The 5 Best EDM Tracks Used as MLB Walk-Up Songs in 2012

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Complex Original

Image via Complex Original

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The sound of EDM isn’t restricted solely to the dark clubs and bright festivals that ravers flock to every weekend. With dance music becoming more mainstream in the United States by the hour, we’re starting to see it seep into different areas of entertainment, be it a commercial for the Microsoft Surface or during America’s favorite pastime, baseball.

Yes, that’s right, Major League Baseball has been bitten by the EDM bug. We’re not sure if your favorite baseball players are rocking out with glowsticks in the off-season, but the phenomenon of the “walk-up song,” aka the song players use as intros while they’re at-bat, has been inundated with a number of EDM tracks – some really fresh choices as well. Ranging from classics from The Prodigy to a heaping helping of Skrillex, ballplayers are a great reflection on the changes that mainstream America is experiencing when it comes to music tastes.

The Prodigy – “Firestarter”

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Used by: Chris Perez, Pitcher, Cleveland Indians

With a nickname like “Pure Rage,” it makes sense that Perez would gravitate towards The Prodigy’s breakout single, a track which helped garner them millions of records sold back when “EDM” was known as “Electronica.” He does his thing on the field, recording his 100th save in August of 2012, but we’re wondering if he’s referring to the “heat” he puts on that fastball, which clocks in at 93-96MPH.

Gemini – “Blue”

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Used by: Angel Pagan, Outfielder, San Francisco Giants

This is one of those super-interesting picks. Gemini’s not a name that’s foreign to dubstep fans, but his career is still relatively new. He’s been active for the last few years, racking up remixes and putting out a string of EPs over the last few years, getting a little more love with each successive release. Pagan has been on a few teams before settling on the Giants in 2012, and he lead the National League in triples. It looks like this anthemic tune is a proper fit for Pagan’s rise, although it’s more of an interesting choice than anything else.

Skrillex – “Bangarang”

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Used by: Aaron Crow, Kansas City Royals; Eric Thames, Seattle Mariners; Brian Schneider, Philadelphia Phillies

If you had to blindly guess which dubstep artist might be featured as walk-up music for a random MLB player, Skrillex would have to be in your top three. He’s one of the EDM scene’s premiere artists right now, especially when it comes to how he’s permeated the mainstream. The track itself is hard-hitting, with a that sinister, glitched-out bass; it’s the kind of track that will have people moving off the tough drums alone. It just makes sense to have this blasting while you’re trying to get pumped for your next at-bat. Other Skrillex tracks, including “Kyoto,” his remix of Benny Benassi’s “Cinema,” and his collaboration with the Doors, “Breakn’ a Sweat,” are all popular among the MLB players, with Skrillex being the most-used EDM artist for MLB walk-up tunes.

Art of Noise – “Moments in Love”

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Used by: Prince Fielder, 1B, Detroit Tigers

What a leftfield choice (no pun intended) for the son of Cecil Fielder. Be thankful it’s not the 10 minute version that’s found on the Art of Noise’s debut 1984 album. Sure, this isn’t the raucous EDM of today, but this is a bonafide electronic classic, from a quartet that worked primarily with synths and electronic instruments. Not sure what the reasoning behind this choice was, but it’s one of Prince’s rotating walk-up tracks. It must be awesome to hear this creep up and have a crowd either lose their shit or stare in disbelief.

Flux Pavilion – “I Can’t Stop”

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Used by: Andrew McCutchen, Center fieder, Pittsburg Pirates (among many others)

This track is intense. It was intense before Kanye and Jay-Z rapped over a sample on “Who Gon Stop Me,” and it has to ring out something awesome when it hits the speakers. Andrew’s actually shown appreciation for dubstep, so his choice isn’t exactly random, but with guys like Matt Joyce of the Tampa Bay Rays also using this track (along with the aforementioned Watch The Throne track), we have to think that athletes got amped off the Hov and ‘Ye rework and figured it made sense to grab the original. Plus, if a player is having a great game, and their swag is on a million, this becomes a proper anthem to keep them amped throughout the game.

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