Giving “Raw – Greatest Hits – The Music” a spin
Some thoughts after listening to the new WWE CD Raw —Greatest Hits — The Music, which was released three weeks ago to commemorate the 15th anniversary of Raw:
There are 17 tracks on the CD (including two bonus tracks), and the entrance music for all of the biggest stars of the Raw years are accounted for — with one glaring exception. Missing from the compilation is Bret Hart’s theme. It’s not that I think Hart’s music is all that great, but it should have been included because Hart was a top guy on Raw for nearly five years.
As far as the quality of the music, some of the tracks just don’t translate well on CD. For example, the themes for Steve Austin and The Rock were tremendous as entrance music, eliciting Pavlovian responses in arenas as soon as the breaking of the glass or The Rock’s voice blared over the sound system. But when you’re listening to them on a CD — without the accompanying visual of Austin or Rock walking down the ramp and doing their thing — they don’t really hold up as songs. I wouldn’t exactly call The Undertaker’s funeral dirge a real toe-tapper, either, but it definitely sets the mood for The Undertaker’s ominous entrance.
My favorite songs — and the ones that I’ll crank up the volume for — on the CD are Triple H’s “The Game” and Batista’s “I Walk Alone,” which were recorded by Motorhead and Saliva, respectively. Admittedly, I have a preference for hard rock, but I appreciate the CD’s hip-hop offerings — John Cena’s “The Time is Now” and Rey Mysterio’s “(619)” — too.
I also really like Chris Jericho’s “Break the Walls Down,” Kane’s “Slow Chemical” — which has a cool, eerie-sounding intro that isn’t played at arenas — and DX’s “Are You Ready?” (On a side note, I actually wanted to play the DX theme when my wife and I were introduced at our wedding reception in 2000. But she had visions of me crotch-chopping her family and she nixed it. We settled on Austin’s theme as a compromise. No, I didn’t walk in with my middle fingers raised.)
We all have our guilty pleasures when it comes to music, and for me on this CD it’s Shawn Michaels’ “Sexy Boy.” You might not want to admit it, but you know it’s a catchy song. Be prepared for some strange looks, however, if you’re singing along to “Sexy Boy” in your car while sitting at a red light.
The weakest tracks to me are Trish Stratus’ “Time to Rock & Roll” and Melina’s “Paparazzi.” And while Evolution’s “Line in the Sand” by Motorhead isn't a bad song, I don’t think WWE really needed to put three Triple H themes (his, DX’s and Evolution’s) on the CD.
I was a little disappointed that the entrance music for Edge and Randy Orton wasn’t included — although Orton’s theme is one of the exclusive bonus tracks if you buy the CD at Wal-Mart. I would like to have seen Rob Van Dam’s music on there as well, but you can’t have everything.
Overall, it's a decent collection of music if you're a WWE fan, especially if you don't own any of the previous WWE CDs.
Comments
Imagine the album you could have if they made an album using some of the PPV theme songs of the past few years.
Posted by: Rich Bailin | January 9, 2008 9:33 PM
WWE's put out some good covers of the Stone Cold song that still get me revved up if I am working out.
Posted by: JTK | January 9, 2008 9:45 PM
I suppose Austin's theme would have been better at the wedding then HBK's.
Posted by: John | January 9, 2008 9:50 PM
Hey Kevin, I own this CD too and have it on my ipod. Today at work HBKs music came on and I blasted it. For the next hour we talked about our favorite wrestler entrances/songs. My top 5 was Hogan, Austin, HBK, Million Dollar Man, and Ultimate Warrior with an honorable mention going to the Rock. There are so many good ones that it was real hard to pick just 5. What would be your top 5 all time? You can throw in an honorable mention too, if necessary.
Posted by: Mark | January 9, 2008 10:14 PM
It's a shame that neither Edge or Van Dam song were included in the CD. Orton absence is even more upsetting because he is the reigning WWE champion and his song is pretty cool...
