Touchdown Songs

For almost 50 years, NFL Films has defined the way we see and think about football. One reason they have had such an impact is their unique music; music that can make you feel the action. Tom Hedden wrote many of those songs during 19 years at NFL Films. He narrates and — along with two other legendary NFL Films composers — tells us what it takes to write music that, when you hear it you think "Football." Plus, you'll hear the story behind one of the most iconic sports songs of our times, the theme music for The NFL on Fox.

Even though it's nothing more than a chance for football teams to go an rest, Halftime has become an American institution— where fans cheer, dance and get up and shout. It's also brought us multiple styles of marching band music that are uniquely American. Join the ArtsEdge Half Time Report, hosted by Tom Hedden, who composed songs for 19 years at NFL Films, and learn everything there is to know about the music that comes between the action.

There's nothing to make you feel team spirit or school spirit like a fight song. In this installment, Tom Hedden (who composed songs for 19 years at NFL Films) tells us about some of the famous people who've written fight songs, why most of them were written with in just a few years of each other and why they're called "Fight Songs" in the first place.