Rangers Goal Song: More Than Just Music at The Garden
By Marvin Azrak
Explore the captivating history and sing-along mysteries behind the New York Rangers’ iconic goal song. Join the crowd and discover the tale of “whoa-oh-oh” versus “goal.”
As avid New York Rangers fans, let’s discuss something close to our hearts – the goal song. We’ve seen other teams, like those Maple Leafs in Toronto, go through some actual goal song drama. Can you believe they had “You Make My Dreams” by Hall and Oates playing every time they scored? It’s a great song, but not precisely a pump-up anthem, right?
Luckily for them, they decided to change it. So did the Detroit Red Wings. That new goal horn at Little Caesars Arena brings back memories of Joe Louis Arena.
However, what’s caught my attention is their new goal song – part of “Without Me” by none other than Detroit’s Eminem. You can’t help but hear those words, “Guess who’s back?” ringing out when the Red Wings score.
In Buffalo, they had DJ Kool’s “Let Me Clear My Throat” echoing through the arena. It was the perfect track to get the crowd going after a Sabres goal. Yet recently, things took a fascinating twist. The Sabres decided to let each player choose their song. So, when one of them scores, you’d hear their unique song playing in celebration.
It got me thinking about our beloved Rangers’ goal song. We’ve got something special with “Slapshot.” This iconic tune has been rocking Madison Square Garden for over 25 years. And boy, does it get the crowd going!
Madison Square Garden’s Iconic Goal Song and Its Enriching History:
Ray Castoldi, our music director and organist at the Garden since ’89, came up with “Slapshot.” He unveiled it on a memorable night in ’95 when New York raised their Cup banner from the ’94 win. Since then, it’s been a tradition that fans cherish.
The song’s journey begins with a slow buildup, gradually setting the stage for what’s to come. Castoldi, shared some insights: “You don’t want to get into it immediately. Everyone is jumping up and down and screaming. The [goal] horns allow everyone to get their bearings and then get to the part where they sing together.”
If you’ve ever attended a Rangers home game, you know what happens next: the crowd joins in with a spirited “whoa-oh-oh-ooooh” and the rhythmic “hey … hey … hey, hey, hey!”
Castoldi revealed that while the song remains unchanged, the arrangement has evolved. “If you listen back to the song in the 1990s, the ‘heys!’ were first, and then the ‘goal’ chant was after. I think flipping it helped it catch on,” he explained.
Now, onto the “goal” chant. Wait, isn’t it the “whoa” chant? Castoldi addressed the ongoing mystery: “This is one of the mysteries. There’s a lot of social media talk—is it ‘goal’ or ‘whoa’?” But let’s clear things up: the original intent was indeed to sing “goal” because, well, that’s what the Rangers are doing. However, the recording features “whoa.”
“During the recording, there were three or four people in the studio laying down the vocal tracks for the song. They initially attempted “goal” as the chorus, but Castoldi noted, “it just didn’t sing as well.” “Whoa-oh-oh” was simply easier to capture. Castoldi humorously said, “‘Goal-oh-oh’ was too strained.”
Goal songs are like anthems of victory in the hockey world. The Blackhawks have “Chelsea Dagger,” the Bruins have “Kernkraft 400,” and even the Whalers had “Brass Bonanza” back in the day.
For us, it’s “Slapshot” all the way. It’s one of the older goal songs in the league, and it’s a part of our Rangers identity.
So, while other teams are fussing about changing their goal songs, we can proudly belt out “Slapshot” and celebrate the Blueshirts lighting the lamp. Let’s keep the tradition alive and hope for many more unforgettable moments with our iconic goal song ringing through the Garden.