Beat Sparty Playlist

One of the best things about living on the West Coast for 12 years was that the opening round of games would come on at 9 a.m. during college football season.  Gameday?  Maybe just to catch a glimpse of Samantha Ponder and issue metaphysical props to Desmond.  But that’s a totally unnecessary 6 a.m. start while I got Zs to catch, Joe to sip, and chills to take. Love ya Bo, but toe meets leather at sunrise would've been better.

I’m on the East Coast now though, and it’s an overall good change.  The pizza’s way better, the distances much shorter, and the rap game superior.  But those noon games really start at noon now, and so tomorrow I’ll have a couple waking hours to pass before Michigan commences the Sparty ass-whupping.  Household chores beckon, and that can only mean one thing: a need for tunes.

I accordingly began compiling my Saturday morning, pre-MSU game playlist, and thought “hey, it might be fun to make this an MGoBlog board topic so that others can recommend good songs for the list!”  Hopefully you agree.  I’ll get us started with a few, and welcome you to add your own.

1. Midnight Oil, Forgotten Years

It’s a new day in Ann Arbor.  The team looks formidable this season, and is built on a strong foundation that should set Michigan up for sustained success in the years to come.  But we do not forget the path that brought us here.  Win this game for those who were not so fortunate.

2. LCD Soundsystem, Dance Yrself Clean

“Talking like a jerk except you are an actual jerk and living proof … sometimes friends are mean”

Yep.  This track goes out to your MSU friend/friendi who were insufferable last year and would be again if M didn’t TCOB tomorrow.  But like Kasey Kasem used to say, "keep your feet on their throat and keep reaching the ball across the freaking goal line."  Or something like that.

3. Melle Mel, White Lines

We dig into the oldest school of hip-hop song for this one.  Mel was talking about the crack rock (okay, maybe powdered cocaine but are you really going to pull some technicality to deny me a chance to use the phrase "crack rock" all these years later?), but crack rock and MSU are very similar in many respects. "Pay your toll, sell your soul.  Pound for pound it costs more than gold."  Yeah it does.

4. Radiohead, A Drunken Punchup at a Wedding

Sweet Radiohead tune about the ultimate miserable asshole whose very existence seems dedicated to making others miserable too.  Staee?  Staee. 

5. Sergio Mendes & Rio 66: Mas Que Nada

The Portuguese title of this song roughly translates to “more than anything.”  Like, we need to beat State this year mas que porra nada.  (Or Saturday will not be a very bom dia).

Alright, six tracks is a good start.  What else goes on the Beat Sparty playlist?