The Orlando Magic theme song is making a triumphant comeback

For nearly the first decade of the Orlando Magic’s existence, they ran onto the floor to one heart-pounding soundtrack.

Its opening interlude of basketballs bouncing, giving way to a very of its time song extolling the excitement and wonder of the Orlando Magic and NBA basketball.

The Orlando Magic Theme Song was a piece of pop culture that was special and dear for Orlando Magic fans, part of the culture that has permeated the fans of this small-market team with seemingly outsized success.

It was there as a treasured part of the experience of having a new basketball team — even the centerpiece track of a soundtrack of Orlando Magic highlights and adjacent music that was released on CD.

It was deliciously a part of its times. A time capsule of the late 1980 and early 1990s. A much simpler time.

The Orlando Magic’s original theme song made a revival this weekend bringing back a treasured piece of the team’s past.

The Orlando Magic Theme Song, like the original pinstripe jerseys and logo, was locked away. It was only brought up as a treasured memory for fans who experienced it.

And like all things that pass into memory, it only became a legend. A new generation of fans may have forgotten its existence or not even know about it — especially with how much this city has changed and grown, you had to be there to see it.

If you have never heard it in all of its glory. Let us educate you some:

Longtime fans wanted to see the song return as much as the pinstripe jerseys that came onto the court for its welcome (maybe not that much). But like those jerseys, it seemed like it would only get brought out for special occasions.

Let Boone High School alum and The Ringer’s NFL writer Kevin Clark change that.

On Friday, he tweeted a video of the original live performance of the classic song lamenting the lack of appreciation for it (you can see the full opening night introduction from November 1989 here).

This video clip reintroduced — or introduced — the song to many in the basketball community while Magic fans nodded approvingly. At least the ones who knew.

It was a reissued hit among NBA Twitter.

The Magic may not have known exactly what a powder keg they were sitting on. Just like they never seem to know how much fans clamor for the original logo or pinstripe jersey merchandise. Everyone is still waiting for the original blue basketball logo quarter-zip the coaches occasionally wear to pop up on the team store.

The Magic’s social media team took the Internet’s buzz and promised to play the song if 1,000 fans retweeted their tweet for it. They hit that mark in less than 15 minutes.

And so in place of the team’s history montage video played before the national anthem, the game operations crew created some razzamatazz, some slam dunk sesame and a little bit of hocus pocus to deliver to the people what they wanted.

No, they delivered what they needed.

The Orlando Magic Theme Song was back where it belonged, playing for the Magic masses at the

Orlando Arena

Amway Center during Saturday’s game.

It was perfect in almsot every way. The Orlando Magic Theme Song was where it belonged. You could indeed feel the heart and thunder under your feet.

The Magic began playing a long-overdue history montage video before the national anthems starting during the 25th Anniversary season. The team has been focused in the last seven or eight years in honoring its history better. That led to the creation of the team’s Hall of Fame — along with renewed interest and discussion in retiring jerseys.

The history video is a nice touch. But set to Imagine Dragons’ “Radioactive” or Creed’s (a local band, it should be said) “Higher,” it lacked the truly distinctive Orlando style. It lacked the connection to the team’s history.

The Magic were able to produce a quick 30-second video with familiar highlights set to the song. It was amazing and perfect.

The story of the song being made is a wild one in itself — even if it was a team-commissioned piece of advertising and hype. As David Steele and Jeff Turner said during the Bally Sports Florida broadcast on Saturday, Pat Williams knew how to put on a show.

Pat Welter of Spectrum Sports 360 went behind the music of the song before the 2019 Playoffs (eds. note: I work as a sports producer for Spectrum Sports 360 as my day job).

At the very least, the Magic theme song version of the team’s history video should be spruced up and added to the history video rotation. If not made the permanent intro before the national anthem is played.

If they are not going to play it running out to the floor, this is at least the best way to make the nod to the team’s history and culture. It is apparently a much deeper culture than anyone realized before this weekend.

Then again, the Magic said they would play it during every game if the team reached 10,000 retweets. Even with a few players adding their retweets, the number is at a little more than 4,300 retweets as of noon on Sunday.

There is still work to do. But regardless, the Magic’s theme song should remain part of the team’s rotation. Just as it has remained part of the team’s culture of fandom, at least among longtime fans.

The fact we have passed this down to the next generation now — or at least given limited exposure of it to a new audience was a heartwarming way to end the week.

The after-credits scene