The Best Sports Songs from the 80s and 90s

You've probably recognized that music and sports go together like peanut butter and jelly—kind of.

During the action and timeouts, some of the best songs blast through stadium and arena speakers to get people out of their seats to dance their you-know-whats off. 

That's why we're giving you the best songs from the 80s and 90s—so you better go download to learn all the words to get on the jumbotron.

20. Master P: Make 'Em Say Uhh!

So this "masterpiece" by Master P might not be one of those songs that gets played often during sporting events, but each time we hear it we can't help but think of sports because of the video.

All you need to know about this song is that it was played on repeat while playing basketball in our driveway throughout our middle school days.

19. Queen: We Are the Champions

To this day, this Queen jam is still belted from the arena sound system each time a home team wins a title.

It might not be "One Shining Moment," but if you're an athlete who's celebrating to it, you're probably having a good time.

18. Blur: Song 2

Wanna know why we like this song so much? Because it's loud!

As one of the more intense songs out there, Blur's "Song 2" gets fans and players amped for a crucial stretch in a tight game.

17. Journey: Don't Stop Believin'

The choice of karaoke songs for sorority girls everywhere, "Don't Stop Believin'" might be a bit overplayed these days at bars, but if you hear it at a sporting event, you can't help but sing and dance.

You might not want to admit you like this song, but let's face it, it's so damn addicting.

16. Kurtis Blow: Basketball

What are we playing? Oh, that's right, basketball!

Thanks to this little diddy from Kurtis Blow—whose name still makes us chuckle every time we say it—we have no reason to wonder what the sport to play with friends is.

15. Fatboy Slim: Right Here, Right Now

It gets a little repetitive, but this song makes everyone in the arena know that it's go time, and the stakes in the game just got serious.

No more messing around when hearing this song, so it remains one of the better ones that plays through stadium speakers.

14. Montell Jordan: This Is How We Do It

Just try listening to this song and not singing along with the other Jordan, Montell—though sadly he and Michael aren't related.

The party's always on the West side, so it's easy to see why people thought the music Jordan made was good. 

13. Kenny Loggins: Danger Zone

There's nothing like "Logginsin'" it!

Known for being one of the most perfect songs from a film (Top Gun), Loggins' "Danger Zone" is a crowd pleaser anytime it's played.

And though it's not from his "Alive" album, it's hard not to like a song that a guy who dances like this tosses out there.

12. EMF: Unbelievable

Does anyone else remember that old school MLB commercial that had this song in the background from the mid-90s?

We tried our damnedest to try and track it down (unsuccessfully), but, rest assured, it existed.

That single commercial made us literally go outside and sing this song while diving in the backyard for self-thrown pop flies.

Yeah, pretty lame on our part, but great song.

11. Bill Conti: Gonna Fly Now

While we referenced Kenny Loggins' "Danger Zone" as being one of the most perfect songs from a movie, Conti's "Gonna Fly Now" might be the most recognizable.

It's hard not to get motivated to do something great each time this song is played.

10. House of Pain: Jump Around

Ask anyone who went to or currently goes to the University of Wisconsin about this jam, and they'll tell you why it's so damn great.

Badger fans aside, this song is perfect for a sports venue, so trust that you need to play it while doing anything physical.

9. The Alan Parsons Project: Sirius

If you were a Bulls fan in the 90s—which most of us 20-something's admit to being—you know exactly why this song is great.

Seeing MJ and his teammates being introduced to it before each game meant there was going to be a serious running of the bulls.

8. Van Halen: Jump

Oh David Lee Roth and Van Halen, thank you for this.

It's cliche to play anytime there's a jump ball at a basketball game, but we really like it more for the shout out it got from the movie Big Daddy!

7. Tag Team: Whoomp! (There It Is)

Anytime we're at a game and we hear this, all we think about is The Mighty Ducks 2 when they played street hockey.

When the "Minnesota Miracle Man" couldn't inspire the Ducks to play, at least "Whoompin'" it would.

6. 1985 Chicago Bears: Super Bowl Shuffle

It's always great for a fan to see athletes step outside their comfort zones and do something a little off-beat, so seeing the Super Bowl-winning Bears do it with their own tune was great.

They might not be the most talented singers out there, but it's just too catchy not to listen to.

5. John Fogerty: Centerfield

An absolute classic, the lead man from CCR really nailed it with this song.

Any kid who rides the pine in little league can relate to this song oh too well—until they get stuck in right field and not center.

Come on, no one goes opposite field in tee ball, coach!

4. Queen: We Will Rock You

Seeing that Queen's on this list twice, you'd probably imagine they get our vote for being the best sports band of all-time in our book.

Short and sweet, every fan knows what to say whenever they hear Freddy Mercury and the boys start playing this tune.

3. Survivor: Eye of the Tiger

If you need some inspiration and want to have a good time, put this Survivor song on.

Everyone who has hearing knows what to do when they hear this, so put it on and see greatness ooze out of everyone around you.

It's loud, it's hard—it might just be the perfect sports song.

2. AC/DC: Thunderstruck

One of the greatest openings to any song ever written, sports fans go wild each time this plays in an arena.

As a UK grad, we can't help but remember watching the Cats run up-and-down the hardwood when we hear it—or Varsity Blues when the guys play hungover.

1. John Tesh: Roundball Rock

Busting out a quality song like "Barcelona," we all should have seen the genius of John Tesh coming out with this amazing sports song.

We're not saying it's the best sports song ever created, but we'll argue that it's in the top-3.

Can the NBA go back to NBC just so we can hear this every weekend?