Written by David Barrett and forever associated with NCAA Basketball thanks to CBS Sports, "One Shining Moment" has been a mainstay of the Final Four finale since 1987. While many of you may know it as "the song that plays as I cry into the phone to my bookie" after a devastating loss, the history of the song is a classic tale of can-do spirit and excellent napkin-based time management skills. We talked with David about the history, the conception, and legacy of "One Shining Moment."
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Art by Joren Cull
The Inspiration:
"The evening, when I wrote down the title I was watching highlights of Larry Bird. I'd just done a little bit of a show and there was this waitress. It was just me, the waitress, and Larry Bird. She was so pretty it was pointless to talk to her. She sat next to me so I panicked, but I knew about basketball. In explaining Larry's 'zone' to her, I figured this was something worth writing about." There you go, kids: you never know what's going to come from nervously explaining something you're nerdy about to a beautiful woman. "Instead of 'the zone' I wrote [the phrase] 'one shining moment,' because that's the apex of everything. When time slows down."
"The evening, when I wrote down the title I was watching highlights of Larry Bird. I'd just done a little bit of a show and there was this waitress. It was just me, the waitress, and Larry Bird. She was so pretty it was pointless to talk to her. She sat next to me so I panicked, but I knew about basketball. In explaining Larry's 'zone' to her, I figured this was something worth writing about." There you go, kids: you never know what's going to come from nervously explaining something you're nerdy about to a beautiful woman. "Instead of 'the zone' I wrote [the phrase] 'one shining moment,' because that's the apex of everything. When time slows down."
Art by Joren Cull
The Napkin(s):
While lore suggests that David wrote the song in its entirety on a napkin, David set the record straight—he wrote it on two napkins. "I wrote the name 'One Shining Moment' on a napkin, then the next day I was meeting a friend for breakfast who was 20 minutes late, and on another napkin I wrote all the lyrics. So I keep napkins with me all the time now."
While lore suggests that David wrote the song in its entirety on a napkin, David set the record straight—he wrote it on two napkins. "I wrote the name 'One Shining Moment' on a napkin, then the next day I was meeting a friend for breakfast who was 20 minutes late, and on another napkin I wrote all the lyrics. So I keep napkins with me all the time now."
Art by Joren Cull
The Hand-Off:
"I had a dear friend Armen Keteyian who wrote for Sports Illustrated," David explained, "and the following fall, I sent him a cassette. Unbeknownst to me and out of the goodness of his heart, he knew the people at CBS Sports and he took it over there." Over "there" being to Doug Towey, CBS Sports Creative Director. "I guess it kind of blew his hair back."
"I had a dear friend Armen Keteyian who wrote for Sports Illustrated," David explained, "and the following fall, I sent him a cassette. Unbeknownst to me and out of the goodness of his heart, he knew the people at CBS Sports and he took it over there." Over "there" being to Doug Towey, CBS Sports Creative Director. "I guess it kind of blew his hair back."
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Art by Joren Cull
The Fumble:
"Doug called me and said, 'Do you mind if we use it for the Super Bowl?' I said 'No,' but after the game was over the commentator just kept talking. They had everything cut up and ready to go, but they cut it for time. Needless to say, I was disappointed." Understatement much?
"Doug called me and said, 'Do you mind if we use it for the Super Bowl?' I said 'No,' but after the game was over the commentator just kept talking. They had everything cut up and ready to go, but they cut it for time. Needless to say, I was disappointed." Understatement much?
Art by Joren Cull
The Premiere:
"Doug called me later and said, 'We love this song, and it was written for basketball. We'd love to use it for the NCAA Tournament,' which buoyed me, of course. It is exactly where it should be. It's like the meter said, 'No no no, not football. Basketball." The original version premiered after Indiana beat Syracuse in 1987 and David was obviously overjoyed. "I remember standing in a bar with the same buddy who was late for breakfast in downtown Lansing and I had no idea what they were going to do. Then when they used it, I was so thrilled and grateful and I felt like they made it—and I hate to refer to it like this—a work of art. They really understood what this tournament is and what this means to people."
"Doug called me later and said, 'We love this song, and it was written for basketball. We'd love to use it for the NCAA Tournament,' which buoyed me, of course. It is exactly where it should be. It's like the meter said, 'No no no, not football. Basketball." The original version premiered after Indiana beat Syracuse in 1987 and David was obviously overjoyed. "I remember standing in a bar with the same buddy who was late for breakfast in downtown Lansing and I had no idea what they were going to do. Then when they used it, I was so thrilled and grateful and I felt like they made it—and I hate to refer to it like this—a work of art. They really understood what this tournament is and what this means to people."
Art by Joren Cull
The Covers:
David wrote and performed the original version that was used from '87-'93 and then returned for '00-'02, but there were many notable cover versions. Teddy Pendergrass handled duties from '94-'99 and it is widely believed that Luther Vandross' version was the last song he recorded before he died. Jennifer Hudson also performed an updated version in 2010 that was derided by fans. But David has no favorites. "It's like picking a favorite child. The song has pretty broad shoulders."
David wrote and performed the original version that was used from '87-'93 and then returned for '00-'02, but there were many notable cover versions. Teddy Pendergrass handled duties from '94-'99 and it is widely believed that Luther Vandross' version was the last song he recorded before he died. Jennifer Hudson also performed an updated version in 2010 that was derided by fans. But David has no favorites. "It's like picking a favorite child. The song has pretty broad shoulders."
Art by Joren Cull
The Legacy:
I don't know if anyone reading this has ever written anything on a napkin—let alone two napkins—but those napkin compositions rarely end up leaving a legacy that lasts almost two decades. "One Shining Moment" has stood the test of time as the definitive NCAA March Madness finale song. What have you ever done with your lives while killing time at a bar? On the legacy of the song, David sums it up simply: "It's my 'White Christmas,' but y'know, in March."
I don't know if anyone reading this has ever written anything on a napkin—let alone two napkins—but those napkin compositions rarely end up leaving a legacy that lasts almost two decades. "One Shining Moment" has stood the test of time as the definitive NCAA March Madness finale song. What have you ever done with your lives while killing time at a bar? On the legacy of the song, David sums it up simply: "It's my 'White Christmas,' but y'know, in March."