Space Jam

The 1996 movie Space Jam opens with the R. Kelly ballad "I Believe I Can Fly" as we see a young Michael Jordan growing his wings. But this is a jam after all, so the theme song needed to be bumpin'. One of the hottest songs in the summer of 1996 was "C'mon N' Ride It (The Train)" by The Quad City DJ's. For the movie, they essentially re-wrote that song: instead of riding the train, we're dancing at the Space Jam. The song plays over the opening credits, which are essentially a Jordan highlight reel. It sets the tone for the movie, which is filled with jock jams.

The movie was released in November 1996, with "Space Jam" issued in December as the third single from the soundtrack, following Seal's cover of "Fly Like An Eagle" and R. Kelly's "I Believe I Can Fly." The soundtrack sold over 6 million copies, and the song went to #37 in the US, giving The Quad City DJ's their last substantial hit. They broke up in 1997.

The "Hoop, there it is!" chant may sound like a ripoff of "Whoomp! There It Is" by Tag Team, but The Quad City DJ's can lay a claim to it. Their members C.C. Lemonhead and Jay Ski wrote and produced "Whoot! There It Is" for 95 South, which was released around the same time as "Whoomp!" in 1993.