by Associated Press | August 15, 2012 at 8:39 AM | The Voice, TV News

Cee Lo Green (Photo: Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

By CHRIS TALBOTT

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Cee Lo Green‘s about to shake up the NFL.

Green is taking over the NFL Network’s “Thursday Night Football” intro, and in typical fashion for the flamboyant rapper-singer he’s putting his own spin on things. Rather than the traditional artist-centered pre-taped opener, the NFL and Green are inviting fans to submit videos of themselves singing along to the chorus of a song based on The Ramones’ “Blitzkrieg Bop.”

“I think this brings a splash of color to a, you know, bland and black-and-white backdrop,” Green said. “And make it colorful and make it fun and make it young. Make it exciting and highly enthusiastic, you know what I’m saying?”

Beginning with the Sept. 13 “Thursday Night Football” season opener between the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears, fans of each team can submit videos of themselves singing along to the chorus of the new song, “I Love Football.”

Green said the crowd-sourcing feature of the “Fanthem” helps make the intro exciting and young. It’s designed to help the league’s effort to increase its social media presence.

Brian Lockhart, the NFL Network’s coordinating producer of features and production design, says shows like Green’s “The Voice” and other entertainment programs have had great success in marketing in untraditional ways on the Internet. Previous NFL prime-time intros have been focused on individual performers like Faith Hill and Hank Williams Jr., who split with ESPN’s “Monday Night Football” last year.

Glad they are not going with that BORING country material.

Graycap23 said:

Glad they are not going with that BORING country material.

I ain't mad at Ceelo-let him make his change

Why not stick with music, fatfuck.

are u ready for anything but football..lollllllll

wowwwww

wow, some ppl have serious issues with ppl "broadening their horizons" and don't let said person have a gut, GEEZ!!! "do what I say and look the way I want you to look." in no way does this fun excursion imply he isn't sticking with music. there are already two confirmed albums in the works!

I actually like that Cee Lo is doing this.

I guess once it's recorded it will sound ok, but most of Cee Lo's live stuff is usually out of key.