No, Broncos fans, it won’t be the same.
Sports may never again find more distinct celebratory music than “Rock and Roll Part 2,” otherwise known as the “Hey,” song. Every sports fan in America can hum the guitar riffs preceding the famous singular lyric.
But because of alleged malfeasance by Gary Glitter, the quintessential one-hit wonder, the Broncos and every other NFL team had no choice but to find a substitute touchdown jingle.
Teresa Shear, director of the Broncos cheerleaders, decided upon a reworked version of “Go Daddy O” by the swing band, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy. The song, with its orchestra instrumentals, was popularized as part of the soundtrack to the movie, “Swingers.”
At Shear’s request, the band agreed to reproduce the song’s refrain, using the lyrics, “Go Bronco” instead of “Go Daddy O.” It will debut as the Broncos’ official touchdown song Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs, assuming the home team scores.
“We searched and searched for a new touchdown song but nothing was fitting,” Shear said. “Then I remembered Voodoo Daddy playing that song at halftime for us three years ago. At the time, I remember thinking that would be a great song for the Denver Broncos.”
But when it came to lifting a stadium into a raucous, joint- shimmying revelry, nothing beats the “Hey” song. First introduced to sports at an NHL Colorado Rockies game in the late-1970s, “Rock and Roll Part 2” became a staple at nearly every arena, for nearly every team competition in the country.
Then Glitter was arrested on child molestation charges earlier this year in Vietnam. That prompted the NFL to issue memorandums to all 32 teams, strongly suggesting disassociation from Glitter. All teams have complied.
“It’s disappointing because the song was a crowd favorite,” Shear said. “But we’re in complete agreement with the league. This new song marks a new tradition, and I think our fans will make it a great tradition.”
Mike Klis can be reached at 303-954-1055 or mklis@denverpost.com.
