Fans of letteddywin.com know that I promote Teddy’s quest to win the presidents race because it is inarguably the first fan tradition that Washington Nationals fans can truly call their own.
With the opening of our new Nationals Park this month, many of us have been screaming that the team needs to create more DC traditions, and stop borrowing from other clubs as the team so brazenly did at RFK stadium with chants of Jose, Jose, Jose, Jose and singing of Sweet Caroline.
Well, the Nationals have been listening! Today you can visit the Washington Nationals web site and vote for new songs to be played at Nationals Park.
The choices are varied, which is good. The problem is that the team doesn’t provide music samples for people who aren’t familiar with the choices. So without further adieu, I present your choices for songs, complete with links to sample audio. Sample below, then vote here.
When a Nationals Player Hits a Home Run
Because We Can by Fatboy Slim
Bustin’ Loose by Chuck Brown (go 30 seconds in)
Kernkraft 400 by Zombie Nation (not the best sample)
Off We Go (the Air Force Theme)
Song 2 by Blur (go 15 seconds in)
My vote goes to Because We Can, because I’m a firm believer in the capacity of stadium music to help energize a crowd and swing the momentum in a game. The home run song should be high-energy stuff.
During the 7th Inning Stretch
Build Me Up Buttercup by The Foundations
The Gambler by Kenny Rogers
Rock Me Gently by Andy Kim
September by Earth, Wind & Fire
Shout by Otis Day and the Knights
Twist and Shout by The Beatles
YMCA by The Village People
You Gotta Have Heart Damn Yankees, The Musical
This one is a no-brainer. It has to be You Gotta Have Heart. The song is sappy and sentimental, but it is about baseball and more importantly it uniquely belongs to Washington, DC. In time, when the fans have learned all the lyrics and are selling the place out for a winning team, this song will shake Nationals Park to its core at every 7th inning stretch.
When the Nationals Win The Game
Beautiful Day by U2
Celebration by Kool And The Gang
Dancing in the Streets by Martha Reeves and the Vandelas
How Do You Like Me Now by Toby Keith
Rock and Roll Part 2 by Gary Glitter
I don’t really like any of these choices. Three of them are too slow, and the other two (Celebration and Rock and Roll Part 2) are huge sports cliches at this point. Unfortunately I have to say I think I’d take a cliche over a bad song. Happy voting!
LET TEDDY WIN 
Awesome post. Thanks for providing the clips – that really helps. Since it’s possible I’ll even hear the singing from my balcony, I better go vote for a song I like 🙂
I recommended a bunch of Foo Fighters songs because 1) Dave Grohl is a NoVA/DC area native and 2) they ROCK! I hope they actually read the comments/suggestions.