Van Halen's only Billboard number-one single last week topped a poll of the world’s best sporting songs. Music rights body PRS for Music held a vote among its members to mark the London Olympics. The resulting top 20 also includes The Rolling Stones, Hawkwind, Queen, The Beatles, Survivor, Tina Turner and Journey.
PRS boss Guy Fletcher said,
"Music plays such a classic role for both the spectator and participant. As a Brit I would have to vote for Spaundau Ballet’s Gold – I think we might get a few of those, fingers crossed."
Jump, from Van Halen’s sixth album 1984, has a controversial history. Its heavily-featured synth riff alienated singer David Lee Roth, who’s said to have written the lyrics and performed the track under protest. The change in musical direction led to a split between the founder members and Roth’s later departure. Despite that, it remains one of the band’s most popular tracks.
PRS For Music's Top 20 Sporting Songs:
- Jump - Van Halen
- Start Me Up - Rolling Stones
- Higher and Higher - Jackie Wilson
- Gold - Spandau Ballet
- Thriller - Michael Jackson
- Wake Me Up! - Wham!
- The Winner Takes It All - ABBA
- Silver Machine - Hawkwind
- We Are the Champions - Queen
- Shine - Take That
- Tracks of My Tears - Smokey Robinson
- The Long and Winding Road - Beatles
- Eye of the Tiger - Survivor
- Simply the Best - Tina Turner
- Jump Around - House of Pain
- Gonna Fly Now - from Rocky
- Another One Bites the Dust - Queen
- Don’t Stop Believin’ - Journey
- Chariots of Fire Theme
- We Will Rock You - Queen