“One Shining Moment” Began in East Lansing

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“Guy Walks into a Bar, Leaves with a Song.” The New York Times 


At the game’s end next Monday evening, college basketball fans will see what they’ve seen almost every April since 1987–a montage of tournament highlights as a song plays in the background. That piece, One Shining Moment. is linked indelibly to March Madness.

But the song wasn’t inspired by college basketball or any sport, for that matter. It was inspired by a woman, a stranger, who sat next to Dave Barrett at an East Lansing, MI bar, the Varsity Inn. She left before Barrett could strike up a conversation.

Flummoxed by an opportunity lost, Barrett did what songwriters do–he converted his feelings into lyrics, beginning at the bar and finishing the following day over breakfast. at Michigan State’s Kellog Center restaurant. A melody soon followed. It took Barrett about twenty songwriting minutes to compose One Shining Moment.

With the song complete, the next step was to market the creation. A New York City-based contact helped Barrett make connections. CBS Sports liked the song and purchased it. The plan was to play it during the next Super Bowl, but the telecast went over its timeslot and One Shining Moment never reached the air.

But, sometimes, things turn out for the better. In this case, it was the NCAA tournament, March Madness 1987. It was a perfect situation, too. The Indiana Hoosiers had just won the championship courtesy of Keith Smart’s buzzer-beating corner shot. TV viewers then watched flashbacks of the tournament as Barrett’s prized song played in the background.

But that’s not the end of the story. Years later–after loads of trying—Barrett located the woman who had started it all. She was married and had kids. They met, and Barrett told her about the role she had played in his life.

They talked. They laughed. They made history.

ONE SHINING MOMENT

The ball is tipped
and there you are
you’re running for your life
you’re a shooting star
And all the years
no one knows
just how hard you worked
but now it shows…
(in) One Shining Moment, it’s all on the line

One Shining Moment, there frozen in time

But time is short
and the road is long
in the blinking of an eye
ah that moment’s gone
And when it’s done
win or lose
you always did your best
cuz inside you knew…

(that) One Shining Moment, you reached deep inside
One Shining Moment, you knew you were alive

Feel the beat of your heart
feel the wind in your face
it’s more than a contest
it’s more than a race…

And when it’s done
win or lose
you always did your best
cuz inside you knew…

(that) One Shining Moment, you reached for the sky
One Shining Moment, you knew
One Shining Moment, you were willing to try
One Shining Moment, you knew
One Shining Moment…

___________

DAVID BARRETT, One Shining Moment lyrics © Universal Music-Mgb Songs, Kma Tunes, Hodges Song Supply, Universal Music Mgb Songs

About Frank Fear

I’m a Columnist at The Sports Column. My specialty is sports commentary with emphasis on sports reform, and I also serve as TSC’s Managing Editor. In the ME role I coordinate the daily flow of submissions from across the country and around the world, including editing and posting articles. I’m especially interested in enabling the development of young, aspiring writers. I can relate to them. I began covering sports in high school for my local newspaper, but then decided to pursue an academic career. For thirty-five-plus years I worked as a professor and administrator at Michigan State University. Now retired, it’s time to write again about sports. In 2023, I published “Band of Brothers, Then and Now: The Inspiring Story of the 1966-70 West Virginia University Football Mountaineers,” and I also produce a weekly YouTube program available on the Voice of College Football Network, “Mountaineer Locker Room, Then & Now.”



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Comments (“One Shining Moment” Began in East Lansing)

    Samuel H. Johnson wrote (03/28/22 - 8:50:02PM)

    Great story. One worth repeating.