A look at WWE's 'Voices' CD
I’ve been listening to the latest WWE CD, Voices: WWE The Music Vol. 9, the past couple weeks and finally found the time to pass along my thoughts. I have the special two-disc version, which includes nine “legends” entrance themes in addition to 13 current ones.
Here are some comments about my favorite tracks:
DISC 1
“Voices” (Randy Orton): I hear “Voices” in my head. No, really. I cannot get this song out of my head. I have to admit that when Orton first began using "Voices" I didn’t think it was as good as his original music (“Burn in My Light”), but I have changed my tune. “Voices” is one of best themes currently in WWE and is worthy of belonging to the hottest wrestler in the business. The title track alone makes this CD worth picking up.
“What’s Up” (R-Truth): I’m definitely down with “What’s Up.” I was a big fan of the song when R-Truth used it in TNA, so I’m glad he is able to continue making his entrance with it in WWE. This is the only song on the CD not written by the talented Jim Johnston, as it was penned by R-Truth (Ron Killings) himself. “What’s Up” has an infectious beat and a sing-along chorus that is brilliant in its simplicity.
“Get on Your Knees” (Jack Swagger): This song is just right for the fast-rising, cocky Swagger. When I first heard it I thought for sure that it was performed by Rage Against the Machine. It’s not, but any song that sounds this much like Rage couldn’t possibly be bad.
“Pain” (Vladimir Kozlov): When Kozlov debuted in WWE (not counting the brief period when he sat in the front row and kept proclaiming his love for “Double Double E”), he didn’t have entrance music, which fit with his no-nonsense style and look. Eventually, he started coming out to this song, and I liked it right away because of its thumping beat and ominous guitar riff. I could do without the voiceover (spoken in Russian), however.
“Pourquoi?” (Maryse): This Eurotrash song is a guilty pleasure, but so is watching Maryse in the ring. The best thing about this track is imagining Maryse strutting down the aisle as I listen to it (ooh oui!). As an added bonus, the song also has some educational value, as I now know some French after looking up the English translation of the lyrics.
“Priceless” (Ted DiBiase Jr. and Cody Rhodes): I hated the original version of the song, which had a country flavor. This one is a significant upgrade, as it has more of a rock sound.
DISC 2
“Unstable” (The Ultimate Warrior): Was there ever any entrance music more suited for a wrestler than this one was for Warrior? As soon as I played the track it brought back memories of Warrior sprinting to the ring and vigorously bouncing off the ropes. I have been playing this song in the morning to help me wake up and get moving. And if I had 10 cups of coffee instead of my usual one, I might be able to equal the Warrior’s energy level.
“Perfection” (Mr. Perfect): As you can probably tell by now, I prefer entrance themes that you can tap your foot to or that have a good rock beat. “Perfection” doesn’t fit the bill, but I was a big Curt Henning mark back in the day, so this one has sentimental value. I was listening to it while drying my hands with a towel in the kitchen the other day and I instinctively tossed the towel behind my back and caught it. I thought better of spitting out my gum and batting it up in the air, however.
“Snake Bit” (Jake Roberts): Nothing says ’80s like this one, and I love the ’80s. The synthesizer-driven track kind of reminds me of the Miami Vice theme. It also has a bit of a haunting quality to it, which, of course, was perfect for a man who with a sadistic streak who walked around carrying a python.
“Blue Blood” (Hunter Hearst Helmsley): It’s hard to believe Triple H, who has perhaps the best music and most intense entrance today, once came out to this song, which sounds like something you would hear in the background while eating dinner at a wedding reception. I’m surprised he even allowed WWE to include it on the CD. It was fitting for the Greenwich snob character he was playing in the mid ’90s, though. This song really is not my cup of tea (and crumpets), but I am including it among my favorites because my 3-year-old daughter likes to dance to it and pretend she is a princess at a royal ball. That’s good enough for me.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Overall, it’s a pretty good and diverse collection of songs. I do wish WWE would have included the entrance music for Edge, The Brian Kendrick, Matt Hardy and Mickie James, however. To the best of my knowledge, none of these songs have ever been released on a WWE CD.
Comments
Edge's theme song is called "Metalingus" by Alter Bridge on the "One Day Remains" album released in 2004. I dowloaded it off iTunes and is one of the more predominant songs played in my iPod workout mix.
RESPONSE FROM KE: Yes, I am aware that it is a remix of Metalingus. I just wish it was included on a WWE compilation.
