Close your eyes and think about the 1990s. If you grew up then, you don't even need to see the red jerseys or the salt-and-pepper hair of Phil Jackson to know what’s coming. You hear it. Those first few pulsating, synth-driven notes—da-da-da-da-da-da-DA—echoing through the United Center. It’s the sound of inevitable defeat for anyone not wearing a Chicago Bulls uniform.
The Michael Jordan theme song isn't actually called "The Michael Jordan Theme Song," of course. It’s "Sirius" by the Alan Parsons Project. But honestly? Try telling that to a basketball fan. To the world, those two minutes of instrumental progressive rock are the sonic embodiment of the greatest era in NBA history. It’s the music that announced the arrival of a god.
Why "Sirius" became the definitive Michael Jordan theme song
It’s kinda wild to think that a deep-cut instrumental from a 1982 British prog-rock album became the most iconic anthem in American sports. "Sirius" was the opening track on Eye in the Sky. It wasn't written for basketball. It wasn't even written for an American audience.
The story goes that Tommy Edwards, the Bulls’ legendary public address announcer, heard the song while at a movie theater or listening to the radio—accounts vary slightly depending on who you ask—and he just knew. He needed something that built tension. Something that felt like a storm was coming.
Before the Bulls adopted it in 1984, the same year MJ was drafted, player introductions were... well, they were boring. A guy with a microphone would just read names. "Starting at guard, from North Carolina..." That was it.
The Bulls changed the game. They turned an introduction into a theatrical production. When the lights dimmed and those synthesizers started humming, the energy in Chicago changed. It wasn't just a game anymore; it was a show. And Jordan was the lead actor.
The psychology of the intro
Music does something to the brain. It triggers dopamine. For the home crowd, "Sirius" was a Pavlovian signal that they were about to witness greatness. For the opposing team? It was psychological warfare.
Imagine being a visiting player. You're standing on the hardwood, and suddenly the lights go out. You hear that low, rhythmic pulsing. You know that in about sixty seconds, the most competitive human being on the planet is going to run out of a tunnel, fueled by a crowd that sounds like a jet engine.
It’s intimidating as hell.
The song works because it builds. It doesn't just start at 100. It starts with that lone, repeating guitar riff. Then the keyboards layer in. Then the drums. By the time Ray Clay (who took over for Edwards) started screaming "AND NOW, THE STARTING LINEUP FOR YOUR CHICAGO BULLS," the momentum was unstoppable.
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Not just a song, but a brand
The Michael Jordan theme song did something that few other pieces of music have managed: it branded an entire decade. Whenever "Sirius" plays today—at a wedding, in a commercial, or at a random sports bar—everyone in the room immediately thinks of number 23.
It’s become a shorthand for "greatness is occurring."
Even the "Space Jam" soundtrack and the various hip-hop tracks associated with Jordan over the years couldn't knock "Sirius" off its pedestal. It’s the "Jaws" theme of basketball. If you hear it, you know something is about to get eaten.
The Alan Parsons connection
Alan Parsons himself was reportedly surprised by the song's second life. He was a guy who worked with Pink Floyd on The Dark Side of the Moon. He was a technical wizard, a producer who cared about fidelity and complex arrangements. He probably didn't expect his little two-minute instrumental to be played 41 times a year in a cavernous basketball arena in the Midwest.
Interestingly, Parsons has mentioned in interviews that he doesn't get "performance royalties" in the way you might think when the song plays in the stadium, because of how venue licensing works. But the exposure? Unmatched.
"Sirius" is technically a prelude to the hit song "Eye in the Sky," but in the context of the Bulls, it stands alone. It’s stripped of its soft-rock successor and allowed to be what it truly is: a menacing, atmospheric buildup.
The Last Dance and the 2020s revival
If there was any doubt that the Michael Jordan theme song still had legs, the 2020 documentary The Last Dance crushed it. When the world was stuck inside during the pandemic, that docuseries reminded everyone why MJ was the apex predator of the sports world.
And there was "Sirius," front and center.
The documentary used the song to perfection, cutting between vintage 90s footage and modern-day interviews. It reminded us that the music wasn't just nostalgia. It was a piece of the armor.
