This Week in Backboard and Billboard History: February 15th
*Staind voice* It's been awhile.
Hey, gang. It’s been quite a while since we stepped into the way back machine. I’ve been busy with my new gig, but I’ve had some time open up recently. The time that’s opened up because of a suspension from Twitter, because using music for meme purposes the same as inciting an insurrection. While I’m in exile, let’s take a look back once again.
Random Song You Didn’t Know Was a Top 40 Hit: Zac Efron - Getcha Head in the Game.
Back in mid-February of 2006, the country was overrun with a different kind of virus. This virus was the catchy music and dance stylings of a ‘DCOM’ classic. I myself had a front-row seat to this show starring Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens (then known as Vanessa Ann Hudgens.) I was never a musical guy (or kid), but there was something about this one that seemed to have me hooked. The music was catchy as hell, and the High School setting looked like what I thought was in store for me in just a handful of years. ‘Getcha Head in the Game’ was unsurprisingly my favorite of the songs featured. The basketballs in the background, the choreographed dribbling in the video, and the earworm that was the main “getcha, getcha, getcha, getcha, getcha” hook. I couldn’t deny the hold it had on me at my 11 years self. I still find myself singing it here and there, wishing I could ball like Troy Bolton. Or at least the stunt double. 17 Again is still the superior Zac Efron basketball movie, though.
Box Score of the Day: February 15th, 2001
Back before Michael Jordan would be the old Shooting Guard on the Wizards, Mitch Richmond was still lying around like hard candy in your grandma’s purse. It seemed like Mitch hung around for as long as he could. He stuck around long enough to reach the 20,000 point mark of his career in this exact game. Most of those points came with the Kings or Warriors, where Richmond made his name. Still, it’s weird to think getting to this mark probably helped him get into the Hall of Fame the most. The Basketball Hall of Fame is a weird place that doesn’t make sense, so I’m not going to get caught up in it too much. This game also featured a very young Rip Hamilton facing off against Tim Duncan, before they’d meet up again in 4 years in a much more high stakes affair. It was the beginning of a story to yet another Wizard that Jordan gave away, like Ben Wallace, who would go on to Pistons’ glory. Weirdly enough, the Pistons really do have Michael Jordan to thank for a lot of their success in the 2000s. But they all wear his logo now, so who really won.
Banger of the Day: # 17 on the Hot 100 in 1988
A timeless classic about turning the dial of the volume in the upward trajectory. Before ‘Pump Up the Jam,’ there was ‘Pump Up the Volume.’ While both are absolute bangers, there was something about the M/A/R/R/S classic I’ve always liked more. Maybe it was the sample of Rakim that was on a loop throughout the song? Or maybe the infectious rhythm sprinkled throughout that felt like both a dream and nightmare being had by a keyboard. It wasn’t your typical 80’s dance track, but it still captured the ears of a country in the middle of one of the more experimental ages of music. I can even see it being one day revived in a meme-like way. But for now, I’m glad it was appreciated during its time. Pump those volumes, friends.
The News Without Huey Lewis:
Back on this day in 2001, the late George Harrison did an actual MSN Live chat with Yahoo. Most of these words may be confusing to today’s youth, and some of them are pretty foreign to me, to be honest with you. MSN Live was a way to chat with the entire world, before dedicated message boards, Tumblr, and eventually Twitter. Back in 2001, seeing a Beatle using this platform might’ve been game-changing. I can imagine it would be like if Michael Jordan did a Reddit AMA now. The transcript is pretty great, and George seemed to have fun answering the questions coming his way. My favorite part is probably the guy who asks him about Eminem. The response is what you’d expect from George, but I still found the exchange quite funny. I only wish that Rick James had done an AOL Chat before he passed away. In the basketball world,