Best Walk-Up Songs

There’s a certain kind of excitement that comes from a baseball player stepping up to bat with a really cool song playing in the background. Not very much of it is going to play so it has to be a familiar riff that people know and gives a sort of hint at how awesome it is. It’s also a song that pumps people up and gets them ready for your at bat. There are several songs in particular that stand out to me as being the best walk-up songs. Some of these I have heard quite a few times while at the baseball field during both high school and MLB games. Some of them I think should be played at games at all different levels.

1. Back In Black by ACDC

I remember hearing this song at a high school baseball song and I thought the kid at bat was the coolest person ever. He may have not even picked the song but it was that edginess and just how awesome the riff of the song is that left a mark on me. It’s definitely the perfect walk-up song due to the fact that it leaves a lasting impression on you.

2. Smells Like Teen Spirit by Nirvana

Another awesome rock anthem that most people should know. I think this is the ideal one by Nirvana even though there are so many songs by them that would leave a positive mark on the listeners. This is the type of song that makes you pay attention to what’s going on in the game.

3. POWER by Kanye West

I’m sure you know which part of the song I’m referring to. It’s the instrumental part that you hear before Kanye comes in with the lyrics. That alone is just a sick beat that is familiar yet still has that unique quality to it that makes it an enjoyable walk-up song.

4. Don’t Stop Believin’ by Journey

Obviously not an upbeat rock or rap anthem, it’s a pop ballad. But it’s also a song that everyone knows. Everyone is going to start singing alone to the song if it’s your at bat song and they won’t even notice if you screw up! Of course, they may not notice if you do really well, but then again, if you choose this song as your at bat song, people may want to watch you for that reason alone.

5. Seven Nation Army by The White Stripes

It’s an essential anthem that’s familiar in many different sports, especially football but who said it couldn’t be in baseball too? It’s got one of the sickest riff ever.

6. I Can’t Get No Satisfaction by The Rolling Stones

If this song is your at bat, you’ll definitely find yourself satisfied. It’s got one of the best guitar riffs from Keith Richards and that’s for sure the part that should be included in any walk-up song since it’s the part everyone knows and loves.

7. Glory Days by Bruce Springsteen

This song directly references to baseball. It’s also just a downright great song about a guy who looked back on high school as being the best times of his life.

8. Do I Wanna Know? by Arctic Monkeys

Okay, a lot of the ballpark may not know this song. It’s only a few years old via the British rock band Arctic Monkeys. They have been around for nearly a decade but haven’t reached the same popularity in America that they’ve reached back home. However, this guitar part of the song is one of the catchiest I’ve heard that’s actually pretty current. It sends a message and it’s not too much, it’s just enough.

9. Enter Sandman by Metallica

Another song that’s big in football, this one is also a great walk-up song. Many people are at least familiar with some of the song so it’s a great way to get the crowd interested in your at bat.

10. White Rabbit by Jefferson Airplane

I was going to go with their song “Somebody To Love” but I figured “White Rabbit” was a wee bit trippier and also more memorable. It’s just a cool song to listen to no matter where you are or what you’re doing and it’s awesome coming from a ballpark too. It’s also the most out there on the list which is why it’s a walk-up song you’d want to have.

 

Spring Break Playlist

Here’s a mix of several generations to get your Spring Break playlist started.

NPR Education Articles

NPR is amazing at publishing the best news and general content. They have an education blog that also never disappoints. Recently, they started an ongoing series they call, “50 Best Teachers.” There’s 12 total articles which you can find here. I’m going to link to several different articles that I found the most intriguing.

Any article about Springsteen is automatically one of my favorites. This one doesn’t let me down. It focuses on one particular teacher who finds inspiration from the famous performer. She says that there’s not really one particular method of teaching that she’s been taught. This is a bunch of interesting points and I like hearing about different teachers around the world.

These are all important points about being a good teacher from voices that know what they are talking about. It’s a well put together article and it’s all important things to keep in mind.

NPR talks about movies and how teachers are portrayed in them. They bring up interesting points about a variety of different teachers and their personalities in movies. They talk about the good teachers who are passionate and involved. Such as Robin Williams’ English teacher in Dead Poets Society. In contrast, they bring up the teacher in Whiplash. A movie that was recently released about the relationship between a drummer and his jazz teacher. The relationship goes abusive which is obviously not a good turn of events. I like how many different personalities the articles explores.