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Why other teams failed to replicate it
Look, every NBA team has a "pump-up" song now. The Miami Heat have used everything from Phil Collins to Rick Ross. The Knicks try to make "Go NY Go" happen every decade.
But nothing sticks like "Sirius."
Most modern intros feel manufactured. They’re too loud, too busy, or too tied to a specific fleeting trend. "Sirius" is timeless because it’s instrumental. It doesn't have dated lyrics about "slam dunking" or "taking it to the hole." It’s just a mood. It’s the sound of a heartbeat before a fight.
The technical breakdown of the "Bulls" sound
If you analyze "Sirius" from a technical standpoint, it’s actually quite simple. The main riff is a Clavinet-style synth sound that uses a delay effect to create that "chugging" rhythm.
- The Tempo: It sits at about 102 BPM, which is a comfortable, walking-pace tempo that feels like a march.
- The Key: It’s in B minor, which feels serious and slightly dark.
- The Arrangement: It uses a slow crescendo. Each instrument adds a new layer of frequency—low bass, mid-range synths, high-frequency guitar stabs.
This structure is exactly what you want for a PA announcer to speak over. It leaves "holes" in the frequency spectrum for a human voice to punch through. If the music was too chaotic, you wouldn't be able to hear the names of the players.
The cultural legacy of the "Michael Jordan theme song"
You see the influence everywhere now. In the NFL, teams have adopted specific tracks for their "run-outs." In combat sports, walk-out music is a vital part of a fighter's persona.
But MJ and the Bulls were the pioneers. They understood that sports is entertainment. They understood that if you want people to treat you like a hero, you need a hero’s entrance.
There’s a reason why, even 20+ years after his final retirement, fans still get goosebumps when that song plays. It represents a time when the NBA felt larger than life. When one man seemed to have a gravitational pull over the entire sports universe.
Actionable ways to relive the "Sirius" energy
If you’re looking to capture a bit of that 90s Bulls magic, you don't just have to wait for a replay on ESPN.
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1. Go for the high-fidelity version
Don't just listen to a tinny YouTube rip. Find the remastered version of Eye in the Sky. The production value Alan Parsons put into those synths is actually incredible when you hear it through a good pair of headphones. You can hear the subtle panning and the way the delay repeats bounce between your ears.
2. Watch the "Last Dance" intro sequences
If you want to see how the music was choreographed with the visuals, go back and watch the intro to episode one. It’s a masterclass in editing. The way the cuts hit on the beat of the Michael Jordan theme song is why that doc won so many awards.
3. Use it for your own "intros"
Honestly, if you have a big presentation or a workout where you need to feel invincible, put "Sirius" on. It’s scientifically proven (okay, maybe just emotionally proven) to increase your confidence by 400%.
4. Explore the rest of the album
Most people skip straight to "Eye in the Sky," but the whole Alan Parsons Project catalog is a trip. If you like the "vibe" of the MJ theme, check out tracks like "Mammagamma." It’s that same rhythmic, synth-heavy prog that defined the era's sophisticated side.
The Michael Jordan theme song isn't just a piece of music. It’s a time machine. It’s a reminder of a 72-10 season, six rings, and a guy who took the game of basketball and turned it into an art form. It’s the sound of the greatest to ever do it.
And it still goes hard. Every single time.
To truly appreciate the impact, look up the original 1996 NBA Finals introductions on YouTube. Watch the way the Chicago stadium crowd reacts as the first note of "Sirius" hits. Notice how the Bulls players move in sync with the rhythm. That's not just a basketball team; that’s a cultural phenomenon perfectly scored by a British prog-rock band. It shouldn't work, but it’s perfect.
Next Steps for the Ultimate MJ Fan:
- Audit the Audio: Compare the 1990s arena recordings to the studio version of "Sirius" to hear how the Bulls' sound engineers tweaked the equalization to make the bass thump harder for the live crowd.
- Study the PA Technique: Listen to Ray Clay’s cadence. He times his "From North Carolina..." specifically to the melodic shifts in the song. It’s a lesson in public speaking and timing.
- Check the Gear: If you're a synth nerd, look into the Fairlight CMI and the Yamaha DX7—the instruments responsible for those iconic 80s sounds that gave Jordan his anthem.