Posted by: Jason Sandlapper | March 9, 2009 3:44 AM
Eck, Edge's entrance music was actually released on a commercial cd. The song is "Metalingus" by Alter Bridge on their first album, "One Day Remains." I'd recommend both of their albums thus far by them.
Posted by: RSC | March 9, 2009 6:48 AM
"Nothing says ’80s like this one, and I love the ’80s."
So, do you have your ticket for the M3 Festival at Merriweather later this year? Break out the hairspray and eyeliner! C - C -Yah-yuh! It's okay; I love the 80's too (albeit for different reasons).
RESPONSE FROM KE: A few friends and I considered going, but I'm too old to do all-day festivals at this point. MY days of doing things like the HFStival are done.
Posted by: Sean the Cynic | March 9, 2009 8:27 AM
Edge's theme is on Alter Bridge's debut album, TBK's is a production theme, Matt's was on Vol. 5 (I think) and Mickie's was on Vol. 7 which only got released on iTunes.
RESPONSE FROM KE: Thanks for the info. That's why I said "to the best of my knowledge." As you can see, I don't own all of the WWE CDs.
Posted by: Martin | March 9, 2009 9:09 AM
I've been an even bigger fan of Jack Swagger's theme song ever since I went to the live show and heard it blarring over the loud speaker with more bass than I can get on my TV screen. Big fan of Mr. Swagger.
Also, if you've got a really awesome sound system or just some headphones, put on Orton's song and listen to the the lyrics being spoken regularly in one ear and the lyrics being whispered in the other ear. Creepy stuff, but makes the song that more awesome.
Posted by: John | March 9, 2009 9:37 AM
Matt Hardy's theme (Monster Magnet's "Live For the Moment") was released on the old WWF Forceable Entry compilation, which also included Disturbed's awesome cover of Stone Cold Steve Austin's theme.
Edge's theme ("Metalingus") was also released on Alter Bridge's album, "One Day Remains."
Posted by: theFRANCHISE | March 9, 2009 10:26 AM
I completely agree with Orton's music. It took me awhile to like his "Voices" music -- when it first came out, it didn't fit his character at that point. I'm surprised that the WWE still has not released Edge's entrance music. He's a top star and I think his is one of the best ones. Any idea why?
RESPONSE FROM KE: The other thing I can figure is that there might ne copyright issues since it is not WWE's original music.
Posted by: Beach Bum | March 9, 2009 10:41 AM
Hey Kevin,
As far as Matt Hardy his theme was on one of the Theme Addict type releases. Its by Monster Magnet. Edge's theme is called Metalingus and is by the band Alter Bridge. I thinks its off their debut album. Not sure id Mickie's was ever on a cd and I know Kendricks hasn't been yet.
Posted by: Shaun | March 9, 2009 11:45 AM
An excellent inclusion would of been CM Punk's entrance music by Killswitch Engage.. I think his is top 3 in WWE right now.
On a side note, Kevin do you know what exactly happened with Jonathan Coachman? Was he fired from WWE or was his contract just up and he left? I see him all the time now on ESPN news. He does pretty well there.
RESPONSE FROM KE: Coachman left voluntarily for the ESPN gig. By all accounts, WWE was happy with Coachman.Punk's entrance theme -- one of my favorites, by the way -- isn on WWE's Wreckless Intent CD.So is "Some Bodies Gonna Get It," Mark Henry's theme by Three 6 Mafia.
Posted by: dave | March 9, 2009 11:59 AM
Matt Hardy's entrance theme is on the 2002 disc, titled "WWE Forceable Entry". The song (Monster Magnet's "Live for the Moment") was billed on the track listing as the Hardy Boyz' theme. Edge's was written by the band Altar Bridge. You can find it on one of their CD's. It's called "Metalingus".
Posted by: Cliff | March 9, 2009 12:06 PM
Matt Hardy's full theme, Live for the Moment, is on 2002's WWF Forceable Entry CD.
I wonder if a rights issue has stopped Edge's theme from appearing on a WWE CD since it's an actual track from an Alter Bridge release (Metalingus from One Day Remains).
Posted by: Matt Hunter | March 9, 2009 12:13 PM
Interesting choice of words in your last sentence ("WWE CD")... Mickie James' song was included on WWE 7, available on iTunes.
