The power and popularity of Phil Collins’ “In the Air Tonight,” first seen on television in the first season of Michael Mann’s “Miami Vice,” has transcended 30 years of film appearances in everything from Risky Business to a commercial for a Cadbury chocolate bar to a fictional Mike Tyson’s affinity for the tune in the original Hangover. Now it’s been reinvented as the theme song for one of television’s most popular shows.
ESPN announced today that it will use a version of the song that combines the talents of Chris Stapleton, Snoop Dogg and Cindy Blackman Santana. The first clip of the collaboration was released today via a new music video that plays before every game. (Side note: “Heavy Action,” the iconic instrumental theme music from Monday Night Football, remains part of the production. It follows the new opening and leads into the call of every play.)
You can watch the just-released clip below.
The new opening premieres tonight with the network’s special presentation “Two Games, One Night.” It will lead off both ESPN’s broadcast of the Saints at Panthers game at 7:15 p.m. ET and the ABC match between the Browns at Steelers at 8:15 p.m. ET. Going forward, it will be part of all of the network’s Monday Night Football broadcasts, the ESPN Week 18 Saturday doubleheader, the Super Wild Card and the first divisional playoff game.
It’s unclear why the new opening didn’t kick off the first Monday Night Football game of the season last week. Perhaps it wanted to strike a more moderate tone that day – it was September 11th, after all. Week 1 of Monday Night Football featured Stapleton’s song “White Horse.” Music from Timbaland and Justin Timberlake will also be featured in Monday Night Football commercials, live broadcasts and pre-game shows for seven weeks this season.