Any athlete can tell you that the right song, at the right time, can put you in an athletic zone all of its own. What player, on any level, doesn't have a pair of ear buds in (or in 2013, a pair of Beats by Dre on), head bobbing just a little, before any given game or match?
It is part of the sport itself. That is why athletes are so enthralled with music and vice versa.
With that said, these are, in my opinion (isn't it all?), the best 5 songs to listen to pregame. The best pump up songs that, at the very least, get me in the right mind frame whether competing or coaching.
Honorable Mention: Hall of Fame by The Script
This song is newer than the rest, but sets very upbeat tone. Fox Sports 1 recently adopted it as it's theme music during commercial previews of the new channel. What says sport better than a Hall of Fame? On top of the upbeat nature of the song, it is also motivational in putting that vision of you one day standing atop the mountain, in the 'Hall of Fame,' whatever that means to you personally.
Honorable Mention: We Are One by 12 Stones
This is, for sure, a song for a loner. Whether it is a singles sport or just a person who is a loner on their particular team. The opening beat with the line "We walk alone, in the unknown..." can be chill worthy.
5. Forever by Drake
"Last name ever, first name greatest..."
The opening line of the first verse alone makes this a great pump up song, but even better makes it great walk out music. Walk out music sets an awesome tone if it is selected right, whether you are walking out to bat or down the aisle to a WWE ring or UFC octagon.
The cadence of Drake's raps make his words legible and flows so strongly with the beat, making this a song that gets your blood flowing. The fact that, throughout this song, you also add in unique styles of Kanye West, Lil Wayne and Eminem, really makes you bob your head.
4. Bait & Switch by Saliva
"Back in the day, I dedicated myself to becoming a big rock and roll star...."
Saliva is known for songs often associated with sports, including their hit "Superstar," but this one stands out the most to me. To me, this song is less about lyrics and more about presentation, including the voice of then front man Josey Scott. This is a music strong song, amongst a bevy of songs that have lyrics that I think help dictate them being good pump up music.
3. Crazy Train by Ozzy Osbourne
"All Aboard! Ha ha ha ha ha...."
I don't know that this is the best song to have playing on your iPod to get you in the right mood to compete, but I don't know how many other songs can be considered better straight walk out music than this. I had a good friend in Virginia named Jacob Clifton who this song was often used as walk out music for. Now, I don't know if Clifton intended for it to be, but as a spectator, when I heard the opening line, I knew that someone was about to come hit the crap out of the ball. This MAY be the best baseball walk out music ever for that fact, if not others.
2. Remember the Name by Fort Minor
"This is 10% luck, 20% skill, 15% concentrated power of will. 5% pleasure, 50% pain and 100% reason to remember the name...."
Talk about a song that sends you into an immediate competitive nature. This is the 'I'm going to beat you, and it's not going to be pretty," song of this generation. The first time I heard this song was on the previews of the then-forthcoming Friday Night Lights show. Now while I wasn't a fan of the show myself, this song immediately had me interested in it because of the lyrics and the power that Mike Shinoda delivers them with. To me, Shinoda combined with Chester Bennington has always been what has sold Linkin Park over everything, but on this Fort Minor intro song, Shinoda proves that he can do it alone.
1. I'm Shipping Up to Boston by The Dropkick Murphys
If anything can battle Crazy Train for a baseball walkout song, this one is it. In my favorite use, it was the walk up music of former Fort Wayne Tin Cap and current Oakland A, Nate Freiman. And this is another song that really has nothing to do with the lyrics, but instead the intro music and cords that really can whip you into a frenzy.
But I don't feel like this is strictly a walk up song. Play this at any game, especially of the baseball variety, at it is a mood changer. Whether you are in Boston itself, or even at a rec. league All-Star game in Vinton, Virginia, this is an amazing song for any sporting event. It never has and never will fail to get that competitive mindframe flowing.
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