Special Music Post: Best Songs at Sports Games
The Leafs are on a CBA-mandated bye week and the Raptors don't play until Friday on my end.
But as the diligent blogger, I won't just let these off days roll by. Time for some evergreen content. Today, I'll write about music: more specifically, those "arena rock" songs that you often hear at sporting events, either in person or in broadcast.
I am a huge fan of music. Music is just as big a part of my life as sports. For a while there, I wanted to become a music critic/writer, one of the biggest reasons being I wanted free CDs!
Anyway, save for a few CD reviews for my university (college) newspapers and later for the first newspaper that paid me to write, my music critiquing career never took off. That's a shame, really. I could have snatched up more free CDs than the 153 that I got doing those reviews.
I've been a fan of heavy metal and classic rock since I was in middle school, a span of about 26 years and counting. When my parents (mostly classical fans) found out I was into these long-haired dudes (or, in case of the vocalist for my favorite band, Judas Priest, a bald dude) screaming from the top of their lungs and doing their thing, they told me I would eventually grow out of it.
Well, guess what, I have grown older, but never "out" of that heavy metal phase. But when you've been listening to the same genre for more than half of your life, it's no longer just a phase, right?
Here, I am going to list (not in any particular order) my favorite songs at sports games. Some may already be staples, but there are others that don't get played as much as I think they should (or if at all).
Remember, cheesy rock anthems always work the best at sporting events.
Enjoy.
1. Pour Some Sugar on Me - Def Leppard
I told you cheesy anthems work great. Or should I say "sugary" anthem here?
Even if you're just a casual rock fan, this song hardly needs any explanation. These guys wrote this song more than 30 years ago probably thinking, "Geez, for the next 50 years, we'll be hearing this stuff at arenas all over the world!" It screams arena rock.
As a bonus feature, I am including a piano cover of this song by my favorite solo artist, Canada's own Emm Gryner. She once put out an album called Girl Versions, featuring covers of her favorite heavy medal and punk songs, including "Pour..." It's a brilliant record.
2. Rock You Like a Hurricane - Scorpions
I don't know how popular Scorpions were in the U.S. back in the days. Maybe sports fans would recognize the opening riffs here because the song's played so often at games, but wouldn't be able to identify who actually wrote the stuff.
These guys were HUGE in Korea when I was growing up. Self-respecting fan of rock were supposed to own a few Scorpions records. I myself listened to a lot of Scorpions. My entry point was their popular power ballads like "Wind of Change" and "Always Somewhere." But I moved into some obscure 1970s stuff, and the Scorpions tree also led me to UFO and The Michael Schenker Group (MSG).
Another anthem that I thought was just meant to be played at sporting events.
3. Don't Stop Believin' - Journey
I've never really been a Journey fan, but I'll always have a soft spot in my heart for this song.
Music fans of certain age have stories of listening to songs on radio in bed at night when they were kids. My favorite station growing up was the Eagle FM, part of the American Forces Network. It's a station for U.S. troops serving in Korea, but the general public could still listen to it on dial (and today, stream it online).
Anyway, they played a lot of classic rock and hard rock during the hours I tuned in, mostly after 9 p.m. or so. A ton of Journey, some Kansas ("Carry on Wayward Son" doesn't make my cut here but is a staple at games), Aerosmith, Boston, Eagles... Mostly American bands, as you can see.
The intro to this song always got me. Took me a while to figure out the band and the name of the song (no Google back in 1993!). Even though I was in the middle of my "heavier and harder the better" period and reserved disdain for soft rock, this song was an exception.
The lyrics have nothing to do with trying to win sports games, but the refrain "Don't stop believin'" has this strange effect on crowds when their home team is trailing in an important game. Maybe athletes themselves will get fired up listening to these words.
