Sportv commentator Luiz Carlos Jr. has always been quick and precise when it comes to music as well. His background as a radio host before moving to television becomes obvious because of it: no matter the decade, he can tell you what song is playing, who recorded it, when it was released, and whether it was a hit. And during every match, he never hides his excitement when the opening notes of “Sirius,” by the Alan Parsons Project, begin to play. Fans of progressive rock and the NBA feel the same way. But how did rock music and sports become so closely intertwined?

Long before accompanying the entrance of national teams at the 2026 World Cup, “Sirius” had already become one of the most recognizable pieces of music in sports. The curious part is that it was never written with that purpose in mind. In fact, the track was created in 1982 simply as an introduction to another song and eventually took on a life of its own that perhaps even Alan Parsons never imagined.

The Alan Parsons Project was one of the most unusual acts in British rock. Created by Alan Parsons and Eric Woolfson, it functioned more as a studio collective than as a traditional band. Parsons was already a respected figure long before that. He had worked as an engineer on the Beatles’ “Abbey Road” and Pink Floyd’s “The Dark Side of the Moon,” while Woolfson was a songwriter and pianist. Together, they turned the Project into one of the leading names in progressive rock and sophisticated pop throughout the 1970s and 1980s.

It was on “Eye in the Sky,” the duo’s sixth album, that “Sirius” first appeared. Released in 1982, the record became one of the Alan Parsons Project’s greatest successes thanks to its title track, but Parsons believed the song needed a dramatic opening. The short instrumental piece, running just 1 minute and 48 seconds, was designed to lead naturally into “Eye in the Sky.” On the original album, the two tracks are practically inseparable.

The riff that would become famous around the world came from an unusual combination. Parsons used a clavinet, the instrument popularized by Stevie Wonder on “Superstition,” and employed a Fairlight CMI, one of the earliest digital samplers ever created, to build the loop that became the foundation of the composition. The title “Sirius” was inspired by the brightest star in the night sky. According to Parsons himself, the sound felt spacey and planetary, perfectly matching the atmosphere of the album.

No one could have imagined that this brief introduction would eventually become more famous than the song it was meant to precede.

Everything changed in Chicago. During the 1980s, NBA player introductions were still fairly routine. Many teams relied on arena organists, and lineups were announced with little fanfare. The Bulls decided to do things differently. Tommy Edwards, the team’s public-address announcer and a radio host at WLS, turned player introductions into an event of their own. The lights went out, sound effects were added, and Michael Jordan was always introduced last.

At first, the team used Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” as its soundtrack. But Edwards heard “Sirius” playing as background music in a movie theater and immediately realized that the track’s slow, building structure would be perfect for creating anticipation. The gamble paid off. By the time the guitar section arrived, it was Jordan’s moment. Thanks to his radio experience, Edwards knew exactly how to time every announcement.

From that point on, “Sirius” became inseparable from the Bulls’ identity. When Tommy Edwards left the team in 1990, Ray Clay continued the tradition and refined the introductions that would become legendary during the dynasty of Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and company. The Bulls would go on to win six NBA championships during the 1990s and helped transform the instrumental track into one of the greatest sports anthems ever.

Perhaps the most amusing anecdote in the story involves Alan Parsons himself. When an American friend told him that his music was being used to introduce Michael Jordan, Parsons’ response was simple and revealing: “Who’s Michael Jordan?” The British musician was never a basketball fan and had no idea how deeply the song had become associated with the Bulls.

Over the years, other teams adopted “Sirius.” The track began appearing at sporting events, boxing matches, and presentations around the world, eventually becoming one of the most recognizable sounds in arenas. More than four decades after it was created, it found a new stage.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup incorporated “Sirius” into the teams’ entrance ceremony, replacing the traditional music that had accompanied players before the national anthems for decades. Although FIFA has not officially explained the choice, the decision appears to reflect the influence of the United States as one of the tournament’s hosts and the growing convergence between football and the entertainment model of major American sports leagues.

As a result, a piece lasting less than two minutes, originally created as nothing more than an introduction, crossed generations, became part of the image of the greatest dynasty in NBA history, and now accompanies the entrance of the biggest stars in world football.

Few songs have traveled such an unlikely path. From British progressive rock to the peak of Michael Jordan’s career and now to the world’s biggest sporting event, “Sirius” proves that some compositions seem destined to transcend the circumstances in which they were created. And sometimes, what begins as a simple introduction ends up becoming the main event itself.