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Wednesday, November 26, 2008

The (unofficial) Yankee Stadium soundtrack

Those who are frequent attendees of games at the old Yankee Stadium will notice that the Yankees tend to play the same songs over and over again. With the help of my friend Charlie, I've compiled a list (and accompanying audio/video) of those songs that you love to hate.

1. Nelly - Heart of a Champion



Ah, the track from the St. Louis rapper that samples the famous NBA on NBC theme song "Roundball Rock." The Yankees played this song early during the game experience, usually as the background music to the team's video montage. I don't know about you, but this song pumps me up.

2. The Who - Won't Get Fooled Again



The synthesizer beginning to this epic song gets the crowd in the mood for some Yankees baseball. Before the lyrics start, the music fades into track No. 3. Parts of this song are also used when a Yankee hits a home run. YEEEEEEAHHHHHH!

3. 2 Unlimited - Get Ready for This



Get ready for Derek Jeter and friends warming up! The Yankees use the beginning of another 2 Unlimited song, "Workaholic," when they score a run.

4. Scorpions - The Zoo



You know recently retired Mike Mussina is starting when you hear this song blaring.

5. Star Wars - Imperial March



This song plays when the opposing lineup is announced, followed by Yosemite Sam playing the role of umpire on the Diamondvision screen.

6. Aerosmith - Walk this Way



Lucky for you, Johnny Damon led off the game with a walk! Get ready to hear this as he's strolling down the first base line.

7. R. Kelly featuring T.I. & T-Pain - I'm a Flirt



Following Damon, of course, is Jeter. He's gone through many walk-up songs, but this is one of his most recent songs.

8. Jay-Z & Linkin Park - Numb/Encore



Alex Rodriguez
is pretty consistent with his music, rarely having more than one walk-up song per year. Rodriguez used this mash-up for most of the 2005 and 2006 seasons, I believe.

9. Mims - This is Why I'm Hot



Rodriguez used this song for his 2007 MVP season, and part of the 2008 season. With how he performed in 2007, this song was rather apropot.

10. NWO - Wolfpack Theme



Jason Giambi always used this song for his first at-bat of the game. The howling wolf signaled Yankees fans to Giambi's arrival in the box. Don't turn your back on the Wolfpack!

11. AC/DC - T.N.T.



For some reason, Hideki Matsui uses this song to come up to bat.

12. Pearl Jam - Better Man



Like what I wrote in No. 11, for some reason, Wilson Betemit walked up to this song. While I get the whole "bet-" parallel, Betemit probably has no idea who Pearl Jam is.

13. Village People - Y.M.C.A.



Love it or hate it, the ground's crew has been doing the hand signals for "Y.M.C.A." since 1996 at the end of the fifth inning. I can't see them stopping anytime soon.

14. Kate Smith - God Bless America



So the game's moving along just fine. All of a sudden, instead of hearing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame," fans are treated to the sweet sounds of prerecorded Smith wonderfulness. Now, I'm as big a patriot as the next guy, but can this song please go with the old Stadium? It's fine to do it during holidays and playoff games, but playing it every game kind of cheapens the meaning, no? And YES showing it all the time doesn't help matters, either.

15. Rednex - Cotton Eye Joe



I haven't met one person who likes this song. Yes, it's fun to dance to at the occasional Bar Mitzvah or wedding, but that's once in a blue moon. After each and every game, it gets annoying. Remember when they used to say the dancing intern wearing the straw hat was on the Intrepid or at the U.S. Open? It was obvious he was still in the control room. At least they stopped trying to fool us there. I hope this is another tradition that dies with the old Stadium.

16. Ram Jam - Black Betty



This is played usually when the Yankees are rallying and the pitching coach comes onto the field for a conference on the mound.

17. Andrea Bocelli - Time to Say Goodbye



This is played when an opposing pitcher is taken out of the game. I'll give the Yankees credit for this one. It's a lot more original than playing "Hit the Road Jack."

18. The Who - Baba O'Riley



The Yankees love playing The Who. They would sneak this in as Bernie Williams, Tino Martinez and, most recently, Giambi came up in clutch situations. It always made for a nice moment.

