The Hottest 100 is on this Saturday, so we figured we’ll do our own Countdown of sorts.
Perhaps not 100 songs.
And just about none of them are good.
It’s all up for interpretation and your own tastes.
So without further ado, here‘s our Hottest 30 (or so) people from the world of sport belting out a tune, as voted by no one and in no particular order.
With the Australian Open in full swing, the likes of Grigor Dimitrov, Tommy Haas, and Roger Federer saw fit to belt out a cover of Chicago’s hit song “Hard to Say I’m Sorry” with a cameo from one Novak Djokovic during the 2017 BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells.
It’s clear that the boys on the ATP Tour are fans of the soft rock genre and can somewhat hold a tune!
And if that isn’t enough from the world of Tennis, how about Rafael Nadal having a crack at La Bamba at a Kareoke bar 14 years ago?
In October 2021, The Gypsy King Tyson Fury retained his WBC belt following his stunning 11-round win over the Bronze Bomber Deonty Wilder and saw fit to serenade the fans at T-Mobile Arena in Vegas with his own rendition of the Marc Cohn song “Walking in Memphis” but with his own unique twist.
🎶 Walking in Vegas 🎶
🎶 Lancashire, la, la, la! 🎶
It's not a @Tyson_Fury victory until he serenades us 😅 pic.twitter.com/q07DWf8rmt
— Boxing on TNT Sports (@boxingontnt) October 10, 2021
Singing a song for the crowd after winning a big fight appears to be a Tyson Fury trademark.
In the previous fight between the two, back in February 2020 (Which was 27-years ago) after winning the WBC heavyweight championship belt, Tyson Fury figured a sing-a-long acapella version of Don McLean’s classic “American Pie” was a fitting way to celebrate.
🎶And a song to send everyone home. 🎶
The King has conquered the American Heavyweight landscape.
What's next? #WilderFury2 pic.twitter.com/Phn0b38TlF
— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) February 23, 2020
Who could forget Steve Smith’s efforts in quarantine in 2020?
With some serious downtime on his hands between games for the Rajasthan Royals in the IPL, Steve Smith thought it best to get his guitar out and belt out a tune for his millions of followers on Instagram.
It’s not quite the easy listening path that Oscar De La Hoya went down…
We simply couldn’t start this without Stephen Kernahan singing “Stand By Your Man” on Mad Monday after Carlton had won the 1987 VFL Grand Final.
There’s been a massive revival of hits from the 1980’s in recent times, as shown by Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp and “Let’s talk about Six Baby”
Liverpool has a proud music history, such as the Liverpool Rap from 1988.
They say Rap, Australia, and Football of any code don’t mix.
This is very much the case regarding the efforts of our old mate Beau Ryan.
And the VFL Players “Footy Rap” from 1988
When it comes to hip-hop and footballers (and boxers) there’s only one standout – the collaboration of Anthony Mundine with Joel Turner and Modern Day Poets – KNOCK U OUT.
Carl Lewis is a legend of the Olympic Games and World Sport and his 1987 hit “Break it Up” has been forgotten for a reason.
The late, great Tommy Raudonikis is a legend of Rugby League and represents everything we’re all about in his hit – HARDEN UP.
Can you do the Super Bowl Shuffle with the 1985 Chicago Bears?
Or can you RAM IT like the 1980 LA Rams?
The LA Lakers of 1987 has only one message for you all – JUST SAY NO TO DRUGS.
It seems every sports team has flirted with rap at one stage, much like the Perth Wildcats did in 1989.
Truly one of the worst songs to ever be released by a professional footballer, former Manchester United and Newcastle United striker Andy Cole had a crack at a rap single with outstanding lyrics like
“United forever, whatever the weather
Less than 100%? Never!
The son of a miner, funkiest rhymer
Always in the news, my crew’s the headliner
£7.5 mill record breaker, I’m rapping on the mic, I’m a record maker.”
When it comes to rap, then England and Liverpool footballer John Barnes busting out some rhymes in New Order’s hit “World In Motion” prior to the 1990 World Cup is all-time.
While many have attempted to rap, Brett Lee figured he’d have a crack at Bollywood.
However, we all know that Binga’s best work was in Cricket Super Group “Six and Out” featuring Brett/Shane Lee, Richard Chee Quee, Gavin Robertson and Brad McNamara.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OcH-unNO7L0
Are you a Melbourne Demons fan? No doubt C’MON DEMONS is on high rotation on your Spotify.
The Dees have had players who can actually sing on their list before, such as Russell Robinson who won the reality show “It Takes Two” back in 2008.
Back in 1985, Channel 7 Melbourne thought it’d be a great idea to get all the VFL players at the time to sing the station jingle.
The Port Adelaide Football Club actually reached the Australian Top 40 charts in 1988 (Number 17) with their hit “The Magpies (SANFL) Expect to Win”
Reg Reagan sang for a worthy cause – BRING BACK THE BIFF.
Mark “Jacko” Jackson wasn’t known for being a team player. He was an individual.
Warrick Capper only ever took what was his.
Collingwood legend Peter McKenna was a trendsetter when it came to footy players releasing a single. In 1972 he released “Smile All the While.”
Back in 1981, the VFL released an album called “Footy Favourites” that featured the stars of the league singing the hits of the day.
A personal favourite of ours is Hawthorn’s Micheal Moncrieff’s rendition of “Don’t Stand So Close To Me” by The Police.
And while 98% of sportspeople attempting to sing ain’t great, let’s finish on something actually good.
The Fijian Rugby League team singing the hymn “Noqu Masu” (English for “My Prayer”) during the 2017 Rugby League World Cup is something to behold.