CHICAGO -- The Chicago Bears may not be able to claim the top prize in pro football this year, but they still have a shot at capturing one of music's top awards.
The Bears' rap record, 'The Super Bowl Shuffle,' was nominated Thursday for a Grammy in the category of 'Best Rhythm and Blues Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal.'
The record cracked the Billboard top 100 last year as the team was enroute to a victory in Super Bowl XX. The accompanying video was also a best seller.
A portion of the proceeds from the record and video were to have gone to charity. The Illinois Attorney General's office investigated to find out why there was a delay in giving a part of the proceeds to feed the hungry. Several months later, an undisclosed contribution was made.
Chicago-based Red Label records organized the project through wide receiver Willie Gault and featured members of the Bears singing a rap tune with a now-familiar chorus, 'we're not here, to start no trouble, we're just here to do the Super Bowl shuffle.'
Opposing the 'shuffle' are: 'Kiss,' Prince and the Revolution; 'Promise,' Sade; 'Raising Hell,' Run-D.M.C.; 'Real Love,' Ashford and Simpson and 'Word Up,' Cameo.
The announcement of the Grammy nomination came after two Chicagoans, Al and Howard Fleishman, produced a parody known as 'Super EmBEARrassed.' The two wrote the rap record after Chicago was upset 27-13 by Washington in last Saturday's NFC semifinals.
A portion of the chorus goes:
'We are the Bears, and we are through, Another Super Bowl was too good to be true.
Like all Chicago teams, you knew we could, Blow the season like you knew we would.
We're not here to really get harassed, We're just here to say we're super embarrassed.'
