The Baseball Team’s Anthem Choices Spark Debate Among Music Lovers
The Philadelphia Phillies’ choice of anthem has caused an unexpected stir among music fans. While the team celebrates its first World Series appearance since 2009, having won the NL Championship, one group is notably displeased: followers of Swedish pop sensation Robyn.
The Phillies have adopted the 2010 hit “Dancing on My Own” as a celebratory track, but instead of using Robyn’s original, they have been playing a 2016 Tiësto remix of an acoustic cover by Calum Scott. This has led to a wave of criticism from Robyn’s fans, who are calling for the return of the original version. One fan took to social media to express their frustration, stating that the Phillies were engaging in “Robyn erasure,” while another commented, “Can we all agree there’s only one version of ‘Dancing on My Own’ and it’s Robyn?”
Despite the backlash, some fans of the singer are still happy with the Phillies’ choice of song. One tweeted: “The #Phillies celebration song being ‘Dancing On My Own’ by Robyn is incredible. You’ve got 40-year-old straight guys driving around blasting a Swedish gay disco anthem and I’m obsessed.”
Garrett Stubbs, the Phillies’ catcher, shared with MLB.com that there’s no hidden meaning behind the team’s love for the track. “It’s an absolute banger, and we love singing it in the locker room,” he explained. “After a win, we play ‘Dancing on My Own’ along with other tracks. It’s just become a tradition since the start of the season.”
The song’s infectious nature has also been adopted by other teams in the past. Last year, the Boston Red Sox also played the Tiësto remix in their locker room celebrations.
Calum Scott’s version of the song gained significant attention in 2015 after his appearance on Britain’s Got Talent, with the Tiësto remix following shortly thereafter.
Aside from the controversy surrounding the anthem, the Phillies’ postseason has garnered attention for other reasons. This World Series run marks an opportunity for the team to secure only its third-ever championship in 140 years. Additionally, the playoffs are the first under Major League Baseball’s newly expanded format.
Meanwhile, Phillies star Bryce Harper, who clinched the game with a home run, is poised to play out a major contract, having signed a 13-year, $330 million deal—the largest in baseball history for a free agent.
