UW contest to pay $1,000 for new school song lyrics

The University of Washington is looking to replace its current school anthem with a new song by launching a contest and hiring the man who composed the theme for "Rocky."

The school is willing to pay $1,000 to whoever pens the winning lyrics. School officials prefer a student, faculty or an alum to write the song, but what they really want is an alma mater - or school anthem - that invokes inspiration about UW based on the school's history and surroundings.

The university has hired Oscar and Emmy winner Bill Conti to compose the music for the song. Conti's work for Sylvester Stallone's movie "Rocky" became one of Hollywood's best known movie themes; he also penned the theme for ABC's "World News Tonight," among other things.

"I think it should be singable, unlike the national anthem, which I love, and it should be reverent," Conti told The Seattle Times from his home in Los Angeles. "The word writer, as opposed to the music writer, should have a deeper understanding of being there."

Conti and school officials did not disclose what his paycheck will be, other than saying it would likely be at least $10,000.

The current alma mater, written in the early 1900s, contains a lyric that may be offensive to some: "You're the mother of a mighty race."

Besides, few know the lyrics except Husky band members and cheerleaders, who are required to memorize them, said Brad McDavid, director of Husky athletic bands.

"What we really want is a song that tugs at the heartstrings," McDavid said. "We want something that's really grasped and understood and appreciated, not only by alumni but by current students."

There have not been any new UW songs of note since 1936, when a second school fight song was added. In the 1980s, a football song from another contest was quickly shelved after it proved unpopular with students.

Even the school's main fight song, "Bow Down to Washington," contains obscure lyrics. One line references battles in Turkey during World War I.

A committee of students, faculty, staff and alumni will pick the top three entries and Conti will pick the one song that inspires him. The final arrangement will be approved by the committee, and the school's new theme is scheduled to be unveiled in September.

The deadline to submit entries is May 28.

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On the Net: the University of Washington, http://www.washington.edu/discovery/uwsong/

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Information from: The Seattle Times, http://www.seattletimes.com