By Josh:
Growing up a baseball fan I would often dream of having my name announced on the PA system of a Major League ball park. This is pretty common for most young boys who play the game of baseball. The dream of being announced often comes in an imaginary game 7 of the World Series where the better then promptly hits a game winning Grand Slam.
As I got a little bit older and watched Major League the movie for the first time, I began to realize that having my name announced would be amazing, but walking to the plate with my ‘Walk Up Song,’ or ‘Walk Out Song’ for the crazy guys in the bullpen, playing across the PA system might just be even cooler. Hearing Wild Thing each time Rick Vaughn entered the game seemed to have a special sense of gusto that can’t be found in simply hearing your name.
So lately I have been really thinking about what makes a good walk up song and after talking with a few people I have found a few different types of Walk Up Songs that I think are important to consider when picking a song.
The player along must determine what is the purpose of the song and what does he hope to accomplish from it.
The Pump Me Up Song
The obvious first category is the song that guys use to just make them angry and pumped up. The song is for the player and the player only. He doesn’t care if anyone else likes it, or what they think of it, as long as it helps him focus and get into the mindset needed to hit the ball as hard as possible.
These types of songs are usually hard rock or rap, simply because the beat and overall pounding of the song gives the player what they are looking for. Examples include; Monster by Skillet, Seek and Destroy by Metallica, and IronMan by Black Sabbath.
The Crowd Pleaser
There are some players that don’t care what song is playing as long as it makes the crowd happy, which in turn may or may not pump up the player. The best example of this type of Walk Up Song is Call Me Maybe by Carly Rae Jepsen. This song is not going to get the player pumped up, but it is going to get the crowd singing and even paying attention to what is going on in the at bat. So instead of the player getting fired up, the fans get fired up and into the game.
Other Crowd Pleaser Examples; Bad to the Bone by George Thorogood, Don’t Stop Believing by Journey, and Smoke on the Water by Deep Purple (Justin Smoak uses this song).
The Favorite Song
Some players aren’t looking to get pumped up as they walk to the plate, but instead are looking to find a comfort zone that they can just fall into. These players are looking for a song that they just enjoy or states a message about who they are.
Players who want to share their faith, like Christian ball players, may choose a song from a Christian band they like. Others may simply choose a song from off of their Ipod that they listen to all of the time. Others may just simply go with a classic that never gets old.
Favorite Song Examples; Bad by Michael Jackson, Break on Through to the Other Side by the Doors, and The Tree by Julianna Zobrist (Ben Zobrist uses this because it is his wife who sang it).
The Weird Song
Here is where you can learn a lot about just how crazy a player is. If a player comes to bat or jogs to the mound with a song that makes the fans go ‘what the heck is that’ it probably falls under this category and probably gives the fans a little bit too much info about the player.
Normally the crazy players love the Pump Up songs but every once in a while there are some players that are a little bit more off than the rest of the crazies. I really don’t know how to describe it any more other than to give you some examples. Most Weird Al songs would fall under this category. Although fans love Weird Al it may catch you off guard if you aren’t prepared for it at a baseball game. Other types of songs that would fall under this category are anything written by Mozart or Beethoven. Nothing seems more out of place at a baseball game then a Cello and Violin orchestra playing over the speakers.
My Walk Up Songs
So with all of that it is time for me to share what my Walk Up Song(s) would be. Monster by Skillet is a great one for me and was my first choice a couple of years ago but now I’ve moved in a different direction. I have actually selected four Walk Up Songs that could be played at different situations in a game
As Trevor, my co-worker and fellow 9 Inning writer, thinks my idea makes me a ‘Tool’ (I do not disagree with that assessment), I still think it is an amazing idea so check it out.
My initial song to start the game is Separate Ways by Journey. It is a Crowd Pleaser, a Personal Favorite and a Pump up song for me and is how I would want to start every game.
Then during the game if I am struggling (no hits) I would want Radioactive by Imagine Dragons. This would be to pump me up and to get me going. If I am doing well (getting hits) I would want the chorus of My Songs Know What You Did In The Dark by Fall Out Boy.
Finally as the game is nearing an end, 8th & 9th innings or even extra innings, I would want Final Countdown by Europe. Nothing says Epic Showdown to win or lose a game like Final Countdown.
I may be seen as a ‘Tool’ but at least I would go out there with AWESOME music each at bat.
Go to the 9 Inning Facebook Page to voice your opinion on what is the best Walk Up Song.