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Top 100 Pregame Pump-Up Songs of All Time
David Daniels@TheRealDDanielsSenior Writer IApril 21, 2011Top 100 Pregame Pump-Up Songs of All Time
Editor's Note: Click here for an updated list on the best pregame pump-up songs of all time!
What do you look to when you need to get pumped up during warm-ups pregame or to lift weights? The most effective option for many athletes is to play music.
Football, basketball, baseball, hockey, track and soccer—yes, even soccer—players, can harness the adrenaline rush they trigger listening to these songs to receive a physical edge during competition.
This is a remake of an earlier pump-up list.
There are three classifications of pump-up songs:
First, there's the "inspirational" track. The lyrics are the sole focus of this type of song.
The next class of song is "swagger." These pump-up songs all have pride-centered lyrics that build up confidence.
The last type is a "fight" song. This music is exactly what it sounds like; what you listen to before a fight.
Here are the top 100 pregame pump-up songs of all-time:
**Warning NSFW: Some of the tracks in this list contain explicit lyrics**
100. Champions: Ron Artest
Classification: Inspirational
Why It's Worthy: The release was announced after a dramatic NBA Finals Game 7 victory on live television—enough said.
99. Let It Rock: Kevin Rudolf Featuring Lil Wayne
Classification: Inspirational
Why It's Worthy: Like peanut butter and jelly go together on a sandwich, rock and rap go together on a pump-up song.
98. Out Here Grindin': DJ Khaled
Classification: Swagger
Why It's Worthy: A lot of people hate DJ Khaled, but he comes out with hot beat after hot beat, and his lyrics have the cockiness that goes great on a warm-up CD.
97. I Am the Champion: B.O.B.
Classification: Swagger
Why It's Worthy: The theme song on ESPN for bowl week this year, basically a modern, better, version of Queen's We Are the Champions.
96. Bleed It Out: Linkin Park
Classification: Inspirational
Why It's Worthy: In sports, the term "blood, sweat and tears" is a popular cliché, so Bleed it Out fits that toughness perfectly.
95. All I Do Is Win: DJ Khaled
Classification: Swagger
Why It's Worthy: Simple: In the weight room, you're training to win, not just one game, but every single game.
94. Move: Ludacris
Classification: Fight
Why It's Worthy: Our first "fight" song, this song was going through Marshawn Lynch's head on his "Beast Mode" run.
93. TNT: AC/DC
Classification: Fight
Why It's Worthy: AC/DC's first of many on this list, there's not many more powerful metaphors used in the world of sports than an explosion.
92. Never Scared (Remix): Bone Crusher
Classification: Swagger
Why It's Worthy: If you're scared in an athletic competition you're done, but if you're never scared, you're always in the game.
91. Let's Get It Started: Black Eyed Peas
Classification: Inspirational
Why It's Worthy: Once an NBA Finals theme, there aren't many better songs to come out of the locker room to.
90. Fever Dream: Tyler Bates
Classification: Fight
Why It's Worthy: The most popular instrumental from one of the manliest movies ever made.
89. Game Time: Gbread
Classification: Swagger
Why It's Worthy: Track made by the "Greg Jennings broken leg" dude so you know this will help you put the team on your back.
88. Soldier: Eminem
Classification: Fight
Why It's Worthy: Kellen Winslow would have a fit if this song didn't make the list.
87. When They Come for Me: Linkin Park
Classification: Inspirational
Why It's Worthy: Find me a song better for a sprinter and I'll give you a dollar...not really.
86. I Made It: Kevin Rudolf
Classification: Inspirational
Why It's Worthy: The song talks about the journey of an underdog making it big, something that almost any athlete can relate to—well, at least the underdog part.
85. Dirt Off Your Shoulder: Jay-Z
Classification: Swagger
Why It's Worthy: Seriously, what would you rather feel like other than a pimp before the big game?
84. Riot: Three Days Grace
Classification: Fight
Why It's Worthy: FIU came out to this song against Miami a few years ago: talk about effective.
83. Put On: Young Jeezy
Classification: Inspirational
Why It's Worthy: Pro athletes often give credit to cities and fanbases for success, and no track reps a hometown like Put On.
82. Not Afraid: Eminem
Classification: Inspirational
Why It's Worthy: Never scared, not afraid, same concept, except Eminem takes it to another level.
81. O Fortuna: Carmina Burana
Classification: Inspirational
Why It's Worthy: I can't understand a word they're saying, but this track is off the charts in terms of being dramatic.
