So, here we are 2 months away from the Olympics. Football is in full swing , teams are trying
to make last ditch efforts to get into the playoffs. Hockey is just getting started before it breaks
for the Olympics. Basketball has begun and already the Bulls are screwed.
Ok, Wait, I know this is a music page, but today’s post is
about songs that are going to pump you up. These are the songs that put you in
game mode or fight mode or whatever it is that you want to call it.
I thought of this as I was reading about everyone’s crazy
Black Friday shopping plans. I thought, first, No fucking way that I am going
to try to go shopping or even worry about shopping today. But then I thought,
If I did, what would my soundtrack be?
There is always a soundtrack in my head and I have made numerous CD’s
for various events.
I realized that these are the songs that get me pumped up no
matter what, and anytime I hear them I am in a good mood, ready to fight. So I
decided to call this my pump you up list. Hanz and Franz would be proud.
10. Chelsea Dagger-
The Fratellis
So, this song had to make the list. At least my list. The
Fratellis are a relatively little known band from Scotland, but everyone in
Chicago knows who they are.
This song is the Chicago Blackhawks theme, and everyone who
keeps track of hockey has heard it by now. This of course is the reason that I
love it and try to play it as much as I can from October through June.
The song starts with just the drums, then adds the bass then
guitars. When that isn’t loud enough a scream is added followed by the chorus
of du du da du du da du du da du da da. The
lyrics are about a girl, and just simple interactions with her.
It doesn’t seem like much of a song, but when you hear it
every time the Hawks score a goal at home, or get a win, after a while it grows
on you. This song has the ability to bring strangers together in celebration,
even families! (Provided none of them are Red Wings fans)
9. Blitzkrieg Bop –
The Ramones
This one sucks you in right away, everyone playing their
instruments at full volume and full speed until it drops out to just drums and
you get to scream “ay oh let’s go!”
It doesn’t matter what kind of sporting event you are at. Or
who the hell you are cheering for, you can’t help but get in the mood to be
wild and have fun when you hear this song.
The Ramones truthfully could have just made up every song on
this list, because there isn’t a Ramones song that doesn’t get me pumped up and
ready to party. But if I had to pick just one, it has to be this one. And come
on, everyone knows this song, or at least the chorus.
8. Bro Hymn –
Pennywise
This is another hockey song, and it has been used by a few
different teams most notably the Anaheim Mighty Ducks. (Quack Quack Quack Mr. Ducksworth) It has also been
used by a number of other sports teams, soccer teams from all over, NFL teams
and even La Crosse teams.
It is actually quite a sad story that is associated with
this song, as it is about friends of the band who had passed away. No matter
which version you listen to you can hear them say someone’s name and tell them
that the song is for them.
For me, the song is just another one of those heavy rockers,
that has such a powerful bass line that rocks the opening of the song. My kids cite this as one of their favorites
and somehow know a majority of the words. You really can’t go wrong with that
7. Lunatic Fringe-
Red Rider
This is probably the quietest song on the list, yet it still manages to get me pumped up in a
way that no other song can.
Lunatic Fringe was used as the pump up song and main battle
theme in the movie Vision Quest. Vision Quest is best known for being Madonna’s
first movie, but it is really about a High School wrestler. So throughout my
many years of wrestling I watched this movie a lot. Never really understanding
some of the sex scenes until I was older. Nonetheless I liked the movie.
The song is very simple and very eighties. It begins with
just a keyboard until it pumps up to a nice loud point. It has a wicked bass
line running through it (I am beginning to see a recurring theme here) The song has good guitar riffs and a weird
ambulance part . The lyrics are not really important or meaningful, but every
time I here that song, I am ready to Wrestle.
6. I’m Shipping Up To Boston- Dropkick Murphys
This is another hockey song, at least for me it is, but it
is used in a variety of sporting events, most of them being in Boston. It was
also featured in the movie The Departed.
Surprisingly this is a platinum selling song, and the most
widely known song by The Dropkick Murphys. Of course the song has a very Irish feeling to
it. You can’t help but get swept away by the sheer volume that the song opens
with. Featuring an accordion and a banjo, (how the fuck can you go wrong) and
the lyrics are as simple as they get.
I think what makes this song so great is how simple and how
loud it is. This tune seriously makes me want to fight everyone I encounter
when I hear it. That is messed up and awesome at the same time
5. Song 2 – Blur
This song has been used just about everywhere, for just
about every reason.
It is the coolest Blur song that I know, and I will admit
that’s not a big list. I mean I remember
loving the song when I was younger, but as I got older it became a crazy sports
anthem.
It starts with a simple guitar, and basically throw away
lyrics that make no sense, but for the
chorus, the guitars are screaming and so is the singer. And everyone
that hears it can’t help but screaming along WOO HOO right along with it. It
sure is a hellof a song.
It is huge amongst soccer fans, so I imagine many a rowdy
soccer fights and after game shenanigans have occurred with this song in the
background. So grab a pint for this one!!
4. Jump Around- House of Pain
Maybe I am partial to this song because I am from Wisconsin,
but, who cares, this song jams and needs no introduction.
The song starts with that awesome Horn intro and you know what’s
about to happen after that. That high
pitch shrill that accompanies every line in the song, lyrics that make you get
off your ass and demand you to jump. You can feel the angst in every line.
So look I have never personally experienced it, but I have
seen it, and heard about it. In between the 3rd and 4th
quarters at Badger football games, the place goes nuts. The crazy band the
students and even opposing players, everyone is jumping like crazy. So I guess
it’s true, When you say Wisconsin You’ve said it all!
3. Welcome to the
Jungle - Guns N Roses
This song gets me jacked right from the get go.
The guitar line that opens the song is a classic anthem and
the first minute of the song is played at sporting events worldwide. That riff that builds and builds adding depth
and instruments. Axel Rose’s howling then the real song begins.
Welcome to the Jungle is just a classic song and everyone
knows it, or has at least heard the opening. I really don’t know what else to
say about it other than it is a fucking good pump up song.
2. Sirius – Alan Parsons
Project
This is another one from my childhood, and I can’t hear this
song without wanting to introduce the classic Chicago Bulls lineup.
This one is completely instrumental, but it just gets the
blood flowing. It is all pretty much keyboards and synthesizers but it gets the
job done completely.
I mean this is the theme song to not one but 2 three peats
in basketball. Not to mention a record setting 72 and 10 season. The Bulls intro was one of the coolest things
in sports and to my knowledge one of the first major intros in sports. So in my
mind, this is what started it off. I love this jam!!
1. The Star Spangled Banner – whoever the hell
is singing it
So as a Blackhawks fan I am obviously most partial to Jim
Cornelison singing it. But I will take
any old version when it comes to getting me pumped up.
This is an odd choice I know, but when you think about it,
it makes a lot of sense. I mean, before every sporting event in America this
song is played. I think that is where it
started to get me pumped up. Through years of wrestling, before every meet this
was the last song we heard. I think another factor was how little I was
throughout school, because I was always one of the first guys to have a match.
Obviously I am not in wrestling anymore, but this song still
gets me in the mood to wrestle. Even while
sitting at my son’s Christmas concert, when they start doing this song It
always gets me going.
There have been many great renditions of this song, and when
our nation is at war or in the midst of a National event, people seem to love
it even more. So many versions of this have become classics, Whitney Houston,
Marvin Gaye maybe even the shitty version by Roseanne. But this one is the good
one.
I hope these songs have you pumped up and rip roaring ready
to go, Now let’s play ball!!
No comments:
Post a Comment