What’s your walk-up song? Famous Philadelphians share their hypothetical baseball intro music.
“If you were stepping to the plate for the Phillies, what song would they play?” That’s what we asked dozens of notable locals.
Everyone has one. Most people can tell you theirs without thinking. And even if you don’t know what yours is, it’s out there somewhere, waiting for you.
We’re talking about walk-up music — you know, the 10-to-15 seconds of a song that serves as an introduction for a baseball player walking up to bat. And there’s an art to picking the perfect one.
First, the song must put you, the batter, in the zone. Second, the song should fire up the home crowd, like when Phillies’ second baseman Bryson Stott steps up to Tai Verdes’ “A-O-K.” And finally, if at all possible, it should strike fear into your opponent.
» READ MORE: Quiz: Can you guess what these famous Philadelphians picked as their walk-up song?
Accomplish one of the three, and you’re off to a good start. Cross off two, and you’ve got a winner.
Nail all three? Then you’re Chase Utley walking up to Led Zeppelin’s “Kashmir.”
But what would your walk-up song be? What about notable and well-known Philadelphians from various walks of life?
» READ MORE: A Phillies walk-up song playlist for Red October
We asked dozens of famous Philadelphians, from first lady Jill Biden to Eagles defensive end Brandon Graham to Philly icon Jim Gardner. At the bottom we’ve included a Spotify playlist so you can listen to all the selections. And, of course, we want you to leave your personal walk-up song in the comments.
But first, if you think you know what songs those on our list would select, try taking our walk-up song quiz. Otherwise, scroll down to find out for yourself.
Politicians
First lady Jill Biden: “I’m Good (Blue)” by Bebe Rexha and David Guetta
Gov. Josh Shapiro: “The Fighter” by Gym Class Heroes
U.S. Sen. Bob Casey: “We Take Care of our Own” by Bruce Springsteen
State Sen. Vincent Hughes: “Mama Said Knock You Out” by LL Cool J
David Oh, Republican nominee for mayor: “TNT” by AC/DC
Cherelle Parker, Democratic nominee for mayor: “Girl on Fire” by Alicia Keys
Atlantic City Mayor Marty Small Sr.: “The Champ is Here” by Jadakiss
TV and radio
Jim Gardner, former Action News anchor: “Good Day Sunshine” by The Beatles
Marc Summers, host of TV’s Unwrapped and Double Dare: “Don’t Stop Me Now” by Queen
Bob Kelly, Fox 29 Good Day Philadelphia traffic reporter: “Double Dutch Bus” by Frankie Smith
Preston Elliot, Preston and Steve: “Tom Sawyer” by Rush
“One of my all time favorite bands and you just can’t deny that opening note for instant power! Plus, most people know the words to that opening line so maybe a little sing-a-long from the crowd too.”
Steve Morrison, Preston and Steve: “Run Like Hell” by Pink Floyd
Casey Foster, Preston and Steve: “Divided Sky” by Phish
Nick McIlwain, Preston and Steve: “Leash” by Pearl Jam
Marisa Magnatta, Preston and Steve: “Superman” by Goldfinger
“Everyone who has ever played ‘Tony Hawk Pro Skater’ will sing along.”
Patty Jackson, DJ at WDAS-FM: “Partition” by Beyoncé
Radio Sara, DJ at WMMR: “Raining Blood” by Slayer
David Dye, host of “Dave’s World” on WXPN: “The Promised Land” by Bruce Springsteen
Athletes
Gritty: “Danger Zone” by Kenny Loggins
“Allow me to paint a picture for you. ‘Danger Zone’ by Kenny Loggins starts playing through the speakers, fog machines start to fill up dugout entrance to the field. We see two people in orange vests down on one knee pointing at the batters box with their signal lamps. Emerging through the fog, I walk out to a standing ovation wearing a flight jacket and aviator sunglasses. I throw my bat in the air, spin out of my jacket and catch the bat above my head. I walk to the batters box, take my sunglasses off and hang them off the front of my jersey. I’ll put them back on as I’m running the bases after I take their pitcher 450 [feet] to dead center.”
Eagles defensive end Brandon Graham: “All the Way Up” by Fat Joe and Remy Ma
“Mannnn, that [bleep] would get me so hype walking up to the plate. The fans would be so hype and sing along like (Bryson Stott’s) ‘A-O-K.’”