All are personal and endearing tales from the readers favorite teachers. They talk about how a teacher’s colorful personality is a large part of the appeal. I love hearing others points of views and experiences.

There’s yet another perspective on real people and the memories we share with the teachers. It’s like Friday Night Lights, only more inspiring and has a much happier ending.

Best Podcasts

Podcasts are pretty much the big thing right now. Here are some of the ones that are really worth listening to. There’s thousands of podcasts but these are the ones in particular that are important and awesome. Check them out!

Fresh Air is the first podcast that I ever really listened to. I remember being in the sixth grade listening to Terry Gross interview Dave Grohl about the new Foo Fighters album. That was also my introduction to Nirvana. Grohl told stories about his experiences as a drummer for the band and stories about the late Kurt Cobain. It was cool to listen to and has stuck with me for a long time now. I continue listening to this podcast because the guests are always so popular and the interviews always feel really genuine and they aren’t ever boring.

Invibilia is a podcast from NPR that’s actually pretty recent. They’ve completed their first season and it wasn’t nearly as long as I hoped it would be. However, every episode taught me about things I never have previously thought about. Every story told on this podcast is just as interesting as the last. Prepare to be enchanted with all the information this podcast provides listeners with.

This is easily my favorite music podcast. I love All Songs Considered but I feel like this choice is under the radar and should be recognized. Each episode revolves around some kind of aspect to music. They only talk about topics they feel that no one else is. They uncover things about songs that were written in a dream to political songs to backing tracks. The episodes are fairly short so it’s easy to listen to a bunch of them at once in order to catch up.

I couldn’t leave Serial off a post about the best podcasts. Serial is obviously the most downloaded podcast of all time for a reason. The first season of this storytelling podcast is about the true story of Adnan Syed who was convicted of killing his ex-girlfriend in 2000. He was sentenced to life in prison but a family friend of his contacted Sarah Koenig about looking further into the case. Koenig discovered that there’s a lot of flaws in the case to convict Syed but if he didn’t do it then who did? The way the podcast is structured is one of it’s serious strengths. Each episode focuses on a different aspect in the case and it’s impossible to keep one opinion throughout the whole season. One episode you’ll be sure of Syed’s innocence then the next episode will make you sure that he’s guilty. If you love a good story, listen to Serial. You won’t regret it.

Criminal is a podcast kind of similar to Serial. However, the episodes are a lot shorter and it focuses on a different criminal case each episode. The stories are all incredible and compelling. The only problem is that there’s not more episodes available. You’re bound to get hooked on the episodes that are currently released.

Selected Shorts is a pretty great podcast. Each episode centers around one central theme. Then famous performers, actors, and actresses read these stories in front of a live audience. The short stories are always beautiful and some of them will be familiar to you but not all of them will be. The cool thing about selected shorts is getting to hear these stories come to life by such brilliant and hilarious performers.

I’m on a role with storytelling podcasts so why stop now? The thing different about this one from the other storytelling podcasts is that it’s true personal stories. These performers- some famous and some not, tell stories from their personal lives. It’s equally heartbreaking and heartwarming. One of my personal favorite episodes is the story actor Ethan Hawke tells. He talks about his mom’s ex husband Michael and how he was a secret influence in his life. It falls into the category of both heartbreaking and heartwarming because Hawke desperately craved for the attention of Michael and he was a straight up jerk. It makes a hilarious story though. Every episode of The Moth is different but the personal quality of it is always there.

My brother made me check out this podcast and I don’t regret it. It’s more than just mildly offensive. The podcast is a lot about sex but it talks a lot about what’s going on in the world. KFC is always up to date and it’s always absolutely hilarious. They also had a bunch of episodes dedicated to Serial because KFC was so obsessed with it. The opinions they had about Serial was laugh out loud funny and I recommend that be your introduction to the podcast.

 

Magazines to Read

Spring break can get a little busy, especially if you’re planning on hitting the beach or something like that. These suggestions are magazines that you should read while in a long car ride or on a plane. Whatever it may be, these suggestions obviously don’t require too much of your time. Anyone can make just a little bit of time for some magazine reading! Hey, who knows, if you love it you might even subscribe to the magazine so you’re able to read more and more of it!

