Forget Hillary-Obama. We have serious work to do. Voting for songs at the Nationals stadium ends Wednesday and you either pick the right one or endure six months of aggravation.
The Nats are choosing songs for home runs, seventh-inning stretch and victories. The beauty of baseball is the quiet moments between plays so I’m not one who likes every moment filledas part of the entertainment experience to justify high ticket prices. But, if they’re going to play songs, let’s pick the right ones. Vote for whomever you want for president, but follow my advice on the songs.
The home run song leaders on the Nats Web site are “Bustin’ Loose” by Chuck Brown, “Song 2 (Woo Hoo)” by Blur and “Off We Go” (Air Force theme) by Robert Crawford. OK, I’m a traditionalist so the Air Force song would be awesome in this city of military and government. Bustin Loose is nice, but it’s gimmicky and after hearing my daughter sing Song 2, I decided that’s just dumb. Remember this is the nation’s capital and vote for the Air Force anthem.
The seventh-inning stretch song is the most important choice because it’s the focus of a break. “Shout” by Otis Day and The Knights and “Twist and Shout” by The Beatles are very close in voting with “Build Me Up Buttercup” by The Foundations in third. Again, all three are gimmicky.
“You Gotta Have Heart,” from the musical Damn Yankees, is in fourth place. Please, this is the greatest song about Washington baseball ever. Maybe the best about Washington itself. Vote for this song early and often. Joe Hardy needs you.
The postgame victory song is between “Beautiful Day” by U2 and “Celebration” by Kool And The Gang. No traditional song to vote for here and “Battle Hymn of the Republic” would be a little over the top. I’m a U2 groupie so it’s an easy choice for me. “Beautiful Day” is a worthy song. Celebration is a wedding reception staple nowadays.
Thank goodness “Sweet Caroline” is gone. Great song, but it was the Red Sox anthem. The Nats marketing staff is finally learning to create, not imitate. Now if they just take the shackles off Teddy Roosevelt in the Presidents Race, things will be good.
We’re only five days away from the exhibition, six until season opener. Driving by the stadium lately, you see lots of workers and lots of work remaining. It’s going to be real interesting come the weekend. Traffic will be crazy. The metro will be stressed. (Nats officials made a public show of taking the metro from Chinatown to the Navy Yard on a weekday afternoon. Nice sterile environment there.)
Maybe they should play “It’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood” by Mr. Rogers as you pass the gates. Finally, Washington baseball fans are about to enter the promised land.
By the way, whatever happened to naming the stadium?
Rick Snider has covered local sports since 1978. Contact him at [email protected].
