Marching Bands Go Gaga for Lady Gaga
(Aug. 13) -- As a genre, marching band music hasn't topped the charts since the days of composer John Philip Sousa, but it's still a good way to get the beat of what's big in pop culture.
If that's the case, then Lady Gaga's music should be heard as much on football fields as it is in dance clubs this fall.
According to Michael Sweeney, the director of band publications for Hal Leonard Music, the country's largest publisher of marching band music, the most requested songs from high school bandleaders are Lady Gaga's biggest hits: "Bad Romance," "Poker Face" and "Just Dance."
"Those songs have rhythmic tempos and driving riffs, and they are easy to learn," Sweeney said.
Sweeney said that on a year-to-year basis, the most requested arrangements reflect the pop charts -- or at least the pop charts from 2009, since there is a lag time in writing versions of top pop hits that will be suitable for 76 trombones and however many flutes, trumpets or saxes are on hand.
As if marching bands weren't corny and awful enough already, now they're going to be playing the same terrible, overheard songs by that hermaphodite that pop radio subjects us to constantly. I think this story gives us the perfect reason to implement my plan for the change in pre-game and halftime entertainment. Instead of bands we should be shown highlights from previous games/the first half and top plays from other games on the jumbo screen while 'Eye of the Tiger" plays. Its cheaper for the school district and I don't have to watch a bunch of geeks struggle up and down the field with a trumbone. So vote Yes on the "No Marching Band" referendum. Coming to a town near you.
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