Snoop, Chris Stapleton, Cindy Blackman Santana Reimagine 'In the Air Tonight' for ESPN

Sixteen year ago, Phil Collins’ “In the Air Tonight” propelled one of the most famous campaigns of all time, with commercials from Cadbury using the original 1981 track.

Now, the icy percussive tune returns, in reimagined form, as Monday Night Football’s new opening anthem on ESPN. This amped-up version features rap legend Snoop Dogg, country superstar Chris Stapleton and ace drummer Cindy Blackman Santana.

Here’s a trailer:

.@ChrisStapleton ❌ @SnoopDogg ❌ @CindyBlackmanS3

New Monday Night Football Anthem is coming … tonight ?? pic.twitter.com/u4JKycDxJf

— ESPN (@espn) September 18, 2023

The campaign was developed by ESPN’s creative content unit and Grammy-award winning record producer Dave Cobb.

The network says it chose the tune based on its “long history” as a football hype song. ESPN even made a feature about the track. In that program, we leaned that Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin played “In the Air Tonight” before his team won Super Bowl XLIII.

“It was fascinating to me to see how one song could get you in that mode to go kick some tail,” says two-time SB champion and Steelers legend Hines Ward.

Hey, it beats “Sussudio.”

Monday Night Football’s much-loved “Heavy Action” theme remains, too. It will follow the new open and play during the games.

Here’s the full clip:

Can you feel it? ?

The new Monday Night Football Anthem is HERE!@ChrisStapleton x @SnoopDogg x @Drumstress pic.twitter.com/hbuTMMHIT9

— ESPN (@espn) September 19, 2023