At the final Northeast Conference tournament of the season on Saturday, I saw a lot of people listening to music between games, and a lot listening to music DURING games. Me, I could never listen to music during games, since I’d be distracted and would throw worse than usual ::insert joke about how I couldn’t possibly throw worse than usual here::. It seems to work for many players, though; Alex Boulay won two tournaments and Mike Ferreira won Advanced Doubles (with young Boulay) while both rocking headphones.
However, most, if not all of us, listen to something pretournament to get us psyched up. Here’s 12 songs I listen to when I need to get amped up for cornhole or anything else for that matter, in no particular order.
Links go to YouTube videos
This is going to be the first of two entries for the Danish rockers. I like shorter, hard hitting song that are chaotic and sound like they’re about to go out of control. Nuclear War fits the bill, and when you hear the final BOOM you know shizz is ON.
#2 Motionless In White – Unstoppable
A little harder here, more metal. MiW, out of Pennsylvania, convey a message that is hard to beat. To wit:
I will justify this pain
I will live another day
I will fight to earn my place
I will be unstoppable
Perfect. The chorus beat is amazing, and I will, in fact, be unstoppable.
The first real mainstreamish band on this list, SOAD pulls from their horrid experiences in war-torn Armenia to come up with some heavy but impactful songs. I really, really wanted to go with Chop Suey here, but Aerials won out since it’s a more positive song, though Chop Suey is harder and more dramatic.
#4 System Of A Down – Chop Suey
To hell with it, it’s my list. It builds to a crescendo that is crucial for hype up songs.
#5 Evanescence – Bring Me To Life
Bring me to life, indeed. Slower and more melodic than the previous entries, This one is in a pounding beat and some inspiring lyrics.
Now that I know what I’m without
You can’t just leave me
Breathe into me and make me real
Bring me to life
This is something I should be telling those who have the privilege of being my partner. By the way, you could have given me 5000 guesses and I never would have said that Evanescence was formed in ARKANSAS. That legit clustered me.
One of my favorite bands of all time, one of the most iconic opening guitar riffs of the past 25 years, and a hard charging song with just a enough of a breather to build to the end? Hell yeah. England’s greatest contribution to cornhole.
I told you we’d see these guys again. This is lyrically less aggressive than Nuclear War, but this is a high energy three minutes. I’ve seen New Politics live multiple times, and the lead singer was clearly on coke mixed with speed every single time. Also, at the Paradise last year they ended their set with this one and the singer dove off the balcony to start the song. Awesome stuff.
#8 AC/DC – For Those About To Rock
If it didn’t take 3 1/2 minutes to get to the real ROCKIN’ part. Alas.
This is rap and not rock, but come on. Definitely the best song from one of the most interesting figures in the game, and it’s actually something good Detroit has given us in the past 20 years.
Christian Rock? Sure is. But, it’s inspiring and pretty damn chaotic for what’s purportedly a religious tune. Unlike Evanescence being from ARKANSAS (that one still rocks me), Skillet being from Memphis doesn’t even faze me.
Yes, it’s a wrestling entrance theme. No, I don’t care if you like it. I even linked to Edge’s video just to troll y’all. And yes, I realize this is Creed with a different lead singer, but isn’t removing Scott Stapp a major addition by subtraction? Anyways, it’s great. Piss off.
#11 Metallica – Wherever I May Roam
I know this is a longer tune, and those usually don’t have the impact of shorter, usually more intense songs. But…it’s goddamn Metallica! They keep up the intensity for six minutes, and for my money this is the best song of theirs, though I will hear arguments for One.
#12 The Animals – House Of The Rising Sun
Sure, this doesn’t fit the feel and vibe of the rest of the list, but this may be one of the best songs of all time and certainly one of my favorites. Everyone’s got that oddball song that just speaks to them and this is it for me. I lied earlier, THIS is England’s greatest contribution to cornhole. Long live Eric Burdon,
So there you go, a dozen songs to get you pumped up. Got songs of your own? Send a list to emartin@wccornhole.com and I’ll post an update with some of your favorites. I’ll now sit back and await a list heavy on Slipknot and Slayer from Chris Tornatola.
