Stadium Rock: Top Ten Sports Songs

Ask anyone who has ever attended a sporting event and watched two rivals go head-to-head about the environment of the stadium. More than likely, they will tell you it is an event one has to experience for ones self. It's not just the game that makes it exciting; it's the atmosphere surrounding it. The fan interaction, the taste of stadium food, the smells around the area; these all contribute to the thrill and exhilaration. All of ones senses are put to full use, but perhaps hearing is the most sensational. The sounds of a stadium are unlike any other environment. The shouts of fellow stadium goers, the cries of concession vendors and the noises from the playing field all create a new level of consciousness that echoes through the duration of the game. Nothing sets up this feeling than the music played during a game. The proper song choice before a game will create a mood that will stick with the fans and players alike. Songs play a major role in the sporting event as a whole. Players dance on the field, fans jump around in the stands. The music is behind all of this. So, what are the Top 10 songs for sporting events?

Honorable Mention:

"Who Let the Dogs Out?" by The Baha Men - A major hit inside sporting areas for a few years, including becoming the unofficial theme song of the Seattle Mariners, it just didn't have the longevity to make the list. Finishing third on "Rolling Stone's" most annoying songs list also didn't help.

"Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye" by Steam - This is possibly the best closing song for rivalry games. There's no better way to send off an opponent than with a taunting sing-along. It doesn't get anyone pumped up, though.

"Eye of the Tiger" by Survivor - It's more corny than anything, but still has its place in the echelon of sports music thanks to a certain theatrical boxer.

10. "Whoomp! (There it is)" by Tag Team - A huge hit in the 1990's, Tag Team made up a word that stuck with listeners. It's a great song to get the crowd off their feet after an important score.

9. "Time to Go" by Dropkick Murphys - Although written specifically for the Boston Bruins, it is one of the great hype-up hockey songs. There are few better songs to play before the referee heads to mid-ice to drop the puck.

8. "Blitzkrieg Bop" by The Ramones - Another great opening songs for before kick-off, tip-off, face-off, or whatever the preferred method of game starting is used. The repeating "Hey, ho, lets go" will get any stadium jumping and singing along.

7. "Jump Around" by House of Pain - If there is any doubt as to whether this should be on a Best Sports Songs list, go to a Wisconsin Badgers football game and watch what happens before the fourth quarter.

6. "Remember the Name" by Fort Minor - Another song made popular during the NBA playoffs, Fort Minor's 2005 hit has found its way into most venues. Its staying power is in the chorus, which has universal appeal.

5. "ESPN National Hockey Night" - One of the quintessential themes for hockey events thanks to the ESPN television broadcast, the "Hockey Night" theme manages to capture the essence of hockey through the sounds of this instrumental.

4. "YMCA" by The Village People - As strange as it is that a disco song from one of the most recognizably gay bands of all time is a hit at areas full of macho men (no pun intended), this song almost always gets a crowd moving.

3. "Lets Get it Started" by The Black Eyed Peas - After debuting in the sports world on NBA Playoff commercials, this song has become a staple at almost every arena. It is one of the best pre-game songs based solely on lyrical content, which is something that will usually not be discussed on a sports song list.

2. "We Will Rock You/We are the Champions" by Queen - The classic combination of songs from the British rock band is in constant rotation at every sporting event. "We Will Rock You" is the standard for getting audience participation with the stomp-stomp-clap beat, while "We are the Champions" is one of the ultimate end-of-game songs.

1. "Rock and Roll Part Two" by Gary Glitter - The song came out in the 1970's, but it still has its place at sporting events to this day. It is primarily heard at football games but receives audience participation with every play. Its simple, and it still works.