One Shining Moment

There are a number of instances on the U.S. sports calendar in which a sporting event or media coverage of a sporting event is associated with a particular song.  The Indianapolis 500, for instance, customarily involves the singing of “Back Home Again in Indiana” (usually performed by Jim Nabors) just before the start of the race.  Also, while not associated with one particular song, the Super Bowl halftime show has become a prominent event that brings together popular music and sport.  Other examples could make this list.

In terms of media coverage of sporting events, one of the most recognized occurs when, following the championship game of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament, CBS Sports plays a montage of clips from the tournament set to the song “One Shining Moment.”  Last year, CBS switched from a version of the song performed by Luther Vandross to a new version performed by Jennifer Hudson.  The network has just announced that this year they will be going back to the Vandross version, which they used from 2003-2009, for the montage. 

I think this is probably a good move, as I liked the Vandross version and I remember the Hudson version feeling like it was missing the feel of the tournament.  My favorite version was the Teddy Pendergrass version of the song, which was used from 1994-1999 and is featured in the 1998 montage above.  Before Pendergrass, CBS used the original song, written and recorded by David Barrett, since beginning the tradition in 1987.  If you could have a musical performer create a version of “One Shining Moment” for this montage, whom would you choose?