The New Orleans Saints are having a banner year, closing the NFL regular season with a 13-3 record and a first-round bye. Success in the Big Easy demands a song to match, so local affiliate WVUE FOX 8 News asked the original music experts at <a href="http://(www.stephenarnoldumusic.com)“>Stephen Arnold Music ((www.stephenarnoldumusic.com)) to put a sonic stamp on the post season. The result is the funk of the “Big Thang,” emerging as an instant hit across Louisiana.
Stephen Arnold, founder of <a href="http://(www.stephenarnoldumusic.com)“>Stephen Arnold Music, had already penned one classic New Orleans sports song with “Bless You Boys,” which has endured nonstop for over two decades. Called back for a repeat performance, Arnold rose to the occasion with an energetic rock/funk theme designed to serve as a year-round rallying cry.
“Football is the biggest show in town in New Orleans — their team is #1 this year and there’s a tremendous amount of local pride that comes with that,” Arnold says. “Sporting events go hand-in-hand with an anthem that can unite and excite the fans. ‘Big Thang‘ has got a really strong, simple hook, followed up with an undeniable stadium chant. You hear this song once, and you’ve got it in your head.”
The Music Rules
Arnold tapped longtime collaborator Greg Barnhill — a platinum songwriter and New Orleans native — to create lyrics (“There’s a big thang happening here in New Orleans/And it feels so good to know that it’s our time to win”) and a horn-powered melody ideal from beloved local group Big Sam’s Funky Nation.
“New Orleans residents can spot a phony a mile away — fortunately we have a lot of experience working with local talent so that what gets made is a real record, not just a jingle,” explains Arnold, who oversaw recording sessions at New Orleans studios The Music Shed and Fudge. “We gave Big Sam’s Funky Nation a lot of creative license to change the groove around. That’s how it becomes their song.”
Paired up with a dramatic video of Saints highlights from the Superdome and beyond, “Big Thang” has Louisiana clamoring for the postseason to kick in. Super Bowl-bound or not, <a href="http://(www.stephenarnoldumusic.com)“>Stephen Arnold Music has given WVUE, the team and its legion of fans inspiration to last throughout the year.
“There may be no city in the world with as many talented musicians and wide-ranging musical styles as New Orleans,” Stephen Arnold says. “The Saints are THE sports team in this amazing-sounding city. They deserve a timeless hit, and it’s an incredible privilege to deliver it.”
Web Resources
Click here to watch “Big Thang“:
http://blog.stephenarnoldmusic.com/2010/01/11/new-orleans-big-thang/
About <a href="http://(www.stephenarnoldumusic.com)“>Stephen Arnold Music
As a multiple Emmy, Addy and Promax Gold award-winning music production company, <a href="http://(www.stephenarnoldumusic.com)“>Stephen Arnold Music has over 15 years of success in delivering the sounds that make a difference to networks, television stations, advertising agencies, film studios and video game companies the world over. The company’s Commanding Sonic Branding approach to music production and commitment to industry-leading service is at the core of its promise. For more information, please visit <a href="http://(www.stephenarnoldumusic.com)“>www.stephenarnoldmusic.com.
