Iconic songs and Monday Night Football go hand in hand. I mean, for how many decades did Hank Williams Jr.’s “All My Rowdy Friends Are Coming Over Tonight” open each game? Last night, we were getting supper together and had the television on, ready for Monday Night Football’s match-up here in the Queen City between The New Orleans Saints and our Carolina Panthers. The game hadn’t started yet, so I wasn’t really paying attention. Then, I heard something familiar, yet not familiar.
If I was to list my top 100 favorite songs of all-time, any genre, Phil Collins’ “In The Air Tonight” would no doubt make the list. It is haunting, foreboding, implies with its lyrics that violence is a distinct possibility, and has that iconic drum cadence.
So, the music was familiar. The lyrics too. But that wasn’t Phil Collins coming out the speakers. There are very few times that a cover version of a song lives up to, much less surpasses the original. That being said, Chris Stapleton absolutely CRUSHES “In The Air Tonight.” It is the new opening for Monday Night Football. And coming before the Panthers’ game last night, it totally fired me up.
6 Former Carolina Panthers Nominated For Pro Football Hall Of Fame
Steve Smith Sr.
Wide receiver Steve Smith #89 of the Carolina Panthers runs with the ball during the NFC Divisional Playoff game against the St. Louis Rams on January 10, 2004 at the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis, Missouri. The Panthers defeated the Rams 29-23 to advance to the NFC Championship Game. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)
Jake Delhomme
Quarterback Jake Delhomme #17 of the Carolina Panthers passes the ball during the game against the Atlanta Falcons at Bank of America Stadium on November 15, 2009 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
Muhsin Muhammad
Muhsin Muhammad #87 of the Carolina Panthers catches a touchdown pass to make the score 37-27 against Dwaine Carpenter #35 of the San Francisco 49ers at Monster Park on November 14, 2004 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)
John Kasay
Carolina Panthers kicker John Kasay follows through on an extra point against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Dec. 26, 2004 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa. The Panthers defeated the Bucs 37 to 20. (Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)
Jordan Gross
Jordan Gross #69 of the Carolina Panthers during their game at Bank of America Stadium on December 1, 2013 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
Charles Tillman
Charles Tillman #31 of the Carolina Panthers intercepts a pass from Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots during their preseason NFL game at Bank of America Stadium on August 28, 2015 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
