Pop Shots – A Football Filled Super Bowl Playlist

Welcome to your weekly dose of pop world musings. Covering all things pop culture, with the Super Bowl coming up on Sunday, I thought it would be a great opportunity to do one of my favorite things – create a themed-playlist!

This one presented a bit of a challenge, but I found seven songs by artists who were, or still are, NFL players, and I threw a few wild cards in, as well. Hey, a Wild Card may not be in the Super Bowl, but that doesn’t mean I can’t have any in my Super Bowl playlist!

Of course, since this is Pop Shots you know everything is seasoned with a little bit of attitude.

Deion Sanders – Must Be The Money

 

Who among us can forget the time Deion Sanders was playing two sports AND recording music?

His debut album, Prime Time, was released in 1994 via MC Hammer’s Bust It Records, and it was … well, it was a bust.

Deion played football, baseball, and now coaches far better than he could sing, but “Must Be The Money” – thanks to the women singing the chorus – has become a kitsch classic.

Chicago Bears Shufflin’ Crew – The Super Bowl Shuffle

 

The 1985 Chicago Bears were a phenomenal team featuring Walter Payton, Mike Singletary, and William “The Refrigerator” Perry, the latter two being part of their all-time great defense.

In addition to winning Super Bowl XX, the ’85 Bears also gave the world a dance craze known as “The Super Bowl Shuffle.”

OK maybe it wasn’t a dance craze, but the song went gold, selling over 500k copies, reached #41 on the Billboard Hot 100, and was – mind-bogglingly – nominated for a Grammy for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group (losing to Prince and The Revolution’s “Kiss”).

A charity single, sales of “The Super Bowl Shuffle,” and its video, raised $300,000 for the Chicago Community Trust.

Speaking of teams creating music for charity …

The Philly Specials – Fairytale of Philadelphia

 

A Philly Special: Christmas Special, released late in 2023, was the Philadelphia Eagles’ second holiday album, with all the proceeds going to children’s charities in the Philadelphia area.

As evidenced by “Fairytale of Philadelphia,” which is their take on The Pogues’ “Fairytale of New York,” they didn’t limit themselves to just members of their own team, as the Eagles’ Jason Kelce was joined by his brother, the Chiefs’ Travis Kelce, for the song.

To date, A Philly Special: Christmas Special has raised over $3 million, meaning the team’s musical effort far surpassed their playoff effort.

Yes, I’m a Giants fan. Why do you ask?



Seriously, though, rivalry aside, $3 mil for charity is awesome.

Flutie Brothers Band

 

Sure, The Bacon Brothers have Kevin Bacon, but the Flutie Brothers Band has college football, CFL, and NFL legend Doug Flutie!

Another charitable effort, the Flutie Brothers Band – which features Doug on drums – has raised money for various causes, including Doug Flutie’s own Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation for Autism.

I don’t know if the band is still active, but I hope they are.

As an aside, if Doug is reading this, I think rock n roll is probably a pretty good testosterone booster. Just sayin’.  

Joe Barksdale – Danielle

 

Joe Barksdale is a former offensive tackle who played for four teams across eight seasons in the league.

Since retiring he’s been very open about his lifelong battle with depression, and being diagnosed with autism at the age of 30. He’s also looked to make a name for himself in the worlds of comedy, and R&B.

During his playing days he was listed at 6’5’, 326 lbs, but when it comes to his post-career work, he’s clearly a big guy with an even bigger heart.

AB – Pit Not The Palace

 

A man who never met a bad decision he didn’t like, former NFL player Antonio Brown recently made an attempt at a hip-hop career. Actually, it could still be happening. Hell if I know.

His song “Pit Not The Palace” shows a glaring lack of self-awareness consistent with a history that includes completely self-sabotaging an NFL career that at one point in time had a Hall of Fame trajectory.

The song, which is really just a chorus repeated a few times, is mildly catchy, so I’ll give him that, but I’d really prefer if he’d stop using my initials, even if they are also his initials.

The Real Pacman Jones – Ferrari Kit

 

Another former NFL player who has jumped into the hip-hop world is Pacman Jones, who just released his latest single, “Ferrari Kit,” this past Friday.

Fun Fact – Pacman’s real name is Adam Bernard Jones, so if you think I’m going to say anything negative about him, you’re crazy! We share a name!

Now, about sharing that Ferrari … c’mon bro, like I said, we share a name ... well, two thirds of a name. That’s gotta make the whole insurance situation easy, right?

Adam Sandler – The Lonesome Kicker

 

Scott Norwood, Tyler Bass, and countless others – even those who haven’t worn a Buffalo Bills uniform – know the pain of being “The Lonesome Kicker.”

Adam Sandler’s Springsteen-esque ode to those who are remembered most when they fail was released in 1997, and has become a classic for anyone who knows the importance of a special shoe used to kick in the snow.

The video features cameos from a trio of Pittsburgh Steelers from the ’97 team – Kordell Stewart, Greg Lloyd, and Jerome Bettis – but, of course, not the kicker.

Jordin Sparks – Battlefield

 

I know what some of you are thinking – what the heck is Jordin Sparks doing in a football-themed column?

Glad you asked!

The season six winner of American Idol is the daughter of former New York Giants DB Phillippi Sparks!

This makes “Battlefield” a totally appropriate song to play before going to battle on the gridiron.

OK, maybe that’s a stretch, but she should at least get a slot singing the National Anthem, right?

That’s all for this edition of Pop Shots, but come back next Monday for more shots on all things pop.