuren & AVIRA - Sirius,retrieved13 August2021
- ^Zombi."ZOMBI & Friends, Volume 1".Bandcamp.Retrieved6 June2022.
Further reading
[edit]- Malooley, Jake (13 November 2018)."How the Chicago Bulls Soundtracked Michael Jordan's Dynasty".The Ringer.Retrieved4 October2023.
External links
[edit]- "Songfacts — Sirius" by The Alan Parsons Project
- SiriusatDiscogs(list of releases)
