With the baseball season beginning last week, it has already been a dismal season for me and many of my readers. I am a Red Sox fan so the 0-3 start has brought out my “sky is falling” nature. Statistically, New York City contains the most readers of Surviving the Golden Age. The Yankees also started 0-3 with a painful sweep at the hands of their divisional foes, the Tampa Bay Rays. My Mets fan readers are probably slightly happier with their 3-0 start but they must remember, they are still the Mets.
On today’s #TuesdayTop10 we look at the best baseball fight songs.

10. Dropkick Murphys “Tessie”
For such a high profile team, the Red Sox really do not have a great fight song. The original “Tessie” was from the 1902 Broadway musical The Silver Slipper. The newer song Dropkick Murphys‘ version recounts how the singing of the original “Tessie” by the Royal Rooters fan club helped the Boston Americans win the first World Series in 1903. I, unlike most Red Sox fans, do not really like the song and much more prefer The Standells‘ “Dirty Water.”
MP3: Dropkick Murphys “Tessie”

09. The Baseball Project “Giants Win The Pennant”
Featuring Peter Buck, Scott McCaughey, Steve Wynn and Linda Pitmon, the baseball-themed rock supergroup, The Baseball Project released “Giants Win the Pennant” in 2010 as part of an ESPN.com series. Coincidentally the song was recorded after the Giants won the pennant, little did the band know that the Giants would go on to win the World Series.
MP3: The Baseball Project “Giants Win The Pennant”

08. Captain Stubby and the Buccaneers “Let’s Go, Go-Go White Sox!”
Recorded in 1959, “Let’s Go, Go-Go White Sox!” sounds like it is from the 50s. With its marching band pathos and antiquated phrasings like “middle west,” the song is as cheesy as humanly possible. No wonder the track is rarely heard in U.S. Cellular Field.
MP3: Captain Stubby and the Buccaneers “Let’s Go, Go-Go White Sox!”

07. “We Are The Marlins!”
The Miami Marlins are new as of this year, so why a theme song was created for them that sounds straight out of the Little Mermaid is beyond me. There has been a whole bunch written online about this track and how it is not official but that does not change the fact that someone wrote it.

06. “Brewer Fever”
Written in 1980, “Brewer Fever” has a leg up over many other fight songs. Because it is more modern, it features a super hip disco beat along with Disney sing-along-style group vocals. Also unlike many fight songs it is surprisingly long…like unnecessarily long. See if you can make it through the whole thing. I couldn’t.
MP3: “Brewer Fever”

05. Ozomatli “Can’t Stop the Blue”
I like it when real bands create fight songs for teams but Ozomatli really did not do the Dodgers any favors with “Can’t Stop the Blue.” From the laughable video to the Wild Cherry-esque song itself, I am not sure who this song really pumps up. I do not think Matt Kemp has this on his iPod and he jams to it while on the treadmill.

04. Vega Heartbreak “Go Cards (The Rally Song)”
A St. Louis rapper not named Nelly released a Cardinal themed track. Vega Heartbreak‘s “Go Cardinals” track is actually not bad as far as “unofficial theme songs” go. Of course the track references Albert Pujols which makes it pretty null and void at this point. Also, the track seems to borrow a little bit from Vanilla Ice‘s “Ninja Rap.”

03. Reel Big Fish “Trendy”
While not officially a fight song, Reel Big Fish‘ “Trendy” became synonymous with the Florida Marlins starting in 1997. To be more specific, the intro of “everybody’s doin the fish” became synonymous with the Marlins. I doubt the rest of the track ever echoed through Sun Life Stadium.
MP3: Reel Big Fish “Trendy”

02. “Meet the Mets”
The Mets became a team in 1962. To celebrate their inaugural season, Ruth Roberts and Bill Katz wrote “Meet the Mets.” The track has had updates (most notably in the 80s) but the original is still the best. With the manic banjo and accent horns, the song is the essential old-timey baseball anthem.
MP3: “Meet the Mets”

01. Frank Sinatra “New York, New York”
Did you know that the official fight song of the New York Yankees is “Here Come the Yankees”? You are not the only one to have no idea. The song most closely associated with the Yankees is, by far, Frank Sinatra‘s “New York, New York” which is played in the stadium after home games. There was clamoring after 2009 to have Jay-Z‘s “Empire State of Mind” replace “New York, New York” but let’s be honest, Jigga ain’t no Ol’ Blue Eyes.
MP3: Frank Sinatra “New York, New York”

There are three primaries going on today: Washington DC, Maryland, and Wisconsin. Wisconsin holds the most weight with its 42 delegates. Instead of getting too overly political with this primary, I want to look at the rich history of Wisconsin, the non-cheese and non-beer kind of history by looking at the top ten musics of the Badger State.

