Top 10 Sports Anthems
By Brad Berreman
Love of Sports Correspondent
When you go to a sporting event, or even watch one on TV, certain songs always seem to be heard on the stadium public address system.
Songs that stand as symbols for a team, or just general “get the crowd motivated” type tunes.
Here’s my Top 10 list of just those kind of songs.
TOP 10 SPORTS ANTHEMS
10. The Final Countdown - Europe
This cheesy ‘80s song is one that works well to get any crowd motivated. I don’t know if it would get any awards for great, non-manufactured musicianship, but it succeeds to get people fired up. And after all, that’s the point of this list. Power to the keyboard!
9. Wild Thing - The Troggs
You know a song is a sports anthem when both a real and fictional major league pitcher has the song title as a nickname. Of course, I speak of Rick “Wild Thing” Vaughn from the film Major League and Mitch “Wild Thing” Williams, the former closer for the Philadelphia Phillies in the early ‘90s.
8. Sirius - The Alan Parsons Project
As a youngster watching Chicago Bulls’ games on WGN from here in Minnesota, I can still hear the PA announcer as he announced the Bulls’ starting lineup to this instrumental in the background. Saving a certain player for last, he would say “At guard, 6"6’, from North Carolina, #23 ....” OK, if you don’t know the rest, you shouldn’t be reading this article.
7. Eye Of The Tiger - Survivor
This song originally became popular as the theme song for the 1982 film Rocky III, but it lives on today as one of sports’ biggest and best anthems. The beat of the song makes it easy to pump that heart rate up and get excited for action on the field. I know I want to do pushups whenever I hear it. Perhaps the best line in the song: “Rising up, straight to the top. Had the guts, got the glory!”
6. Hell’s Bells - AC/DC
Whenever Padres closer Trevor Hoffman comes into a game at home, this song plays, and the San Diego crowd goes berserk. It’s a solid reminder to their opponent of the fate they’ll more than likely meet when he takes the mound.
5. Stand Up And Shout - Steel Dragon
Even though this song was done by the fictional band from the 2001 film Rock Star starring Mark Wahlberg, it still has serious anthem value. I’ve heard it at Minnesota Wild hockey games and during other games on TV during breaks in the action. The cue for what the crowd is supposed to do is made clear in the song’s chorus: “Stand up and shout ... stand up, stand up, stand up and let it out!” Little know fact: This song was written for the film’s soundtrack by former Van Halen lead singer Sammy Hagar.
4. Too Legit To Quit - M.C. Hammer
This song became the theme for the Atlanta Falcons in the early ‘90s. It seemed to suit the team’s underdog mentality and the brashness of it’s main two stars, Deion “Prime Time” Sanders and Andre “Bad Moon” Rison. It even had a hand signal that was fairly easy to master, which, of course, I did. I was young.
3. Right Now - Van Halen
This song is also from the Hagar era of Van Halen and features a distinctive piano solo at the start. I’ve personally heard it at both Wild and Twins’ games prior to the puck dropping or the first pitch. It’s a good song to start the action and get the crowd to pay attention.
2. We Will Rock You/We Are The Champions - Queen
These pair of Queen songs are sports anthems if there ever were any. My main memory of “We Will Rock You” is after the Twins World Series victory in 1987, as they blared it over the loud speakers in the Metrodome during the postgame celebration. And I haven’t seen a crowd yet not stomp their feet to the start of “We Will Rock You.”
1. Welcome To The Jungle - Guns ‘N’ Roses
This song became the anthem for the Cincinnati Bengals in the late ‘80s, since their home stadium (Riverfront Stadium) is actually nicknamed “The Jungle.” Since then, the song as become a staple of stadiums around the country and a truest anthem of them all.
OTHER “LOVE OF SPORTS” LISTS:
--Top 15 Things we Miss from the ‘80s
--Top 15 Human Highlight Athletes
One Bonus Article
Comments
Loco on 05/21 at 05:50 AM
I know he is a nutcase but no Gary Glitter. That pumps me up at the games! Yeah!
