Andrew Saur has the soul of a Viking, along with the genetic code.
Only Saur isn't fighting on a long boat, the Duluth native is using his talents as an artist to wage a battle that's getting national and international attention.
Saur is campaigning to get the Minnesota Vikings football team to change its kickoff song from the current guitar riff from Guns N' Roses song "Welcome to the Jungle" to "Immigrant Song" by Led Zeppelin.
"I've had the idea for some time, but a trip to Norway and Iceland in July was the catalyst for getting it done," Saur said in a Friday morning interview.
Getting what done?
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Well, sending a letter and a multi-media presentation to the Minnesota Vikings owner, Mr. Zygi Wilf. Saur did a painting of a Viking ship, made a print, put the lyrics of the Zeppelin song on top and embedded an MP3 player inside so all a person had to do was push a button to have the whole multi-sensory experience.
Here are some of those lyrics:
"We come from the land of the ice and snow,
From the midnight sun where the hot springs blow.
The hammer of the gods will drive our ships to new lands,
To fight the horde, singing and crying: Valhalla, I am coming!
On we sweep with threshing oar, Our only goal will be the western shore.
Aaaaaaaah, ah,
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We come from the land of the ice and snow,
From the midnight sun where the hot springs blow.
How soft your fields so green, can whisper tales of gore,
Of how we calmed the tides of war. We are your overlords.
On we sweep with threshing oar, Our only goal will be the western shore.
So now you'd better stop and rebuild all your ruins,
For peace and trust can win the day despite of all your losing."
His package got little attention from the Vikings corporate office. Mr. Wilf never saw it. Saur got the whole thing back in the mail with a polite letter stating that they can't take ideas from outside the organization.
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Saur -- a Norwegian name, by the way -- didn't give up.
He launched a campaign on the Web to collect signatures from those who would favor a change in tune. It's getting attention from all kinds of sources: Sports Illustrated (a paragraph), Minnesota Public Radio, newspapers in the Twin Cities, Brainerd, Duluth, and yes, even Iceland, have picked up the story and run with it.
Saur said he never expected all the publicity.
"I am surprised," he said. "I didn't think it would go anywhere. But now it's getting national and international attention, it was even picked up by newspaper in Iceland. They've been very supportive. They're all for any attention to the Vikings."
To show how much Vikings have evolved, there's even a charitable element to the campaign. Another important part of the Web site is the ability to download the artwork that was created. With each download, Saur is asking that a donation be made to the Vikings Children's Fund. The goal of this campaign is to raise $50,000.
Personally, I think Saur rocks. But I disagree with one thing: I think the Vikings should adopt the Zeppelin tune as their theme song, to be played at the beginning of the game and after halftime when the players run out from the locker room. After all, lyrics like those need to be heard. Plus, it would likely be better received than the Viking's latest anthem, "Send in the Horns," which lends itself to obscene interpretation whenever the Metrodome acoustics blur the vocals of this hip-hop tune.
Saur had 570 signatures as of Friday morning. With the combined coverage of Minnesota Public Radio and the Duluth Budgeteer, he's hoping to have thousands very soon.
Hop on board, Northlanders. To sign Saur's online petition, go to www.vikingskickoff.com , click on "Show your support" and type in your name and e-mail address. (Saur promises he won't distribute those, but both are necessary to verify the signatures.) E-mail Saur at norseman@vikingskickoff.com .
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Saur has one more comment on his Web site: "One more step can be further taken. The lyrics could be rewritten to say, 'On we sweep with threshing oar, our only goal will be the Super Bowl!'"
Jana Peterson is the editor of the Budgeteer. She can be reached at 723-1207 or jpeterson@duluthbudgeteer.com .
