Monday Night Football Game Changing Musical Kickoff: Monday Night Football altered a popular rule on September 18. The show started with a new music video of Chris Stapleton, Snoop Dogg, and drummer Cindy Blackman Santana performing a fresh version of Phil Collins’s “In the Air Tonight.”
This movie set the scene for the Saints vs. Panthers coverage at 7:15 p.m. ET, followed by ABC’s coverage of the Browns vs. Steelers at 8:15 p.m. ET. Per an official press statement, this musical intro will now be a regular part of Monday Night Football games, Week 18 Saturday Doubleheader, Super Wild Card, and its first Divisional playoff game.
Before the game, players discussed how the song made them feel. Hines Ward said one piece can get you in the mood to kick some tail, and Terry McLaurin said it doesn’t matter if you’re the home or away team, you hear that song before the game.
“In the Air Tonight” was on Phil Collins’s debut solo album, “Face Value,” released in 1981. It reached No. 19 on the Billboard Hot 100 as a song. This rock song was memorable. It stayed below the Hot 100 for six weeks after appearing on Miami Vice in 1984. The song gained more fame in the movie Miami Vice, which topped the Billboard 200 charts for 11 weeks in 1985-1986.
There are many great song moments on Monday Night Football this season, not just “In the Air Tonight.” The plans are to collaborate with Timbaland and Justin Timberlake for the 2023-2024 NFL season. Some MNF games will play carefully picked songs. This will improve commercials, live broadcasts, and pre-game shows for seven weeks.
