North Carolina State University Athletics
PEELER: Rock Out to New Version of Fight Song
9/3/2009 12:00:00 AM | Football
BY TIM PEELER
RALEIGH, N.C. –Cover tunes are never easy, especially when you are attempting to turn a marching band song perfected by John Philip Sousa into rock-and-roll.
But that was the job NC State assistant athletics director for marketing Chris Alston gave to Raleigh-based independent rock band Airiel Down: Record an updated version of the NC State Fight Song and the Red & White Song.
Airiel Down's version – complete with wolf howls – debuted Thursday night, as NC State's football team entered the field at Carter-Finley Stadium for the 2009 season-opening game against South Carolina.
The song, available for download as an MP3 from the link above, was recorded at Raleigh's Osceola Recording Studio last month and kept under wraps until game time.
"We were approached by NC State and asked if we would do something similar to what we did for the Carolina Hurricanes, and we were all for it," said Airiel Down frontman Beaux Foy. "Though none of us went to NC State, we are all college educated and have a lot of friends on campus.
"We are a Raleigh band and we want to do anything we can to help out NC State."
For Alston, the updated version breathes a little life into a song that has been a staple at NC State athletic events since the 1920s. It won't replace what the NC State Marching Band does, but is another option, especially in promotional materials and video-board intros.
At times, the rock version will be used in conjunction with the marching band, Alston said. But they will also be used separately.
"We wanted something that was a little more modern, something different that could be used with or without the band," Alston said. "It's just another version we can use at times."
The tune to the fight song is the "Caissons Song" (or "The Army Goes Rolling Along"), which dates back to 1908 and was popularized during World War I. The words were written by Hardy Ray, NC State class of 1926.
The secondary theme song is "The Red & White Song," which was written by former band director J. Perry Watson. It's not the official fight song, but is the one most often played at most athletic events, mainly because of its brevity.
Traditional versions of both songs are available here.
Foy said it was not exactly easy updating the songs.
"Most people who are doing covers are trying to remake songs from the 1980s, or the 1970s, or maybe a Beatles song from the 1960s," he said. "Nobody is covering a song from the 1920s."
Airiel Down, formed in 2003, has a reputation as one of the hardest working independent rock bands in the country. The band released its debut album, Vision, in July, 2006, and followed it up with its second album, Shine, in February, 2009. Go here to learn more about the band.
They took time out from touring to attend Thursday night's game to see how their rendition was received.
"We didn't want it to be cheesy," Foy said. "We wanted to rock it out and we wanted it to be fun. But we also knew we had to appeal to students and alumni of all ages. We wanted it to be something that 80 year olds and 8 year old both like."
Foy said the hard-working band, which tours constantly, was a little worried about undertaking such a project. But they were pleased with the outcome.
"To be honest, it was a lot of pressure. It was kind of like doing a movie soundtrack. We knew it was more than just a song.
"Hopefully, everyone will dig it."
You may contact Tim Peeler at tim_peeler@ncsu.edu.