This magazine always has the most famous celebrities on the cover. It also is filled with a lot of pictures and wise style and relationship advice. Glamour is starting to become more like Cosmo, it has a lot of really sexual tips. But I still recommend it because the fashion and general articles are still amazing. Plus getting a subscription to Glamour is so cheap and you won’t regret it!

W magazine is filled to the brim with stunning photographs. It always has such stunning photoshoots with the models and celebrities. It also is just an incredible fashion magazine and general magazine for women. It’s hard not to love these stories and pictures.

Hey, you gotta stay educated right? Time is the biggest news magazine out there. It has so many issues and always keeps you up to date on what’s going on in the world. If you like reading in-depth articles, this is the magazine for you. I find it so interesting because it informs you about facts you may not know about. Plus so much research is spent on these stories and you can’t help but respect that.

If you just really want to read about what’s going on in the movie and television world, look no further than EW. It’s filled with so many interesting celebrity interviews and general news. It always keeps me updated on what’s going on in the entertainment world and that’s always fun to read about. It’s not too heavy but it’s always entertaining and what more can you ask for during your break?

The New Yorker is definitely my personal favorite “literary” magazine. I included the quote marks because that’s not really what it is. It talks about everything and so many different topics. The New Yorker has pretty much everything stacked inside the magazine. It’s filled with pieces from some of the greatest writers. It also has detailed profiles on certain popular celebrities and it’s news stories are always on issues that are ongoing.

Despite the fact that the swimsuit cover is the most popular issue, Sports Illustrated actually has some really cool stories about sports. It keeps up with what sports on going on when. If you’re a fan of sports, this is obviously the top magazine. It profiles all the best and most popular athletes, both current and old. The stories are really in-depth looks and you can always count on them to be extremely well written.

Turn Up The Albums

I’m going to make a complete playlist sometime soon but here’s some of my favorite albums to just turn up all the way and dance around to. You can listen while driving around with your friends or just listening by yourself! Whatever you choose to do, these are the albums you should do it to.

Charli XCX- Sucker

This album is best listened to while taking a road trip with your best friends or dancing around your room with your friends. It’s best to listen to this while surrounded by people you care about because it’s just so much more fun that way. “Break The Rules” is the fun and danceable skipping class anthem you can’t help but love. Charli XCX just puts out hit after hit and there’s not a skippable song on this album!

Ariana Grande- My Everything

This album put out by former Broadway star and vocal powerhouse Ariana Grande doesn’t disappoint. Not all of these songs are upbeat, some are gorgeous ballads that really showcase her voice. The sound here reminds us of a throwback to the 90’s. She has a vintage style to her but it never gets old. The highlight songs are definitely “Problem” and “Bang Bang.” These are also the biggest and most pop sounding songs but it can be fun to just let all your problems go and dance to pop music.

One Direction- Midnight Memories

I know, I know you guys probably think I’ve lost my mind by putting this on the list. However, I can’t resist these five British (And one Irish) boys. This isn’t there most recent album, Four is but I prefer Midnight Memories. Largely due to the fact that this album is filled with songs that you can just sing to the top of your lungs. Four doesn’t really have any of those type of songs. The title track of Midnight Memories is a fun song to listen with at a sleepover with your best friend while you just talk and reflect on all the good times. “Happily” and “Best Song Ever” are two more songs that I can’t help but love. As is “Little Black Dress” and “Diana.” I’m also a big fan of the song “Alive,” which is on the deluxe edition of the album. Whether just the name of the band makes you cringe or swoon, this is a great album to jam to.

Haim- Days Are Gone

Talk about sister power, these three sisters are the coolest. They are frequently compared to the ’70s classic rock band Fleetwood Mac. However, I think they’ve created their own sound for this new generation. Every song is filled with awesome catchy lyrics and the music is just unbelievably amazing. It’s pretty much impossible not to be charmed by the song “The Wire,” or for that matter, any song by the trio. The album is stacked with track after track of songs that you’re bound to love and share with others.