Triple HHH, three songs?Oh wait! now I get it! didn't you? Triple H,three songs...Three H, Triple songs...(Can this guy let other people have a little space to shine?Does he really have to be everywhere?Even in a freaking Midi soundtrack??)
That story about your wedding was hilarious.
-By the way, you doesn't even talk about the greaaat TNA PPV,last Sunday. I'm telling you that because i ddin't order the PPV, and now I'm here unable to think in anything but WHAT could be AJ's decision...
Posted by: Gaston | January 10, 2008 1:01 AM
My wife and I styled and profiled to the music of the one and only Nature Boy Ric Flair. Woooo!
Posted by: David | January 10, 2008 7:51 AM
You can't do just five top theme songs of all time because that is too limiting. I think this is my personal favorite Top 10. There were a couple of others that just missed the cut as would probably happen with any of us.
"Also Sprach Zarathustra" - Ric Flair
"Badstreet USA" - Fabulous Freebirds
"Demolition" - Demolition
"Harlem Heat Theme" - Booker T & Stevie Ray
"Iron Man" - Road Warriors (LOD)
"Pomp & Circumstance" - Randy Savage
"Real American" - Hulk Hogan
"Sexy Boy" - Shawn Michaels
"Stone Cold Theme" - Steve Austin
"You Suck" - Kurt Angle
Posted by: Walker Cabrera | January 10, 2008 4:22 PM
Two Cold Scorpio's entrance in WCW was pretty cool but he was only around for about three years so I don't know if it would be on any all-time lists. It was funny on one show when Larry Zbyszko quipped "I hate that woman" as Two Cold Scorpio's music started playing.
I am ambivalent about Sting's theme, "The Man Called Sting," as it wasn't necessarily a great song but definitely captured the early '90s atmosphere in WCW as he was the promotion's biggest star. I am still, to this day, unsure if I actually liked it or just don't care either way.
Ravishing Rick Rude's theme, "The Stripper," is another ring entrance that kind of defines the late '80s scene in the WWF. No one can ever forget him gyrating to the ring, ordering the DJ to "cut the music," and then proceeding to insult the men of whatever town they were in. Classic stuff.
Barry Windham and Mike Rotunda were only together in the WWF about a year but they were the main good guy tag team as the promotion really took off in the months leading up to the first WrestleMania. "Born In The USA" always resonates with me due to that.
Another entrance song that was used by both Gorgeous Jimmy Garvin in AWA/WCW and the tag team called the Fantastics in UWF/WCWA is "Sharp Dressed Man" by Z.Z. Top. It was fitting for their personas but very interesting to watch the heel/face contrast in style.
Posted by: Glader | January 11, 2008 1:12 PM
The Million Dollar Rap is my personal all-time favorite, followed up by the DX theme, Vince McMahon's theme, Edge's mix of Metalingus, and Kane's Slow Chemical.
Personally, I can't stand the entrance themes of CM Punk or Batista. Punk's doesn't really fit, and Batista's is just boring once the pyro ends. Ditto for Orton.
The Harlem Heat theme was great. I like the older version of Break the Walls Down better than the new one he uses. I'll admit it, Sexy Boy is a good song -- though it wouldn't be if it wasn't Shawn Michaels' entry music. Another one I like is Mr. Kennedy's, though I don't think it belongs on a Greatest Hits compilation just yet.
Posted by: James | January 12, 2008 12:35 AM
The Demolition theme song still cranks!
My favorites...
Simply Ravishing-Ravishing Rick Rude (I hum this to my son when changing his diaper...it distracts him and makes my job easier)
Sexual Chocolate-Mark Henry (before Mark Henry for some unknown reason allowed them to market him as a gorilla)
No Chance in Hell-Vince McMahon
Christian's original theme music
The Hollywood Blondes Theme
Sting's original theme music from the NWA (I liked his last WCW theme too...Seek & Destroy)
Lex Luger's original theme music from the NWA
Dude Love...that makes me laugh every time.
Posted by: Chris | May 14, 2008 1:47 PM