The 5 best stadium anthems of all time (in defense of Journe

[tater1977]

The 5 best stadium anthems of all time (in defense of Journey)

By Mike Vaccaro / January 7, 2017
http://nypost.com/2017/01/07/the-5-best ... f-journey/

So it seems there has been a bit of brouhaha about the inclusion of Journey in this year’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame class, which seems a little crazy to me.

But, then, I am much a child of the ’80s, especially musically, as you can be. I still remember when WAPP-FM (103.5 on your dial) went commercial-free for the entire summer of 1982 — 103 ½ straight days without one Crazy Eddie ad. My first slow dance was to “Open Arms.”

And you’re damned right I saw them rock out the Nassau Coliseum.

Now, has it ever been nearly as cool to list Journey as one of your favorites as, say, Pearl Jam, or U2, or Springsteen, or the Police or … well, just about anyone else on the radio? Probably not.

Though Journey’s ex-lead singer Steve Perry provided one of the coolest ballpark sights I ever have seen — totally and utterly rocking out, as a baseball fan, wearing Giants gear, to the song “Lights” at AT&T Park one night during the 2010 World Series, nearly causing a spontaneous combustion at the park — I suppose I can see why the dissenters dissent.

But if you’re a sports fan? Journey is part of your experience, and always will be, thanks to “Don’t Stop Believin’,” one of the most incessant ballpark and stadium anthems of all time. And hey, here at Open Mike, we always are willing to go Top 5 on you. So let’s go with One Man’s Top 5 Ballpark/Stadium Anthems. Your vote counts.

Let’s hear the alternatives.

1. “We Will Rock You/We Are the Champions,” Queen

You almost can see Freddie Mercury and Brian May lounging about one lazy Sunday in 1977 and saying to each other, “How about we try to write a couple of songs that will be played every single time a team wins a championship anywhere in the world?” It is almost hard to believe this wasn’t played after the Yankees won the 1923 World Series. Feels like it has been around that long.

2. “The Final Countdown,” Europe

Another song that sounds like it was custom-designed for those moments before the opening tip-off or the opening face-off, or in those ultra-tense moments before a championship prizefight starts. What makes this one unique is the fact most people just know it by the melody. If they know lyrics it is the three in the title, with an “it’s” preceding it.

3. “Don’t Stop Believin’,” Journey

Even the sports fans in Detroit love this song, even if they’ll all quickly point out there is no way the city boy could be born and raised in south Detroit because there is no south Detroit. And what’s not to love about it? Perfect as a rallying anthem if the home team is trailing during the seventh-inning stretch … or late in the fourth quarter … or late in the third period. And when the championship happens? Works then, too, because you not only didn’t stop believin’ but you held on to that feee-eeelin’, too.

4. “Welcome to the Jungle,” Guns N’ Roses

Well, the first line goes like this: “Welcome to the jungle, we got fun and games …” and the rest … well, isn’t much of a sports anthem. But it can sure get a crowd riled up in a way that only “The Final Countdown” really can.

5. (tie) “Blitzkrieg Bop,” the Ramones
“Rock and Roll (Part 2), Garry Glitter

The first one you can understand, because of the catchy guitar hook and the easy-to-follow lyrics, “Hey ho, let’s go! Hey ho, let’s go!” which makes it especially useful at hockey games. The second is harder to explain; college basketball pep bands started using it in the ’80s as a way of leading fans into shouting “We’re gonna beat the hell outta you!” during after the “Hey” chorus. Somehow, it’s stayed on the carts forever, not unlike “Dark Side of the Moon.”

[Journey/Survivor]

Eye Of The Tiger needs to be on that list!

[Jana]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uDkBzkA9L4s

[JourneyHard]

There are at least six AC/DC songs that need to be on that list.

[Journey2Infinity]

"Start Me Up" and "Crazy Train" are probably played more than all those except the first song.