Seeing as our semester is coming to a close, I thought we could have some fun with this post. Here's an interesting piece from the SJ Mercury News about Walk-up Songs. It's a good read with some fun comments on the history of the walk-up and some insight into why players picked their songs. SO ... now you have to pick your walk-up song. You get 11-15 seconds of any appropriate song. Post a link to the YouTube version of your song, and tell us why you chose the song you did.
My walk-up song would be a toss up between Katrina and the Waves Walking on Sunshine (opening seconds) or Madonna's Holiday (seconds 20-35) or a classic from my earlier years .... Bel Biv Devoe's Poison. Then there's Lionel Richie Dancing on the Ceiling. Last idea: Karma Chameleon by the Culture Club. It not only says, you stay classy San Diego, but also, the 80s rock!
This idea of a walk-up song, in my opinion, is a somewhat rare success story in terms of the evolution of baseball and the changes that the game has experienced. It was really interesting to read that Brandon Crawford's batting average went up 20 points after he changed his walk-up song. Clearly there is no scientific evidence for whether or not the new song aided his performance, however it is interesting to wonder if it really did. I also believe that walk-up songs gives the players a greater connection to their fans. When certain players walk up to the plate with a pop or rock song, a lot of the fans start singing along or dancing. I unfortunately must admit that at times during a ballgame, I get a little bored. The walk-up songs batters and pitchers help keep me interested and engaged in the game. I think in general, the songs provide a healthy dose of fun for the young and adult audiences alike. I always enjoy when Sergio Romo walks up to the mound with his song called "El Menchon" because the entire audience gets up and starts dancing while some are showed on the jumbo-tron. For some, this part of the game is a major highlight.
ReplyDeleteMy ideal walk-up song would be 300 Violin Orchestra. This song really pumps me up before soccer games and the violin keeps it classy. I get really focused on my mental game when I hear this song, especially because there are no words to distract me. I would definitely hit a home run every time I went up to bat if this song was playing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCebJodm0lY (seconds 11-26)
This is a very neat article because I know little about it. However, I was always interested in the origin and evolution of the walk up song. The walkup song is one of my favorite aspects of baseball. Each time someone comes up to the plate, a song comes on that the crowd is able to sing or hum to. I believe this not only connects the crowd to the player but wakes the fans up a little bit if the game is a slow one. I thought it was really interesting in the article when Brandon Crawford changed walk up songs and his batting average jumped up 20 points. Either it was complete coincidence or somehow the change of music allowed him to be more relaxed and focused. If I had an option to pick a walkup song, it would be some pump up music. Therefore, I would pick the song John Wall by Troop 41. First off, I love John Wall and the Washington Wizards. His celebration for when he was on Kentucky just inspired all the fans which later became a top song and awesome video. Whenever I hear the song, I immediately do the John Wall dance, pumping me up no matter what.
ReplyDeleteSeconds (28-43)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=meYIbAt2iaQ&feature=kp
If I were to pick a song to come out to in order to begin my illustrious baseball career, I would choose Aloe Blacc - I'm The Man.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jlJvJye9c_M (seconds 12-27).
If I were playing in the Major Leagues, I would choose this song to come out to in order to let everyone know that I am the man. It shows cockiness and confidence and I feel like everybody needs a little bit of that. In the time that I'm walking to the plate, I don't need to think about anybody but myself and how I'm going to hit the ball and this song emphasizes that. It's not that I don't care about my team but this song says emphasizes that I can do whatever because I'm the man and that gives me confidence to get a hit.
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ReplyDeleteMy ideal walk up song would be "No Squares"by Curren$y because it brings out a sense of competitiveness and pumps me up. In the seconds between 15 and 30 the hook, "no squares shall enter in the circle of winners" repeats. Therefore while approaching the batter's box the music prepares me to play my best while discouraging the opposing team and creating a greater sense of camaraderie between myself, the team, and our fans. Essentially creating the circle of winners. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCiqfoh1_f0
ReplyDeleteBefore I took this class, I didn't even know that walk-up songs existed. I think the individualized songs add some flair to the game and allow the spectators to stay more engaged throughout the game.