80. Forever: Drake
Classification: Inspirational
Why It's Worthy: "Last name ever, first name greatest," with that incredible instrumental, the rapping could've ended right there.
79. 8 Mile: Eminem
Classification: 8 Mile
Why It's Worthy: The movie 8 Mile is the pretty much the rapper version of Rocky.
78. Run This Town: Jay-Z
Classification: Swagger
Why It's Worthy: The killer instrumental, the cockiest rapper alive, the hook queen, oh yeah, and one of the best lyricists ever.
77. Oh!: Union Turnpike
Classification: Swagger
Why It's Worthy: Another rock/rap combo is guaranteed to get the adrenaline pumping.
76. List of Demands: Saul Williams
Classification: Inspirational
Why It's Worthy: A Nike special, this song is the definition of up-tempo.
75. Stuntin' Like My Daddy: Lil Wayne
Classification: Swagger
Why It's Worthy: This fast paced beat combined with Lil Wayne's always-cocky lyrics could provide a confidence boost to anyone.
74. Throw Down: Pillar
Classification: Fight
Why It's Worthy: "Ah yeah, you like that don't cha," is the best intro ever.
73. Numb/Encore: Linkin Park
Classification: Inspirational
Why It's Worthy: Who would've thought combining two mediocre songs would become a masterpiece? (It's the rock/rap combo.)
72. Ladies and Gentlemen: Saliva
Classification: Fight
Why It's Worthy: Ladies and Gentlemen was actually written for WrestleMania.
71. Rabbit Run: Eminem
Classification: Inspirational
Why It's Worthy: Another 8 Mile track, the track describes Eminem's struggle to find success.
70. Magika: Two Steps from Hell
Classification: Inspirational
Why It's Worthy: If I had to circle the entire world, climb the mountains and swim the seas, I could do it if I had this song on repeat.
69. Hand in Blood: Bullet for My Valentine
Classification: Fight
Why It's Worthy: Usually screaming in a song is a turn off, but it definitely fits if you're about to step onto the gridiron and lay the wood.
68. Ima Go Getta: Lil Wayne
Classification: Inspirational
Why It's Worthy: As you can tell, this is a song dedicated to Michael Phelps, and I wouldn't be surprised if he stopped training and just relied on this song to win races.
67. Crazy Train: Ozzy Osbourne
Classification: Inspirational
Why It's Worthy: This classic is arguably played more at sporting events than any other song.
66. Hero: Nas
Classification: Inspirational
Why It's Worthy: This is the theme song for "hero ball" in basketball when one player continues to shoot and shoot and shoot.
65. Bodies: Drowning Pool
Classification: Fight
Why It's Worthy: One of the best songs to listen to as a linebacker, right before you fill the hole.
64. I Am Number One: Nelly
Classification: Swagger
Why It's Worthy: "Two is not a winner and three nobody remember."
63. It's a Fight: Three 6 Mafia
Classification: Fight
Why It's Worthy: Anything from Rocky is perfect to listen to while you're training, and if you want something more modern than Eye of the Tiger, this is your song.
62. Ten Thousand Fists: Disturbed
Classification: Fight
Why It's Worthy: Disturbed's first of many songs on this list, the group is the best pump up band in the world of rock.
61. This Could Be Anywhere in the World: Alexisonfire
Classification: Inspirational
Why It's Worthy: The screaming and fluid singing combination is new to me, but that just means it should be able to pump up a broader audience range.
60. Break Stuff: Limp Bizkit
Classification: Fight
Why It's Worthy: Break Stuff—great weight room song, and again, a great linebacker song.
59. We Are One: 12 Stones
Classification: Inspirational
Why It's Worthy: The anti-hero ball song, a track to unite a team before the battle begins.
58. The Second Coming: Juelz Santana
Classification: Inspirational
Why It's Worthy: Another Nike special, it doesn't have the up-tempo beat, but its lyrics are phenomenal.
57. Paper Cut: Linkin Park
Classification: Fight
Why It's Worthy: More Linkin Park, could it possibly be the rock/rap combo in a lot of their songs?
56. Stronger: Kanye West
Classification: Inspirational
Why It's Worthy: "Harder, better, faster, stronger," has been adopted as a motto by about a million professional trainers.
55. Down with the Sickness: Disturbed
Classification: Fight
Why It's Worthy: I wish the entire song was just filled with random shouts of, "Ohhh AH-AH-AH-AH!"
