The Proper Pre-Game Soundtrack

By Ken Dynamo
Posted Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Provided Tuesday night's messing of the bed hasn't left you disillusioned about the Mets' chances for a second-half comeback, the rest of this season should really be getting your blood pumping. Personally, nothing gets me more pumped up than the thought of getting pumped up. And to me, that's the best part of baseball, of any spectator sport. Hell, I'm getting pumped up just thinking about getting pumped up.

Right this second I'm killing time until the Mets second game of their three game series with the Phillies. John Maine takes on Brett "she fell down the stairs" Myers and its televised nationally on ESPN. For an out of market fan, this is a big deal. Sufficed to say, I'm really pumped to start getting pumped.

So before I crack this tall frosty cold one, let's discuss the proper way to get pumped up. No, not that kind of pumped up (yes it's worth two links in two weeks.)

The best way to get pumped up - especially if you've cycled through the last of your steroids - is to rock out with some tunes. Now if we were already in football season, this would be easy. Crank up the Metallica, or the Tool, or Disturbed, whatever, and and start the pumpitude. But this isn't easy, this is baseball, an we're going to need a more nuanced approach.

Youtube's nigh endless selection of music videos is a real boon to those in wont of pump. No need to break the bank on iTunes, no need to commit thievery on some file sharing network, no more 30 second preview clips at Amazon; just search, click and enjoy. So let's do our best to run through the near infinite spectrum of music to ascertain the proper choice for our pre-game Mets pump up.

Let's start with tehcno. How about, Tech-no-thank you. It may work for Morpheus and his cave dwelling band of human rebels but techno is just a little too modern for the grand old pastime. Check back again in another hundred years.

So changing gears, what about Country Western? Beats me, what do I know about country western? I mean, maybe. I'm sure you'll get no complaints from the fans of the Savannah Sand Gnats, but since we're still talking about the New York Mets, I'm going to go ahead and rule this out.

Well then, how about... that song from that movie where the Japanese guy plays this cassette tap in the van when they're driving Viggo Mortenson around? Anyone? I think it was in the 1993 action spectacular American Yakuza. Seriously, anyone know what I'm talking about? Because I think that song would be perfect but I can't find it anywhere. I've literally looked EVERYWHERE on there Internet. OH INTERNET, WHY HAVE YOU FAILED ME???

All right, all right, back to our quest. So, rap, what about rap? It is a little more geographically appropriate than country western, but yet again, we're still not talking baseball music, specifically music to get one pumped up about baseball. It's just not pastoral enough. However if someone were to suggest fellow Queens native Nasir the Profit, I certainly wouldn't object.

Let's give rock a shot. How about the soundtrack to Transfomers, the animated movie? Hmm... while I'm sure all can agree that Stan Bush's You Got the Touch is a masterpiece (I'd even settle for Dirk Diggler's eloquent cover... Yeah!), I'm afraid even copious amounts of Kenny Loggins won't get this album a passing grades for our purposes.

All right... then how about... Nickelback? Haha, just kidding. This is NOT the National Hockey League, people.

We're getting closer, now, though. Classic rock seems like the logical progression, and I think we're on to something. Bachman Turner Overdrive's classically rockin' tune, Takin' Care of Business was (is?) the Mets' official celebratory victory song, so that's a good place to start. It's a little broad though. I'd like to narrow this down if we can.

OK then, here it is: Classic Prog Rock, specifically the 80's synthesizer era of Canadian rock Gods Rush? Oh yeah, that is what I'm talking about. Winner winner chicken dinner.

Nothing says 'lets get pumped for a baseball game' like Rush. Not too aggressive, not too limp. Neil Pert drives the tempo behind his elaborate drum kit while Alex Lifeson wails away on lead guitar. Geddy Lee holds down the bass line and belts out his signature piercing yet mellifluous vocals. This is perfect.

To get properly pumped, I suggest starting of with Subdivisions, gunning right into Big Money and then New World Man right after words before reaching your pumped up climax with Spirit of the Radio. Then as the game goes on, pump it up even more with everyone's favorite, Red Barchetta. Celebrate victory of the 2112 Overture.

Holy crap now I'm really pumped, what about you guys?

Ken Dynamo recently saw Rush live in concert, which you can read about with plenty of NSFW language on his blog, GO METS DIE BRAVES.