Sports arenas/stadiums and concert venues often give off the same kinds of energetic vibes. It’s understandable then that some popular songs have earned a second life from their incorporation into the sports world.

This list could go much longer, as there’s hardly a live sporting event of note that takes place these days without some music pumping through the speakers. Let’s narrow it down to five of the most famous examples of the intersection of music and live sports.

“Sirius/Eye In The Sky” by Alan Parsons Project

This one goes way back to the dynasty that was created by Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls in the NBA. Chicago won six titles in eight seasons during one stretch in the 90s. One of the highlights of attending a Bulls game was getting to hear the player introductions. They’d all lead up to Jordan being announced last. Evocative instrumental music with crashing crescendos accompanied these announcements. Sharp listeners recognized this music as “Sirius”, the instrumental that leads into The Alan Parsons Project’s hit single “Eye In The Sky” on the album of the same name.

“Renegade” by Styx

Sometimes, a song can be deemed a good-luck charm for a team. That’s the case with “Renegade” by Styx and its connection to the NFL’s Pittsburgh Steelers. Back in 2002, the team was struggling at home against the Cleveland Browns in the second half when “Renegade” made its appearance. The song’s quiet opening leads into a hard-charging main section. That day, it seemed to wake up the Steelers, as they made an unlikely comeback for the win. Ever since, “Renegade” has been played in the second half while highlights pop up on the video screen. And the stadium shakes with the frenzied reaction of the Steelers’ faithful.

“Sweet Caroline” by Neil Diamond

Who knows why some songs catch fire at sporting events? On the surface, “Sweet Caroline”, a 1969 ode to a special girl that gave Neil Diamond one in a string of seemingly countless hits, doesn’t seem to fit. But it possesses excellent sing-along potential. In fact, sports fans have added parts to it over the years that even Diamond didn’t imagine in the original. “Sweet Caroline” was first used in the 90s by the Boston Red Sox to pump up the fans late in the game. It has become a steadfast tradition ever since. Diamond has even shown up to sing the song himself on a couple of occasions.

“Enter Sandman” by Metallica

Well, if we’re going to have the Red Sox represented in this list, we’d better give the New York Yankees equal time. So-called “walk-up” music, which is the practice of a song accompanying every player who comes to the plate or the pitching mound, has become an everyday occurrence in Major League Baseball these days. Mariano Rivera, legendary relief pitcher for the Yankees, helped popularize all that. When he would enter the game from the bullpen, “Enter Sandman” would come blaring across Yankee Stadium’s speakers. It was the perfect tribute song for him because he would generally put the other team to bed.

“Don’t Look Back In Anger” by Oasis

The other examples in this list refer to specific teams and stadiums. “Don’t Look Back In Anger” has been able to spread among many different sectors of football (or soccer, as we in America call it) fandom in Great Britain. Another area where it differs from the other songs we’ve mentioned here is that it’s often used to soften the blow after a tough loss. Oasis is beloved in Great Britain, so it makes sense that the fans connect with the song. In 2024, the crowd at an NFL game played in England even sang “Don’t Look Back In Anger”, proving its malleability in the sports world.

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