4. Welcome to the Jungle - Guns N' Roses
The one key to writing a good sports arena anthem: gotta have a killer intro. Obviously, you don't get to hear entire songs (unless it's "We Are the Champions" after the championship matches) at arenas/stadiums. In NHL games, songs are played between stoppages of play, but once the puck is dropped, the music is turned off, too. In NBA arenas, you'd hear some chants, claps, etc, but songs are usually played between breaks, too.
Doesn't matter how many music fans are in the stands. They aren't there to listen to their favorite guitar solos. They want to hear something that can get them all fired up right away.
And this song right here will do the job. That opening riff!
It's a shame we don't get to hear Slash's solo at games because it comes much later in the song.
I've also heard "Sweet Child O'Mine," "Paradise City," and "You Could Be Mine" at games. But I don't think this song can be topped.
5. Walk - Pantera
Now we're in the heavy metal territory. This is perhaps the best-known Pantera song to casual fans.
As arena anthems go, it checks all the boxes. It has the groovy intro worthy of your headbanging, and the opening part is long enough that it will last through a typical stoppage of play without getting into the growling vocals by Phil Anselmo.
In all seriousness, no arena should play this song beyond the intro, or children would be frightened.
6. Where the Streets Have No Name - U2
Back to the non-metal territory. This one is a bit tricky because the first 40 or seconds is just synth, before the Edge's guitar fades in.
And his chiming guitar has never sounded better. I have a complete U2 collection and this one is in my top five.
I remember getting chills hearing this intro during the pre-game warmup at a hockey game I was covering in 2017. It was Korea vs. someone, and that's not really important. Someone edited the song (or that person found the edited version) so that only the guitar part of the intro played on for a couple of minutes, as the players filed out one by one and hit the ice in a darkened arena. There was something majestic about the whole shtick.
Good thing they cut out the vocals. It would have been weird to hear Bono sing, "I want to run. I want to hide." before the start of a hockey game. Not the message you want to deliver.
7. Crazy Train - Ozzy Osbourne
Another arena staple. Iconic, instantaly recognizable intro. You'll get parts of Ozzy's vocals in most cases, but it's okay. Crazy, but that's how it goes, right?
I first bought this album on a cassette in middle school. I think it's often an exaggeration when people say they got a tape worn out from excessive playing, but I did play this thing more times than I can count. I later bought a CD, too.
Just like with "Welcome to the Jungle," it's a bloody shame you won't get to hear the solo of this song at games. I can go on and on about the brilliance of Randy Rhoads. He gave us two Ozzy solo albums before perishing in a plane crash. With all due respect to his Quiet Riot years, this was a hot-shot pitcher who won back-to-back Cy Youngs in his first two seasons before being taken away from us. He'd be 52 now, and I can totally see him still rocking at that age.
Earlier, I mentioned the Canadian artist Emm Grynerand her cover of heavy metal tracks. Well, she did a cover of "Crazy Train" on the Girl Versions album. Here it is.
Honorable Mentions
Children of the Grave, Symptom of the Universe - Black Sabbath
I love Sabbath. I should even include "Paranoid" here. These two songs have just the kind of riffs that would work at sporting events.
Recently, at an Oilers-Flames game in Edmonton, I heard "War Pigs." I couldn't believe my ears! Because I am a music nerd, I pay attention to these things when I am watching games, and I don't think I'd ever heard it at a hockey game or any other game before.
That's a great song, but not a particularly great fit at games. The opening part is a tad slow and it sounds too sinister.
Symphony of Destruction - Megadeth
I can headbang to this all day long. So Dave Mustaine got kicked off Metallica and he formed Megadeth. I used to be a bigger Metallica fan but I've really come around to some classic Megadeth stuff. I am not into "who's better" kind of arguments. But I will say this: Marty Friedman is a better guitarist than Kirk Hammett.
Kickstart My Heart - Motley Crue
Though this was a top-30 hit, I feel like it is one of the most underrated Crue songs. I don't think the Crue has been getting much love at arenas, and the few times I heard their songs, it's been "Dr. Feelgood" or "Shout at the Devil." Their catalog is full of anthem-worthy tracks.
