Some thoughts on songs for firefighting videos.
First let me say we all know it is ILLEGAL to add any copy written song to a video for public broadcast or redistribution. I am posting here some song suggestions simply as thought provokers. All suggestions and references to songs and videos are hypothetical.
I've been producing an annual year-in-view video for the Aurora (IL) Fire Department for the past few years. Each incorporates three to five songs and like most folks I initially found it difficult to find appropriate music. I’m happy to say these AFD Videos have attained a cult-like following among the 200+ firefighters and their families, and so I’m now getting frequent suggestions for new songs that “they heard on the radio” . . . .
Although I’ve seen Backdraft, Shine Your Light, and Standing Outside the Fire, used in various videos with great success, I like to be a bit more subtle with some of my music selections. I find many of the best songs aren’t true fire songs -- that is they don’t have “hot” fire” or “hero” anywhere in the title or lyrics! Take for example Superman (It’s not easy) by Five for Fighting, or Crawling in the Dark by Hoobastank. Both are pop-culture songs (it’s awful, when I hear them playing at the supermarket I can’t help but visualize the images I’ve edited to them on the screen!)
When editing a video, I take great pride in deftly matching the individual song lyrics up with the photo/video on the screen so that a firefighter on his hands-and-knees worn out after a fire is pictured with the lyric, “…Fall upon my knees” from the song Superman, or a dramatic slow-motion clip of firefighters entering a smoky building are set to the Elvis song Only Fools Rush In. My favorite paring was from my first video, and it featured dive-rescue and haz-mat photos set to the oldies hit Splish-Splash I’m a taken a Bath! (sing it, and you’ll see it could work!) *Smile*
My last bit of general advice -- mix it up a bit. As I said our videos are approximately 10 to 15 minutes long and include (at least parts of) several songs. I usually start with a “fire” song -- something fast, and hot to show off all the blaze-of-glory photos, and by the end of the show we’ve evolved though a funny-buddy-kinda song (We Go Together, Who Let The Dogs Out, or He Ain't Heavey) a remember the old-days kinda song with retirement photos and images from our museum’s collection (Yesterday, Heroes and Friends), then we usually end with a feel-good, individual-hero, make-em-cry, kinda song, (The Measure Of A Man, Walk of Life, Shine Your Light, Superman).
Here -- after years of searching online -- is my master song list.
GENERAL FIRE VIDEO SONGS
A Hot Time In The Old Town Tonight --- Chris Barber
Artist in the Ambulance --- Thrice
As I'm Leaving --- David Gray
Backdraft - The Show Goes On --- Bruce Hornsby
Band Of Brothers -01- Main Theme --- Michael Kamen
Barn Burning --- Dave Alvin
Blaze Of Glory --- Kenny Rogers
Born To Run --- Bruce Springstein
Bring on the Rain --- JoDee Messina
Brothers In Arms - Dire Straits --- Dire Straits
Burning Down The House - Tom Jones & The Cardigans --- Tom Jones & The Cardigans
Burning Heart --- Rocky IV
Chariots of Fire --- Vangelis
Climbin' Up The Ladder (Part 1) --- The Isley Brothers
Come To My Aid (Simply Red) ---
Crawling In The Dark --- Hoobastank
Eye of the Tiger (Survivor) --- Survivor
Feeling Hot Hot Hot --- Trinidad Steel Drum Band
Fight Fire With Fire - Kansas --- Kansas
Fight Fire With Fire - Metallica --- Metallica
Fightin Fire --- Various Artists
Fire --- Pointer Sisters
Fire - Jimi Hendrix --- Jimi Hendrix
Fire - Ohio Players --- Ohio Players
Fire - Pointer Sisters --- Pointer Sisters
Fire Engines --- The Aislers Set
Fire Truck w Siren & Air Horn - sound fx - ---
Firefighter - Don Abi --- Don Abi
Firefighter (I want to Rescue You) - Jason Lo --- Jason Lo
Fireman - All Day Long --- All Day Long
Great Balls Of Fire --- Jerry Lee Lewis
He Ain't Heavy He's My Brother - Hollies --- Hollies
Hearts on Fire --- Rocky IV
Hello, Goodbye --- Beatles
Hells Bells --- AC/DC
Help Is On It's Way --- Little River Band
Help! --- Beatles
Heros and Friends --- Randy Travis
Hold The Line --- Toto
Holding Out For A Hero --- Bonnie Tyler
Hook and Ladder --- Nancy Sinatra
House Of Fire --- Alice Cooper
I am here For You (Firehouse) --- FireHouse
If that's what it takes - Bravest of Hearts - strongest of soles) --- Mariah Carey?
