April 18, 2006

Hear My Song, Fear My Fastball: What's the best entrance music for a pitcher coming out of the bullpen? We've got the great sandman battle, red sox star reliever Papelbon coming out to Bodies, though he's not sure of the lyrics, and while most choose the hard rock of groups such as AC/DC, John Smoltz once came out to ABBA's "Dancing Queen." It has all the feeling of a theme park.

posted by justgary to baseball at 02:23 AM - 42 comments

I have often thought about what my music would be. I've thought about eclectic tunes, to showcase my deep love of music, or an up tempo song that builds emotion, or some blues - maybe George Thorogood (was does no closer use "Bad to the Bone"? - it's perfect), but after it's all said and done, I'd have to go with AC/DC Thunderstruck. Runner-up would be AC/DC Back in Black. Third place - TNT. I really like AC/DC.

posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 08:46 AM on April 18, 2006

If I was a relief pitcher in need of entrance music, and somebody else already had the evil entry music from "Star Wars," you can't go wrong with "Kill Us All" by Twista.

Now come and look into the mind of a man you don't really wanna
Fuck wit'
Kill 'em all
Kill 'em all
Kill 'em all Looking death between the eyes and no one can save us
Suicide on you hoes if I have to,
To make you die bitch
Either that or "Shake Your Love" by Debbie Gibson.

posted by rcade at 08:59 AM on April 18, 2006

I'm going with a little Enya as it would put the opposing batters right to sleep

posted by timdawg at 09:07 AM on April 18, 2006

...but after it's all said and done, I'd have to go with AC/DC Thunderstruck. WeedyMcSmokey, you stole my line!! Thunderstruck is about the perfect closer song. Actually, it's about perfect for anything suggesting action, violence, etc. My 17-year-old son is absolutely hooked on AC/DC, and now he's got me going on them. (Which is something when you consider that my taste in music runs to the classics - Beethoven, Mozart, not rock.) Hell's Bells is way over used, so that's out. Dancing Queen????? YGBSM

posted by Howard_T at 09:09 AM on April 18, 2006

Being a country music fan...."Turn out the lights, the party's over" by Willie.

posted by nflhou02 at 09:16 AM on April 18, 2006

Suggestions from the Hartford Courant's music critic's blog.

posted by yerfatma at 09:22 AM on April 18, 2006

"All Wound Up" by the Circle Jerks for 60-mph-throwing me...

posted by ajaffe at 10:01 AM on April 18, 2006

I'd like to see some more rap used. Actually, I just want to see less of Metallica and AC/DC. Has anyone used Lil Flip's Game Over?

posted by tron7 at 10:11 AM on April 18, 2006

Nevermind I would have to pick something I actually like.

posted by tron7 at 10:11 AM on April 18, 2006

C'mon....Trevor coming out to hells bells is still the best closer music! Even the old people get up and get into it!

posted by Meathooks at 10:36 AM on April 18, 2006

I would have to go with "Walk" by Pantera. Does anyone know if there is a closer that uses this? This always gets my adrenaline pumping.

posted by wingnut4life at 11:03 AM on April 18, 2006

"Bulls on Parade" by Rage...should put the fans into the proper state of mind.

posted by HORNS FAN at 11:04 AM on April 18, 2006

Considering my heater doesn't even reach lukewarm, this is pure fantasy, but if I ever had the shot to close, I'd pick "Song 2" by Blur. Yeah, I know it's overplayed at hockey games and the lyrics make Duran Duran look like Bob Dylan ... but 50,000 people screaming "WOOOHOOOOO!" can't be bad for your adrenaline.

posted by wfrazerjr at 11:07 AM on April 18, 2006

How about "Its the end of the world as we know it" by REM? Actually If I were the pitcher, Id probably set the record for blown saves so "Loser" by Beck would be appropriate

posted by Sjtfireman09 at 11:21 AM on April 18, 2006

wingnut; While I love the song for its sheer energy and driving beat, I just can't get behind the idea od my closer coming on the field to a song called "Walk"

posted by elovrich at 11:29 AM on April 18, 2006

I liked Robb Nen's intro music "Smoke on the Water", it was especially fitting at the new ballpark. You know, before he got broken and the Giants wasted another year hoping he'd come back.

