Need some song suggestions

[afwdwfan]

My wife coaches the varsity volleyball team at a local high school. They always play some music during the warm ups before games over the PA for all the sports teams. Apparently, a parent complained about the lyrics in a song used by one of the teams last year so they've come down hard on what can be played. The AD now has to listen to and approve each playlist before it is allowed to be played, and in some cases, even songs considered clean enough for radio are being turned dow if there's any profanity left in them or if the meaning of the song is deemed inappropriate (in other words, no way in beverly I can use Lit Up by Buckcherry and other similar songs).

Last year, the volleyball team used a playlist of rap songs that they have been using for about 3 or 4 years. Even though it has been approved, their playlist was put under scrutiny last year. It is obvious that some parents are listening for certain things that they are going to hear in rap music, whether it is actually there or not. That said, my wife wants to put together a playlist of some upbeat rock music to get approved this year. I'm trying to go with a mix of some newer music with some old stuff to try to please both the players and the parents alike. I've got a few songs that were specific requests to be put on, and I've tried to come up with a few more myself. I just want some suggestions for some good upbeat songs that might make good additions to the list.

Also, I'm trying to condense the list and keep it 1 song per band. We want to put some Aerosmith, Led Zeppelin and Rolling Stones on the list, but I can't decide which of their songs to use. Any opinions would be appreciated.

Here is some of what we have on the list so far (realizing a few will need radio edit versions):
Smashing Pumpkins - Bullet with butterfly wings*
Metallica - Enter Sandman
Van Halen - Jump
Saliva - Ladies and Gentlemen
Blur - Song 2 (Woo Hoo)
Guns n Roses - Welcome to the Jungle
AC/DC - Thunderstruck
Godsmack - Awake
Powerman 5000 - When Worlds Collide*
Trapt - Headstrong
The White Stripes - Seven Nation Army
Rage Against the Machine - Bulls on Parade
Nirvana - Smells Like Teen Spirit

* songs requested by my wife... aka mandatory additions to the playlist

 

[scott2997]

First song that came to my head was "You dropped a bomb on me" - the Gap Band

 

[trennr]

Coalition to Ban Coalitions - Hank William Jr.

 

[tutter99]

For football we used The Eagles -Heartbreak Tonight

 

[GoofyIsAsGoofyDoes]

I hate censors, but as a musician, I have to deal with that kind of nonsense on a regular basses. OK… enough of the ranting.

I like the list you’ve got already, so I’m only going to chime in on the specific request to add some strong upbeat tunes by Aerosmith, Led Zeppelin and Rolling Stones. Getting these bands by the “Overprotective Parenting Committee” might be tough, but here’s a few that we play out that you can consider:

Aerosmith - Livin' on the Edge
(The song is even saying that society needs to clean up its act)

Led Zeppelin - Rock N' Roll
(Not much offensive here and a classic to boot)

The Stones can be tough to get by a censor, but how about one of these two:

Rolling Stones - Gimme Shelter
(I’d go for this one for many reasons)

Rolling Stones - It's Only Rock 'n Roll
(A little safer choice)

 

[afwdwfan]

First song that came to my head was "You dropped a bomb on me" - the Gap Band

Ok, I have to admit, I had to google this one.
I can't put my finger on it, but there's just something about it that doesn't quite seem to fit in with everything else we've got.

Coalition to Ban Coalitions - Hank William Jr.

I always love some Hank. I don't think DW will go for it. She hates it when I listen to any country that isn't the new "pop/country"

For football we used The Eagles -Heartbreak Tonight

That one might just make it's way onto the list. I'd thought about The Eagles but then forgot to put anything on there.

I hate censors, but as a musician, I have to deal with that kind of nonsense on a regular basses. OK… enough of the ranting.

Well, you know how some people are. They just want to complain because they can. I understand it is a public school, but I guess my opinion is that if it is good enough for the FCC, they should play it.

I just have to say that when I found out who one of the parents was that was complaining about a song I was absolutely shocked. Her picture must be in the dictionary next to the word hypocrite.

Aerosmith - Livin' on the Edge
(The song is even saying that society needs to clean up its act)

I like it. My first choice was Walk This Way, but I didn't think it would meet approval.

On a side note, do they play Walk this Way on Rock n Rollercoaster aside from just the short clip in the studio? I can't remember which songs I've heard on the ride, except for Love in an Elevator which I heard one day when I rode several times in a row.

Led Zeppelin - Rock N' Roll
(Not much offensive here and a classic to boot)

DUH! Didn't even think of it. I was looking at Immigrant Song, but DW didn't want it. I think Rock N Roll will be perfect.

The Stones can be tough to get by a censor, but how about one of these two:

Rolling Stones - Gimme Shelter
(I’d go for this one for many reasons)

Rolling Stones - It's Only Rock 'n Roll
(A little safer choice)

Yeah, the Stones have been tough. A lot of really good ones to choose from, some questionable, not really that 1 song that just stuck out to me though. I'll let DW make this call.


Thanks for the suggestions so far. It's been good input. Keep them coming!

 

[Dis_Dreamin]

How about The Who - Who Are You? I know there's a clean edit of that out there that can be used.

 

[trennr]

I always love some Hank. I don't think DW will go for it. She hates it when I listen to any country that isn't the new "pop/country"

MY Hank Jr. suggestion was kind of a joke...but with a point...google the lyrics.

 

[scott2997]

Rock you like a Hurricane - Scorpions

 

[afwdwfan]

How about The Who - Who Are You? I know there's a clean edit of that out there that can be used.