I'm On Fire --- Bruce Springsteen
Into the Fire - Bruce Springsteen --- Bruce Springsteen?
Into the Fire - Thirteen Senses --- Thirteen Senses
Its So Hard To Say Goodbye To Yesterday (with pop) --- Boyz 2 Men
Let Me Take Your Foto --- Speedies
Living on the Edge --- Areosmith
Memories --- Elvis Presley
My Hero, there goes my... --- Foo Fighters
One Thing --- Finger Eleven
Only Fools Rush In - Elvis Presley --- Elvis Presley
Photograph --- Nickelback
Playing With Fire --- The Rolling Stones
Precious Memories - Emmylou Harris --- Emmylou Harris
Priests and Paramedics --- Pedro The Lion
Purple Haze --- Jimmy Hendrix
Remember the Heros (Three Lock Box) --- Sammy Hagar
Rescue Me - Aretha Franklin --- Aretha Franklin
Ring of Fire --- Johnny Cash
Rise And Fall (Ft. Sting) --- Craig David
Shine Your Light --- Robbie Robertson
Smoke --- Ohio Players
Smoke Gets In Your Eyes - The Platters
Smoke On The Water --- Deep Purple
Someone Saved My Life Tonight --- Elton John
Standing Outside the Fire --- Garth Brooks
Strength, Courage & Wisdom --- India Arie
Superman (Its not easy to be me) --- Five For Fighting
Takin' It To The Streets --- Doobie Brothers, The
The Fire Inside - from Jim Bergeron --- Bob Seger
The Glory of Life --- Rascal Flatts
The Man With the Ladder and the Hose (1904) --- Billy Murray
The Measure Of A Man --- Elton John
The Roof Is On Fire - Bloodhound Gang
There Are Places I Remember - Beatles
There's A Fire In The House --- Steve Vai
There's a Hero - Mariah Carey --- Mariah Carey
This Fire --- Franz Ferdinand
This House Is On Fire - AC/DC
This House Is On Fire - Natalie Merchant -
Up The Ladder To The Roof --- The Supremes
Walk of Life --- Dire Straits
We Didn't Start the Fire --- Billy Joel
We Go Together --- Grease
Wind Beneath my Wings --- Bette Midler
Wont Back Down --- Tom Petty
Yesterday - Beatles --- Beatles
Yesterdays Hero --- John Paul Young
SONGS ABOUT FIREFIGHTERS
Dedicated to the Firefighters --- Peter Cetera
Firefighter - Chris Whitley --- Chris Whitley
Firefighter - Don Abi --- Don Abi
Firefighter - Red Top Road --- Red Top Road
Firefighter (I want to Rescue You) - Jason Lo --- Jason Lo
Firefighter? - (Track 16) --- Feinstein
Firefighters Song - Seize The Day --- Seize The Day
Fireman - All Day Long --- All Day Long
Fireman - Drag-On --- Drag-On
Fireman - GCVAH --- David Byrne outtakes
Fireman - Jawbreaker --- Jawbreaker
Fireman - Lil' Wayne --- Lil' Wayne
Fireman - Machel, Wanskie, Onyan --- Machel, Wanskie, Onyan
Fireman - Vala Reegan & the Valarons --- Vala Reegan & the Valarons
Fireman Ring the Bell --- R.L. Burnside
Fireman Sam Theme Song --- CBeebies official album
Fireman Song (she puts out) --- Princeton Roaring 20
Fireman's Field Day Parade --- Trendleberg
Fireman's Wedding --- Joe Henry
Firemen - Candlewyck --- Candlewyck
Five Little Firemen - The Tweenies --- Tweenies
In the line of duty ---
My Brother Bill Is A Fireman --- The Corries
My Fire Department Needs A Fireman --- The Shadows Of Knight
My Neighbor the Firefighter --- Paul Barton
New York Firefighter --- The Wiggles
New York Firefighter (Introduction) --- The Wiggles
Super Hero / Fireman --- Various Artists
Ten Little Firefighters --- The Heavy Blinkers
Thank You Firefighter --- Anna Hamilton
The (Vol.) Fireman Song --- Jumping Jeff Walker + The Wackjobs
The Fireman - Kip Attaway --- Kip Attaway
SONGS WITH THE WORD HERO
Cartoon Heroes --- Aqua
He's No Hero --- Brian McFadden
Hero - Enrique Iglesias --- Enrique Iglesias
Hero - Nickelback --- Nickelback
Hero of the Day --- Metallica
Hero Takes a Fall --- Bangles
Hero Takes a Fall --- Prince
Heroes - Gord Bamford --- Gord Bamford
Heroes Don't Cry --- Scorpions
Heros and Friends --- Randy Travis
