Remember This Music Video by the Dallas Cowboys Football Team?

The Dallas Cowboys have always held a special place in both Texas and American sports lore. Famously dubbed “America’s Team,” the Cowboys have given us many memorable moments over the years. Among these, there’s a particularly unique and largely forgotten treasure from the 1986 Christmas season—a music video created by the team itself.

The music video, titled “Living the American Dream,” epitomizes the essence of 80s culture and the team’s larger-than-life persona during that era.

Before diving into this nostalgic piece, it’s worth noting a few things:

• First, the video is drenched in 80s aesthetics—bright colors, “unique” graphics, distinctive screen edits, and visuals that reflect both the era’s fashion and the Texan landscape.
• Second, while the Cowboys players excelled on the football field, their vocal talents varied. Some players managed to pull off decent performances, but it’s safe to say no professional singers emerged from the team.
• Third, and perhaps most notably, the song is an earworm. The chant “WE….ARE…living the American dream!” is difficult to forget once heard.

In essence, this music video was the Cowboys’ attempt to showcase their toughness, competitiveness, and patriotism, cashing in on their moniker as “America’s Team.” Clearly influenced by the Chicago Bears’ “The Super Bowl Shuffle” from 1985, the Cowboys aimed to make a similar splash.

However, the music video didn’t quite have the desired effect in the short term. The Cowboys ended the season with a 7-9 record, failing to make it to the playoffs. It was a spirited effort to energize the team and fans, but it didn’t pan out at that moment. Nevertheless, the Cowboys would enjoy greater success in the following decade, clinching three Super Bowl titles in 1992, 1993, and 1995. In hindsight, perhaps they should have postponed the video project until those glory years.

Nowadays, the Cowboys’ official music videos are produced by other artists rather than the players themselves. This shift marks an end to an era of player-driven musical projects. Yet, wouldn’t it be something if today’s stars like Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb, or Micah Parsons took a shot at recreating that iconic 80s style? It’s a thought worth pondering for both nostalgia and entertainment.

The 1986 music video remains an amusing chapter in the Cowboys’ storied history—an artifact of its time that captures the spirit and energy of a team willing to take risks far beyond the football field.

Source: Townsquare Media