With the help of some friends via Twitter, I’ve compiled a preliminary 2009 NYY Playoffs Playlist.

A few caveats:

1) This playlist is supposed to be more about the team than any individual player, so I haven’t included At Bat music–yet. I did include “Enter Sandman”, because it’s significance–a game about to end, a win about to go down–transcends just Mariano.

2) Please add any you think should belong in the comments below.

So here we go:

“New York, New York” –Frank Sinatra. This one is, of course, timeless. It belongs on any Yankees-related playlist.

“Enter Sandman” –Metallica. As discussed above, while it’s Mo’s song, it’s about more than just Mo. If Mo’s coming into a game, 9 times out of 10 it’s because the Yankees are winning–something the entire team does together.

“We Weren’t Born to Follow” –Bon Jovi. Interestingly enough, while TBS played this song all the time, FOX has not. This is remarkable if only because of Bon Jovi’s association with the state of New Jersey, which is the Connecticut of the Yankees-Phillies. You follow?

“I Gotta Feeling” –Black Eyed Peas. This is one of the songs featured in the YES season-ending montage/”Get Ready for the Showdown” video, and, well, it’s really catchy. It also describes the way many of us have been feeling this entire season and now postseason: pure optimism. We’ve got a feeling, it’s going to be a good night. Mazel tov!

“Run This Town” and “Run This Town Yankees ’09 remix” –Jay-Z/Rihanna. Right now, is there another artist more associated with New York City and New York City sports than Jay-Z? You’d be hard pressed to find one. The Yankees ’09 Remix is my preference over the other one because it’s, uh, slightly more family friendly.

“Empire State of Mind” –Jay-Z/Alicia Keys. I’m not a rap/hip-hop person. Most of my music is either alternative rock or medieval folk music (don’t ask). However, seeing Jay-Z and Alicia Keys perform it live for Game Two–there’s just something about the atmosphere of being there.

“Glory Days” –Bruce Springsteen. Always have to give Bruce a nod. If we’re talking New Jersey music, then one can’t mention Bon Jovi without mentioning Bruce Springsteen. At any rate, this is exactly what this season’s felt like: a return to Yankee Glory Days of the end of last decade–when I was, indeed, back in high school.

“Let it Rock” –Kevin Rudolf/L’il Wayne. At one point, Nick Swisher’s walk up music, it’s a stadium anthem that’s kind of just stuck with me. Anyway, there’s something about the line “stuck his middle finger to the world” that’s just too New York to not include.

“Don’t Stop Believing”–Journey. Okay, so this song might be a little more apt for the small market teams like Minnesota that didn’t have much of a chance to do anything, but even so, being a baseball fan is like being religious: keeping the faith, keeping the hope and keeping belief.

“Don’t Stop Me Now” –Queen. This one’s featured in a YouTube mashup of all the Yankees’ walk off wins from the 2009 regular season. In the immortal words of Eric–who was at the Stadium to watch game three of the ALCS along with me–WE. CANNOT. BE. STOPPED.

(Added at request)


“Showdown” –Black Eyed Peas. Do you need me to explain this? Really?