We're Getting A New Monday Night Football Theme Song Beginning Tonight. R.I.P. “All My Rowdy Friends Are Coming Over Tonight.”
Chicago Sun Times - ESPN is hoping that one of the architects of rock n’ roll can bring some new energy to their “Monday Night Football” show with fewer fans in the stands this year.
The new season starting Monday will feature a new version of Little Richard’s hit “Rip It Up” featuring new instrumentals and backup vocals from the Virginia-based band Butcher Brown.
The song replaces Hank Williams Jr.’s “All My Rowdy Friends Are Coming Over Tonight,” which was repurposed with new lyrics like, “All my rowdy friends are here for Monday night.” Williams’ song was used on the show for two periods, 1989-2011 and then 2017-2019.
ESPN said in a press release on Friday that Little Richard’s song will be combined with NFL and team highlights. The 1956 song was a No. 1 R&B hit for the flamboyant Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, who died in May at the age of 87 in Tennessee.
“We’re truly excited to have teamed up with ESPN for this project, and are honored to have had the opportunity to work with the music of the King of Rock N’ Roll, Little Richard,” said Butcher Brown in a statement provided by ESPN.
“Monday Night Football” will kick off with a doubleheader featuring the Pittsburgh Steelers playing New York Giants and the Tennessee Titans at the Denver Broncos.
First off, condolences to Hank Williams Jr.'s “All My Rowdy Friends Are Coming Over Tonight.”
Fuckin jam that stood the test of time. (Also, what a music video.)
THE MNF VERSION
The song made its debut on Monday Night Football way back in 1989. Hank Williams Jr. has ran into some issues in 2011 offending the pc police with some pretty extreme comments and the song was yanked. In 2017, ESPN execs decided to bring it back but for some ridiculous reason made the call to add Florida Georgia Line and Jason Derulo to the mix -
And it's been this awkward collab version since.
Until tonight.
After 31 years Hank Williams Jr.'s rowdy friends will NOT be coming over tonight.
Instead, we're getting a Lil Richard's "Rip It Up".
Which is honestly a banger.
(Here's the original)
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And here's the version they redid for Monday Night Football. It will feature “modern-day instrumentals from a Virginia-based band called Butcher Brown" rearranged with Lil Richard's vocals. It rips.
I know fans of nostalgia and Hank Williams die-hards will be pissed but try to give the new song a chance. I think it will grow on everybody.
p.s. - I feel like this is a good spot for me to continue my crusade to abolish Thursday night games and change it to two Monday Night games per week instead. No brainer. Thursday games are garbage. We'd get better quality football, less likelihood for injury on the quick turnaround for players, and this first night of MNF getting an early game and a late game is just plain awesome. Plus you have two chances to chase your losses not just one. It's a win win win for everybody.