10. Les Paul
Lester William Polsfuss, aka Les Paul, is the only man on this countdown to be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. As a matter of fact, Paul is one of a handful of artists with a permanent, stand-alone exhibit in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The truth is, his gifts to music have to do a lot more with his hardware (the Fender Les Paul) than with any music he put out. But even if you do not know any songs Paul released, it does not mean that he’s not worthy of making the countdown.

09. Gerald Walker
Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin’s Gerald Walker has been making a name in the hip hop world for the last half-decade releasing songs with extremely long titles like “Christmas Isn’t Just a Day, you know, It’s a Frame of Mind” and “Speak Not of My Debts Unless You Mean To Pay Them.” The latter of which he explains his asthetic pretty well referencing his “long titles” and “references” which many do not get.

08. Coo Coo Cal
I was first introduced to Coo Coo Cal in lyrics from Young Jeezy‘s “My Hood” where he raps: “fuckin wit dem hoes like coo-coo cal/Lord I wish mad Lou could see me now.” But Coo Coo Cal made a name for himself with his 2001 single “My Projects,” which hit #1 on the Hot Rap Singles.
MP3: Coo Coo Cal “My Projects”

07. BoDeans
Growing up in the 90s, I always felt like the BoDeans were kind of hokey but they are still relevant today. Their track “Closer to Free” is still used widely in commercials even though it is now 15 years old.
MP3: BoDeans “Closer to Free”

06. Boris the Sprinkler
There were very few modern punk bands I loved in high school more than Boris the Sprinkler. Their combination of Ramones-influenced punk and goofy comic book influenced lyrics spoke to me. Add lead-singer Rev. Norb’s kitschy costumes which famously included dressing up like Wolverine, an M&M, but usually adorning neon spandex, it was enough to capture any awkward teenager’s heart.
MP3: Boris the Sprinkler “UFO”

05. Big Big Furnace
In the early 2000, I was running a print fanzine and was serviced by a record label called Crustacean Records. The label sent me an album called Soundtrack to a Midwest Winter from a band called Big, Big Furnace and it essentially became the soundtrack to my senior year of high school. The album mixed emo pathos with a sharp sense of irony and insouciance that made it listenable without being overly sappy. I revisit the album occasionally and it holds up with time.
MP3: Big, Big Furnace “Cheer Up Emo Boy”

04. The Promise Ring
While so many people are amped for the At The Drive-In reunion and the Refused reunion, I am most interested in the Promise Ring reunion. Very Emergency was one of the first album’s to bridge the gap between “emo” and pop. Bands like Taking Back Sunday and Brand New owe a debt of gratitude to The Promise Ring.
MP3: The Promise Ring “The Deep South”

03. Bon Iver
Most of my readers know that I am not enthralled with Bon Iver like white butler but you can not ignore the way the falsetto of Justin Vernon has put Eau Claire on the map. This year he won the Grammy for Best Alternative Album for beating out favorites like Radiohead, Death Cab for Cutie, and My Morning Jacket. If you can’t respect that then your whole perspective is wack.
MP3: Bon Iver “Holocene”

02. Garbage
In the mid to late-90s, there were not many front-women more sexy than Garbage‘s Shirley Manson. With her red hair and Scottish accent, it may come as some surprise that the band calls Madison their home base. A few years ago putting Garbage on this countdown might have seemed passe, but the group is reformed and preparing to release their new album, Not Your Kind of People in May. Garbage is relevant again!
MP3: Garbage “Blood for Poppies”

01. Violent Femmes
In the 80s, not many bands were as forward thinking as the Violent Femmes. Mixing teenage wanting with folk pathos, Gordon Gano and company made a lasting legacy that was truly ahead of its time. “Blister in the Sun” is still widely used in commercials but their entire catalog really packs a punch. If you are not familiar, do yourself a favor and check it out.
MP3: Violent Femmes “Blister in the Sun”

March 31st will mark the end of the first quarter of 2012. It is hard to believe 2012 is already 25% finished. The first quarter is notorious for being a slow quarter but we have actually had some solid singles already this year.