Heros And Villians --- Beach Boys
Heros from our past --- Dropkick Murphys
Holding Out For A Hero --- Bonnie Tyler
Hometown Heros - Eighteen --- Hometown Hero
I'm No Hero --- Jonny Logan
Juke Box Hero --- Foreigner
My Hero, there goes my... (Foo Fighters) --- Foo Fighters
No Hero --- The Offspring
No More Heroes --- The Stranglers
Nobody's Hero --- Rush
Remember the Heros (Three Lock Box) --- Sammy Hagar
Soldiers Who Want To Be Heros --- Rod McKuen
Somebody's Hero --- Jamie O'Neal
The Hero's Return --- Pink Floyd
The Measure Of A Man --- Elton John
There's A Hero - Billy Gilman
There's a Hero - Mariah Carey
Time For Heros --- The Libertines - 04
We Can Be Heros --- David Bowie
We Dont Need Another Hero --- Tina Turner
We're all Heroes --- Gord Bamford
Weak Become Heroes --- The Streets
When A Hero Cries --- Edguy
Wind Beneath my Wings --- Bette Midler
Working Class Hero --- John Lennon
Yesterdays Hero --- John Paul Young
Zero To Hero - Disney --- Disneys Hercules
---------------------------
- David -
David Lewis, curator
Aurora Regional Fire Museum
[url="http://www.auroraregionalfiremuseum.org"]http://www.AuroraRegionalFireMuseum.org
[/url]
First let me say we all know it is ILLEGAL to add any copy written song to a video for public broadcast or redistribution. I am posting here some song suggestions simply as thought provokers. All suggestions and references to songs and videos are hypothetical.
I've been producing an annual year-in-view video for the Aurora (IL) Fire Department for the past few years. Each incorporates three to five songs and like most folks I initially found it difficult to find appropriate music. I’m happy to say these AFD Videos have attained a cult-like following among the 200+ firefighters and their families, and so I’m now getting frequent suggestions for new songs that “they heard on the radio” . . . .
Although I’ve seen Backdraft, Shine Your Light, and Standing Outside the Fire, used in various videos with great success, I like to be a bit more subtle with some of my music selections. I find many of the best songs aren’t true fire songs -- that is they don’t have “hot” fire” or “hero” anywhere in the title or lyrics! Take for example Superman (It’s not easy) by Five for Fighting, or Crawling in the Dark by Hoobastank. Both are pop-culture songs (it’s awful, when I hear them playing at the supermarket I can’t help but visualize the images I’ve edited to them on the screen!)
When editing a video, I take great pride in deftly matching the individual song lyrics up with the photo/video on the screen so that a firefighter on his hands-and-knees worn out after a fire is pictured with the lyric, “…Fall upon my knees” from the song Superman, or a dramatic slow-motion clip of firefighters entering a smoky building are set to the Elvis song Only Fools Rush In. My favorite paring was from my first video, and it featured dive-rescue and haz-mat photos set to the oldies hit Splish-Splash I’m a taken a Bath! (sing it, and you’ll see it could work!) *Smile*
My last bit of general advice -- mix it up a bit. As I said our videos are approximately 10 to 15 minutes long and include (at least parts of) several songs. I usually start with a “fire” song -- something fast, and hot to show off all the blaze-of-glory photos, and by the end of the show we’ve evolved though a funny-buddy-kinda song (We Go Together, Who Let The Dogs Out, or He Ain't Heavey) a remember the old-days kinda song with retirement photos and images from our museum’s collection (Yesterday, Heroes and Friends), then we usually end with a feel-good, individual-hero, make-em-cry, kinda song, (The Measure Of A Man, Walk of Life, Shine Your Light, Superman).
