Here we are, 20 years into coming up with themes for Thunder over Louisville, and organizers are just now using “Thunder Road” for the first time. Today the Derby Festival announced its theme would be built around road trips in Americana, and all sorts of road trip songs will be included.
Of course, the finale will have to feature the Springsteen classic, considered one of the top rock and roll songs of all time. I know you’re already humming lines from it, like — “You ain’t a beauty but hey you’re alright.” It’s one of those songs that you can hear over and over and never get tired of it.
Thunder #20 isn’t immune to the economic crisis, though, and organizers say that they’re reducing the cost of production by about 10 percent, which they say won’t be noticed by the general public. Sponsor sales are flat, though McDonald’s, UPS Airlines, Horseshoe Casino, E.ON US and Meijer are back on board.
And in media news — the merry-go-round of getting the rights to produce the spectacle on TV falls to WHAS-TV, after being on WDRB-TV the last two years. We’ll find out for you what plans the station has for the show, which has been produced at considerable expense in HD by Fox41. The exclusive radio partner is 106.9 WVEZ.
Thunder is April 18. So anyone want to help Wayne Hettinger and the gang out? Submit your favorite road songs in the comments section.
8 responses so far ↓
1 N-square // Feb 26, 2009 at 1:29 pm
KDF Chairman Chris Dickinson will be “King of the Road” of course!
2 AB // Feb 26, 2009 at 1:51 pm
Running on Empty by Jackson Browne – “Looking out at the road rushing under my wheels”………. almost as good an opening line as “The screen door slams, Mary’s dress sways”
3 wendy // Feb 26, 2009 at 2:42 pm
4 songs off the top of my head:
1. Jim Morrison: “Roadhouse Blues”
2. America: “Ventura Highway”
3. Beatles: “The Long and Winding Road”
4. Big Youth: “Hit the Road Jack “
4 bigdaddy // Feb 26, 2009 at 3:15 pm
Highway to Hell
Dead Skunk in the Middle of the Road
Ramblin Man
5 bigdaddy // Feb 26, 2009 at 3:19 pm
On the Road Again: Willie Nelson
On the Road Again: Bob Seger
6 Greg K // Feb 26, 2009 at 5:41 pm
Correction AB-”Mary’s dress waves”
7 Carter Burger // Feb 26, 2009 at 9:48 pm
Haven’t they said for the last 10 years they are cutting back on Thunder, and it winds up being bigger than the previous year? I moved up here about 10 years ago, and the first couple of Thunders were alright. But after that, it got to be the same ole, same ole.
Walking around the waterfront with a million other people to watch a fireworks show? Pass.
8 Peach // Feb 27, 2009 at 3:40 pm
I got a little too excited on this one:
The Road I’m On – 3 Doors Down
Roll On Eighteen Wheeler – Alabama
Highway Junkie – Gary Allen
Voodoo Highway – Badlands
Not very appropriate but “Why Dont we do it in the road? -Beatles
No Particular Place to Go – Chuck Berry
Highway Man – Johnny Cash
Hit the Road, Jack – Ray Charles
Sweet Hitchhiker – CCR
Every Day is a Winding Road – Cheryl Crow
Take me Home Country Roads – John Denver
Life in the fast lane – Eagles
Follow the Yellow Brick Road – Judy Garland
Truckin’ – Grateful Dead
Me and Bobby McGhee – Joplin
Danger Zone – Kenny Loggins
Kentucky Rain – Elvis
Bless the Broken Road – Rascal Flats
Turn the Page – Bob Seger
One-Way Rider – Ricky Skaggs
Country Road-James Taylor
Where the Streets have no Name – U2
Jesus, Take the Wheel – Carrie Underwood
The Silk Road – Phil Sawyer
Only One Road – Celine Dion
Drop Me off in New Orleans – Kermit Ruffins
Are you Gonna Go My way – Lenny Kravitz
Always on the Run – Kravitz
This Land is you Land – various artists or PP&M
Wayfaring Stranger – Jack White/Cold Mountain
Come On Back to Me – Third Day
Bright Side of the Road – Van Morrison
There Goes My Baby – Drifters
Okay, I’m done….but there are plenty of choices
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