by Telemachus Gaffiganiakis
Feb. 11, 2006
Dave D'Ontrefont was just your normal struggling musician. Since he graduated from Oberlin College in 1983, D'Ontrefont was in and out of bars and clubs across the country with three different bands that he was a part of: The Regal Ones, Immigration and Naturalization, and Five Guys Playing Poorly.
However, in the late 80s, D'Ontrefont caught the eye of an executive at the former World Wrestling Federation (WWF...now known as WWE) who was drunkenly watching D'Ontrefont's last band, Five Guys Playing Poorly, performing at a shaky dive in El Paso, Texas. D'Ontrefont, who wrote all of the music for Five Guys Playing Poorly, was approached by the executive, and asked if he would be willing to compose entrance music for wrestling superstars.
Desperate for money and with Five Guys Playing Poorly looking at an impending break-up, D'Ontrefont jumped at the opportunity. His first project was to compose the entrance music for former "Rocker" Shawn Michaels, whose persona was now being turned into the "Heartbreak Kid."
"I didn't know how exactly I should approach this song," D'Ontrefont says while reminiscing. "I stepped outside of the wrestling federation's headquarters, and noticed two hawks outside, and everything clicked. I tape recorded two hawks violently mating, and knew that was how Shawn Michaels's entrance theme should begin."
Sensational Sherri, then-manager of Michaels, was brought in to "sing" the lyrics of the song. "I told Sherri to do her best to mimic the hawks engaging in intercourse and she did a great job." The song begins "Awww, awww, Shaaawwwwnnnn." While you would assume it would sound orgasmic, it indeed sounds like two hawks involved in the sex act as D'Ontrefont wanted.
"Then, the rest of the lyrics just smoothly rolled together," he says. "I think he's cute, he's so sexy. I wanted Sherri to be humble about Shawn, he might be cute, but I know damn well he's sexy. He is just a sexy boy, but he's not your boy toy. I wanted Shawn to be distant. Women wanted him, and men wanted to be him. He makes them feel, as the song goes, like they are on cloud nine!"
While D'Ontrefont may be best remembered for his development of Shawn Michaels's entrance music, his work relationship with the professional wrestling association fizzled after the composition of the song. "I had some disagreements with the head honchos, you know what I'm talking about. Mr. McMahon. Need I say more?" D'Ontrefont said.
D'Ontrefont, now 44, continues on with his struggling music career. "I go paycheck to paycheck bagging groceries at a Kroger, and play the occasional gig when I get the chance. Actually, Immigration and Naturalization are having a reunion world tour. We'll be playing Oberlin, Slippery Rock, PA, Beaumont, CA, and if we are lucky, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England. And, I've had my fair share of music accomplishments. I bumped into Mike D. from The Beastie Boys in 1993, and told him about my work and gave him my number. He has yet to call me back, but I'm certainly waiting!"
When asked about D'Ontrefont and his dismissal, the WWE had no comment. Shawn Michaels commented, "Dave D'Ontrefont? Didn't I fight against him and Barry Horowitz when I was with the Rockers?"
While D'Ontrefont wants to continue with his musical career, he realizes that perhaps his best days were behind him. "I still try and watch wrestling on occasion just to hear that theme when Shawn Michaels walks to the ring. It's special to me."
Asked what he remembers the most about the song, D'Ontrefont said, "One thing. Shawn Michaels's mullet. It was just too perfectly sculpted."