10. Club Des Belugas “Save a Little Love For Me”
Regardless of the list, the last item is always the editor’s sleeper pick. It is no different with this list. German nu-jazz project, Club Des Belugas released their third album, Forward in March. The album’s lead single is “Save a Little Love For Me,” an enchanting mix of Latin piano, hip hop beats, and Lily Allen-esque vocals.
MP3: Club Des Belugas “Save a Little Love For Me”

09. Usher “Climax”
Usher‘s Diplo written single, “Climax” seemingly takes a lesson from Frank Ocean‘s “Novacane.” With a similar feeling of space, the track is a lush, falcetto-filled slow jam.

08. Sleeper Agent “Get Burned”
I have had a little love affair going with Sleeper Agent so far this year. After missing their debut album upon its release last year, I have been trying to make up for it with covering the crap out of the band this year. The latest single from Celabrasion is “Get Burned,” an uptempo jaunt that features the band’s patented dueling male/female vocals dynamic.

07. C2C “Down the Road”
While looking at Spotify’s top tracks in France, I discovered C2C’s “Down the Road.” In France, turntablism is a little more mainstream than in America and C2C is one of the best DJ crews around. After winning the Disco Mix Club World Team DJ Championship four years in a row, the group just released their debut single “Down the Road” a mix of dance beats, blues samples, and more cuts than an episode of Nip/Tuck.

06. Sleigh Bells “Comeback Kid”
Sleigh Bells’ highly anticipated sophomore album, Reign of Terror, was released in February to much acclaim. The album’s lead single, “Comeback Kid” exemplifies what made the album a success: heavy riffs, alternately screamed/sung vocals, and loud distorted beats. But what separates this albums from its predecessor is the pop song structures that give the album a more mainstream appeal.

05. The Magnetic Fields “Andrew In Drag”
The Magnetic Fields‘ Stephin Merritt has always managed to combine great pop song writing with tongue-in-cheek lyrics without sounding cheesy. The lead single from Love at the Bottom of the Sea is no different. “Andrew in Drag” mixes traditionally taboo subjects like homosexuality and cross-dressing into a humorous tale that I defy you not to get stuck in your head.

04. fun. “Some Nights”
Of the first quarter, no record review has gotten more views on Surviving the Golden Age than my review of fun.‘s Some Nights. I pretend that it has something to do with my in depth analysis that really draw readers in but it is probably more about the attached mp3 of the album’s second single, “Some Nights.” The Queen-esque harmonies with indie pop songwriting makes for a blogosphere hit.

03. Lana Del Rey “Blue Jeans”
I have not listened to one album more than I have listened to Lana Del Rey‘s Born to Die. The album’s second single is “Blue Jeans.” While it is not my favorite track on the album, it is perhaps the song that exemplifies what makes the album special. On the track Del Rey mixes traditionally Americana images with her modern hip hop swagger all over lush production.
MP3: Lana Del Rey “Blue Jeans”

02. Schoolboy Q featuring A$AP Rocky “Hands on the Wheel”
Sometimes people think when I do not review an album it means that I “missed it.” That is generally not true. Schoolboy Q‘s album did not get promoted to me so I did not feature it on Surviving the Golden Age but it does not mean I did not enjoy it. My favorite track is the lead single “Hands on the Wheel” featuring last year’s breakout underground hip hop star, A$AP Rocky. The production on the track sounds a lot like something that might be heard on Lana Del Rey’s album but the lyrics are not. My favorite line is “I can’t stand myself/I love drunk driving/I’m somethin else.” It makes me laugh every time.

01. The Shins “Simple Song”
When the Shins on Saturday Night Live reminded me that I kind of like the Shins. So leading up to the release of Port of Morrow, I listened to their discography and it was a lot better than I remembered. Needless to say, I really enjoyed their new album and loved its lead single “Simple Song.” What always stands out to me is James Mercer’s incredible falsetto but often overlooked is his lyrics. There is something cool about lines like “You sure must be strong when you feel like an ocean being warmed by the sun.”

So last week we explored the NCAA tournament through songs with “madness” in the title. This week, we look back at opening weekend of the tournament (and my busted brackets) through songs with “March” in the title. If you want to check out my brackets, I included a screen shot of them above.