posted by fenriq at 11:33 AM on April 18, 2006

Third place - TNT i have issues with relievers of any kind coming out to a song with the lyrics "watch me explode". scott proctor used it last year, and he promptly exploded. or was it imploded. either way, it wasn't pretty.

posted by goddam at 12:02 PM on April 18, 2006

I'm going to have to go with Weedy on this one. Thunderstruck has got to be about the best and most intimidating song for a closer. (I love AC/DC too though)

posted by commander cody at 12:15 PM on April 18, 2006

i have issues with relievers of any kind coming out to a song with the lyrics "watch me explode". So would that rule out Pardon Me by Incubus? Burst into flames, explode, almost the same thing.

posted by njsk8r20 at 12:19 PM on April 18, 2006

was does no closer use "Bad to the Bone"? - it's perfect According to the first article, both Dennis Eckersley and Goose Gossage used it. I don't remember it, though. MLB stadiums are schizophrenic -- they can't seem to decide whether they want to cater to their desired (younger) fan base or their actual (older) fan base -- so they compromise by playing rock anthems of the '70s and '80s. Here are half a dozen songs I would want my PA guy to play, followed by songs the PA guy would WANT to play: 1) Peter Gunn Theme by the Cramps or Art of Noise 2) Turn Me Loose by Loverboy 3) Welcome to the Jungle by Guns 'n' Roses 4) We Didn't Start The Fire by Billy Joel 5) Right Here, Right Now by Fatboy Slim 6) Down With The Sickness by Disturbed 1) Theme from Brian's Song 2) I Can't Turn You Loose by the Blues Brothers 3) Welcome to the Chum Bucket by Spongebob Squarepants 4) Fire Water Burn by the Bloodhound Gang 5) Here Comes Your Man by the Pixies 6) The Remedy by Jason Mraz I could do this all day...

posted by BullpenPro at 12:24 PM on April 18, 2006

i have issues with relievers of any kind coming out to a song with the lyrics "watch me explode". I hear you - but I feel this is offset by the 1st verse: "See me riiiide into the sunset, on your colour TV screen/Out for all that I can get... If you know what I mean" Shit - I'm fantasizing again. (Mostly because I have a sneaky suspicion that the best job in the history of the world would to play guitar in AC/DC 1974 - 1992. Think about it.)

posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 12:35 PM on April 18, 2006

"Thunderstruck" has that great intro that the crowd can chant along with, and the closer can come out the door on the crescendo in the line "You've been...THUNDERSTRUCK!". "Wild Thing" was only good for Charlie Sheen and Mitch Williams. "It's the End of the World" is a fantastic choice, and I'm surprised someone hasn't used it yet in MLB. "Jump Around" by House of Pain is a good crowd pleaser.

posted by grum@work at 12:40 PM on April 18, 2006

Thus Spake Zarustra (Theme to 2001:Space Odessey) Ala Elvis. :)

posted by scottypup at 01:07 PM on April 18, 2006

elovrich, how about "Cowboys from Hell?" Chorus:
You see us comin' And you all together run for cover We're takin over this town

posted by wingnut4life at 01:30 PM on April 18, 2006

"Doctor Doctor" by UFO. The sheer awesomeness of the intro alone would cause the stadium to implode. The universe itself would turn inside out.

posted by lilnemo at 01:35 PM on April 18, 2006

or some blues - maybe George Thorogood *cries*

posted by justgary at 01:43 PM on April 18, 2006

In-a-Gadda-da-Vida...

posted by ajaffe at 01:53 PM on April 18, 2006

It's not so much that Metallica is overused, the song "Enter Sandman" is what's overused. "Damage Inc." would be my song. The slowly building tone at the beginning, the staccato guitar chops, then just a massive explosion of bad intent as I go charging out to the mound with women's undergarments raining down upon me from the grandstands, a la Teddy Pendergrass. A guy can dream, right?

