Annandale songwriter rallies Vikings fans with tune

ANNANDALE Singer/songwriter John Kurkosky loves to do two things that require plenty of optimism: go fishing and watch the Minnesota Vikings.

Disappointment can come hand in hand with both hobbies. The Vikings’ regular season opening loss courtesy of the San Francisco 49ers didn’t make Kurkosky happy.

“That was a long night, especially when you’re losing,” he said.

Unlike his son, Kurkosky doesn’t play fantasy football: “My fantasy is watching them win. Right now, it might be a dream.”

But Kurkosky, 64, remains an upbeat fan of the state’s professional football team. “They’re gonna get it together sooner or later,” he said.

Kurkosky is doing his part to rally the legions of Purple and Gold fans. The Annandale resident recently released a song called “Let’s Play Football, Minnesota Vikings.” He got permission from the Vikings to use the team’s emblem for the YouTube video he posted on the Web; a fancier version complete with photos of players was posted by Vikings Territory contributor Lindsey Young.

Most of Kurkosky’s songs before have been inspired by fishing, ditties including “I Got Worms” and “Fishin’ Fever.” “Let’s Play Football” was something new for him, but songwriting is something he’s done for years.

“Words fall out of my head,” he said.

‘Great hooks’

St. Cloud musician Paul “Stretch” Diethelm played almost all the instruments on “Let’s Play Football.” Kurkosky, who has recorded many songs before, has worked with Diethelm and other Slip Twister members many times before. Kurkosky praises the musicians he works with; he lets them do their thing and gets out of the way.

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The song was recorded at Hammond Media Productions in St. Cloud, where Kurkosky did his fishing songs.

“He’s got great hooks,” pun intended, studio owner John Hammond said. Kurkosky comes up with interesting ideas, and is always determined and positive, he said.

Diethelm pointed out that Kurkosky’s voice has a “deep Johnny Cash thing going on,” something that Kurkosky said he hears a lot, and he’s not complaining.

“If that’s what they hear, that’s great,” Kurkosky said. “I’ll take it all day long.”

Diethelm called Kurkosky a colorful guy.

“We always have fun with John,” Diethelm said, adding that “he’s usually got a couple of good stories anytime we press record.”

Always optimistic

Kurkosky would love it if his song would go viral, but he has a relaxed attitude about his music. He does it because he loves it. He estimates that with the money he’s spent on musicians and studio time over the past few decades, he could have bought a few new cars.

He works construction during the day, and has a shop at his home that’s his mini studio. He and his wife of 46 years, Jody, have three kids and seven grandchildren. And Jody, who’s “still my bride,” will watch the Vikings with him, too, he said.

Kurkosky thinks Mike Zimmer could be the best Vikings head coach since Bud Grant. He says his favorite player is linebacker Chad Greenway. And he’s excited about the prospects of a new stadium; he hasn’t seen the Vikings play in person since the early 1990s, but he would love to visit it.

And he even thinks the Vikings have a shot at the playoffs. Yes, he’s staying optimistic.

“If we win the next three games, we’ll forget about this loss,” he said.

Follow Kate Kompas on Twitter @copygirlkate, or call her at 259-3620.