Batting Music
Somewhat bizarrely, I had two different people e-mail me variations on the same question in recent days. From Reader Brian:
I have a beer-league softball tournament in two weeks and need help picking my intro music. What do you think the best intro song would be?
From Reader Laura:
My company softball team, the Pirates, is proposing to play a theme song for each person that comes up to bat and I have no idea what song I should pick for myself. I could go Heavy Metal but that's cliché. Plus, I'm not really the heavy metal kind of girl. More like Dolly Parton and Kenny Rodgers, Islands in the Stream. Anyway, I want a song that would earn me respect every time I come up to the plate.
The Pirates? And you want respect? Anyhow, Laura and Brian must not be regulars in the sporting blogland, because that very topic has been an explosive explosion just this very summer. Kissing Suzy Kolber, SportsByBrooks, Throwbot and With Leather have delved into this subject, in some cases inspired by this long-but-not-always accurate list of MLB batting music from Wikipedia. None of my research into the Nationals music appears to be reflected in the Wiki list.
Also, David Wright held a contest for fans to pick his music, and the Extrapolator picked songs for AL starting pitchers. Meanwhile, back in 2004, ESPN.com gathered up the batting music for every single player in the league, which doesn't really count as cool because bloggers are required to hate ESPN. But I will note that Tony Batista, who told me he's never had batting music, is listed with Ludacris's "Stand Up." In recent years Boston.com offered audio links for Red Sox songs, while a Cardinals message board has a running thread updating Cardinal music.
There's a lot of places to turn to for advice. Still, I'll offer four recommendations.
1) AC/DC's "Big Balls." To distinguish yourself as a softball player and not a baseball player. Plus AC/DC seems to be popular in this genre.
2) Russian National Anthem. I've always considered it a frightfully intimidating piece of music.
3) Theme music to All Things Considered. That, plus the soothing voices of Robert Siegel and Melissa Block will lull your opponents into a soothing state of studied indifference. I prefer the 1976 version.
By Dan Steinberg |
August 9, 2007; 11:57 AM ET
| Category:
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Posted by: G-Unit | August 9, 2007 12:20 PM
My batting music would be "My Mood," by Mother, Father, Sister, Brother.
But since the suits at Channel 4 snatched it up for their Friday news cast closing theme, it would be the theme from Boondocks.
Posted by: ScottVanPeltStyle.com | August 9, 2007 12:27 PM
Definitley Mo Money, Mo Problems -- the Notorious B.I.G.
Posted by: The Nationals Enquirer | August 9, 2007 12:50 PM
I've played beer league softball for 4 years, and we've never had at bat music. I'm jealous. Though since our games have a time limit, the jaunt from the on deck circle to the batters box isn't very long.
You can't miss with "The Touch" performed by Stan Bush, from the 1987 Tranformers Movie (Cartoon). Plus it had a killer video.
Posted by: WaPoLiveFan16 | August 9, 2007 12:57 PM
Slavic March - Tchaikovsky
Third or fourth movement from New World Symphony - Dvorák
CHiPs theme
Minimum Wage - They Might be Giants
The crescendo from Mars - Holst
and of course
Fat Albert theme
Posted by: WFY | August 9, 2007 1:01 PM
"These Boots Are Made For Walkin'" - Nancy Sinatra
Posted by: Anonymous | August 9, 2007 1:09 PM
Ask the man who played all the music for the Washington Glory. His car says he's with SportsAnnouncing.com. He'll be able to help, he had all the players songs this year. And what kind of beer league has a sound system anyway?
Posted by: Glory Fan | August 9, 2007 1:16 PM
The Imperial March, aka Darth Vader's theme - John Williams, The Empire Strikes Back
Posted by: Nationalcoholic | August 9, 2007 1:22 PM
Opening section of the "Dies Irae" from Verdi's Requiem. The pitcher would be suitably unnerved.
Posted by: pf | August 9, 2007 1:31 PM
Meow Mix theme (those who were at the Glory games last weekend would be laughing their rear ends off, especially if your name is Cat!). Thanks to whoever posted above about me.
And yes, what kind of leagues are doing stuff like this, want a pro announcer/music person! Talk about a cheap plug.
Posted by: Jarrod | August 9, 2007 2:04 PM
Europe's seminal classic, "The Final Countdown". There are no other songs than TFC.
Posted by: Matt | August 9, 2007 4:39 PM
"Smooth Up In Ya" - BulletBoys
Posted by: Braden | August 9, 2007 5:50 PM
"Gangsta! Gangsta!" by CWebb!!!!
and anysong about "BATTY BOYS"!!!!!
Posted by: darvin | August 9, 2007 5:58 PM
The "Cops" theme song, "Bad Boys" is a great intro song.
Also, for some C&W, how about "Take This Job and Shove It".
And lastly, my own favorite, "O Fortuna," which leads of Carl Orff's 1937 composition, "Carmina Burana", which many of you know, but don't know that you know. It's been used in countless movies and movie trailers (Glory, The Doors, Excalibur, Natural Born Killers, and Jacka$$, among others)
Posted by: swwj | August 10, 2007 9:15 AM
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Steinberg, the All Things Considered music is pure genius for this town.
I have a new iTunes purchase to make!!!