posted by The_Black_Hand at 02:09 PM on April 18, 2006

or some blues - maybe George Thorogood *cries* Ah hell, gary - I didn't mean it to read like that. That is supposed to be two separate thoughts. (For the record I had a wildly amateur, yet successful blues and jazz radio show at university for two years. During that time, not a single George Thorogood song was ever played. Rest easy.)

posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 02:25 PM on April 18, 2006

Ah hell, gary - I didn't mean it to read like that. Ha, I'm sure you knew I was just yanking your chain, but it was worth it to learn this: For the record I had a wildly amateur, yet successful blues and jazz radio show at university for two years. That's awesome. Color me jealous. "Damage Inc." would be my song. Excellent choice. "Victim is your name and you shall fall."

posted by justgary at 02:44 PM on April 18, 2006

Maybe it's just my age, but when i saw that Papelbon's song was "Bodies", I immediately thought "how cool - somebody's using the Sex Pistols in a baseball game!" D'oh.

posted by Toxteth O'Grady at 03:55 PM on April 18, 2006

Good point. There's little hope anyone would come out to anything as cool as that anymore. I'm troubled to admit I originally saw the Papelbon song listed in the Boston Herald as "Draining Pool's 'Sinner'" and thought, "They mean Drowning Pool. And I think I bought that piece of shit CD."

posted by yerfatma at 05:13 PM on April 18, 2006

If you are trying to pump up the crowd, 'Bring the Noise' by Public Enemy w/ Anthrax. A catchy tune with violent references,'Little Black Backpack' by Stroke 9. But what I would really like to hear is 'Blueprint' by Fugazi, "I'm not playing with you, I'm not playing with you, I clean forgot how to play, but you still come around, in fact I invite you down, maybe together we can wipe that smile from your face" Maybe even 'Isreal's Son' by Silverchair, "Hate, is what I feel for you, I want you to know that I want you dead"

posted by njsk8r20 at 05:33 PM on April 18, 2006

While I love the song for its sheer energy and driving beat, I just can't get behind the idea od my closer coming on the field to a song called "Walk" One of the Rangers batters (I *think* it was David Dellucci* -- or maybe Michael Young) used to come out to that song while entering the batter's box. *if it was Dellucci, he alternated between that and the theme from the Godfather. Considering how little time of the song you get, I'd use the Who's Baba O' Reilly, which I still maintain has the best intro ever.

posted by Ufez Jones at 05:39 PM on April 18, 2006

If the greatness of Michael Schenker could not be secured I would go with "Wishbone" by Clutch. ... For St. Patrick's we had cabbage, corned beef stew, egg salad sandwich. Then came the whiskey from the basement. Danced all night into the dawn, then held our heads. On the losing end of a wishbone, and I won't pretend not to mind. On the losing end of a wishbone, and I won't pretend not to mind. ...

posted by lilnemo at 05:43 PM on April 18, 2006

We got play music before we pitched for a very short time in college. We had this guy with an odd sense of humor who used the chicken dance song(goofy ass lefties), and after that they didn't let us play music for warming up pitchers any more.

posted by tron7 at 06:14 PM on April 18, 2006

wingnut; that works, think we can get it playing for Rodney at Comerica?

posted by elovrich at 07:11 PM on April 18, 2006

Well, Wagner's "Gotterdammerung" would be my first choice, and then maybe Puff Daddy's "Come With Me" from Godzilla.

posted by irunfromclones at 07:59 PM on April 18, 2006

...think we can get it playing for Rodney at Comerica? I tried calling Leyland today, but he's still a little pissed off right now to take my call.

posted by wingnut4life at 08:33 PM on April 18, 2006

i'd go with dragula by rob zombie.

posted by goddam at 10:35 PM on April 18, 2006

i'd go with dragula by rob zombie. posted by goddam Oh I forgot about rob zombie. I'd probably go with thunder kiss '65. Wouldn't make much sense but I'd come in pumped as hell.

posted by justgary at 12:35 AM on April 19, 2006

The Boston Herald held a contest to come up with suggestions for Papelbon. I like the Soul Coughing suggestion. I hope the person who suggested that Ricky Martin rip-off is suitably embarrassed by having their name published in the paper.

posted by yerfatma at 09:29 AM on April 19, 2006

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