Oskee-Wow-Wow (along with "Illinois Loyalty") is the official fight song of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.[1] The song was written in 1910 by two students, Harold Vater Hill, Class of 1911 (1889–1917), credited with the music, and Howard Ruggles Green, Class of 1912 (1890–1969), credited with the lyrics.
"Oskee-Wow-Wow" is an invented phrase similar to other college cheers and yells. The Illinois cheer was used from before the turn of the 20th century.
In the summer of 1910, Hill and Green composed and entered "Oskee-Wow-Wow" and several other songs into a contest for a student-composed opera.[2][3] The opera was never finished, so the two attempted to sell the musical numbers to a publisher. They managed to sell the song to Charley Graham, the manager of the U. of I. Supply Store (also known as the Co-Op) for $100. Hill and Green attempted to publish "Hail to the Orange" by printing it on the back cover of "Oskee-Wow-Wow," but Graham refused, citing the song's lack of "punch."[4] "Oskee Wow Wow" was copyrighted in 1911.[5] Melrose Bros. Music Co., Inc. of Chicago published it as sheet music in 1928 [6] It became popular as the school's primary fight song primarily because "Illinois Loyalty," the older fight song, was not well suited to rousing large crowds at a game.
Lyricsedit
The piano + voice score from the original publication by the U. of I. Supply Store
The original words of the song are as follows: [7]
Verse 1 Old Princeton yells her tiger Wisconsin her varsity And they give the same old Rah! Rah! Rah! At each University But the yell that always thrills me And fills my heart with joy Is the good old Oskee wow-wow That they yell at Illinois
Chorus Oskee-wow-wow Illinois Our eyes are all on you Oskee-wow-wow Illinois Wave your Orange and your blue Rah! Rah! When the team trots out before you Ev'ry man stand up and yell Back the team and give [opponent's name] Oskee-wow-wow Illinois
Verse 2 Teddy Roosevelt may be famous and his name you often hear But it's heroes on the football field Each college man holds dear We think with pride of Roberts Artie Hall and Heavy too Oskee wow-wow for the wearers Of the Orange and the Blue
Chorus
Mediaedit
The music is included in the ″Illini Fantasy″, a medley of Illinois songs and marches arranged for concert band by James Curnow in 1970 as a commission from Director of Bands Harry Begian.
There have long been two versions of the song. Most commonly, it is played "from the hold" at the start of the chorus, when the "O" in "Oskee Wow-Wow" is held out. This version is played after first downs and touchdowns in football and leading into time-outs in basketball. Coincidentally, the buzzers at nearly every arena are in the same chord as the hold. The song was played "from the top" after an extra point was kicked but was replaced in favor of "Fight, Illini."
For many years, the band started playing the song "from the top" toward the end of the warmup period in basketball. When conducted correctly, the "hold" was played just as the buzzer sounded.
The song appears to have been written to be played after a touchdown, as it slows down while being played "from the top" before picking back up after the "hold."
^"'Oskee Wow Wow' predates the Chief". The News Gazette. Retrieved 2017-05-12.
^"'Hail to the Orange' Once Rejected". Daily Illini. Champaign, IL. August 15, 1951. p. 21. Retrieved March 22, 2020.
^Bruninga, Merle (October 26, 1939). "'Hail to Orange' Once Refused as a Gift". Daily Illini. Champaign, IL. Retrieved March 22, 2020.
^Burford, Cary Clive (1952) We're Loyal to You, Illinois. Danville, Ill.: The Interstate. p. 174. Copy of the 1911 sale contract between The U. of I. Supply Store and Green and Hill.
