After Complaints, Bengals Abandon Katy Perry Song As Team Anthem

On Monday, the Bengals debuted Katy Perry's "Roar" (tiger-themed!) as the most prominent gameday song, playing it as the team took the field and immediately after the final whistle. Fans weren't happy. After just four days, the team is backing off. Maybe self-affirming power pop isn't the most NFL-appropriate music.

The Wall Street Journal finds that the complaints started pouring in even before the game against the Steelers ended, and in response to fans, there'll be a lot less Katy Perry at Paul Brown Stadium.

"I think some fans proved that there's an expectation that when the team takes the field, there should be more of a hard-rock, classic-rock song and I know that's what we're going to do this game," said Jeff Berding, the Bengals' director of sales and public affairs. "Katy Perry is not going to be the last song you hear before the team takes the field."

Instead, the Bengals' playlist will revert to the usual gameday fare: "Sandstorm," "Thunderstruck," "Rock and Roll Part 2," "Kernkraft 400," "Crazy Train," and "Cotton-Eyed Joe" on endless loop.

[ WSJ]