If you’ve been around Safeco Field lately, you may have heard barking. No, Safeco Field has not been hosting any dog shows.
It’s the fans that can be heard barking along to what’s being called the unofficial anthem of the Seattle Mariners.
The song "Who Let the Dogs Out?" has been played before shortstop Alex Rodriguez’s and catcher Joe Oliver’s at-bats and during Mariner rallies has helped charge the team and the fans. A Bahamas-based group called Baha Men recorded the song, which has exploded all over the United States. While the group’s core musicians have been playing for over a decade, the addition of three new singers re-energized the group this past year.
Altogether the group now consists of nine members: vocalists Rick Carey, Omerit Hield and Marvin Prosper; guitarists Herschel Small and Patrick Carey; percussionist Anthony "Monks" Flowers; keyboardist Jeffrey Cher; bassist Isiah Taylor; and drummer Colyn "Mo" Grant.
What is unique about Baha Men is its sound, which the group describes as Junkanoo, a West African-inspired rhythm traditionally played on goatskin drums and cowbells, combined with pop, R&B, reggae and ska. "What we’re doing is bringing the whole range of our influences into the group’s sound, creating something really new and original," Rick Carey said in a press release.
Even though Baha Men has been playing for years, the group did not receive much U.S. attention until "Who Let the Dogs Out?" became a hit.
However, the group is renowned in other places in the world such as Japan, where it has had five platinum albums and is a major concert attraction. The Baha Men recently made its first live appearance in Washington when it visited the KCPQ (Channel 13) morning news show "Mornings Life on Q."
The group also performed a high-energy concert for more than 300 people on a boat cruise sponsored by a local radio station.
However, the group’s most important Seattle appearance was arguably its pre-game concert Sept. 12 at Safeco Field. The Baha Men energized the fans — and most likely the Seattle players as well, because one might notice the Mariners defeated the Kansas City Royals 11-3.
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