Recent SEC hype video was released:
As one commenter said, “don’t love it, don’t hate it”. Something feels off…then you realize it’s Luke Combs singing it, not Tom Petty. Little did I know there was a country western tribute album called Petty Country released a while back, and Combs is one of the contributors. He may have struck lightning by remaking Tracy Chapman’s Fast Car, and while this ain’t bad, it pales in comparison to the actual Petty version (note: the Petty estate gave the blessing for this, so not a knock on anyone, just saying).
Florida roots aside, I love me some Tom Petty. So let’s cleanse our ears by putting up an original version of one of the greatest to wail in Southern Rock history:
Born in Valdosta but raised in north Gainesville, Florida, Petty was inspired by an early encounter with Elvis as a family member worked on a film set featuring the King somewhere near Ocala, Florida. As a fellow Refugee pointed out, Petty learned the guitar from Don Felder, who would go on to join the Eagles and write Hotel California. Though he worked on the grounds crew at the University of Florida, he never attended though the Gator faithful claim him as their own. Maybe this attachment to an SEC foe is why the league went with the Combs version.
His earliest musical endeavor was a band named Mudcrutch, which featured Petty and two members who would go on to make up the Heartbreakers, Mike Campbell and Benmont Tench. They only had one recording, Depot Street, that had studio quality but didn’t chart anywhere. Clearly, from the jump, Petty had a style of his own:
Sounds a little like Elvis Costello, no? Regardless, Perry’s unique, somewhat nasally balladeer sound that merges Bob Dylan with a slow southern drawl is one of a kind.
My one recommendation to the SEC, keep the video, replace the lyrics with their original artist. As a Dawg fan, it doesn’t bother me if they play Tom in Gainesville on game days. Some artists just don’t (or can’t) need to be covered or re-recorded, and Petty is one of those artists.
Not trying to be Petty about it…or maybe I am doing just that.
Lame ass choice…🐊💩
And there is this.
Runnin’ Down a Dream is a 2007 documentary film about Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, directed by Peter Bogdanovich. The 4-hour documentary chronicles the history of the band, from its inception as Mudcrutch, right up to the 30th-anniversary concert in Petty’s home town of Gainesville, Florida, on September 21, 2006, at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center, University of Florida. The film features interviews with George Harrison, Eddie Vedder, Stevie Nicks, Dave Grohl, Jeff Lynne, Rick Rubin, Johnny Depp, Jackson Browne and more. Petty’s solo career is also touched on, as is his time with The Traveling Wilburys.
The film was commercially released as part of a four-disc box set. The film spanned the first two discs, while the 30th anniversary concert and a CD of rare tracks were the components of the remaining two discs. On October 28, 2008, a two-disc version set of the film, featuring previously unreleased bonus performances, but not the Gainesville concert or audio CD, was released to the public.[1] Runnin’ Down a Dream was released on Blu-ray Disc on November 15, 2010.[2]
Great film
What I hate is that everyone seems to think that everyone in the South is a country music loving, beer chugging, 1 tooth redneck. At least pick the Tom Petty version of the song. SO much better!
I have all my teeth thank you very much.
Not much a fan of the country cover, I’ve heard worse but not impressed with this version. I had rather just use the original.
Tom Petty was never much associated with the Crocs until he passed and then the program thought they could use his song to get the fans to stay to the 4th quarter.
I’m a rockin roller and have been all my life. There are some country songs I like but not that many. One of my favorites is Chicken Fried by Zach Brown and they actually play it for the sing-alone in Sanford.
“Get drunk and be somebody”…
Tom Petty: best thing to come out of Gainesville since I-75.
RIP, Tom.
considering how all SEC fans feel about non SEC teams, and each other, I think maybe “MOVE, BITCH” by Ludacris would have been a better choice. But, I’m a visionary. I guess I should be glad Disney didn’t turn the decision to the people who improved Star Wars. I’m not a country music guy, but I admit I liked the Big and Rich intro to Game Day, which was at least enough to get the blood circulating. This is CFB elevator music. Zzzzzzzz.
My verdict: I’m not moved at all. It would have to be lots better to be chewing gum for the ears.Glad it wasn’t worse.
💯
I’ve been a huge Petty fan since high school, that I’m actually considering getting a terrific local Petty cover band to play at my house for the UGA-Texas game this year. The new covers album, which was released last month, has some good ones and some bad ones. Luke Combs’ version of “Runnin’ Down A Dream” is one of the good ones, but nothing beats Petty’s version, so why not use it? Also, if we’re looking for entertainment, can we play “Even The Losers” before Every Florida game? And “You Wreck Me” before Georgia games? And “Yer So Bad” before Auburn games? Cool, thanks.
The Mad Hatters?
Damn The Torpedoes
Here’s how petty I am.
Years ago, I downloaded the old SEC theme song to use as a ringtone for close friends. Before every kick off this fall, I’m just going to blast that out over the bluetooth speaker so I don’t have to listen to whatever they’re trying now.
But yes, they should have used the TP version.
When you ask an FU fan about their vision of 2024, they will quote T.P., “runnin’ down a dream” and at times it’s a wet, delusional dream….#FTMF!!
If memory serves Tom was born in Valdosta, GA. And yes, his version is far superior.
No amount of gator love can ruin Tom Petty for me. One bad ass musician.
Saw him live once on a last minute whim around 2002. He kicked ass all night long. I had no idea. I liked the records, but had no idea what a showman the guy was.
I like Tom Petty and love his music. But when you put this song in the context of SEC football, all I can say is FTMF.
Should have used James Brown, REM, B-52, Wide Spread Panic, or any of the rap artists from Athens or ATL. This is SEC football. Fuck anyone not associated with my Dawgs.
Sorry, not sorry.
that is so very “Ranger-esque” I had to double check
He cited far too many gd hippie bands.
And rap….
He did it perfectly.
He did end it perfectly.
Got damn right!
The Sanford DJ (music dude, not Shockley) needs to make this Athenian tune a staple at the start of the 4th quarter. Or, hell, at kickoff. Let opponents know what they’re in for.
I question using a song so closely tied to one particular institution to represent the entire conference, but if you’re gonna do it, use the damn original.
That being said, maybe “It’s the End of the World as We Know It” would’ve been better, what with the current state of the game. (With the added benefit, of course, of it being from an Athens band.)
I recently watched this video about that song. If you have some time, it’s worth a listen:
I, too, would have opted for the original version by Tom Petty.
TP is the only good thing ever to come out of Gainesville (Derek is right in that he was not technically born there)…and he got out early. If you never read his authorized autobiography (I think written by a Rolling Stone writer), it’s really good. I’m sort of addicted to the Tom Petty channel on XM, so I agree that the SEC should use the original (might be cheaper to use Combs copy?).
Edited based on y’all’s notes. – JP
huge petty fan
why fuck with a classic, just use Petty
Mike Campbell makes a lot of his songs ring.
That version is too mellow. A hype video should hype you up.
Nope. An original music score would be the right move. The CBS theme and even Home Depot’s get the juices going for something that only lasts about 10-20 seconds.
So I was at Ft Lewis between Korea and Vietnam and a couple of us went to Seattle and scored. We took the bus back to the fort and, by the time we got back, it was after lights out so we couldn’t hang in the barracks so we took a radio and went into the laundry room. We turned on the radio and RFK had been shot. For years I tried to figure out why Petty, at about 3:05 in the video, flashed RFK on the floor with Rosie Greer hiding him. Somewhere along the line I read an interview that it was just random but it’s aways weirded me out!