^Green, H.R. and H.V. Hill (1911). Oskee Wow-Wow, A Song of the University of Illinois. [Piano-vocal sheet music]. Chicago: Melrose Bros. Music Co, Inc., 1928.
oskee, oskee, along, with, illinois, loyalty, official, fight, song, university, illinois, urbana, champaign, song, written, 1910, students, harold, vater, hill, class, 1911, 1889, 1917, credited, with, music, howard, ruggles, green, class, 1912, 1890, 1969, c. Oskee Wow Wow along with Illinois Loyalty is the official fight song of the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign 1 The song was written in 1910 by two students Harold Vater Hill Class of 1911 1889 1917 credited with the music and Howard Ruggles Green Class of 1912 1890 1969 credited with the lyrics Oskee Wow WowFight song of the University of IllinoisLyricsHoward Ruggles Green 1910MusicHarold Vater Hill 1910Published1915 Contents 1 History 2 Lyrics 3 Media 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksHistory edit Oskee Wow Wow is an invented phrase similar to other college cheers and yells The Illinois cheer was used from before the turn of the 20th century In the summer of 1910 Hill and Green composed and entered Oskee Wow Wow and several other songs into a contest for a student composed opera 2 3 The opera was never finished so the two attempted to sell the musical numbers to a publisher They managed to sell the song to Charley Graham the manager of the U of I Supply Store also known as the Co Op for 100 Hill and Green attempted to publish Hail to the Orange by printing it on the back cover of Oskee Wow Wow but Graham refused citing the song s lack of punch 4 Oskee Wow Wow was copyrighted in 1911 5 Melrose Bros Music Co Inc of Chicago published it as sheet music in 1928 6 It became popular as the school s primary fight song primarily because Illinois Loyalty the older fight song was not well suited to rousing large crowds at a game Lyrics editThe piano voice score from the original publication by the U of I Supply Store nbsp nbsp nbsp The original words of the song are as follows 7 Verse 1 Old Princeton yells her tiger Wisconsin her varsity And they give the same old Rah Rah Rah At each University But the yell that always thrills me And fills my heart with joy Is the good old Oskee wow wow That they yell at Illinois Chorus Oskee wow wow Illinois Our eyes are all on you Oskee wow wow Illinois Wave your Orange and your blue Rah Rah When the team trots out before you Ev ry man stand up and yell Back the team and give opponent s name Oskee wow wow Illinois Verse 2 Teddy Roosevelt may be famous and his name you often hear But it s heroes on the football field Each college man holds dear We think with pride of Roberts Artie Hall and Heavy too Oskee wow wow for the wearers Of the Orange and the Blue ChorusMedia editThe music is included in the Illini Fantasy a medley of Illinois songs and marches arranged for concert band by James Curnow in 1970 as a commission from Director of Bands Harry Begian There have long been two versions of the song Most commonly it is played from the hold at the start of the chorus when the O in Oskee Wow Wow is held out This version is played after first downs and touchdowns in football and leading into time outs in basketball Coincidentally the buzzers at nearly every arena are in the same chord as the hold The song was played from the top after an extra point was kicked but was replaced in favor of Fight Illini For many years the band started playing the song from the top toward the end of the warmup period in basketball When conducted correctly the hold was played just as the buzzer sounded The song appears to have been written to be played after a touchdown as it slows down while being played from the top before picking back up after the hold See also editList of University of Illinois songs Marching Illini Oski YellReferences edit University Yells UIHistories Retrieved 2017 05 12 Oskee Wow Wow predates the Chief The News Gazette Retrieved 2017 05 12 Hail to the Orange Once Rejected Daily Illini Champaign IL August 15 1951 p 21 Retrieved March 22 2020 Bruninga Merle October 26 1939 Hail to Orange Once Refused as a Gift Daily Illini Champaign IL Retrieved March 22 2020 Burford Cary Clive 1952 We re Loyal to You Illinois Danville Ill The Interstate p 174 Copy of the 1911 sale contract between The U of I Supply Store and Green and Hill Green H R and H V Hill 1911 Oskee Wow Wow A Song of the University of Illinois Piano vocal sheet music Chicago Melrose Bros Music Co Inc 1928 Green and Hill 1911 External links editOskee Wow Wow on YouTube Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Oskee Wow Wow amp oldid 1224543412, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