But as the diligent blogger, I won't just let these off days roll by. Time for some evergreen content. Today, I'll write about music: more specifically, those "arena rock" songs that you often hear at sporting events, either in person or in broadcast.
I am a huge fan of music. Music is just as big a part of my life as sports. For a while there, I wanted to become a music critic/writer, one of the biggest reasons being I wanted free CDs!
Anyway, save for a few CD reviews for my university (college) newspapers and later for the first newspaper that paid me to write, my music critiquing career never took off. That's a shame, really. I could have snatched up more free CDs than the 153 that I got doing those reviews.
I've been a fan of heavy metal and classic rock since I was in middle school, a span of about 26 years and counting. When my parents (mostly classical fans) found out I was into these long-haired dudes (or, in case of the vocalist for my favorite band, Judas Priest, a bald dude) screaming from the top of their lungs and doing their thing, they told me I would eventually grow out of it.
Well, guess what, I have grown older, but never "out" of that heavy metal phase. But when you've been listening to the same genre for more than half of your life, it's no longer just a phase, right?
Here, I am going to list (not in any particular order) my favorite songs at sports games. Some may already be staples, but there are others that don't get played as much as I think they should (or if at all).
Remember, cheesy rock anthems always work the best at sporting events.
Enjoy.
1. Pour Some Sugar on Me - Def Leppard
I told you cheesy anthems work great. Or should I say "sugary" anthem here?
Even if you're just a casual rock fan, this song hardly needs any explanation. These guys wrote this song more than 30 years ago probably thinking, "Geez, for the next 50 years, we'll be hearing this stuff at arenas all over the world!" It screams arena rock.
As a bonus feature, I am including a piano cover of this song by my favorite solo artist, Canada's own Emm Gryner. She once put out an album called Girl Versions, featuring covers of her favorite heavy medal and punk songs, including "Pour..." It's a brilliant record.
2. Rock You Like a Hurricane - Scorpions
I don't know how popular Scorpions were in the U.S. back in the days. Maybe sports fans would recognize the opening riffs here because the song's played so often at games, but wouldn't be able to identify who actually wrote the stuff.
These guys were HUGE in Korea when I was growing up. Self-respecting fan of rock were supposed to own a few Scorpions records. I myself listened to a lot of Scorpions. My entry point was their popular power ballads like "Wind of Change" and "Always Somewhere." But I moved into some obscure 1970s stuff, and the Scorpions tree also led me to UFO and The Michael Schenker Group (MSG).
Another anthem that I thought was just meant to be played at sporting events.
3. Don't Stop Believin' - Journey
I've never really been a Journey fan, but I'll always have a soft spot in my heart for this song.
Music fans of certain age have stories of listening to songs on radio in bed at night when they were kids. My favorite station growing up was the Eagle FM, part of the American Forces Network. It's a station for U.S. troops serving in Korea, but the general public could still listen to it on dial (and today, stream it online).
Anyway, they played a lot of classic rock and hard rock during the hours I tuned in, mostly after 9 p.m. or so. A ton of Journey, some Kansas ("Carry on Wayward Son" doesn't make my cut here but is a staple at games), Aerosmith, Boston, Eagles... Mostly American bands, as you can see.
The intro to this song always got me. Took me a while to figure out the band and the name of the song (no Google back in 1993!). Even though I was in the middle of my "heavier and harder the better" period and reserved disdain for soft rock, this song was an exception.
The lyrics have nothing to do with trying to win sports games, but the refrain "Don't stop believin'" has this strange effect on crowds when their home team is trailing in an important game. Maybe athletes themselves will get fired up listening to these words.
4. Welcome to the Jungle - Guns N' Roses
The one key to writing a good sports arena anthem: gotta have a killer intro. Obviously, you don't get to hear entire songs (unless it's "We Are the Champions" after the championship matches) at arenas/stadiums. In NHL games, songs are played between stoppages of play, but once the puck is dropped, the music is turned off, too. In NBA arenas, you'd hear some chants, claps, etc, but songs are usually played between breaks, too.
