2021 Detroit Lions Song of the Game: Lift Yourself by Kanye West

It’s only Week 2, but I’m sending this playlist off the rails.

That’s not my fault. Blame the Detroit Lions for sending my brain to the most disappointing corners of my brain to pull this song out of the mothballs.

No, it’s not “Detroit Rock City” by KISS or “Don’t Stop Believin’” by Journey. Those songs will never, ever be on this playlist. If it wasn’t for Jeremy’s well-written write-up and Dan Campbell’s affinity for all things Metallica, I would have rejected his choice for last week because this playlist deserves the best.

For this game? For this game right here? This game... Watch this shit.

Packers vs. Lions Week 2 Song of the Game: “Lift Yourself” by Kanye West

At the time Ye dropped this song, there was a drought. People had been clamoring for what was coming next from Mr. West. The first minute and a half of the track sounds like vintage Kanye. A chopped-up vocal sample layered with thumping drums gives way to a new rhythm from the drums, complete with a sped-up vocal pattern. It had all the makings of a classic record from West.

Lift yourself up on your feet, let’s get it on

Detroit’s offense came out of the gate guns a-blazin'. Three of their four drives in the first half resulted in 17 points and the Lions took a lead into halftime. Much was made about how this was a “get right” game for the Packers, but Detroit somehow managed to get back within striking distance against the 49ers in Week 1. Kudos to these players and this coaching staff for getting back on their feet and showing up to Week 2 ready to get it on.

Hard to see, ooh
The hang-ups we have today

Monday night’s game against the Green Bay Packers was full of difficulties, but there’s no greater hang-up than this Lions defense.

The vocal sample in “Lift Yourself” kicks things off in a very fitting way to describe Detroit’s defense through two weeks. It’s hard to see this defense struggle the way it has after watching it do so during the entire Quinntricia era. There was some hope that new defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn and defensive backs coach Aubrey Pleasant would be able to work their magic on this youthful unit, but the injuries are piling up in the secondary. Already without Jeff Okudah, the Lions lost Ifeatu Melifonwu to an injury in this one. The hang-ups are definitely hard to see.

Poopy-di scoop
Scoop-diddy-whoop
Whoop-di-scoop-di-poop
Poop-di-scoopty
Scoopty-whoop
Whoopity-scoop, whoop-poop
Poop-diddy, whoop-scoop
Poop, poop
Scoop-diddy-whoop
Whoop-diddy-scoop
Whoop-diddy-scoop, poop

If you see the ditty above, these are West’s only lyrics in the song—save from a forewarning to listeners that they aren’t ready for the bars he’s about to drop in the upcoming verse.

You don’t have to squint very hard to see how reminiscent these lyrics are of the Lions’ performance in the second half. First, it was a turnover on downs on the Lions' first drive of the second half. Then, it was a fumbled snap by Jared Goff near the end of the third quarter that effectively sealed the game—he would tack on a goofy interception to truly put the poop in whoopity-scoop.

Said we need to strive for more Liberty

Sure, the Detroit Lions are 0-2. They’re winless through two games of the Dan Campbell era but I’m hardly upset with this team or the direction it’s headed. I’m frustrated with the injuries to players like Okudah and Melifonwu because they’re missing out on game snaps and opportunities practice can’t afford them. But this is a work in progress and it will continue to be for some time. In the meantime, we can all strive for more Liberty.

Each week, we’ll be providing a Song of the Game to create a full-season playlist. You can listen to previous year’s soundtracks right here: 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020

You can find the 2021 playlist here (or below):