Hockey Music Monday: Wayne Gretzky (Rocks)

This week, I decided to focus on hockey's "Great One", Wayne Gretzky, with two very different songs.

The first is an upbeat, biographical tribute to Gretzky, called "Gretzky Rocks". Widely and erroneously credited to The Arrogant Worms on the video below and across the internet (song files), this song was written and performed by another Canadian band, The Pursuit of Happiness. It is absolutely not sung by The Arrogant Worms.

It seems to be, that for whatever reason, half of all novelty songs on the planet are wrongly attributed to the "Worms". I like the Worms but they did not write nor sing this song. Do us all a favor when you are posting a song or video to the web. If you don't know who sings it, don't guess. Do some research and find out for sure. I blame Napster and Limewire as the cause of this. Sites like those are the breeding ground of music misinformation. I stopped going to those sites for the simple fact that it only took one user to upload a song credited to an incorrect artist and then that one song was downloaded thousands of times. Hence, if someone uploaded "Wayne Gretzky Rocks" and typed in "Arrogant Worms" as the artist, then that's what thousands of first-time listeners subscribed to. Later, they would e-mail or text their friends to say, "you gotta listen to this great song by The Arrogant Worms called Gretzky Rocks!" So the misinformation spreads like Wildfire.

I'm here to set the record straight once and for all. "Gretzky Rocks" is absolutely, positively, without a doubt, performed by Pursuit of Happiness. It was track #9 on the 1995 album, "Where's the Bone?" which was produced by band member, Moe Berg. Case closed.

Wayne Gretzky Rocks - The Pursuit Of Happiness


"Gretzky Rocks" by The Pursuit of Happiness 
                                  


The second song about Wayne Gretzky does a 180 degree turn from the first one. Performed by Goldfinger's drummer, Darrin Pfeiffer, it is an odd composition in which Pfeiffer proudly declares his man-crush on The Great One. As a matter of fact, Pfeiffer could be accused of sharing too much information. Basically, the song is about his sexual fantasies about Gretzky, presumably in jest. At least, I think he's just kidding. Be forewarned. You might not want to let the younger ones hear to this.



Here is Pfeiffer performing the song live. Warning: coarse language

Hockey Toon Tuesday: Donald Duck in The Hockey Champ (1939)

Who knew that Donald Duck was such a skilled hockey player. With his hot temper, I would have guessed that he would spend more time in the penalty box than displaying his finesse with a hockey stick and puck. That said, Donald displays both, in this classic Walt Disney cartoon.

This is Disney at its best with Donald at the height of his popularity. The winter setting is very scenic, rendered masterfully by the Disney animators and provides several great sight gags. Keep in mind that this is before CG animation, so all this work is painstakingly drawn by hand. To top it off, you get to see an entertaining hockey game and funny cartoon. These are the true Mighty Ducks.

A fun game of pond hockey turns into a heated rivalry between Donald and his three nephews, Huey, Dewey and Lewey in this wonderfully animated, winter tale, The Hockey Champ.

Hockey Music Monday: The Hockey Song (3 versions)

Last week, I mentioned that The Hockey Song by Jughead was a different song altogether in comparison to Stompin' Tom Connors' original song. Well, this week I will show you how different it is with not one, not two but three versions of the song. Included of course is Stompin' Tom along with two very different-styled cover versions. The first cover is by The Hanson Brothers (the band, not the Slap Shot stars) and the second is by a group known as Company B.




These Hanson Brothers play this song like the other Hanson Brothers played hockey; tough and punk style with reasonable talent. No talking while I'm trying to listen to the f#@!%* song! The band is obviously named after the fictional, bespectacled goons from the famous hockey movie Slap Shot but is also a spin off of the Canadian band NoMeansNo. Do not confuse this band with Hanson, as if that was even a danger.




