Anyone who has ever been to a college football game will know how integral the marching band is to the culture. The bands are a refined and impressive level of showmanship in the field, usually performing at football game halftime shows, but they may also play pep band songs at school rallies to hype up the student Spirit.
Marching bands provide entertainment for fans at games and other events. They represent school spirit and tradition through their performances and uniforms. They encourage crowd participation and excitement during games, and their performances often include elaborate drills, choreographed movements, and visually appealing uniforms.
Why Did Marching Bands Become So Iconic on Game Days?
Marching bands are an integral and cherished part of the college football experience, contributing significantly to fan engagement, team morale, and the overall game-day atmosphere. They enhance the entertainment value, boost attendance, and foster a sense of togetherness and tradition.
The relationship between marching bands and college football is symbiotic, with both benefiting from the other’s presence. Bands contribute to the excitement of the game, and football games provide an outlet for bands to perform. Some bands can also distract the opponents as much as the game rules allow.
HBCU bands blend traditional marching band styles with black art forms, including R&B, gospel, hip-hop, and jazz, along with horn-swinging, high-stepping showmanship.
Southern University Marching Band performing at the pre-show. It’s giving BLACK. It’s giving CULTURE. We’re tuned in #SuperBowl pic.twitter.com/uW3uhOMX7g
— REVOLT (@revolttv) February 9, 2025
College bands have different iconic signatures, and some of them include Ohio State’s”Dotting of the I” tradition, Texas A&M’s “Aggie Fight Song” and the “Block T” formation.
Some of the best music for marching band troupes.
1. Carly Rae Jepsen “Call Me Maybe” – The University of California marching band performed the song at halftime, and the production saw the entire crowd singing along with the band.
2. No Doubt “Spiderwebs” – Iowa State’s marching band altered this rock hit to nod to the brass beginnings of the band through a wall of trumpets.
KEEP READING: How Big Is the Million Dollar Band, Alabama’s Marching Band?
3. Kanye West “All of the Lights” – The Temple University marching band treated this performance like it was “do or die.” They fittingly blew Kanye West’s song from his fifth studio album “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy” into the most grandiose version.
4. Psy “Gangnam Style” – At Ohio University, the marching band brought the ridiculousness of the viral, modern dance to the field with this wild performance. It’s a halftime show you have to see to believe!
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