Writers’ Roundtable: Walk-Up Songs

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One of the best parts about playing high school/college/professional sports is picking a walk-up song. Your walk-up is your one chance to let some fire rain down through the speakers and get you ready to drop a bomb. These days, the only walk-ups many of us get are through our headphones at our desk before a sales call, but that didn’t stop our writers from picking what would get them going if they needed a walk-up.

If I had to pick any walk up song, it’d have to be Dire Strait’s “Walk of Life”. It’s upbeat, has a great twang and you can rage to it. Staple jukebox song for me and I always pregame to it. Proven fact: it’s impossible to have a bad night out if you put on some Walk of Life– MadoffInvestment

College volleyball has its own form of a walk-up song that gets played right before you serve. My pick is a clip from “Bustin at Em” by Waka Flocka that not only makes me want to jump up and down and punch through walls, but also confuses the life out of the other team. Everyone is left speechless after this: — Delph

“Survival” by Eminem. If Eminem isn’t on your gym playlist, you’re missing out.– PostGradShibby

I was a reliever in college, and firmly believe that the best walk out songs for relievers are either “Hell’s Bells” or “Enter Sandman.” I’m also a firm believer that you have to throw gas to justify using those, and as I threw absolute poop, I went with “Can I Kick It?” by A Tribe Called Quest. Chill with just enough rhythm to relax me and get me ready to pitch. — Kyle Bandujo

“Painkiller” as covered by Death, starting when the guitars kick in. It’s fast, heavy, and sounds scary as hell, which is perfect for whipping the crowd into a frenzy and getting me jacked up to hit a fastball all the way to goddamn Mars. The lyrics also aptly describe how I’m going to devastate opponents once I step into the batter’s box. And since it’s not a very commonly heard song in general, I could make it my signature tune and have it be unique to me.– Chris Bourg

First off, I would like to note that I love to drop this question on a dude during a first date. I judge this one hard. For me? Easy answer. “Stranglehold” by Ted Nugent. Killer guitar intro that really just screams, “I’m about to grip and rip this baby out of the park.” Throw this track on the ol’ boombox and see if you don’t want to go kick some ass.– Taylor Stovall

I’d for sure be an asshole about this. I’d go to the stadium DJ and make sure I had a handful of songs.
Innings 1-3: “Your Love” – The Outfield
Innings 4-6 – “Porch” – Pearl Jam
Innings 7-9 – “Cult of Personality” – Living Colour
Extra Innings (aka free baseball) – “Beds are Burning” – Midnight Oil — Improper Brostonian

“Hit ‘Em Up” – Tupac
I don’t think I need to write anything to justify this choice, and anything I write would pale in comparison to the actual lyrics, but here it goes. I’m going to get in your goddamn head and make sure you know that I’m going to take your soul, your pride and your butthole – not necessarily in that order. This is the meanest song ever written or performed. “Hit ‘Em Up” hurt so many feelings that it is credited in some circles as the reason that Tupac was killed. Seriously, a song that he wrote is said to have warranted his murder. The first line of the song is “I ain’t got no motherfuckin friends. That’s why I fucked your bitch you fat motherfucker.” And that sets the tone for everything I’m about to do to you. Take money, fuck peace.
— Icehouse

Ugh, I can only pick one? This is tough. I’m torn between T.I.’s “Bring Em Out” and Nelly’s “Country Grammar,” both of which reflect my genuine love for early 2000’s hip hop. With such amazing lyrics as “Shimmy shimmy cocoa what,” it’s tough to discount Nelly, but if forced to choose, I’ve got to go with “Bring Em Out,” with the “em” being my boobs, obviously. — 2NOTBrokeGirls

Sussudio by Phil Collins. A great, great, song. A personal favorite. One of the best pop songs of the 80s and guaranteed to get the crowd on their feet.– JohnnyD

“Stronger” by Kanye West. Nothing gets me pumped up like a flashback to the high school glory days. Ye was always the first song on the Varsity warm-up CD. Any time I hear that song I immediately mad dog whoever is in my line of sight and then feel the crushing weight of realizing my best days are behind me. It’s a fun little ride. — Best

Sister Nancy – “Bam Bam”
Picture a wiry outfielder with a big Adam’s apple loping out to the plate while those horns play. As he adjusts his oversized glasses and pulls his 7 5/8 fitted cap over his dome the reggae beat drops and everyone on the opposing team thinks, “This kid fucks.” He shoots a smile to his 16-year-old girlfriend in the stands who plays jr. varsity volleyball and gives terrible handjobs. He strikes out looking.– JR Hickey

“Bodies” by Drowning Pool for sure. Nothing gets me going like fiery rage, violent screams, and a touch of sass. — Tine_Vogue

“Play It All Night Long” by Drive-By Truckers. Everything about this song shreds. Honestly, I sat here for 10 minutes trying to think of a good one, and I could keep looking all night because there are really no wrong answers. This song happened to pop up on my shuffle, and it makes me want to drink cheap whiskey and smash the bottle against a wall. — Dave.

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Kyle Bandujo

The artist formerly known as Crash Davis. My kid doesn't think I'm funny.

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