The top 10 new WWE songs of 2016
December 23, 2016
From the moment Bobby Roode first entered an NXT ring, with a glam-rock choir proclaiming him “GLORIOUS,” there was no doubt that 2016 was going to be a special year for music in WWE.
As the year comes to a close, we took one last listen to all of the new tunes that came out this year and narrowed the field down to our favorite 10. And to get an inside look at what makes them so special, we went to the guys who made them, WWE’s resident composers, CFO$.
Open your ears and check out our top 10 new songs of 2016, then vote in our poll to let us know what your favorite 2016 tune is!
10. Austin Aries – “Ambition and Vision”
With "Ambition and Vision" it's all about the switch up between anthemic orchestral rock and straight up groove! Once we locked in the main guitar and drum groove, the rest of the song fell into place pretty easily. We're especially happy with the way that the pacing of the track and Austin's entrance work hand in hand with each other.
9. Rich Swann – “Around the World”
This was a fun one to write and record. It was tough to not smile the entire time during the process. We were inspired by a lot of ’70s funk and wanted to instill the same fun and positive vibe that is such a staple in that genre into Rich's music. We think it worked, so let us ask you: Can you handle Rich?
8. Gallows & Anderson – “Omen in the Sky”
Musically, "Omen in the Sky" was inspired by the sounds and attitude of ’90s grunge rock. Gallows & Anderson are a force to be reckoned with and visually striking, which inspired the concept of the song. We pictured a sign of impending doom, high up in the sky for all to see, that no one could run from. Hope you weren't hoping to survive!
7. SmackDown LIVE – “Take A Chance”
The brand split gave us a chance — that we took — to write something unique for SmackDown LIVE, giving it its own personality and feel to differentiate it from Raw. SmackDown going live and being in direct competition with the Raw brand inspired us lyrically. We wanted to channel the cumulative energy of the new SmackDown LIVE roster, which resulted in this battle anthem.
6. Naomi – “Amazing” (Remix)
We got to work with Naomi on the original version of her theme, "Amazing," when she came to our studio to record her vocals. When we found out she was revamping her look and going for something totally new, we thought it was only right to put a different spin on her theme to match the new style. We had a blast revisiting the song and diving into the remix world, where we were able to take a much edgier approach to an EDM track than we typically would have. When the lights go out and her music hits, we wanted it to feel like the whole arena had turned into one giant rave. Done and done.
5. No Way Jose – “No Way”
Our main goal for No Way Jose's theme song was to get people out of their seats and moving! You can't help but get pulled in by his charismatic energy the second he comes out to the ring, so we knew we needed to write something that could keep up with him. The “No Way Jose!” chant was the cherry on top, and our way of getting everyone involved in the party.
4. TJ Perkins – “Playing with Power”
TJ Perkins is the closest thing you can find to a real-life video game character. His entrance is a throwback to the 8-bit era of gaming, which happens to be a huge part of our childhood. This is the kind of song that we had always secretly hoped to be able to write for a WWE Superstar. No one else in WWE history has had a theme like this one, and because of the song's unique sound pallet, it's gotten quite the response from both WWE fans and the video game community.
3. AJ Styles – “Phenomenal”
We knew 2016 was going to be a big year for AJ Styles, and his rise to the top of the WWE Universe as a fan favorite was truly phenomenal to watch. We set out to write a piece that really tapped into his persona: rough around the edges, with a side of southern swag. Judging by how the fans have embraced this theme, it seems we did just that.
2. Bobby Roode – “Glorious Domination”
If we had to pick one single word that defined NXT in 2016, it would have to be: GLORIOUS. From Bobby's TakeOver debut in Brooklyn descending from the heavens, to the #GloriousBomb craze, to his entrance at TakeOver: Toronto featuring a full choir, this song has taken on a life of its own. Bobby Roode and “Glorious Domination” are one in the same, perfectly suited for each other. Oh, and it’s fun as hell to sing along to!
1. Shinsuke Nakamura – “The Rising Sun”
If “The Rising Sun” isn't on your list of iconic WWE entrance themes, then maybe you need a new list! We had a vision in our heads of what Shinsuke's entrance could be with this song, and he definitely did not disappoint. From the beginning, we knew there was something special about the song's lead violin melody. That was solidified when the entire crowd began regularly singing along to it, even after the music had stopped playing, and Nakamura was in the ring.
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