“Dallas! Stars! Dallas! Stars!”
Every time the Dallas Stars light the lamp at the American Airlines Center, Stars fans erupt into loud chants of the team’s name each time the home team scores a goal. Stars fans can thank Pantera, an Arlington-based heavy metal band, who wrote their goal song, “Puck Off,” during the team’s 1999 Stanley Cup championship run.
When I first heard “Puck Off” by Pantera, I freaked out because I hopped on a Stars podcast with my earbuds at a high volume, but I was all right. I liked the song, but that’s probably because I was already a Pantera fan. I wouldn’t call myself a metalhead, as I grew up with all types of music, but I’m flexible. You could say I’m the type who can rock out or dance, depending on the situation.
That being said, I think the Stars should play these ten songs at their home games. Here are my top ten picks.
10. “96 Quite Bitter Beings” by CKY
Do you like rock music? If so, you’re looking at a solid rock song.
There aren’t 96 NHL players on the ice, but there’s a rock song called “96 Quite Bitter Beings” by CKY. This is CKY’s most famous song, a debut single released in 1999, despite never charting. This song is energetic from start to finish, thanks to its back-and-forth vocals, in-your-face guitars, and alternating drums.
9. “My Universe” by BTS ft. Coldplay
You may be a BTS fan, but are you an ultimate BTS superfan? If not, now’s the perfect time to check out “My Universe” by BTS featuring Coldplay.
The Dallas Stars were originally the Minnesota North Stars, a team name derived from the French saying, “L’Etoile du Nord,” and reportedly chosen by fans during a public contest. While you can’t see stars at the Stars’ home games, you can rest assured there are about 48 million stars in the universe. “My Universe” is an appropriate song choice that correlates with stars. It’s a K-pop and British pop-rock collaboration that can transcend language with English and Korean lyrics and bright colors.
8. “We Are The People” by Martin Garrix ft. Bono and The Edge
Did you watch the UEFA EURO 2020? If you answered “yes,” you’ve probably heard “We Are The People” by Martin Garrix ft. Bono and The Edge.
For those who don’t know, Martin Garrix is a Dutch DJ who was ranked No. 1 on DJ Mag’s Top 100 DJs list for three consecutive years — 2016, 2017, and 2018. Garrix, one of the youngest and most successful DJs in the world, was discovered by Tiësto. Meanwhile, Bono and The Edge are from the Irish rock band U2. The trio’s collaboration “We Are The People” is an anthemic song that can unite Stars fans in the States and across the pond.
7. “Why Can’t We Be Friends?” by Smash Mouth
Smash Mouth is best known for their hit songs “All Stars” and “Walkin’ on the Sun” in 1999 and 1997, respectively. Smash Mouth is also known for its covers of songs, such as “Why Can’t We Be Friends” by War. War’s version reached No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1975.
“Why Can’t We Be Friends” features the phrase “Why can’t we be friends?” sung four times after each two-line verse, totaling 44 times in under four minutes. The Stars’ aggressiveness and physicality can affect opposing NHL teams and cause them to sing along to this rock song or at least relate to it.
Rest in peace, Steve Harwell (1967-2023).
6. “Cold Water” by Major Lazer ft. Justin Bieber and MØ
Did you know? “Cold Water” by Major Lazer featuring Justin Bieber and MØ is more than a 2016 hit song. It’s a song about coming together to face adversity and saying you have your partner’s back, no matter the situation.
“Cold Water” can be described as a dancehall-pop song with acoustic elements. The collaboration between Major Lazer, Justin Bieber, and MØ was unexpected, but the song turned out good. The song might have the power to improve and stabilize the Stars’ blueline and defense.
5. “Never Say Never” by Justin Bieber ft. Jaden Smith
Do you remember? “Never Say Never” by Justin Bieber featuring Jaden Smith was the theme song in The Karate Kid in 2010.
“Never Say Never” is an inspirational pop and rap song that can inspire and motivate the Stars’ players. Its motivational lyrics, such as “I never thought that I could walk through fire. I never thought that I could take the burn, never had the strength to take it higher”, might remind Stars fans of a teen-friendly version of “Lose Yourself” by Eminem.
4. “Higher” by Creed
The Texas Rangers have been playing “Higher” by Creed, so why can’t the Dallas Stars?
“Higher” is Creed’s breakthrough hit. The 1999 rock song peaked at No. 7 in 2000 and spent 57 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100. The song has been the Rangers’ unofficial soundtrack since Rangers pitcher Andrew Heaney casually mentioned that the team was listening to Creed in an interview with radio broadcaster Jared Sandler before Game 2 of their ALDS series against the (Baltimore) Orioles, explaining that Texas overcame late-season struggles by “having fun and playing Creed before games.”
“Higher” might be the song that helps the Stars get over the hump and into the Stanley Cup Final.
3. “Work Hard, Play Hard” by Wiz Khalifa
If you’re a Dallas Cowboys fan, you should know Cowboys fans adopted “We Dem Boyz” by Wiz Khalifa during the 2014 NFL season, and the 2014 boisterous, trap-influenced, drum-heavy song has stuck since.
Dallas Stars fans might want to adopt “Work Hard, Play Hard” by Wiz Khalifa. The inspirational-poster song was the first single from Wiz Khalifa’s fourth studio album, O.N.I.F.C., in 2012. The Pittsburgh rapper rhymes, “The bigger the bill, the harder you ball … Well, I’m throwin’ mine, ’cause my money long. The quicker you here, the faster you go. That’s why where I come from, the only thing we know is work hard, play hard.”
Wiz Khalifa stressed the importance of hard work in his song. The Dallas Stars might want to listen to the song that echoes the adage that success is 99% hard work and 1% talent. The Stars, however, should stress relaxation after the team works hard and perseveres on the ice.
2. “Believe What I Say” by Kanye West
Are you looking for a new rap song? If “yes,” you should hear “Believe What I Say” by Kanye West. The 2021 song featured a Lauren Hill sample that flexed Kanye West’s production skills and paid tribute to one of West’s musical idols.
Lauren Hill’s sample was used in West’s song and reportedly calls out men who have failing relationships in real life but want to be seen as good guys. I’m not going to name names, but the Stars have some players similar to the ones in Hill’s sample, and they shouldn’t let the lifestyle drag them down as they follow the sparkle in the light.
1. “Bring The Noise” by Public Enemy ft. Anthrax
It’s only fitting to end this list with a rap-metal crossover. “Bring The Noise” by Public Enemy featuring Anthrax was released in 1991, so it’s an old-school hip-hop and thrash metal song, but it was arguably one of the best rap-metal crossovers in history. I wasn’t even alive, but it was a standout track.
“Bring The Noise” features two different New York-based groups, as Public Enemy is from Long Island and Anthrax hails from New York City. Together, the two groups created a hit song that wasn’t supposed to be kept after being added to the soundtrack of the 1987 film Less Than Zero.
Whether you’re a rap fan or a metalhead, you should give this song a chance. You’re welcome.