Also, Edge's song is by Alter Bridge on the Cd "One Day Remains."
Posted by: Jerry | March 9, 2009 12:32 PM
matt hardy's theme was on the WWF Forceable Entry cd. That one was (in my mind) one of the best WWE cd's out there.
Posted by: MooseV1 | March 9, 2009 12:52 PM
Edge's song is on AlterBridge's CD(the song is Metalingus), you can get it on ITUNES. Mickie James if I remember correctly was a Volume 7 song which is only off of ITUNES. Brian Kendrick's song has never been released. I'm not sure about Version One a aahh.
Posted by: IPITYTHEFOOL | March 9, 2009 2:18 PM
why the hell does everyone here have to say where to find edge, matt & mickie's themes. im sure eck got it the first time round.
btw, i love orton's theme too but i HATE both the old and new priceless themes, why can't they just come out to generic music or something instead of that g*y music.
RESPONSE FROM KE: In all fairness, almost all of those comments were put up at the same time, so the later commenters didn't know others had already commented.
Posted by: Gohan | March 9, 2009 3:07 PM
Does anyone know what Edge's song was called?
Posted by: Anonymous | March 9, 2009 3:17 PM
So, any word on whether Matt Hardy's and Edge's music have been released on CD?
Posted by: Mr. Sarcasm | March 9, 2009 3:40 PM
It's my understanding that the band's full version of "Metalingus" is available on CD, but not the edited version that WWE plays for Edge. One key difference is how each version begins. I usually prefer the WWE-edited versions, which are deliberately cut to open with a "pop."
I think "Unstable" sounds terrible on CD. Watching the Warrior run down the ramp, listening to the crowd roar, that theme always sounded like a guitar riff. Listening to it on "Voices," however, you can really hear the organ, and the reverb is way too heavy. It doesn't sound as powerful.
And I know it's an unpopular opinion, but I totally prefer the original "Priceless" to the current version.
"Voices" gets stuck in my head a lot, too. I don't even like it that much, but it's got a real earworm quality.
Jim Johnston is a tremendously underappreciated composer. He's done phenomenal work for WWE, for quite a long time. And it's not easy work.
Posted by: Stephen | March 9, 2009 4:27 PM
I like Pain. I disagree with you about the Russian voiceover, however. I think that it adds alot because it makes the work seem more contemporary, as opposed to another Soviet-style type of thing.
Posted by: Christopher | March 9, 2009 5:03 PM
Kev , at my age I can't listen to this anymore . I've become ( for better or worse ) a smooth jazz aficionado . Not effective as entrance music , eh ?
Posted by: the artist formerly known as jack in hebron | March 9, 2009 6:24 PM
Hate to disagree with you Eck but Randy Orton's theme is wriiten and preformed by Rev Theory,the same group that did last year's WrestleMania theme song "Light It Up!" So R-Truth's theme song is not the only song not preformed by Jim Johnston.I was with you and a lot of other people,I hated when they changed Orton's music to this, but now I'm singing it all the time,especially at work on Monday's because I can't wait to get home and watch RAW.It's usally the highlight of the night when this music hit's, 'cause here comes Orton!
It's funny,I was looking at the lyrics on line before I posted this(I like to get my facts straight)and one of the verses says "All the lawyers are defenseless/All the doctors are disease" Struck me as kinda cool since he's been using this music for months, and now he comes out with a team of doctors and lawyers every week.
I thought I was gonna have to correct you on the Jack Swagger theme song too,but it turns out that isn't RAGE. I would have bet the house that it was.Oh well,it still rocks!
On a side note did you happen to see the match listing for the Randy Savage DVD that's coming out?Loking good,looking real good.It looks like they threw some obscure stuff on there to mix it up a bit.They have the listing up at highspots.com.Enjoy!
RESPONSE FROM KE: Voices is a WWE song not a Rev Theory song. Here is what it says in the liner notes for the Voices CD:
VOICES
Composer: James A. Johnston
Musicians: All instruments performed by James A. Johnston
Vocals: Rich Luzzi of Rev Theory
Posted by: Andre the Midget | March 9, 2009 6:55 PM
I guess I should have checked my facts a little closer like I said I do,before opening my big blog.Thanx for clearing that up,sorry I don't own the CD.
RESPONSE FROM KE: No worries. I like that you keep me honest because I am certainly not above making errors.
Posted by: Andre the Midget | March 10, 2009 3:45 PM