Here -- after years of searching online -- is my master song list.
GENERAL FIRE VIDEO SONGS
A Hot Time In The Old Town Tonight --- Chris Barber
Artist in the Ambulance --- Thrice
As I'm Leaving --- David Gray
Backdraft - The Show Goes On --- Bruce Hornsby
Band Of Brothers -01- Main Theme --- Michael Kamen
Barn Burning --- Dave Alvin
Blaze Of Glory --- Kenny Rogers
Born To Run --- Bruce Springstein
Bring on the Rain --- JoDee Messina
Brothers In Arms - Dire Straits --- Dire Straits
Burning Down The House - Tom Jones & The Cardigans --- Tom Jones & The Cardigans
Burning Heart --- Rocky IV
Chariots of Fire --- Vangelis
Climbin' Up The Ladder (Part 1) --- The Isley Brothers
Come To My Aid (Simply Red) ---
Crawling In The Dark --- Hoobastank
Eye of the Tiger (Survivor) --- Survivor
Feeling Hot Hot Hot --- Trinidad Steel Drum Band
Fight Fire With Fire - Kansas --- Kansas
Fight Fire With Fire - Metallica --- Metallica
Fightin Fire --- Various Artists
Fire --- Pointer Sisters
Fire - Jimi Hendrix --- Jimi Hendrix
Fire - Ohio Players --- Ohio Players
Fire - Pointer Sisters --- Pointer Sisters
Fire Engines --- The Aislers Set
Fire Truck w Siren & Air Horn - sound fx - ---
Firefighter - Don Abi --- Don Abi
Firefighter (I want to Rescue You) - Jason Lo --- Jason Lo
Fireman - All Day Long --- All Day Long
Great Balls Of Fire --- Jerry Lee Lewis
He Ain't Heavy He's My Brother - Hollies --- Hollies
Hearts on Fire --- Rocky IV
Hello, Goodbye --- Beatles
Hells Bells --- AC/DC
Help Is On It's Way --- Little River Band
Help! --- Beatles
Heros and Friends --- Randy Travis
Hold The Line --- Toto
Holding Out For A Hero --- Bonnie Tyler
Hook and Ladder --- Nancy Sinatra
House Of Fire --- Alice Cooper
I am here For You (Firehouse) --- FireHouse
If that's what it takes - Bravest of Hearts - strongest of soles) --- Mariah Carey?
I'm On Fire --- Bruce Springsteen
Into the Fire - Bruce Springsteen --- Bruce Springsteen?
Into the Fire - Thirteen Senses --- Thirteen Senses
Its So Hard To Say Goodbye To Yesterday (with pop) --- Boyz 2 Men
Let Me Take Your Foto --- Speedies
Living on the Edge --- Areosmith
Memories --- Elvis Presley
My Hero, there goes my... --- Foo Fighters
One Thing --- Finger Eleven
Only Fools Rush In - Elvis Presley --- Elvis Presley
Photograph --- Nickelback
Playing With Fire --- The Rolling Stones
Precious Memories - Emmylou Harris --- Emmylou Harris
Priests and Paramedics --- Pedro The Lion
Purple Haze --- Jimmy Hendrix
Remember the Heros (Three Lock Box) --- Sammy Hagar
Rescue Me - Aretha Franklin --- Aretha Franklin
Ring of Fire --- Johnny Cash
Rise And Fall (Ft. Sting) --- Craig David
Shine Your Light --- Robbie Robertson
Smoke --- Ohio Players
Smoke Gets In Your Eyes - The Platters
Smoke On The Water --- Deep Purple
Someone Saved My Life Tonight --- Elton John
Standing Outside the Fire --- Garth Brooks
Strength, Courage & Wisdom --- India Arie
Superman (Its not easy to be me) --- Five For Fighting
Takin' It To The Streets --- Doobie Brothers, The
The Fire Inside - from Jim Bergeron --- Bob Seger
The Glory of Life --- Rascal Flatts
The Man With the Ladder and the Hose (1904) --- Billy Murray
The Measure Of A Man --- Elton John
The Roof Is On Fire - Bloodhound Gang
There Are Places I Remember - Beatles
There's A Fire In The House --- Steve Vai
There's a Hero - Mariah Carey --- Mariah Carey
This Fire --- Franz Ferdinand