Yeah, good call. I've been thinking about it, but I almost get sick of The Who and Trick Daddy from the Colts overplaying them. I guess though since there won't be a season this year I won't be hearing it over and over all fall.

MY Hank Jr. suggestion was kind of a joke...but with a point...google the lyrics.

Yeah, I got it. Still, I wouldn't mind adding some Hank, I just know it ain't gonna fly.

 

[afwdwfan]

Rock you like a Hurricane - Scorpions

Good one!




By the way, before anyone suggests it, Eye of the Tiger will NOT be on the list. In HS when I played football, I had a teammate who sat by the stereo in the locker room and controlled the music. He had an unhealthy obsession with that song. I heard it repeated so many times that when I hear it now, I want to rip someones arms off and beat them to death with them. I guess that means he had his desired effect for getting us fired up before games though.

 

[scott2997]

Panama - Van Halen

 

[ClearScreen]

A couple more - some from high school ice hockey - usually with good guitar intro:

Ozzy - Crazy Train
Quiet Riot - Cum on Feel the Noize or Metal Health
Eddy Grant - Electric Avenue
The Tractors - Cotton Eyed Joe
Dio - We Rock
Stones - Honky Tonk Women
Blackfoot - Train Train
Judas Priest -You've Got ANOther Thing COming
Iron Maiden - Run to the Hills or Wasted Years or the Trooper
Kiss- ROck 'n Roll All night or Shout it Out Loud
Ted NUgent - Stranglehold
Metallica - Wherever I May Roam
Andrew WK - Party Hard

Most should be lyrics/school friendly

ClearScreen

 

[jason4024]

A couple more - some from high school ice hockey - usually with good guitar intro:

Ozzy - Crazy Train
Quiet Riot - Cum on Feel the Noize or Metal Health
Eddy Grant - Electric Avenue
The Tractors - Cotton Eyed Joe
Dio - We Rock
Stones - Honky Tonk Women
Blackfoot - Train Train
Judas Priest -You've Got ANOther Thing COming
Iron Maiden - Run to the Hills or Wasted Years or the Trooper
Kiss- ROck 'n Roll All night or Shout it Out Loud
Ted NUgent - Stranglehold
Metallica - Wherever I May Roam
Andrew WK - Party Hard

Most should be lyrics/school friendly

ClearScreen

I think you nailed a great list Clear. I might add some of these to disk for my DD before soccer games. Right now though, her list include the Jonas Bros, Selene and Lemonade Mouth.

 

[ClearScreen]

I think you nailed a great list Clear. I might add some of these to disk for my DD before soccer games. Right now though, her list include the Jonas Bros, Selene and Lemonade Mouth.

Thanks!

 

[Cinderella's Fella]

I like all those listed, but how about moving back a few decades with the Andrew Sisters - Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy. The Divine Miss M version is great too. I think if you look at the Big Band music from the 40st, you'll find some good sets.

 

[AJRitz]

Hah.
I don't have much constructive to add. I'm just thinking back to the traveling basketball team I played on back in high school. Our coaches gave us pretty much free reign in choosing the music we listened to during pre-game warmups. One of the seniors on the team when I was a junior was the music guy, and he was a big Prince fan. The coaches finally intervened in our choices when fans for the other team complained while we warmed up to Sexy M.F.

 

[GoofyIsAsGoofyDoes]

By the way, before anyone suggests it, Eye of the Tiger will NOT be on the list.

Good call. That is a stunningly wimpy song (and a poor piece of music for that matter) to be tied so heavily to athletics

A couple more - some from high school ice hockey - usually with good guitar intro:

Ozzy - Crazy Train
Quiet Riot - Cum on Feel the Noize or Metal Health
Eddy Grant - Electric Avenue
The Tractors - Cotton Eyed Joe
Dio - We Rock
Stones - Honky Tonk Women
Blackfoot - Train Train
Judas Priest -You've Got ANOther Thing COming
Iron Maiden - Run to the Hills or Wasted Years or the Trooper
Kiss- ROck 'n Roll All night or Shout it Out Loud
Ted NUgent - Stranglehold
Metallica - Wherever I May Roam
Andrew WK - Party Hard

Most should be lyrics/school friendly

ClearScreen

Nice list (and believe me… I’m all for a great guitar intro), but a couple of those will perk the ears of their Censors I fear. Since your talking about roaring guitar intros, I’d like to add one more Judas Priest tune: Electric Eye (the lyric is not all that great, but the guitars are unstoppable).

I like all those listed, but how about moving back a few decades with the Andrew Sisters - Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy. The Divine Miss M version is great too. I think if you look at the Big Band music from the 40st, you'll find some good sets.

I like that idea as well. How about “Sing, Sing, Sing” (that drum part and brass intro should move even the dead).

Of course if you’re going to head back toward the forties, you might as well stop on the way and pick a little bit of Check Barry as well

 

[ClearScreen]

Another couple I just remembered:

Soul ASylum - Somebody to Shove
Jimmy Eat WOrld - The MIddle

 

[ClearScreen]

Nice list (and believe me… I’m all for a great guitar intro), but a couple of those will perk the ears of their Censors I fear. Since your talking about roaring guitar intros, I’d like to add one more Judas Priest tune: Electric Eye (the lyric is not all that great, but the guitars are unstoppable).

Thanks. I tried to think of the lyrics to most of them and nothing really jumped out as too bad, compared to say Sexy M.F. or some of the rap stuff I hear today.

I know what you mean about Electric Eye and the guitars - just ferocious. I saw Priest in concert once, and that song would not have made my best of JP list. I know it became a more popular song for them becuase it was on Guitar Hero or ROck Band.