19. Mötley Crüe - Shout at the Devil



When Joba Chamberlain was a reliever, he'd run out to this song in the eighth inning, exciting the crowd. I never went to a game with him as a starter, so I'm not sure if he still used this.

20. Metallica - Enter Sandman



A Yankee Stadium staple. When Mariano Rivera runs out to this song, the Stadium stands, cheers and screams. I like to make fun of Yankee Stadium's music selection, but this is always a cool moment, and I regularly get chills.

21. Liza Minelli - Theme from New York, New York



Sorry for posting this version, but I have to. The Yankees used to play Minelli's version of this song after losses, which made me doubly angry - at the loss and the fact that I'd have to hear this version. Luckily, they have stopped torturing Yankees fans, and have exclusively played No. 22 after each and every game.

22. Frank Sinatra - Theme from New York, New York



Ol' Blue Eyes recorded his version of the song two years after Minelli, saving Yankees fans from torture. Thank you, Mr. Sinatra.



This is all I can think of for now. Of course, if you think I missed something, please let me hear about it in the comments.

For now, have a happy Thanksgiving! Enjoy your day of turkey, football, and, of course, no work.

18 comments:

Anonymous said...

hahahahaha

Brent N. said...

I got a few:

1) Young Jeezy/Jay-Z - Put On (Remix): the end of Jay-Z's line of the song was the song A-Rod came up to towards the end of the season. "I put on for my city so when I'm dead and gone, I got one final wish, put my Yankee hat on!"

2) Tego Calderon - Pa Que Recozen (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDCoW2cykII)

Curious about what song Bobby Abreu comes up to? Here's your answer!

3) Young Jeezy feat. R. Kelly - Go-Getta: Also one of Jeter's come-up songs on the same lines as "I'm a Flirt". He actually went up with those two songs, as well as Snoop Dogg's "That's That Shit" and Rich Boy's "Throw Some D's" in 2007... yea, I'm obsessed. ;-)

4) Baby Boy Da Prince - The Way I Live: A different version of the song was played (the chorus) as the second song A-Rod came up to in 2007 (by the 3rd at-bat or back-and-forth).

Those are all I have so far. I'll think of more, maybe.

Anonymous said...

Also Archies "We Ready"

Andrew Fletcher said...

Thanks for the additions, guys.

Anonymous said...

Everybody clap your hands...clapclapclapclapclap

oh wait thats at the shae state fair grounds. Come ride the whirlaround for $1. Candy candy 50 cents.

She-Fan said...

Wow. This post made my Thanksgiving. I love it. Maybe you could sell it as a CD, although I really could live without Cotton Eye Joe.

Anonymous said...

"Hate Me Now" by Nas featuring Diddy is one I'd include. :) It was Jeter's song for a while, I'm fairly certain.

She-Fan said...

Andrew, I just linked this post to my blog. It deserved a shout out.

Andrew Fletcher said...

Thank you, Jane. Glad you enjoyed it.

Patrick, Jeter definitely used that song. Thanks for bringing that up.

ElComedulce said...

When sheff was a yankee he used to come out to a rap song. But after a double or big hit a song about himself would play. I looked all over the internet for it.

Brent N. said...

Sheff came up to: "Move Bitch" by Ludacris and I believe he came out to a 50 Cent song as well, but it escapes me.

J said...

The only thing I'll ever give Shelly Duncan credit for is when he used Icky Thump by The White Stripes as his walk-up song.

Anonymous said...

how could you leave this out?!?!?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5LW07FTJbI

(skip to 45 seconds in)

Andrew Fletcher said...

Haha wow, how could I have forgotten that one?

What song do they play after the Westminster chimes? It sounds like bells, and everyone claps to it.

Raven King said...

Andrea Bocelli's Time to Say Goodbye should be Moose's ending song.

Anonymous said...

what is the song that plays during the hat game on the big screen... you know, when the three hats are on top of the baseball, and you have to guess which hat the ball is under... anyone??

Sifmoc said...

Most of the songs are among my favs! I agree this is the absolute soundtrack

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