Eagles kicker Jake Elliott: “Magic Stick” by Lil Kim (feat. 50 Cent)
Eagles cornerback Darius Slay: “SkeeYee” by Sexyy Red
“Really it’d be ... I don’t like the song. Like, I like the song. It got a good catch to it. But I think the crowd would love it. Sexyy Red, ‘SkeeYee.’ That’d be a good song to come out to, just playing, ‘Skee yee!’ and I’m gonna come up and I hit the ball, and ‘Skee yee!’ and I hit that home run, now the crowd say, ‘Skee yee!’ is crazy. They would go crazy if I do that.”
Carter Hart, Flyers goaltender: “The Mockingbird and the Crow” by Hardy
Sean Couturier, Flyers center: “Whoomp! (There it Is)” by Tag Team
Chefs and restaurateurs
Stephen Starr, restaurateur (Parc, Barclay Prime): “Iron Man” by Black Sabbath
Michael Solomonov, chef (Zahav, Laser Wolf): “Ante Up” by M.O.P. and Funkmaster Flex.
Marc Vetri, restaurateur (Vetri Cucina, Fiorella Pasta): “The Lemon Song” by Led Zeppelin
Jeff Benjamin, cofounder of Vetri Cucina: “Live Like You Were Dying” by Tim McGraw
Amanda Shulman, chef (Her Place Supper Club, My Loup): “Spice Up Your Life” by The Spice Girls
Kala and Maya Johnstone, owners of Foodchasers’ Kitchen: “Get Up Everybody (Get Up)” by Salt-N-Pepa
“No, that has nothing to do with them coming to our restaurant on our birthday.”
Lê, owner of Hop Sing Laundromat cocktail bar: “Wild Thing” by The Troggs
Ellen Yin, restaurateur (Fork, High Street, a.kitchen): “I’m Coming Out” by Diana Ross
Chad Williams, restaurateur (Friday Saturday Sunday): “King Kong” by Lil Wayne
Top Chef alumna Jennifer Carroll: “Home” by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros
Musicians
Sam Gellerstein, founder of brass band, Snacktime: “Gold Chain Punk” by Soul Glo
“There is no song that gets me more hype to throw weights around in the gym, so I feel like it’s gonna get me at least 50-60 home runs a year, for sure.”
David Uosikkinen, drummer, The Hooters: “Rumble” by Link Wray
Educators
Tony B. Watlington Sr., Philadelphia School District superintendent: “Dreams and Nightmares” by Meek Mill
Standout Philadelphia educator Joyce Abbott, the namesake of Abbott Elementary and Quinta Brunson’s former sixth-grade teacher: “Respect” by Aretha Franklin.
Richard M. Englert, president of Temple University: “T for Temple U”
“[Also] ‘Ain’t No Mountain High Enough’ by Marvin Gaye [and Tammi Terrell], which speaks to the perseverance of Temple students.”
De’Naiza Watson, student at Science Leadership Academy and Philadelphia School Board student representative: “Lover, You Should Have Come Over” by Jeff Buckley
Cavance Snaith, junior at Constitution High and Philadelphia School Board student representative: “Ride Wit Me” by Nelly
Dr. La’Quetta Small, superintendent of Atlantic City School District: “All the Way Up” by Fat Joe and Remy Ma
More Philadelphians
Samuel “Chip” Delany, Hugo and Nebula award-winning science fiction writer: “It’s a Big Wide Wonderful World” by Betty Carter
Derrick Pitts, chief astronomer at The Franklin Institute: “Bad to the Bone” by George Thorogood & the Destroyers
Ryan Boyer, business manager of the Philadelphia Building and Construction Trades Council: “Ain’t No Stopping Us Now” by McFadden and Whitehead
“It’s an uplifting Sound of Philadelphia classic.”
Danny Bauder, president of AFL-CIO Philadelphia Council: “Anna” by The Menzingers
“It’s upbeat, has a catchy chorus and is about a Philadelphia love story.”
Penn Medicine CEO Kevin Mahoney: “Zombie” by the Cranberries
Mark Clouse, president and CEO of Campbell Soup Company: “Lose Yourself” by Eminem
“Every day you get one shot to do something amazing and make an impact!”
Alexander Tominsky, Philly Chicken Man: “Breaking the Law” by Judas Priest
Emily Bloch, Chris Brennan, Kristen Graham, Abraham Gutman, Lynette Hazelton, Mike Klein, Lizzy McLellan Ravitch, Anna Orso, Ariana Perez-Castells, Olivia Reiner, Amy Rosenberg, Dan Rubin, Henry Savage, Susan Snyder, Julia Terruso, Josh Tolentino, and Sabrina Vourvoulias contributed to this story.