# Music That Pumps you Up **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 4, 2003, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-that-pumps-you-up/159006 "2003-03-04T15:30:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![stolichnaya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bcef8e/32.png) [@stolichnaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stolichnaya)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2003, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-that-pumps-you-up/159006/1 "2003-03-04T15:30:23Z")
I’m brainstorming for an intro song to play for a performance group I’m in. It’s comedy (theoretically) and I’d like to spin something high energy, but not necessarily top 40. What sections of what songs get you excited? Links to previous threads would be welcome. ---
**Author:** ![Siemsi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b19c9b/32.png) [@Siemsi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siemsi)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2003, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-that-pumps-you-up/159006/2 "2003-03-04T15:35:08Z")
Kid Rock does it for me. \*Forever off of the album Cocky \*Bawittaba (sp?) from Devil Without A Cause ---
**Author:** ![Wintermute](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e19b73/32.png) [@Wintermute](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wintermute)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2003, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-that-pumps-you-up/159006/3 "2003-03-04T15:46:11Z")
Not sure what your performance is, or what age group you’re aiming for, but I find a good Boogie Woogie beat or Irish jig gets my feet tapping. Of course, Tool gets me going as well, but is far more likely to offend. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![stolichnaya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bcef8e/32.png) [@stolichnaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stolichnaya)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2003, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-that-pumps-you-up/159006/4 "2003-03-04T15:48:34Z")
Good point. Mostly twentysomethings, but I’ll field any suggestions. To put it in context, Tool would be unlikely to offend. ---
**Author:** ![skaterboarder87](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@skaterboarder87](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/skaterboarder87)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2003, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-that-pumps-you-up/159006/5 "2003-03-04T15:49:07Z")
Yeah, I was going to say One Little Victory by Rush, but that might come at the expense of my life 😉 ---
**Author:** ![fizgig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f04885/32.png) [@fizgig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fizgig)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2003, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-that-pumps-you-up/159006/6 "2003-03-04T16:03:37Z")
My Way by Butch Walker is a great arena-rock type song. Get Over It by OK Go Cherry Lips by Garbage I’ll look through my collection and come back to this later, maybe. ---
**Author:** ![Enginerd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bcef8e/32.png) [@Enginerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enginerd)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2003, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-that-pumps-you-up/159006/7 "2003-03-04T18:18:07Z")
_Sound System_ by **Operation Ivy** always worked for me. ---
**Author:** ![Eternal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ecb155/32.png) [@Eternal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eternal)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2003, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-that-pumps-you-up/159006/8 "2003-03-04T18:48:28Z")
The first things that come to my mind: _Ride of the Valkyries_, natch _Song 2_ by **Blur** , has the added advantage of being short **Slipknot** has a few on their first albums that will pump up the kids, but I can’t remember their names **Stone Temple Pilots** ’s _Sex Type Thing_ ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2003, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-that-pumps-you-up/159006/9 "2003-03-04T19:00:13Z")
Well if you’d like a few oldies, I can recommend … Rosalita by Springsteen Panama, Van Halen Rock the Casbah by the Clash Need You Tonight by INXS I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For, U2 (live version) How Will I Know? Whitney Houston (I swear) Dancing Queen, Abba Jump Jive and Wail, Brian Setzer Something from “Thriller” ---
**Author:** ![dragongirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b38774/32.png) [@dragongirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dragongirl)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2003, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-that-pumps-you-up/159006/10 "2003-03-04T19:14:37Z")
I’m embarrassed to admit, **WHAM!** gets me pumped up. ---
**Author:** ![SmackFu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/53a042/32.png) [@SmackFu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmackFu)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2003, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-that-pumps-you-up/159006/11 "2003-03-04T19:20:13Z")
Darude, “Sandstorm” ---
**Author:** ![B.Serum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/b.serum/32/14266_2.png) [@B.Serum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/B.Serum)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2003, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-that-pumps-you-up/159006/12 "2003-03-04T19:22:56Z")
Examples across several genres depending on your tastes. (Selections that I highly recommend regardless of taste are in bold.) Goody Two Shoes - Adam Ant Member of the Tribe - Adrian Belew Rag Doll - Aerosmith Sabre Dance - Aram Khachaturian **Strobelight - B-52’s** Walk Like an Egyptian - the Bangles Super Disco Breakin’ - Beastie Boys Everybody’s Got Something to Hide Except for Me and My Monkey - the Beatles Beercan - Beck Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy - Bette Midler Rush - Big Audio Dynamite You & Me & the Bottle Makes 3 Tonight (Baby) - Big Bad Voodoo Daddy Big Time Sensuality - Bjork Thick ‘n’ Thin - Black Crowes Road Runner - Bo Diddley This Cat’s on a Hot Tin Roof - Brian Setzer Orchestra Tubthuming - Chumbawomba Career Opportunities - Clash Psychotic Reaction - Count Five Mini-Skirt Minnie - Wilson Pickett Infernal Galop (Can-Can) - Jacques Offenbach **Lust for Life - Iggy Pop** **Beer - Reverend Horton Heat** Judy is a Punk - the Ramones **Bad Reputation - Joan Jett** **100 Flower Power Maximum - Cracker** **36-24-36 - Violent Femmes** Pump it Up - Elvis Costello & the Attractions Groove Is in the Heart - Dee-Lite Unbelievable - EMF Mirror in the Bathroom - the English Beat I’m Tore Down - Eric Clapton Would I Lie to You - Eurythmics The Sound of Milwaukee - Fatboy Slim **I-76 - G. Love & Special Sauce** Sloozy - G.E. Smith One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer - George Thorogood & the Destroyers Prelude from Carmen - Georges Bizet Radar Love - Golden Earring Jump in the Line - Harry Belafonte **I’m a Tree - Imani Coppola** Been Caught Stealing - Jane’s Addiction My Sharona - the Knack Immigrant Song - Led Zeppelin Always on the Run - Lenny Kravitz Bluesmobile - Lil’ Ed & the Blues Imperials Jealousy - Liz Phair I Got a Girl - Lou Bega Ray of Light - Madonna My Little Sister, (Don’t You Mess Around with) - Michelle Shocked Open the Gate - No Doubt I Want Candy - Bow Wow Wow Come out and Play - Offspring **Vamos - the Pixies** Lump - Presidents of the United States of America Message of Love - the Pretenders **Peach - Prince** It’s the End of the World as We Know it - R.E.M. Mess Around - Ray Charles Neighbors - the Rolling Stones What I Like About You - the Romantics Drum Trip - Rusted Root Ojos Asi - Shakira **Love Missile F1-11 - Sigue Sigue Sputnick** **Soul City - Southern Culture on the Skids** Suits Are Picking Up the Bill - Squirrel Nut Zipppers Blood Makes Noise - Suzanne Vega They Might Be Giants - No One Knows My Plan Bang the Drum All Day - Todd Rundgren Go! - Tones on Tail Surfin’ Bird - the Trashmen **Hot for Teacher - Van Halen** Turning Japanese - the Vapors Little Room - the White Stripes ---
**Author:** ![haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3ec8ea/32.png) [@haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/haven)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2003, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-that-pumps-you-up/159006/13 "2003-03-04T20:02:49Z")
If it’s for 20 somethings… try and pick a song that was ALL THE RAGE during their junior high years or something. say… MC hammer, Vanilla Ice, MJ’s…Beat It, Eye of the Tiger, you get the idea A song they haven’t heard for a while A song that reminds them of first crushes… or celebrating their first basketball game win celebration or… Celebrate Good Times - Kool and the Gang Let’s Groove - Earth Wind and Fire Home For a Rest - Spirit of the West ---
**Author:** ![Tygr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/df788c/32.png) [@Tygr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tygr)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2003, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-that-pumps-you-up/159006/14 "2003-03-04T20:08:00Z")
Two ideas. I love that these songs are album-starters, because they do so in an energetic fashion. **The Pogues** , [If I Should Fall from Grace with God](http://www.pogues.com/Releases/WAVs/LPs/IfIShould/IFISHOUL.WAV), from the album _If I Should Fall from Grace with God_.\* **INXS** , Guns in the Sky, from _Kick_. [sub]\*(Of course, you can’t go wrong with [Bottle of Smoke](http://www.pogues.com/Releases/WAVs/LPs/IfIShould/BOTTLEOF.WAV), either!)[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![raizok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/4491bb/32.png) [@raizok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raizok)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2003, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-that-pumps-you-up/159006/15 "2003-03-04T20:55:07Z")
**U.S. Bombs** “yer country” takes my vote for the “omfg I just HAVE to mosh right now!” song. Well if you like new-school punk that is. ---
**Author:** ![Profane\_Creation](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/839c29/32.png) [@Profane\_Creation](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Profane_Creation)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2003, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-that-pumps-you-up/159006/16 "2003-03-04T21:01:43Z")
Just a short list: **Iron Maiden** real **Metallica Bolt Thrower** ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2003, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-that-pumps-you-up/159006/17 "2003-03-04T21:12:20Z")
Maybe if there was a parody of “yall ready for this” or “sweet dreams” type mid-90s dance…oops i guess this is a hijack ☹ Anyway, what pumps me up is mid 90-s dance, but I’m too ashamed to admit it. Maybe the acoustic version of “come and get your love” taken from costner’s The Postman…that was hilarious. Sorry, continue on. ---
**Author:** ![shy\_guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a6a055/32.png) [@shy\_guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shy_guy)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2003, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-that-pumps-you-up/159006/18 "2003-03-04T21:38:44Z")
“I Want to Conquer the World” and “Can’t Stop it” by Bad Religion. ---
**Author:** ![Wyld\_Stallyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8dc957/32.png) [@Wyld\_Stallyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wyld_Stallyn)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2003, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-that-pumps-you-up/159006/19 "2003-03-04T21:50:44Z")
Rage Against the Machine’s songs tend to get the bodies movin’, even if the audience members disagree with the overt leftist lyrics (as I tend to). “Blind” by Korn ("…are you ready!!!) is a good song to get hyped to as I recall… …and if you want to get people excited at the expense of possibly freaking them out, try “I Will be Heard” by Hatebreed. If you go with techno/dance, be careful that it’s not too passe: [valley girl] “Sandstorm” is soooooooo 2001! [/valley girl] ---
**Author:** ![SPOOFE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@SPOOFE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SPOOFE)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2003, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-that-pumps-you-up/159006/20 "2003-03-04T23:20:24Z")
**Let’s Groove** by Earth, Wind, and Fire. **Everyone’s a Winner** by Hot Chocolate. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-that-pumps-you-up/159006.md?page=2)