54. We Made It: Busta Rhymes
Classification: Inspirational
Why It's Worthy: A lyrical masterpiece, plus, who doesn't like the random appearance by Mr. Unbreakable in the video?
53. You're Going Down: Sick Puppies
Classification: Fight
Why It's Worthy: Most fight songs don't have the most creative lyrics, but the Sick Puppies nailed this one.
52. Cinderella Man: Eminem
Classification: Inspirational
Why It's Worthy: Men's teams were getting insulted when they were getting called Cinderellas, so Eminem made a song called Cinderella MAN—now everyone's happy.
51, I Don't Wanna Stop: Ozzy Osbourne
Classification: Inspirational
Why It's Worthy: This song may not be as popular as Crazy Train, but it's the better pump up track.
50. Triumph: Pitbull
Classification: Inspirational
Why It's Worthy: Usually all Pitbull raps are club bangers, but this song should in every locker room in America.
49. Drop the Bombshell: Powerman 5000
Classification: Fight
Why It's Worthy: You know when you saw the name Powerman this track was going to come hard.
48. Born to Win: Papoose
Classification: Inspirational
Why It's Worthy: Unlike some songs that just turn out to be good pump up songs, Born to Win was made with that in mind.
47. Crawling in the Dark: Hoobastank
Classification: Inspirational
Why It's Worthy: Nothing symbolizes toughness like crawling in the dark.
46. Bawitdaba: Kid Rock
Classification: Fight
Why It's Worthy: I don't know "Bawitdaba" if is a word, but if it's not, it should be added to the dictionary immediately.
45. Riot Maker: Tech N9NE
Classification: Fight
Why It's Worthy: This song is playing in every baseball pitcher's head before he beans a batter and starts a bench-clearing brawl.
44. Sandstorm: Darude
Classification: Inspirational
Why It's Worthy: I don't know what's up with the music video, but this techno beat is one of the best out there.
43. Boom: P.O.D.
Classification: Fight
Why It's Worthy: What other song can pump up a football player and a ping pong player alike?
42. Heart of Champion: Nelly
Classification: Inspirational
Why It's Worthy: This song can pump anyone up, but it gives a little extra boost if you're name is Nelly.
41. Rawkfist: Thousand Foot Krutch
Classification: Fight
Why It's Worthy: The Manny Pacquiao theme song, rock* fist.
40. Enter Sandman: Metallica
Classification: Fight
Why It's Worthy: "Sleep with one eye open, grippin' your pillow tight," is such an epic line.
39. Sirius: Alan Parsons
Classification: Inspirational
Why It's Worthy: This played before every one of Michael Jordan's home games, and just look how good he played: proof.
38. Victory: The Notorious B.I.G.
Classification: Inspirational
Why It's Worthy: The Rocky instrumental in the background of hip hop legends, would it turn out to be anything but greatness?
37. Push It: Rick Ross
Classification: Inspirational
Why It's Worthy: Forget 110 percent, push it to the limit.
36. The Contender Theme: Hans Zimmer
Classification: Inspirational
Why It's Worthy: The Contender theme song pumped up fighters, it pumped up Jack Sparrow, it can pump up you.
35. You're Gonna Go Far Kid: The Offspring
Classification:Inspirational
Why It's Worthy: The fast-paced beat and amazing chorus makes you forget about the nasally voice.
34. The Pretender: Foo Fighters
Classification: Inspirational
Why It's Worthy: You don't want to be called a pretender in sports, just ask LeBron.
33. Kernkraft 400 (Remix): Zombie Nation
Classification: Inspirational
Why It's Worthy: Okay, the first part is annoying, but if you can survive until the chanting begins, you're set.
32. The Realist Killaz: 2Pac
Classification: Fight
Why It's Worthy: The greatest rapper ever releasing music from the dead: inspirational.
31. Click: Saliva
Classification: Fight
Why It's Worthy: Commonplace on NFL hits videos, Click is a must-have if you're a physical player.
30. More: Usher
Classification: Inspirational
Why It's Worthy: The only R&B track on the list, it's pretty much Kobe Bryant's theme song.
29. Back in Black: AC/DC
Classification: Inspirational
Why It's Worthy: Steelers fans embraced Black and Yellow as their theme song last season, but they should have chosen Back in Black instead.
28. Monster: Skillet
Classification: Fight
Why It's Worthy: In sports, almost all of the best athletes have a switch they flip when they're between the lines that turns them into a monster, aka the killer instinct.
27. My Time: Fabolous
Classification: Inspirational
Why It's Worthy: If you've had to wait your turn in sports, this song is for you.
