Stephen Bunting reveals two reasons for his walk-on song after being paid thousands to change
Stephen Bunting reveals two reasons for his walk-on song after being paid thousands to change
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Stephen Bunting credited his son and nickname with inspiring his Titanium walk-on song, which replaced an old number he was paid "thousands" to use. The Bullet, who clinched the Masters title in 2024, is one of the in-form players on the PDC circuit and has rightfully been awarded a spot in the Premier League for his exploits. Fans now belt out 'Titanium' by David Guetta and Sia, a track that has replaced his former choice, 'Surfin' Bird' by The Trashmen, as the fan favourite makes his entrance, but this alteration wasn't made on a whim.
It was this formerly used tune that Bunting declared he has attempted to distance himself from, with both his son and the desire to get the word 'bullet' into an anthem the reasons for such a beloved switch. "My son is a massive fan of Sia, David Guetta, and obviously Titanium. So, the big thinking behind that is to get away from the 'Bird is the Word' song and incorporate a song with 'bullet' in it," Bunting shared on The Bunting Effect YouTube channel.
"It's just gone from strength to strength. Everyone seems to sing it now on my walk-on, and it's got the fans on my side, so I'm really happy with the choice.". Previously, Bunting had been associated with the 1963 hit 'Surfin' Bird' - known as The Bird Is The Word - a connection stemming from his likeness to Peter Griffin from the animated show Family Guy, who was linked to the song in a popular episode from 2008.
This link was further cemented when a clip of Bunting mimicking the comedy sketch went viral over 10 years ago. "The Bird Is The Word, I got paid a lot of money to change my walk on to that," Bunting revealed on Club 501. "It was all well and good at the time but I was more nervous in thinking more about the walk-on than I was about playing. So, it sort of affected my game.”. He confessed that the lucrative deal earned him "multiple thousands of pounds". Yet, with his switch to the current 2011 hit and a surge in popularity, Bunting's game has seen a marked improvement, a change he attributes to a boost in confidence and extensive work offstage.
"I'm playing the best I've ever played, more consistent, believing I can win titles," Bunting stated, reflecting on his recent World Series event victory in Bahrain and a stellar run to the semi-finals at the Worlds. "Coming off the back of the semi-finals in the Worlds, I've come in full of confidence. From where I was last year to up in World No.5, I've got a lot of people to thank for that. "It's taken a lot of hard work. The hypnotherapy behind the scenes, the psychology in the past, from feeling down in the dumps to being World No.5, is an incredible feeling. It's made me really strong, to be honest. To go from where I was to where I am now. I've got a great team behind me. Hopefully, the only way up.".
