[Husker] Tunnel Walk Follow Up

[Mike Jaixen]

Welcome back, Loon!

This topic has touched a nerve with Husker fans as
word spread and the story was confirmed by the
athletic deartment as "not just a wacky internet
rumor".  (As a trivia item, I blogged on this topic
last night, and already traffic is double my previous
daily record...before NOON!  Pardon the gratuitous
self-promotion, but it's at
http://huskermike.blogspot.com/2007/08/new-tunnel-walk-music-for-husker.html
)

Why the interest?  Well, the Tunnel Walk and the music
is now a Husker tradition, like it or not.  People who
have never heard of the Alan Parsons Project know it. 
Unofficially, it's the third school song behind "There
is no place like Nebraska" and "Hail Varsity".  I've
been to several wedding receptions where it's played
to introduce the wedding party.

Some raise some concerns about whether "hip hop" would
be appropriate for the Nebraska Tunnel Walk.  Hard to
say until we see and hear the finished product.  I
talked to a local music expert who expressed surprise
that the Huskers make the switch at a time when he
feels that interest in "hip hop" is fading.  (Might
open us up to more ridicule from the folks in Southern
California in two weeks...)

At this point in time, since they are still working on
it, it's probably best to reserve final judgement
until we see and hear the finished product.  I think
it's safe to say that reaction will probably be mixed.
 

That being said, people do have valid concerns with
the idea of making a significant change to the tunnel
walk and breaking one of Nebraska's best traditions.
It's disappointing when someone ignores those concerns
and tries once again to change the discussion back to
Steve Pederson.  Can we simply focus on the issue and
not try to rehash old vendettas, whether they are
against the athletic director or people who previously
criticized the athletic director.

--- RedCladLoon at aol.com wrote:

> I think you're casting too large of a net with your
> condemnation of hip-hop 
> as a whole, Gary. It's not exactly my favorite type
> of music, either, but 
> basically, hip-hop is a pretty broad term for a
> broad musical genre that combines 
> DJing and rap. It's not all like the type of music
> you seem to be describing -- 
> far from it.
> 
> You're probably extrapolating gangsta rap, which
> emerged in the '80s and 
> '90s, to define all forms of hip-hop. That's not
> accurate. Gangsta rap is an 
> element of hip-hop, and it's garnered the most media
> attention and controversy. I'm 
> not defending that particular brand of music, but to
> label all hip-hop evil 
> because of one offshoot from its tree would be like
> condemning all country 
> music because honky-tonk, a type of country music,
> predominantly deals with themes 
> like binge-drinking and infidelity. 
> 
> If it makes anyone feel better, from what I hear
> 'Sirius' still has a part in 
> the Tunnel Walk, but the work of local DJ Mikey Bo
> also has a part in the 
> entrance sequence. I believe Mikey Bo is from the
> mighty hip-hop hotbed of 
> Brainard, Nebraska, so my guess is that Memorial
> Stadium's going to survive the 
> Tunnel Walk. Good thing, that; there's only so much
> righteous indignation to go 
> around on Game Day, and a majority of it still has
> to be directed at the 
> coaches, the officials and the athletes.


Mike Jaixen
Blog: http://huskermike.blogspot.com


       
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