26. Headstrong: Trapt
Classification: Fight
Why It's Worthy: Headstrong definition: determined to have one's own way; stubbornly and often recklessly willful
25. The Beast: Tech N9NE
Classification: Fight
Why It's Worthy: The beastliest song ever. #corniestpunever
24. Animal I Have Become: Three Days Grace
Classification: Fight
Why It's Worthy: Same concept as Monster, nothing is intimidating about a plain old human being...
23. Hells Bells: AC/DC
Classification: Inspirational
Why It's Worthy: AC/DC's instrumentals do more than their lyrics for getting the adrenaline flowing, but that's not an insult by any means.
22. All the Above: Maino
Classification: Inspirational
Why It's Worthy: This is a song Maino released after getting out of prison, but the beat and underdog lyrics make this song great, not relate-ability.
21. Welcome to the Jungle: Guns N' Roses
Classification: Fight
Why It's Worthy: Welcome to the Jungle is another fixture at sporting events around the country.
20. We Ready: Archie Eversole
Classification: Swagger
Why It's Worthy: Even Ray Lewis adopted We Ready to add to his pregame chant.
19. Symphony of Destruction: Megadeth
Classification: Fight
Why It's Worthy: Symphony of Destruction has to be one of the greatest song titles on this list.
18. The Final Countdown: Europe
Classification: Inspirational
Why It's Worthy: This song could've made the list as just an instrumental.
17. Frontline: Pillar
Classification: Fight
Why It's Worthy: Going to war is an often used metaphor when it comes to playing sports, and Frontline fits that intense mindset.
16. Remember the Name: Fort Minor
Classification: Inspirational
Why It's Worthy: It may be overplayed, but that doesn't change the fact that "Remember the Name," is lyrically one of the greatest pump up songs ever.
15. We Will Rock You: Queen
Classification: Swagger
Why It's Worthy: The definition of a classic, fans have been stomping their feet in stadiums for decades thanks to this song.
14. Gonna Fly Now: Bill Conti
Classification: Inspirational
Why It's Worthy: You had to know the Rocky theme song was going to show up eventually.
13. Warrior: Disturbed
Classification: Fight
Why It's Worthy: Some rock bands focus all on their guitar solos and forget about the lyrics, but Disturbed paints the picture of a warrior with perfection.
12. Requiem for a Dream: Clint Mansell
Classification: Inspirational
Why It's Worthy: It's arguably the most popular instrumental of all-time.
11. The Trooper: Iron Maiden
Classification: Inspirational
Why It's Worthy: As soon as I discount a good guitar solo, Iron Maiden blows you away with one.
10. Blow Me Away: Breaking Benjamin
Classification: Fight
Why It's Worthy: This song doesn't even need the 300 video to ignite an army.
9. Lose Yourself: Eminem
Classification: Inspirational
Why It's Worthy: "Look...if you had...one shot...or one opportunity...this is everything you ever wanted...one moment...would you capture it...or just let it slip?"
8. The Longest Yard: Nelly
Classification: Fight
Why It's Worthy: The third, final, and best "boom" song and The Longest Yard theme song.
7. Right Now: Van Halen
Classification: Inspirational
Why It's Worthy: The intro is flawless, the chorus is flawless, it would be the top classic if it wasn't for one more song on this list...
6. In the Zone: David Banner
Classification: Inspirational
Why It's Worthy: It was made for the last U.S. Summer Olympic team, and the lyrics are flawless.
5. 300 Violin Orchestra: Jorge Quintero
Classification: Inspirational
Why It's Worthy: It's not as famous as "Requiem for a Dream," but it's the greatest pump-up instrumental ever.
4. Indestructible: Disturbed
Classification: Fight
Why It's Worthy: Disturbed strikes again, you'll be able to run through a wall after listening to this one: what door?
3. Eye of the Tiger: Survivor
Classification: Inspirational
Why It's Worthy: The classic, made famous by Rocky. You say game face, I say eye of the tiger.
2. Can't Be Touched: Roy Jones Jr.
Classification: Swagger
Why It's Worthy: Most professional athletes are absolutely horrible rappers, but Roy Jones Jr. KO's this track.
1. Till I Collapse (Remix): Eminem
Classification: Inspirational
Why It's Worthy: The original was unbelievable, but Eminem, 50 Cent, and 2Pac on one track: auto-adrenaline.
David Daniels is an NFL Featured Columnist at Bleacher Report and a Syndicated Writer. Follow him and Bleacher Report Swagger on Twitter.