10. Timbaland featuring OneRepublic “Marching On (Timbo Version)”
Norfolk, Virginia native, Timbaland had to pleased with his hometown team, Norfolk State’s opening round upset of Missouri. Even though I had Missouri winning a few games in the tournament, I quickly became a Spartan fan and like most things I am a fan of, NSU lost quickly the next round to Florida. It is okay because I have Marquette emerging out of this region anyway.
MP3: Timbaland “Marching On (Timbo Version)”

09. Good Charlotte “March On”
When doing research for this piece, I was surprised to read that Good Charlotte originates from Maryland; I always assumed they were from California. Being from Maryland, I assume they were repping hard for the only team from their state to make the tournament: Loyola (MD). Unfortunately, Loyola seemed to be the only 15 seed not to win on opening weekend with their loss to Ohio State.
MP3: Good Charlotte “March On”

08. Immortal Technique “Death March”
I can not imagine New York rapper, Immortal Technique is pleased with this march. The tournament truly was a “death march” for teams from New York. The empire state put four teams in the tournament and only one of them survived (Syracuse). Iona, Long Island, and St. Bonaventure all fell in the first round.
MP3: Immortal Technique “Death March”

07. Aloha “Moonless March”
Aloha is an odd project because their members are sprawled out amongst the eastern half of the country but they were started when two of their members lived in Pennsylvania. The Keystone State only put two teams into the tournament: Temple and Lehigh. Temple was the underachiever losing to 12 seed South Florida while Lehigh severely overachieved taking out two-seed Duke in the first round. Unfortunately with Lehigh losing in the round of 32 to Xavier means that Pennsylvania is no longer represented in the big dance.
MP3: Aloha “Moonless March”

06. Archers of Loaf “Underachievers March and Fight Song”
Is there less of an appropriate song title for a band from North Carolina than Archers of Loaf’s “Underachievers March and Fight Song”? North Carolina was the most well represented state in the tournament with five teams: Davidson, Duke, North Carolina, NC State, and UNC Asheville. While “underachievers” might describe Duke who lost to 15 seed Lehigh, UNC-Asheville bravely fought against Syracuse and ultimately were hosed by the ref. UNC and North Carolina St. still represent the state in the round of 16. Congrats to the Old North State.
MP3: Archers of Loaf “Underachievers March and Fight Song”

05. Hi-Tek featuring Busta Rhymes “March”
Cincinnati’s Hi-Tek had to be pretty satisfied with his team’s showing in the tournament. They took care of Texas and Florida State. I, of course, had Florida State in the finals so congratulation Cincy, you single-handedly busted my brackets. I hate you.
MP3: Hi-Tek featuring Busta Rhymes “March”

04. The Mountain Goats “Alpha Desperation March”
Although main member, John Darnielle lived many places in his life, The Mountain Goats are generally considered to be from California. It must have been a sad weekend for Darnielle considering California put four teams into the tournament and none of them lived to see the round of 32. California did not even live to see the round of 64, losing their opening game to South Florida. I feel Darnielle’s pain though, I had Long Beach State, Saint Mary’s, and San Diego State all winning their opening round games. I was sadly mistaken.
MP3: The Mountain Goats “Alpha Desperation March”

03. John Williams “The Imperial March”
Although John Williams was born and raised in New York, I most closely associate him with Boston having served as conductor of the Boston Pops since 1980. “The Imperial March” would have been a fairly appropriate selection for Harvard. Having made their first ever NCAA tournament, the Crimson were quickly ushered out of the tournament by Vanderbilt. Fortunately for me, I predicted that loss even though I would have liked to rep for my Ivy League friends.

02. Death Cab For Cutie “Marching Bands Of Manhattan”
Death Cab for Cutie frontman, Bin Gibbard‘s alma mater of Western Washington University did not make the tournament this year. As a matter of fact, the only team from Washington state to make the tournament was Gonzaga who was easily handled Ohio State in the round of 32. Sorry Ben Gibbard, it seems like you are singing sad songs for this March madness.
MP3: Death Cab For Cutie “Marching Bands Of Manhattan”

01. Nine Inch Nails “March of the Pigs”
I severely doubt Cleveland, OH native, Trent Reznor watches college basketball but if he did, he would have to be pretty pleased with Ohio’s teams showing in the tourney. Underdogs, Ohio launched a big first round upset over Michigan and launched into the sweet 16 taking out South Florida. Meanwhile their brethren, Ohio St. waltzed into the sweet 16 with wins over Loyola and Gonzaga. In my brackets, I have them losing to Florida State but judging from my record, that does not mean much.
MP3: Nine Inch Nails “March of the Pigs”