How Paree became the Bruins theme song

[Fenway]

For decades when the Bruins hit the ice they would hear organist John Kiley play this.



For years I wondered why and now from an old Stan Fischler book I have an answer.

This was the version that became a hit in France.

Paris... reine du monde
Paris... c'est une blonde
Le nez retroussé, l'air moqueur
Les yeux toujours rieurs
Tous ceux qui te connaissent
Grisés par tes caresses
S'en vont mais revienn'nt toujours
Paris... à tes amours!

Paris ... queen of the world
Paris ... it's a blonde
Snub nose, mockingly
Eyes still laughing
All those who know you
Intoxicated by your touch
Go away but still revienn'nt
Paris ... to your love!

The Bruins dropped the song in 2008 in favor of a more modern song.

Kiley was the organist at Boston Garden from 1941 to 1984 when he was fired by Paul Mooney over an indoor parking spot.

Here is a sample of his work.

 

[Killion]

^^^ fascinating slice of 20th & early 21st century Bruins & Boston pop culture. All of the 06 arenas & most of those that came on-line circa 67/68 through to the mid-80's when organists were being replaced with canned music have similar tales to tell. I guess if your "of an age", miss those days, before "Game Presentations", wall~wall advertising. Yes... yes... thank you for reminding me of the good old days Fenway. When you could sit there without being told when to clap, when to cheer, who & when to boo, be subjected to Safeway Meat Draws.... Visually & aurally assaulted... real bad for my tinnitus btw.... and yep... at minimum flashbacks and at maximum seizure inducing laser light shows & so on.

 

[Fenway]

^^^ fascinating slice of 20th & early 21st century Bruins & Boston pop culture. All of the 06 arenas & most of those that came on-line circa 67/68 through to the mid-80's when organists were being replaced with canned music have similar tales to tell. I guess if your "of an age", miss those days, before "Game Presentations", wall~wall advertising. Yes... yes... thank you for reminding me of the good old days Fenway. When you could sit there without being told when to clap, when to cheer, who & when to boo, be subjected to Safeway Meat Draws.... Visually & aurally assaulted... real bad for my tinnitus btw.... and yep... at minimum flashbacks and at maximum seizure inducing laser light shows & so on.

I certainly have no memory of the Habs playing this.


Kiley in Boston had songs for the other 5 teams when they hit the ice.

New York - Give My Regards to Broadway
Chicago - Chicago, Chicago
Detroit - The Oldsmobile Jingle
Toronto - Maple Leaf Forever
Montreal - Alouette

 

[Killion]

I dont recall being at Maple Leaf Gardens & hearing any organ music at all when the Leafs came
onto the ice for the warmup nor during it. First time you heard any music... National Anthems.

 

[dafoomie]

I wish they would've found a way to incorporate Paree into their modern game presentation the way Chicago did with Here Come the Hawks. Playing it after wins is better than nothing though.

 

[Fenway]

I dont recall being at Maple Leaf Gardens & hearing any organ music at all when the Leafs came
onto the ice for the warmup nor during it. First time you heard any music... National Anthems.

I know that in the late 60's-early 70's MLG put the organist on a catwalk over the ice so the organ would not displace any seats.

I remember listening to Bruins games on the radio from MSG and the organist Gladys Gooding would play 2 songs from "The Music Man' as the crowd filed out which where the same song but a different tempo - 76 Trombones and Goodnight My Someone'.

Only recordings I know of Gladys who also sang the anthem when she played it.

 

[Fenway]

I wish they would've found a way to incorporate Paree into their modern game presentation the way Chicago did with Here Come the Hawks. Playing it after wins is better than nothing though.

Ron Poster agrees with you. I would like to see DKM do an instrumental of Paree as a goal song.

 

[dafoomie]

Ron Poster agrees with you. I would like to see DKM do an instrumental of Paree as a goal song.

I would be happy with him just playing it himself when they score.

 

[Xelebes]

I hope that when the Nordiques return, they break out the Jeannette Waltz, the big hit when the Quebec Bulldogs won the Stanley Cup in 1912 and 1913.

 

[Budddy]

For decades when the Bruins hit the ice they would hear organist John Kiley play this.



For years I wondered why and now from an old Stan Fischler book I have an answer.

This was the version that became a hit in France.





The Bruins dropped the song in 2008 in favor of a more modern song.

Kiley was the organist at Boston Garden from 1941 to 1984 when he was fired by Paul Mooney over an indoor parking spot.

Here is a sample of his work.

Fired over a parking spot ? After 43 years?

 

[tarheelhockey]

How many arenas still have live organists? I know Carolina and Chicago off the top of my head, surely there are others?

 

[MXD]

I wasn't aware of this.
So, when I saw that thread, I really, but really wondered why the Bruins, of all teams, would choose the name of the Montreal's stripper's club with the best reputation that probably quite a bit of Bruins players went to at some point in their career.

 

[MXD]

How many arenas still have live organists? I know Carolina and Chicago off the top of my head, surely there are others?

Montreal has one.