Pumped Up: What's In Your Pre-game Playlist?
January 29, 2019 at 5:19 a.m.
By -
I’ve written extensively about both of them. But I’ve also experienced them, often at the same time. I delight in walking into an arena or stadium to hear the pregame music, whether it’s T.I.’s “Bring Em Out” or AC/DC’s “Thunderstruck.”
The entire mood changes. It’s as if battle is about to start, and you’re waiting for the gates of some dirty, dark dungeon to open so you can charge out with an untamed desire to win.
That’s just as a sports writer. When I was a student-athlete, I could almost feel my body chemistry change as I stepped into our pristine locker room to hear the motivational "Put On" by Young Jeezy featuring Kanye West. No one could dance to that cut like one of our running backs, Dejon Young.
The pulsating beat was like a war drum, egging us on as we mentally and physically prepared for our enemy – I mean, opponent.
Many things have changed in the 10 short years since I graduated high school, but the ties between sports and music remain strong.
It’s scientific; Barry Goldstein wrote an article for Conscious Lifestyle Magazine titled “Music and the Brain: The Fascinating Ways That Music Affects Your Mood and Mind.”
In it, he noted, “Music evokes and engages our emotions in many stages of our lives both individually and in groups.”
Goldstein also wrote that music improves our attention. No wonder coaches allow it before games.
When I was coming up, you couldn’t walk into a gym without hearing Eminem’s “Lose Yourself” or “’Till I Collapse.” The ominous piano keys on the former and foreboding bassline on the latter foreshadowed the drama that was to come on the hardwood.
When I played volleyball, I remember we went to a small town to play Maplewood High School. We suburban kids were utterly perplexed at how these guys warmed up to country love songs.
But, they kicked our butts, so what did we know?
A wise man with long hair once said “you can’t always get what you want.” Alas, sometimes student-athletes don’t get to warm up to what they want, because schools understandably have to keep the music blaring across the gyms age-appropriate.
The athletes still have their favorites, of course, across a wide span of genres. Warsaw senior Jack Horoho, who completed his cross country career in the fall and is currently a basketball manager, loves Imagine Dragons and used to rock out to “Natural” before races.
“They’re kind of yelling at you a little bit, making me feel like I’m going into battle,” Horoho said.
He also dished on the team’s general favorite: “8 Mile: Music From and Inspired By the Motion Picture.”
I’m so proud. That brings me back. (Sniff) I’m not crying, you’re crying.
Warsaw softball junior Izzy Dittmar has plenty of favorites, including the Travis Barker remix of Drake’s “Forever” featuring Lil Wayne and Eminem.
Her choice lyrics: “It may not mean nothing to y’all, but understand nothing was done for me, so I don’t plan on stopping at all…”
“A good walk-up song needs to raise your energy on a personal level,” Dittmar said. “Other music needs to be a combo of keeping the fans entertained and the players pumped. I have different music for bus rides that are more relaxing.”
I get that. I remember before church league basketball games, there were times I’d play Bob Marley and the Wailers to calm myself down.
Warsaw senior Dayle Harvey, who finished her soccer career in the fall, loved to listen to Alicia Keys’ “Girl On Fire” before matches.
“It always got my mindset right to play like it was my last game, and with an unmatched tenacity,” she said.
You gotta find the vibe that suits you. Whether it’s DMX or Kenny Chesney, make sure it helps you be the best you can be on the court or field.
As a blonde-haired MC once noted, “You better lose yourself in the music.”
You can do anything you put your mind to, man.
I’ve written extensively about both of them. But I’ve also experienced them, often at the same time. I delight in walking into an arena or stadium to hear the pregame music, whether it’s T.I.’s “Bring Em Out” or AC/DC’s “Thunderstruck.”
The entire mood changes. It’s as if battle is about to start, and you’re waiting for the gates of some dirty, dark dungeon to open so you can charge out with an untamed desire to win.
That’s just as a sports writer. When I was a student-athlete, I could almost feel my body chemistry change as I stepped into our pristine locker room to hear the motivational "Put On" by Young Jeezy featuring Kanye West. No one could dance to that cut like one of our running backs, Dejon Young.
The pulsating beat was like a war drum, egging us on as we mentally and physically prepared for our enemy – I mean, opponent.
Many things have changed in the 10 short years since I graduated high school, but the ties between sports and music remain strong.
It’s scientific; Barry Goldstein wrote an article for Conscious Lifestyle Magazine titled “Music and the Brain: The Fascinating Ways That Music Affects Your Mood and Mind.”
In it, he noted, “Music evokes and engages our emotions in many stages of our lives both individually and in groups.”
Goldstein also wrote that music improves our attention. No wonder coaches allow it before games.
When I was coming up, you couldn’t walk into a gym without hearing Eminem’s “Lose Yourself” or “’Till I Collapse.” The ominous piano keys on the former and foreboding bassline on the latter foreshadowed the drama that was to come on the hardwood.
When I played volleyball, I remember we went to a small town to play Maplewood High School. We suburban kids were utterly perplexed at how these guys warmed up to country love songs.
But, they kicked our butts, so what did we know?
A wise man with long hair once said “you can’t always get what you want.” Alas, sometimes student-athletes don’t get to warm up to what they want, because schools understandably have to keep the music blaring across the gyms age-appropriate.
The athletes still have their favorites, of course, across a wide span of genres. Warsaw senior Jack Horoho, who completed his cross country career in the fall and is currently a basketball manager, loves Imagine Dragons and used to rock out to “Natural” before races.
“They’re kind of yelling at you a little bit, making me feel like I’m going into battle,” Horoho said.
He also dished on the team’s general favorite: “8 Mile: Music From and Inspired By the Motion Picture.”
I’m so proud. That brings me back. (Sniff) I’m not crying, you’re crying.
Warsaw softball junior Izzy Dittmar has plenty of favorites, including the Travis Barker remix of Drake’s “Forever” featuring Lil Wayne and Eminem.
Her choice lyrics: “It may not mean nothing to y’all, but understand nothing was done for me, so I don’t plan on stopping at all…”
“A good walk-up song needs to raise your energy on a personal level,” Dittmar said. “Other music needs to be a combo of keeping the fans entertained and the players pumped. I have different music for bus rides that are more relaxing.”
I get that. I remember before church league basketball games, there were times I’d play Bob Marley and the Wailers to calm myself down.
Warsaw senior Dayle Harvey, who finished her soccer career in the fall, loved to listen to Alicia Keys’ “Girl On Fire” before matches.
“It always got my mindset right to play like it was my last game, and with an unmatched tenacity,” she said.
You gotta find the vibe that suits you. Whether it’s DMX or Kenny Chesney, make sure it helps you be the best you can be on the court or field.
As a blonde-haired MC once noted, “You better lose yourself in the music.”
You can do anything you put your mind to, man.
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