FAKE RONJAN!!Countdown: RJ's favorite NFL Films music
NFL Films is known as the best in the sports highlight business, and for good reason. They take already-compelling visuals, add deep-voiced narration, and top it off with brilliant, dramatic music.
I used to be obsessed with NFL Films. Like, super obsessed. My collection used to be even bigger, but here are the Denver Broncos highlight videos that I still have on VHS (despite having no VCR and not even being a Broncos fan anymore):
There was a stretch in my life in which I watched at least one of those videos every day. Like, literally, every day.
I made two speeches in my Oral Communications college course related to NFL Films: the first being a "sales-oriented" speech where I sung the praises of NFL Films, the second being a "thank you" speech after I ... won the Grammy for "best musical score for a sports documentary" as composer for NFL Films.
Probably nerdiest of all, I ripped the audio of two of the above videos into MP3 format so I could listen to them while I worked the midnight shift shelving books at the Carnegie Mellon library. (And yes, I still have those MP3s.)
Just imagine how excited I was when I heard that NFL Films was releasing a 10-CD box set of their music! Well, I can show you:
Yep, I bought it on day one!
If you're interested in more information about NFL Films music and its composers, here's a great read. I can't really add much more perspective beyond that, but I figured I'd share my favorite tracks (I won't be including any of the old Sam Spence classics, as they've gotten their due over the years).
Honorable Mention: A New Game
This is the most famous NFL Films track, and it was the first one I ever heard when it was featured on the 1994 49ers championship VHS.
Honorable Mention: Victory to the West
I wish I could find this track online -- it fits perfectly with the denouement of a victory as the clock ticks down.
#5: Heavy Hitters
This one is so different from what you typically associate with NFL Films, but I like how it comes together.
#4: Return to Win
This one carries personal relevance, as it was featured in the 1997 Denver Broncos highlight video.
#3: 75 Seasons Suite
The full 12 minutes are just beautiful, but my favorite movement is the section starting at the 5:00 mark.
#2: Drive to Glory
Perhaps the most intense NFL Films track, and it builds to a surprise at the 1:50 mark.
#1: Touchdown Suite (just 20 seconds of a nine minute masterpiece)
It is driving me crazy that I can't find the full suite online, because the section from 4:50 to 7:00 is the best work NFL Films has ever created. What a miss.
-rj