Vampire Weekend- Modern Vampires of the City

Vampire Weekend is a small town indie band that reached an unpredictable amount of success. Lead singer Ezra Koenig and company has a unique sound that sets them apart. “Ya Hey” is definitely one of my favorite tracks off of the album, but “Diane Young” is at a close second. Part of the bands charm is that they don’t release ballad after ballad, instead they have lots of songs with funky and cool beats. How can you not love them?

 

Best Education Quotes

Quotes have always been my favorite. These quotes on the topic of education from some of the worlds greatest leaders and educators are all extremely important. Hope you like them as much as I do!

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”- Nelson Mandela

“I have never let my schooling interfere with my education.”- Mark Twain

“Education is the ability to listen to almost anything without losing your temper or your self-confidence.”- Robert Frost

“Children must be taught how to think, not what to think.”- Margaret Mead

“Education is our passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to the people who prepare for it today.”- Malcolm X

“Intelligence plus character- that is the goal of true education.”- Martin Luther King Jr.

“A quality education has the power to transform societies in a single generation, provide children with the protection they need from the hazards of poverty, labor exploitation and disease, and given them the knowledge, skills, and confidence to reach their full potential.”- Audrey Hepburn

“Let us think of education as the means of developing our greatest abilities, because in each of us there is a private hope and dream which, fulfilled, can be translated into benefit for everyone and greater strength for our nation.”- John F. Kennedy

“Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all.”- Aristotle

“The beautiful thing about learning is nobody can take it away from you.”- B.B. King

“Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty. Anyone who keeps learning stays young.”- Henry Ford

“The secret in education lies in respecting the student.”- Ralph Waldo Emerson

“Education is what remains after one has forgotten what one has learned in school.”- Albert Einstein

“Do not train children to learning by force and harshness, but direct them to it by what amuses their minds, so that you may be better able to discover with accuracy the peculiar bent of the genius of each.” – Plato

“You can never be overdressed or overeducated.”- Oscar Wilde

 

Playlist For Going Places

Here are some songs for those of you that may be going somewhere else over spring break. Even if you aren’t going anywhere, here are some songs about places you might rather be. These are locations all over the world that left a mark on these artists that felt inspired to sing about these various locations. They may or may not call these places home but you can still see the visuals described as you listen to these songs today.

America Playlist.

Songs For Falling In Love

Some of the sweetest and most romantic songs that talk about when you first fall in love with another person. That time is such a magical one and I feel like these songs show that in a beautiful way. Some of the artists included are: Ed Sheeran, Beyonce, and some others as well! I love all of these songs no matter if I’m falling in love or just want to listen to some good music. Regardless of which of these categories you fall into, I hope you enjoy these songs!

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Ed Sheeran Angry and Breakup Songs

Ed Sheeran puts things really beautifully and lovely. On the other hand, if you mess him over, he’ll cut you with beautiful but mean lyrics. These are some of my favorite ones. Some of them aren’t all about love, some are about the music industry and stuff like that. The others are about generally dealing with a breakup. No matter what it’s about, if Ed Sheeran is just generally messed over, he’ll write a song about it and it’ll be a really amazing song.

Don’t

Favorite Lyric: “And I never saw him as a threat until you disappeared with him to have sex. It’s not like we were both on tour, we were staying at the same hotel floor. And I wasn’t looking for a promise or commitment, but it was never just fun and I thought you were different.”

You Need Me, I Don’t Need You

Favorite Lyric: “I’m not you, no that would be disastrous. Let me sing and do my thing and move to greener pastures.”

Take It Back

Favorite Lyric: “I’ve never had an enemy except the NME. But I’ll be selling twice as many copies as their magazines’ll ever be.”

UNI

Favorite Lyric: “I don’t get waves of missing you anymore, they’re more like tsunami tides in my eyes.”

Drunk

Favorite Lyric: “Take words out of my mouth just from breathing, replace with phrases like when you leaving me?”

Photograph

Favorite Lyric: “You can fit me inside the necklace you bought when you were sixteen. Next to your heartbeat where I should be.”

This

Favorite Lyric: “And I thrown it all away, watched you fall into his arms again.”

One

Favorite Lyric: “I listen to sad songs, singing about love. And where it goes wrong.”