Forget Jude. ‘Hey Nuge’: Fan borrows from the Oilers for song covers

Adam Zuniga is cheering on his team in the Stanley Cup Playoffs with parodies of popular songs with an Oilers twist. CTV News Edmonton's Matt Woodman has the st

Adam Zuniga can’t sing (his words) and he’s dust on skates (again, his words), but his musical covers are drumming up a lot of rah-rah for the Edmonton Oilers during their Stanley Cup run.

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The 24-year-old’s first musical spoof to go semi-viral was one last year about the condition of Scotiabank Saddledome – home of the Oilers’ rival, the Calgary Flames – sung to the tune of London Bridge is Falling Down.

The idea stuck in his brain.

Although Zuniga is a born-and-raised Oilers fan, he played soccer and has always admired the way football fans across the globe create chants for their teams.

“I was like, why is no one doing these for hockey?” Zuniga told CTV News Edmonton in a recent interview.

“This year I was like, if I don’t do it now, I don’t know when I’m gonna do it. I don’t want to be a 35-year-old maybe making parody Oilers songs.”

The first was a rendition of Hey Jude called “Hey Nuge” when the team had lost its first two playoff games to the L.A. Kings.

He said he knew the series was far from over and wanted to rally disheartened fans.

As Zuniga dances around his living room in the video, he sings, “Hey Nuge, don’t be afraid. You were made to be an Oiler. Remember the decade of darkness that you don’t miss. This is much better.”

Now Zuniga is known by thousands on TikTok as Zu Sports for his covers “One Save” (One Kiss) dedicated to Calvin Pickard, “Bouch Bouch Bouch” (Boom Boom Boom) named after Evan Bouchard, and “Just Can’t Get Enough (of Connor McDavid).”

“Sometimes it just hits me in the shower. (I’ll) be singing a song and I’m like, that could work with somebody’s name here,” he told CTV News Edmonton.

“I got rhythm. I could dance. The voice? No way. See you later…. I got a little Latin in me, so it helps. I just like feeling the music, and it’s kind of just do whatever comes to mind.”

His mom, Lila Zuniga, said, “I watch them over and over again. I’ve given them a few suggestions, but they haven’t taken them yet.”

She then began to sing: “Instead of Sweet Caroline, ‘Sweet Connor Brown’ – I think it’s good.”

After 300,000 views across his multiple platforms, Zuniga said most commenters have been nice. Of course, there’s some chirps from fans of other franchises, but he sympathizes with their team not making the playoffs.

His, on the other hand, hasn’t lost since he started singing.

“I feel like I’m in that locker room with these guys. I’ll fight for these guys, too…. So these guys need the credit. They’ve done it all. I never doubted them,” Zuniga said of the Oilers.

“No matter what we’re going to be here, I’m going to be here. And I think it’s time. I think it’s this year.”

With a fourth win against the Kings Thursday night, the Oilers are now advancing to the second round of playoffs.

Zuniga will likely be watching with family at home like he usually does, but he dreams of being on stage at Rogers Place with the Brasstactics.

“They could get on the beats and I’ll lay the terrible, mediocre vocals and just get the lyrics on the screen. That’s all we need.”

With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Matt Woodman and Evan Kenny