Company B's version of the song is done in a jazzy swing style reminiscent of the big band era that was popular around the 1930's and 40's. This version was also entered into CBC's Hockey Anthem Challenge in 2008 when the producers of Hockey Night in Canada launched a song writing contest to find a new opening theme to replace the previous one that was heard every Saturday night for 40 years. The grand prize was $100, 000. Unfortunately for Company B, they did not win. They did however, leave us with a wonderful rendition of a beloved song.



Out of these three, which is your favourite version? Is there another version you've heard that you like even better? Let us know.

Hockey Toon Tuesday: Shaybu! Shaybu!

Today's hockey cartoon is a beautifully animated, 1964 Russian production by Soviet animator Boris Dyozhkin. It has no dialogue but plenty of fluid action on ice with a musical soundtrack. The title of the cartoon translates to, "Puck! Puck!" You can view some of Dyozhkin's rough pencil drawings and the cleaned up ones of his assistants at the Russian Insider blog. 

Hockey Music Monday: The Hockey Song by Jughead

This song is not to be confused with the more popular one by the same title, written and performed by Stompin' Tom Connors and covered by The Hanson Brothers. This song by the Canadian band known as Jughead has completely different lyrics and different music as well. It might not be as well known but it is definitely just as catchy.

Top 10 Signs Your Fantasy HockeyTeam Needs a Goalie Upgrade

Some of these are inspired by actual circumstances while others are simply for comic relief. I'll let you decide which are which.

1. Every other week your team fails to meet the minimum games played requirement and the minimum is set at 2!
2. You waited until the 19th round (pick# 289) to draft (live) your first goalie in a 16 team league.
3. Your team carries 3 goalies, 2 of which are backups and the third is in the minors.
4. None of your goalies' lack of playing time is due to injuries so that excuse is N/A.
   
5. You are envious of the team that has Vesa Toskala.
6. You are envious of the team that has Carey Price.
7. You mistakenly thought that your perfect GAA and SV% would count if your goalies did not play.
8. Yours is the only team that no others fear and managers snicker uncontrollably when matched up against you.
9. You drafted your goalies based on Mike Milbury's scouting reports.
10. You counted on your goalies being late round steals and now you feel like a total heel.

Do you have one of your own to add to this list? Post it in the comments and see if you can come up with something better.

Unusual Goalie Mask

Have a look at this unusual goalie mask courtesy of GoalieGuild.com



The Goalie Guild is a website dedicated to all things goalie-related. It also has fantasy hockey leagues that you can enter. It's an excellent site if ever you need a detailed scouting report on any goalie in the NHL. It would not be a bad idea to check this site before making any goalie transactions in your fantasy league.

Hockey Toon Tuesday: Hockey Homicide

Starting today, every Tuesday will feature a hockey cartoon selected through a random search of the internet.

Today's selection is a classic Disney short starring that lovable goof himself, Goofy, in "Hockey Homicide".

Hockey Music Monday: Hit Somebody by Warren Zevon

"Hit Somebody" is a hockey song written by the late, great Warren Zevon and sports writer, Mitch Albom. Zevon is probably best known for his hit, Werewolves of London and Albom for the book, Tuesdays with Morrie which was also made into a TV movie starring Hank Azaria and the late Jack Lemmon.

This ballad focuses on a hockey player who is relegated to the role of enforcer on his team but dreams of being a goal scorer. Listeners learn about his life from the time he is born and through his trials and tribulations of working his way up the hockey ranks.

Note: Listen for CBS Late Show's David Letterman shouting the recurring "Hit somebody!"



Movie director Kevin Smith has announced that he is teaming up with Mitch Albom to make a movie based on Hit Somebody.

Hockey Music Monday: Hockey Monkey by The Zambonis

Starting today, UHB is going to feature a hockey song each Monday, hence the title, "Hockey Music Monday". This week we kick things off with a rockin' little song from The Zambonis called, Hockey Monkey. This simian is not related to the Simeon goaltender on the Washington Capitals.



Look for another new feature starting Tuesday called Hockey Toon Tuesday.