The secrets behind the best NBA theme song ever, revealed!
Apparently, I’m not the only one who’s nostalgic for the good old days of the NBA on NBC. Particularly the theme song. Which, of course was written by John Tesh. Yep, that John Tesh. Ever wondered how he wrote it? Wonder no more. Watch as the erstwhile host of Entertainment Tonight, explains the song’s origin. And then plays it live. It’s like eight kinds of awesome dipped in magic pixie dust.
But the origin myth revealed is the best part. Because he came up with it in exactly the same way we can all recall it. Go ahead, hum it. Without much provocation, almost any serious American fan of basketball can kinda half hum, half sing the song. Which, as this video shows, is exactly how he wrote it. That said, the enthusiasm with which he plays “Roundball Rock” is really something to watch and learn from. Who says you can’t just Nietzsche up on being something nobody thinks you should try to be. John Tesh wanted to play music and a lot of us laughed when we first heard about it. And yet he went on to write what is arguably the best song about basketball ever written.
John Tesh, forever linked to my memories of Michael Jordan-era Bulls game Sunday brunches and Marv Albert’s hyperbolic game intros, I salute you. And sometimes when I walk into my local gym, I might be humming this song.
Turman
I’m going to listen to this every morning on my way to work - maybe do some chest bumping on the way into the office. What I really want to know is where can one buy clothes like that?
Comment by matthewmeschery | 02.5.2010 | 7:51 am
FANTASTIC STORY, DT. I’m now a Tesh convert.
Comment by bjackson | 02.8.2010 | 11:14 am
I wish there were more crowd shots in the video. Haven’t you ever wondered who goes to a Tesh show?
Comment by beardedbarman | 02.8.2010 | 4:57 pm
If you were making a list of the greatest public displays of extreme whiteness, where would this fit in?
Comment by beardedbarman | 02.8.2010 | 5:04 pm
This is “Pantheon Level” whiteness, somewhere south of the Osmond Brothers and north of Steve Sanders’ character on Beverly Hills 90210.
Comment by admin | 02.8.2010 | 6:11 pm
That music is absolutely incredible! I really enjoy listening to it!
Comment by Amir Thompson | 06.5.2010 | 9:03 pm