Irwin deserves an animal-songs tribute CD

I, along with many fans of Steve Irwin, was shocked when the "Crocodile Hunter" was killed Monday by a stingray barb to the chest.

Although Irwin, who was the director of the Australia Zoo in Queensland, had participated in countless life-threatening encounters with wild animals, he always survived unscathed — with the exception of a few snake bites and such.

I had always thought to myself, "If that man can survive wrestling a crocodile and handling a poisonous snake, he can survive anything." Sadly, I was proven wrong.

But at least Irwin died doing what he loved — being with nature.

I, for one, will miss the crazy adventurous Aussie. And I feel for his wife, Terri, and their two young children.

As I was reminiscing about some of my favorite "Crocodile Hunter" episodes, I started compiling a list of songs I'd like to hear on an Irwin tribute CD or a Sirius Radio spot:

• "Crocodile Rock" by Sir Elton John

• "Alligator Bogaloo" by Lou Donaldson

• "Gator Tails and Monkey Ribs" by the Spats

• "Africa" by Toto

• "Animal" by Def Leppard

• "Animal Instinct" by the Commodores

• "Baby Elephant Walk" by Henry Mancini

• "The Pink Panther Theme" by Henry Mancini

• "Surfin' Safari" by the Beach Boys

• "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" by the Tokens

• "Rocky Raccoon" by the Beatles

• "Born to Be Wild" by Steppenwolf

• "Born Free" by Roger Williams

• "Theme from 'Jaws"' by John Williams

• "Fly Like an Eagle" by the Steve Miller Band

• "Jungle Love" by the Steve Miller Band

• "Jungle Boogie" by Kool & the Gang

• "Eye of the Tiger" by Survivor

• "Hello Muddah, Hello Faddah! (A Letter from Camp)" by Allan Sherman

• "Tiger" by Fabian

• "Maneater" by Daryl Hall & John Oates

• "I'm Being Swallowed by a Boa Constrictor" (children's song)

• "Eagles Fly" by Sammy Hagar

• "Wild World" by Cat Stevens and/or Maxi Priest

• Any song by Aussie bands Men at Work, INXS or Midnight Oil and AC/DC

• "Nature Boy" by Bobby Darin

• "Shedding Skin" by Pantera

• "Run Through the Jungle" by Creedence Clearwater Revival

• "Snake Eyes" by Alan Parsons Project

• "Wild Life" by Bananarama

• And, of course, "Wild Thing" by the Troggs

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E-mail: scott@desnews.com