There’s an article over at NBC Washington by Kate Kilpatrick about walkup music. It’s been around for a while — and pro wrestling fans have been aware of it even longer — but where did it come from? Part of the answer was totally news to me:
Twenty years ago, only a few major league players had walk-up songs. These days nearly all of them do, thanks in part to a spunky young organist, a salesman’s CD collection and a transvestite prostitute named Lucille.
If that tease doesn’t get you to read the article, there’s no hope for you. And while I was well aware of the spunky young organist — Nancy Faust, pictured to the rights — how I never heard about the transvestite prostitute story — which involves Dave Stewart — is an utter mystery to me.
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- antlerclaws - Apr 5, 2012 at 9:22 AM
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My walkup music would be Pixies’ “Where is My Mind?” When the fans here the eerie opening “ooh-ooooh”, they fall into a hushed silence, the quiet acoustic strumming begins and then Joey Santiago’s electric guitar blazes in as I step into the box and the ballpark erupts. I can dream.
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- acheron2112 - Apr 5, 2012 at 9:25 AM
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Mine would be “Tom Sawyer” by Rush, and I’m only half saying that to bait Craig.
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- Craig Calcaterra - Apr 5, 2012 at 9:26 AM
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No, it’s cool. That was Kerry Von Erich’s walk-in music, so it gets mad props from me in that respect.
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- mulletcork - Apr 5, 2012 at 9:48 AM
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You can thank P.S. Michael Hayes and The Fabulous Freebirds for walkup music brother.
Now I’m gonna go listen to Badstreet U.S.A!!
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- Jonny 5 - Apr 5, 2012 at 9:54 AM
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I always enjoy putting walk up music to players for fun. Let’s see I’ll start.
Kevin Gregg will walk out to ring of fire by Johnny Cash.
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- ptfu - Apr 5, 2012 at 10:52 AM
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Kevin Greggggggg should use “Nuthin’ but a ‘G’ Thang”
Sorry, couldn’t stop myself
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- ajcardsfan - Apr 5, 2012 at 12:11 PM
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Josh Hamilton – Alcohol
Too harsh?
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- rickset - Apr 5, 2012 at 10:07 AM
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I’d choose the chorus from “Homer at the Bat” to be my walk up music
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- hasbeen5 - Apr 5, 2012 at 10:16 AM
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I’m walking up to Nelly’s “Batter Up” in my softball game tonight
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- Gamera the Brave - Apr 5, 2012 at 10:35 AM
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I’ll go with “Monkey Time” by The Tubes, great duet with the great Fee Waybill and Martha Davis of The Motels.
And no, I have no idea why that song popped into my head.
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- jlove42 - Apr 5, 2012 at 11:22 AM
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Someone please correct me if I’m wrong, but I think Nancy Faust was behind the “Na-na-na-na..na-na-na-na.. hey hey hey.. goodbye” when a team is removing a pitcher from the game because he’s getting smoked? I may be wrong… but I may be right
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- jlove42 - Apr 5, 2012 at 4:38 PM
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The internet has answered my questions… Nancy did originate this great tradition
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- cur68 - Apr 5, 2012 at 12:29 PM
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Sesame Street theme for me. Dunno why, but I love that jingle. Besides, I look just like Grover.
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- gottagotowork99 - Apr 5, 2012 at 1:00 PM
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Too easy…
Nazareth – Hair of the Dog. “Now you’re messin’ with… a son of a b*tch! Now you’re messin’ with a sumna-b*tch!”
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- madhatternalice - Apr 5, 2012 at 1:02 PM
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Serious question: where does NARAS fit into all this? Do sports teams have carte blanche to play whatever they want? Seems like there should be some compensation to the artist, no?
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- stackers1 - Apr 5, 2012 at 1:03 PM
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I think a good song for a hitter to come up to would be Muddy Waters, Got My Mojo Working.
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- WhenMattStairsIsKing - Apr 5, 2012 at 4:42 PM
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I’d use Peter Gabriel’s “Here Comes the Flood.” What a twist!
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- Walk - Apr 5, 2012 at 5:52 PM
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Another cash tune for me, “Man in Black”. I have not listened to it in years so i might have gotten title wrong but i have loved it every time i hav heard it played.