This House Is On Fire - AC/DC
This House Is On Fire - Natalie Merchant -
Up The Ladder To The Roof --- The Supremes
Walk of Life --- Dire Straits
We Didn't Start the Fire --- Billy Joel
We Go Together --- Grease
Wind Beneath my Wings --- Bette Midler
Wont Back Down --- Tom Petty
Yesterday - Beatles --- Beatles
Yesterdays Hero --- John Paul Young
SONGS ABOUT FIREFIGHTERS
Dedicated to the Firefighters --- Peter Cetera
Firefighter - Chris Whitley --- Chris Whitley
Firefighter - Don Abi --- Don Abi
Firefighter - Red Top Road --- Red Top Road
Firefighter (I want to Rescue You) - Jason Lo --- Jason Lo
Firefighter? - (Track 16) --- Feinstein
Firefighters Song - Seize The Day --- Seize The Day
Fireman - All Day Long --- All Day Long
Fireman - Drag-On --- Drag-On
Fireman - GCVAH --- David Byrne outtakes
Fireman - Jawbreaker --- Jawbreaker
Fireman - Lil' Wayne --- Lil' Wayne
Fireman - Machel, Wanskie, Onyan --- Machel, Wanskie, Onyan
Fireman - Vala Reegan & the Valarons --- Vala Reegan & the Valarons
Fireman Ring the Bell --- R.L. Burnside
Fireman Sam Theme Song --- CBeebies official album
Fireman Song (she puts out) --- Princeton Roaring 20
Fireman's Field Day Parade --- Trendleberg
Fireman's Wedding --- Joe Henry
Firemen - Candlewyck --- Candlewyck
Five Little Firemen - The Tweenies --- Tweenies
In the line of duty ---
My Brother Bill Is A Fireman --- The Corries
My Fire Department Needs A Fireman --- The Shadows Of Knight
My Neighbor the Firefighter --- Paul Barton
New York Firefighter --- The Wiggles
New York Firefighter (Introduction) --- The Wiggles
Super Hero / Fireman --- Various Artists
Ten Little Firefighters --- The Heavy Blinkers
Thank You Firefighter --- Anna Hamilton
The (Vol.) Fireman Song --- Jumping Jeff Walker + The Wackjobs
The Fireman - Kip Attaway --- Kip Attaway
SONGS WITH THE WORD HERO
Cartoon Heroes --- Aqua
He's No Hero --- Brian McFadden
Hero - Enrique Iglesias --- Enrique Iglesias
Hero - Nickelback --- Nickelback
Hero of the Day --- Metallica
Hero Takes a Fall --- Bangles
Hero Takes a Fall --- Prince
Heroes - Gord Bamford --- Gord Bamford
Heroes Don't Cry --- Scorpions
Heros and Friends --- Randy Travis
Heros And Villians --- Beach Boys
Heros from our past --- Dropkick Murphys
Holding Out For A Hero --- Bonnie Tyler
Hometown Heros - Eighteen --- Hometown Hero
I'm No Hero --- Jonny Logan
Juke Box Hero --- Foreigner
My Hero, there goes my... (Foo Fighters) --- Foo Fighters
No Hero --- The Offspring
No More Heroes --- The Stranglers
Nobody's Hero --- Rush
Remember the Heros (Three Lock Box) --- Sammy Hagar
Soldiers Who Want To Be Heros --- Rod McKuen
Somebody's Hero --- Jamie O'Neal
The Hero's Return --- Pink Floyd
The Measure Of A Man --- Elton John
There's A Hero - Billy Gilman
There's a Hero - Mariah Carey
Time For Heros --- The Libertines - 04
We Can Be Heros --- David Bowie
We Dont Need Another Hero --- Tina Turner
We're all Heroes --- Gord Bamford
Weak Become Heroes --- The Streets
When A Hero Cries --- Edguy
Wind Beneath my Wings --- Bette Midler
Working Class Hero --- John Lennon
Yesterdays Hero --- John Paul Young
Zero To Hero - Disney --- Disneys Hercules
---------------------------
- David -
David Lewis, curator
Aurora Regional Fire Museum
[url="http://www.auroraregionalfiremuseum.org"]http://www.AuroraRegionalFireMuseum.org
[/url]
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