ReplyDeleteI had some difficulty picking my own walk-up song. My music taste constantly changes. After much thought, I think I will go with Amazing by Kanye West. I am pretty sure that mostly everyone has heard this song at least once and every time I listen to it it pumps me up. While walking up to the plate I would want to be confident and self-assured. With this song, that is sure to happen.
seconds 0-30 (I would walk out very slowly)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PH4JPgVD2SM
I really have no idea how a player walks up to the plate to the same song for a whole season or even longer. Pick the wrong song and it gets really old really fast. A walk up song is meant to pump up the batter, the team, and the fans with a catchy beat. I think that MoneyGrabber by Fitz and the Tantrums does that. The song has a quick beat with sort of a retro feel that can appeal to all. It was difficult to choose just 15 seconds, but I think I will go with the opening.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bb6cBKE3WzQ
I find it surprising that players have such a variety of feelings towards their walk-up songs. Brandon Crawford pushed the envelope as he chose Kelly Clarkson’s “Stronger,” and the benefits (even if by coincidence) were pretty apparent! Jed Lowrie, on the other hand, seems completely indifferent. Personally, I really enjoy listening to the walk-up songs as each player comes up to bat. For my own song, I chose the part of the intro to “Gold on the Ceiling” by The Black Keys. Aside from being one of my favorite songs, it is upbeat and can appeal to a wide audience.
ReplyDelete0:14 to 0:28
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OAdTbE9LAtY
If I were to play in the big leagues my walk up song would be heart of the city by Jay-Z. Something about this song has always just put me into the right mind set to play sports. It takes all of my energy and puts into an excited focus, a focus that one would have when going to war. The fast paced base and Jay-Z’s amazing arrogance is the reason for this focus. It not only gives me this amazing focus but also uplifts me and gives me the confidence I need to succeed. For those short four minutes I am looking at myself in the same way that Jay-Z perceives his own self. Which in this case is an unmatched and incredibly reassured confidence. I would need this confidence every time I would step to the plate in order give myself an opportunity to get a hit. Because without confidence a player is nothing. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CBvFZV-jdHY couldn't find a clean version but I at least found the instrumental
ReplyDelete-Luc
If I had a walk up song I would definitely use the song "Latch" by disclosure and I would use the part from 1:18 to 1:33. I would choose this song because this is definitely one of my favorite songs of all time. It would completely pump me up for my at bat and I also believe that it would get the crowd pretty pumped up too. I personally really like up beat dance music. Not the kind that doesn't have lyrics, but the kind that someone could dance to and sing to. I think "Latch" is the perfect mix because it has great lyrics and it is a dance song. Disclosure is also just pretty awesome.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=93ASUImTedo
ReplyDeletepart 1:18-1:33
Sandy Schenker:
ReplyDeleteMy walk up song would be Livin' on a Prayer, seconds 1:30 through 1:49 (I would trip everytime so mine could be 19 seconds). This would be my walk up song as I have always listened to this song, and I enjoy it in every mood that I am feeling. This would be vital as this song would play for me over 300 times a year. Also, I have always listened to this song to get pumped up before games, and it just puts me in the right mindset, so I believe that if I continued to do this but for baseball, I would continue to love it. Overall, I just love this song and I would become an amazing baseball player if this were my walk up song.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDK9QqIzhwk
DeleteIt would be easy for a player to pick a walk in song that meant a lot to them or spoke to who they are, but for me, it is all about a pump up song. My best tennis match of the year was at SF state next to their baseball field during a game. They had music blasting the entire time, a taboo for tennis, but I loved it. I would never pick a song that I would casually listen to, as that would put me in a mellow everyday mood. That is why for my song I choose something straight from my pump up playlist, something full of indistinguishable lyrics and bass. Jah No Partial (Yellow Claw & Yung Felix Remix)- Major Lazer.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NyOr62U67KY
(0:45-1:00)
So for my song I chose Buck Buck by Redman - it is one of my favorite songs. I chose from 0:56 to 1:11 (which happens to be a part of the song that is clean --- a lot of the song isn't clean FYI, but the part I chose is). I like it because I always listen to it in the car as a pump up song, I know all the words, and it has a really solid beat and organ in the back which I think sounds great and gets my adrenaline flowing.
ReplyDeleteThe link is not youtube but its basically the same
http://en.musicplayon.com/play?v=495294
it is imperative to have bass turned up a fair amount
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mI2L7U5n0LI
ReplyDeleteZion i-Coastin time: 0:43-0:58
Great song that would bring me confidence and calmness, both in my opinion are extremely important for success in sports.I also really like the piano cadence (I think thats the right term?) at the beginning, wish I could have like 1/2 more seconds to make it a better fit with the song but I decided it was good enough. Interesting to look at what songs work well with this 10-15 second part idea. Neither of my first two songs i tried worked because their choruses were way too choppy for this setup.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i6yCFZ5eL5s
ReplyDeleteWhole Lotta Love- Led Zepellin, 0:33-0:44
I chose this song because it is one of my favorite songs by my favorite band, it is also a pump up song that I think would be cool to hear as I walk up to bat.
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ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HkcJjG3GbSM my walk up song would be triple f intro by waka flocka from 1:01-1:15
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