NBC Is Turning Pink

Can recording artist Pink and “Star Wars� composer John Williams do for “NBC Sunday Night Football� what country music star Hank Williams Jr. did for ABC’s “Monday Night Football� with his rowdy and now indelible “Are You Ready for Some Football�?

NBC will announce today that the opening song on its NFL telecasts will be sung by the two-time Grammy-winning Pink and that the ensuing theme music has been written by film composer Williams, an 18-time Grammy winner.

Pink, whose real name is Alecia Beth Moore, is known for such chart-topping pop hits as “Get the Party Started,� “Just Like a Pill� and “Missundaztood,� the title track from her 2001 album -- one that sold 12 million copies.

Being from the Philadelphia area, Pink is an Eagles fan. She also happens to be married to famed motocross racer Carey Hart. But it wasn’t her sports connections that drew NBC’s interest.

“We chose Pink as the signature voice because she is a tremendous talent with a crossover appeal that makes her relevant to all segments of our audience,� said Fred Gaudelli, the producer of “NBC Sunday Night Football.�

She will get the party started every Sunday night with new lyrics to an original Joan Jett song, “I Hate Myself for Loving You.�

The song, titled “Waiting All Day for Sunday Night,� begins:

“All right Sunday Night, where are you?

“Just kicking back from the things you do

“You want the Big Game, we want it too!�

A special version of the song, titled “Waiting All Year for Opening Day,� will be performed by Pink when the NFL kicks off the 2006 season with a game on Thursday, Sept. 7, featuring the defending Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers playing host to the Miami Dolphins.

NBC’s first Sunday night telecast has Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts squaring off against brother Eli Manning and the New York Giants.

The idea of recording special lyrics for a football game is not new. Country star Williams began opening “Monday Night Football� telecasts in 1989 with the song “All My Rowdy Friends Are Here for Monday Night,� which was adapted from his 1984 hit “All My Rowdy Friends Are Coming Over Tonight.� Since then, he has often recast the lyrics according to the teams playing on a given night.

As for John Williams, perhaps the most widely heard composer in the world, he is no stranger to television even though he may be better known for his film music -- “Star Wars,� “Jaws,� “Indiana Jones,� “Superman� and “ET, the Extra-Terrestrial� among them. Williams also is the man behind the theme music for NBC’s Olympic Games coverage and the themes for the old TV series “Wagon Train� and “Bachelor Father.�

NBC Sports Chairman Dick Ebersol said of Williams, “I’m not only excited but also privileged to have one of America’s greatest musical talents make his first foray into our country’s premier sport.