Ryan on 05/21 at 06:43 AM
You say that someone should not read the article if they do not know the rest of the Jordan intro. However, you messed up the beginning. It actually goes, “Frrrrrrooooom North Carolina, at guard, 6’6”, MICHAEL JORDAN!!”
Kevin on 05/21 at 07:02 AM
ENTER SANDMAN.
Now pitching for the Yankees, Number 42, Mariano Rivera.
Hells Bells & Hoffman is cool, but nothing compares to the eruption that happens when the bullpen door swings open and the opening chords from Enter Sandman blares over the PA system.
Richard on 05/21 at 07:05 AM
It actually goes “Frrroooom North (slight pause) Carrrolina (slight pause) at guard, 6’6”, Michael (super slight pause) Jordan!....but seriously Ryan, you’re telling me that from this AWSOME list all you could comment on was that?
I’m wish the Celtics wouldn’t play as much of the “The Final Countdown” as they do though. I mean, how many final countdowns are there?
Keith on 05/21 at 07:16 AM
You really missed the boat on this one when it comes to including songs of closers. How could you not include Enter Sandman for Mariano Rivera? Could not have goofed that up more. Trevor Hoffman is a great closer but doesn’t come close to comparing to Rivera.
Conditional Love on 05/21 at 07:21 AM
Might I suggest Rock and Roll pt 2? I mean… I hate the song just as much as the next guy, but it’s freaking everywhere.
Matt on 05/21 at 08:39 AM
Gary Glitter....unfortunatey has to be on the list. Then 3 others i dont want to mention but does need to be mentioned. Vengaboys “We like to party” Usually played in basketball games when the hometeam goes on a run and the visitors call timeout. the beat gets everyone clapping. Then 2 tecno songs that i wont ever listen to unless i am at a game. “Sandstorm” by ? and the other teckno song where you hear everyone go Whoooaaaa, Whoooaaa. Sounds dumb and i will most likely get hazed for this last song. “Thunderstruck” AC/DC as well maybe? All in all good list.
Bryan on 05/21 at 09:20 AM
No You’ll Never Walk Alone? Credibility shot…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y7xvegPH_Lw
Hefty on 05/21 at 09:28 AM
Another omission from this list during Chicago Bears home games, when they receive the opening kickoff, they blast For Whom the Bell Tolls for the team kicking to Devin Hester. Soldier Field goes absolutely crazy.
Charlie on 05/21 at 09:54 AM
Crazy Train by Ozzy?
Andrew on 05/21 at 10:00 AM
Agreed with the commenters as far as Mariano Rivera and Enter Sandman. A half-capacity mallpark in San Diego is no match for Yankee Stadium’s historic atmosphere and the roar of approval from fans when the opening chords are played. Plus, if you pick Enter Sandman you get Billy Wagner and Virginia Tech in the package too.
Also, the fourth quarter “Jump Around” at Wisconsin’s Camp Randall is pretty cool. I have no affiliation with any Big Ten school or the state of Wisconsin but still found myself YouTubing and Googling it last week—apparently UW banned “Jump Around” for a few games awhile back because they thought all the jumping would damage the stadium structurally.
Andrew on 05/21 at 10:03 AM
P.S. Shouldn’t the Rocky theme be a 7a along with Eye of the Tiger? No matter what context, the jumbotron always ends up finding some fat drunk running up and down the aisle stairs.
Jimmy on 05/21 at 10:39 AM
Two you missed:
Elvis Costello - Pump it Up
Ramones - Blitzkrieg Bob (Hey Ho, Let’s Go!)
