There are so many potential great songs for a closer to come out to, people have to stop using the cliche ones. Anyways, to continue the ripoff the good idea trend, here is my criteria for acceptable walkout closer songs:
1.) It has to rock, it can't be a ballad. It also doesn't have to be metal in order to 'rock', I for one am tired of Hells Bells and Enter Sandman. I would like to think the kind of pitcher that likes to listen to "My Heart Will Go On" to get ready wouldn't have the proper mindset of a closer, and that the fans who would like that song would rather be somewhere else other than a baseball game to listen to Mrs. Dion.
2.) It has to be somewhat well known. I'm completely against the uber obvious cliche choices here, but I think the song has to be known by at least maybe 10% of the crowd at first, or be a song by a recognizable voice.
3.) It has to be a good song, at least decent. Any song that is kind of funny or gimmicky will quickly become more annoying than helpful.
4.) The lyrics should have some relation to the task at hand. This isn't vital, especially if the song qualifies in the other points, but a song that has a few lines that can be twisted to relate to a closer doing his job.
5.) Catchyness. No it doesn't have to be a pop song, but if the crowd can sing along to it that makes the entire walkout that much more impressive.
With that now done, here are some fine examples that I would recommend to anyone in need:
Rip This Joint-The Rolling Stones: This song definitely rocks, it's probably one of the faster Stones' songs that I can think of. It's lyrics are pretty fitting:
Mama says yes, Papa says no,
Make up you mind 'cause I gotta go.
I'm gonna raise hell at the Union Hall,
Drive myself right over the wall
Rip this joint, gonna save your soul,
Round and round and round we go.
Roll this joint, gonna get down low,
Start my starter, gonna stop the show.
Oh, yeah!
Maybe it will require some explaining by parents to some teens on the verge of understanding innuendo, but the song's too good not use, how could that not pump you up? This isn't a well known Stones' song but any song by Mic Jagger (except maybe the one in the vid below) should give the crowd some familiarity. Punks, teens, Moms, and Grandads can all rock out to this while the closer gets himself ready.
Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere-The Who: Another solid rocker similar to Rip This Joint, by a famous band but not necessarily one of their more famous songs. Regardless, Roger Daltrey's voice is easily recognizable. This is definitely a solid song, with an appropriate amount of catchyness, the crowd can even sing the backup parts. The lyrics explain the mindset of a closer maybe better than anything else:
I can go anyway, way I choose
I can live anyhow, win or lose
I can go anywhere, for something new
Anyway, anyhow, anywhere I choose
I can do anything, right or wrong
I can talk anyhow, and get along
Don't care anyway, I never lose
Anyway, anyhow, anywhere I choose
Nothing gets in my way
Not even locked doors
Don't follow the lines
That been laid before
I get along anyway I dare
Anyway, anyhow, anywhere
Wouldn't Brad Lidge benefit from that kind of attitude when he faces Pujols? For all we know maybe he had that on his ipod all last year on the Phillies.
Hit It & Quit It-Funkadelic: I'm not sure exactly if this fits well, or if it's completely wrong but I like it so suck on it.
I want you to hit it
Good god, hit it and quit it
I want you to, hooo-whoaa
Oh mama, hit it
Good god, hit it and quit it
I want you to, ohhhh, oh yeah
Oh mama, hit it
Good god, hit it and quit it
I want you to, oooh, oooh, oooh, oooh
Who doesn't like screaming ooh ooh? This song shows so much confidence in the pitcher that he is begging for the hitter to try to hit it. Or he's telling the batter to pick up a girl, do his business, and forget about her the next day. Either way let's recap ,does it fit the criteria? Rocker-check, Well known- half check, good song- check, lyrics- check, catchyness-check, definitely a good closer song.
Calm Like a Bomb-Rage Against The Machine: Now I don't know if the former members of Rage are big baseball fans, but this song was in the Matrix Reloaded (or wikipedia tells me so) and they went on to form Audioslave, so they can't really be anti selling out. Although there is a long intro and verse in the beginning, when this song starts to rock it really rocks, so that's no problem. Rage is big enough of a band for this to succeed and if mothers at Yankee games can sing "off to never never land" they could sing "there's a right to obey and a right to kill", no?
Where I End and You Begin-Radiohead: Yes, you read that correctly and yes it doesn't really work as a walkout song but I feel if I post something about music I have to throw Radiohead in there. Of all their choices this is probably up there. None of their songs are hits, except Creep, but that would be in a top 5 list of worst possible walkout songs. It's pretty rocky and some of the lyrics could make sense, namely "I will eat you alive" that repeats 4 times, pretty intimidating. It wouldn't be the worst choice, but in reality this is only on the list as my obligatory Radiohead callout.
So there are 5 of my recommendations. The first 3 pretty much fit all 5 of the criteria perfectly, the 4th is a good but not great choice, and the 5th is well kind of a joke in my world. If people actually read this thing I'd have a poll, or make a real long list with a lot of your contributions, but that's not the case. Screw it, I'll give it a try, are there any recommendations you have? I can promise that I will post them with my thoughts.
Finally one last side note: No offense to a good friend but "Come As You Are" by Nirvana could be one of the poorest choices for walkout songs that I have ever heard of. I don't care if it's only D-3 College Baseball, no one should come out to that song. "Take your time hurry up the choice is yours don't be late", are you talking to the batter, telling him to take your time in the batters box, get comfortable? "And I swear that I don't have a gun", so you're a closer throwing gas that is lying about his radar speeds? It is probably one of Nirvana's more optimistic songs, but that's like saying it's one of Katy Perry's better songs, bottom line: it's a bad choice X.
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