by Walt Norris, Erdenheim, PA

In the 1960s, three men from Connecticut wrote and recorded “Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye”. It was later released on Fontana records under a the fictitious band named “Steam”. Though Steam never did catch fire, the song did. It became the #1 pop single on the billboard hot 100 in late 1969.

What came next was more important: high school sports fans started singing “Na Na Na Na Hey Hey Hey Goodbye”, when their team was well in the lead during a game. This grew to college and pro sports events, especially when an opposing player was ejected or “relieved” by his/her coach. Now, over 30 years later, hundreds of thousands of sports fans each year sing Na Na Hey Hey Goodbye….. I would call this a recurring “moment”.

Sidenote: Bananarama included their version of this song (as a single) on their 1983 album, Deep Sea Skiving.