Brett on 05/21 at 10:42 AM
Of course you need Rock and Roll pt. 2 even if Gary Glitter is a pedophile, That song is everywhere and still great to hear every time the Broncos or Avs score. Another song that has yet to get mentioned is “Zombie Nation.” I have no idea who it is by, but it always gets the crowd pumped up. They go crazy at Gonzaga before every basketball game as soon as the song is played and they don’t stop jumping around until the end of the game. Here is proof.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=yiJbOCbiQSI&feature=related
Calvin on 05/21 at 12:30 PM
The Celtics play Requiem for a Dream, and that always seems to get people going. It might not be played as much, but it would be top 4 or 5 based on your requirements of getting the crowd into the game.
NY Fan on 05/21 at 01:02 PM
I have to agree..19,00 people, most of whom are sunning themselves, getting fired up in San Diego for Hells Bells is absolutely nothing compared to trhe gate at Yankee Stadium swinging open to Enter Sandman and 56,000 people going nuts during the playoffs, WS, or even regular season game against the Red Sox.
NY Fan on 05/21 at 01:04 PM
No to mention that, when Mariano comes in, he’s throwing 95 mph cutters...I mean, how pumped can you get for Hoffman coming in to “fire” 84 mph change-ups at people
Del Cid on 05/21 at 02:06 PM
enter the sandman is missing from this list no doubt mo vera can pump up any stadium with his presence alone but that song brings something to the air that is not comparable
Powers on 05/21 at 06:56 PM
Requiem for a dream
zombie nation
tbuck on 05/21 at 09:10 PM
How about “Crowd Chant” by Joe Satriani? The Wild have been using that one, and I find it a refreshing change from “Rock & Roll, pt. 2” that my Avs play.
Superman on 05/22 at 07:17 AM
“Right Here, Right Now” by Jesus Jones
chad davies on 05/22 at 01:08 PM
You’ll Never Walk Alone is the greatest sports anthem ever, watch a Liverpool FC or Celtic FC match and try not to be impressed…
Navin R. Johnson on 05/22 at 01:59 PM
That is actually X’s cover of “Wild Thing” playing in the clip from “Major League”.
Speaking of “Major League”, note that the plot segment of the Wikipedia entry has been brilliantly vandalized into a hybrid of “Major League” and “Schindler’s List”!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Major_League_(film)#Plot
Navin R. Johnson on 05/22 at 02:03 PM
The lead singer of Survivor went on to provide the rock singer’s voice for the Bud Light “Real Men of Genius” radio advertisements.
miked on 05/22 at 05:50 PM
WHERE’S CRAZY TRAIN?!!!
Big miss there.
DAVE on 05/23 at 12:49 PM
Cannot believe no one mentioned Start Me Up by the Rolling Stones…
Swannie on 05/24 at 06:06 PM
Absolutely would have Blitzkreig Bop and Enter Sandman on the list. Also I would list the all time favorite techno tune that starts, “Y’all ready for this?”
Michael on 05/25 at 11:43 AM
I can’t believe, not on the list or in any of the comments, nobody said get ready for this, by 2 unlimited. Can’t believe it. That song was the epitomy of basketball in the 90’s
Yankee Bandwagon Coming To An End on 07/02 at 11:26 PM
First of all, thank you. I always wanted to know the name of Sirius ever since Ricky The Dragon Steamboat used it when I was a kid.
Now, Stand Up and Shout does not belong on the list, and while I can appreciate Hells Bells (The Raiders also use it as their intro song), the video doesn’t exactly show the SD crowd going crazy as you describe it.
I’d definitely agree that Rock and Roll Part II belongs on the list.
Enter Sandman and Crazy Train are good, but probably don’t deserve to be on the top 10.
We Are The Champions should be the CLEAR, and I mean BY FAR winner.
Andy on 07/25 at 11:32 PM
I like this list, all except for Stand up and Shout. I know I’m not the biggest sports fan around, but I’ve never even heard of it, and I like to think I know my stuff.
I’d take it off and replace with either Enter Sandman or Thunderstruck. (Back in Black could make it too, but three by AC/DC is a lot.)
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