Doesn't matter how many music fans are in the stands. They aren't there to listen to their favorite guitar solos. They want to hear something that can get them all fired up right away.
And this song right here will do the job. That opening riff!
It's a shame we don't get to hear Slash's solo at games because it comes much later in the song.
I've also heard "Sweet Child O'Mine," "Paradise City," and "You Could Be Mine" at games. But I don't think this song can be topped.
5. Walk - Pantera
Now we're in the heavy metal territory. This is perhaps the best-known Pantera song to casual fans.
As arena anthems go, it checks all the boxes. It has the groovy intro worthy of your headbanging, and the opening part is long enough that it will last through a typical stoppage of play without getting into the growling vocals by Phil Anselmo.
In all seriousness, no arena should play this song beyond the intro, or children would be frightened.
6. Where the Streets Have No Name - U2
Back to the non-metal territory. This one is a bit tricky because the first 40 or seconds is just synth, before the Edge's guitar fades in.
And his chiming guitar has never sounded better. I have a complete U2 collection and this one is in my top five.
I remember getting chills hearing this intro during the pre-game warmup at a hockey game I was covering in 2017. It was Korea vs. someone, and that's not really important. Someone edited the song (or that person found the edited version) so that only the guitar part of the intro played on for a couple of minutes, as the players filed out one by one and hit the ice in a darkened arena. There was something majestic about the whole shtick.
Good thing they cut out the vocals. It would have been weird to hear Bono sing, "I want to run. I want to hide." before the start of a hockey game. Not the message you want to deliver.
7. Crazy Train - Ozzy Osbourne
Another arena staple. Iconic, instantaly recognizable intro. You'll get parts of Ozzy's vocals in most cases, but it's okay. Crazy, but that's how it goes, right?
I first bought this album on a cassette in middle school. I think it's often an exaggeration when people say they got a tape worn out from excessive playing, but I did play this thing more times than I can count. I later bought a CD, too.
Just like with "Welcome to the Jungle," it's a bloody shame you won't get to hear the solo of this song at games. I can go on and on about the brilliance of Randy Rhoads. He gave us two Ozzy solo albums before perishing in a plane crash. With all due respect to his Quiet Riot years, this was a hot-shot pitcher who won back-to-back Cy Youngs in his first two seasons before being taken away from us. He'd be 52 now, and I can totally see him still rocking at that age.
Earlier, I mentioned the Canadian artist Emm Grynerand her cover of heavy metal tracks. Well, she did a cover of "Crazy Train" on the Girl Versions album. Here it is.
Honorable Mentions
Children of the Grave, Symptom of the Universe - Black Sabbath
I love Sabbath. I should even include "Paranoid" here. These two songs have just the kind of riffs that would work at sporting events.
Recently, at an Oilers-Flames game in Edmonton, I heard "War Pigs." I couldn't believe my ears! Because I am a music nerd, I pay attention to these things when I am watching games, and I don't think I'd ever heard it at a hockey game or any other game before.
That's a great song, but not a particularly great fit at games. The opening part is a tad slow and it sounds too sinister.
Symphony of Destruction - Megadeth
I can headbang to this all day long. So Dave Mustaine got kicked off Metallica and he formed Megadeth. I used to be a bigger Metallica fan but I've really come around to some classic Megadeth stuff. I am not into "who's better" kind of arguments. But I will say this: Marty Friedman is a better guitarist than Kirk Hammett.
Kickstart My Heart - Motley Crue
Though this was a top-30 hit, I feel like it is one of the most underrated Crue songs. I don't think the Crue has been getting much love at arenas, and the few times I heard their songs, it's been "Dr. Feelgood" or "Shout at the Devil." Their catalog is full of anthem-worthy tracks.
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