Music at the Ballpark

[a700hitter]

This is a poll for people who go to games at Fenway. If you don't go, please don't vote. I am trying to gauge the opinion of the Fenway Faithful. Now, maybe I'm just turning into an old fuddy duddy, but I always liked the sounds of the game-- the bat hitting the ball, the ball hitting the catchers mitt, and the umpire's strike call. If you had good seats you could hear some of the stuff the players said to each other. Today, it is so loud at the game that you can't even have a conversation during the game about strategy. A big part of the fun of going to the game is talking about it with friends. Does every player need to have their own music when they come to the plate? I don't see how that adds to the fans enjoyment. It seems to me that it is additional noise that is tailored toward pleasing the players and not enhancing the game watching experience for the fans.

[SoxSport]

The music at ballparks these days sucks. In fact mainstream music--the stuff on TV, in the commercials, etc, is a bunch of electronics crap they can play without musicians.

 

Did you hear those two girls singing "God Bless America" the last two WS games in Texas?

They couldn't even sing "My home sweet home" in the end properly--no voices.

It would have made the great Kate Smith shudder.

 

The Phillies had the late Harry Kalas' son, Kane Kallas, do the national Anthem a couple of times during the season. That kid has a big opera voice he could break glass with.

[Gringo]

I think they should revert back to organ music only. If a "traditional" experience is part of Fenway's appeal (and part of the club's marketing strategy), then they need to at least make the effort to play more organ and less recorded music.

 

Personalized songs for batters is on par with WWF entrance songs. It degrades the sport of baseball, and the practice should be banned.

 

I have an 80 year old uncle by marriage who goes to Phillies games, but says he can't stand the loud music. (And he's hard of hearing!)

 

And I don't blame him. It's overkill. Blasting loud rock and rap music continually made me and I'm sure many other people just dump the NBA like a case of the fleas.

 

I also get pissed off at Bruins games. It's out of control with the music. And the stupid goal song is an atrocity. They don't even let fans make our noise after a goal. Some jackass has his finger on the button a half second after the puck is in the net.

 

AWFUL

[jung]

I hate not being able to have a comfortable conversion at a baseball game and as strange as it may sound I long for the days when it was just....Evans-#24, Right Field, Evans

 

It sounded like Bingo night at the old folks home....O63....B21.....I19

[iortiz]

Well, I haven't had the opportunity to be in a MLB park (hopefully, next year I will go to Boston) so, I couldn't say, but for what I've watched on Tv, seems like the crew gets a lot of fun. Expirience a baseball game these days at ballparks is not like old days (at least here in Mexico). There are only few parks here where still you can expirience an old days environment, like in my place of birth (Veracruz,Mex). I mean, you find almost the same all people where you use to sit, smoking habanos, drinking mojitos, eating tacos of shrimp or fish with a lot hot sauce btw, filling the baseball scorecards, and mostly talking and expiriencing everything about the game with your friends and the people around while hearing all the sounds that surrounds the game itself. I love that ballpark, is just next to the beach, so you can feel the see-breeze and get a good tan as well (tropical weather) hehehehe . Hell, I miss my place of birth.

[redsoxrules]

This is a poll for people who go to games at Fenway. If you don't go' date=' please don't vote. I am trying to gauge the opinion of the Fenway Faithful. Now, maybe I'm just turning into an old fuddy duddy, [b']but I always liked the sounds of the game-- the bat hitting the ball, the ball hitting the catchers mitt, and the umpire's strike call. If you had good seats you could hear some of the stuff the players said to each other. Today, it is so loud at the game that you can't even have a conversation during the game about strategy.[/b] A big part of the fun of going to the game is talking about it with friends. Does every player need to have their own music when they come to the plate? I don't see how that adds to the fans enjoyment. It seems to me that it is additional noise that is tailored toward pleasing the players and not enhancing the game watching experience for the fans.

 

I agree with this !

I havent been to alot of games but I have been to 10 games and a few of those games I was sitting very close to the action and it was awesome that you could hear the players conversation ( when there was no music of corse )

[iortiz]

Hell, this thread made me want to buy a cigar and prepare a mojito in order to watch maybe the last game of the season...

 

Edit: I just noticed that it is PPD... Anyway I'll go.

[SoxSport]

You guys are right about the noise. I remember Fenway in the 50s when the only sound was the organ between innings, and Frank Fallon's voice announcing the batter.

 

Never any noise while a player was batting.

 

And not even a mouse was stirring when Williams was at bat.

[Gringo]

Well' date=' I haven't had the opportunity to be in a MLB park (hopefully, next year I will go to Boston) so, I couldn't say, but for what I've watched on Tv, seems like the crew gets a lot of fun. Expirience a baseball game these days at ballparks is not like old days (at least here in Mexico). There are only few parks here where still you can expirience an old days environment, like in my place of birth (Veracruz,Mex). I mean, you find almost the same all people where you use to sit, smoking habanos, drinking mojitos, eating tacos of shrimp or fish with a lot hot sauce btw, filling the baseball scorecards, and mostly talking and expiriencing everything about the game with your friends and the people around while hearing all the sounds that surrounds the game itself. I love that ballpark, is just next to the beach, so you can feel the see-breeze and get a good tan as well (tropical weather) hehehehe . Hell, I miss my place of birth.[/quote']

 

Sounds nice. I'd love to see some Mexican and Dominican League games someday. Seems like a totally different kind of experience. They go mental down in the DR and Puerto Rico.

[Palodios]

Pink hats love it. As much s*** as we give them, they're really the ones paying for all these massive contracts. Keep the music if it makes them happy. I'm a plebeian who sits in the cheap seats, and wouldn't be able to hear anything from right field anyway.

[mvp 78]

I don't mind the batters' entrance themes, but Sweet Caroline and the god awful "Play Ball" song need to die a painful death. The music is more noticeable at an NFL, NBA, or NHL game anyway.

[a700hitter]

I don't mind the batters' entrance themes' date=' but Sweet Caroline and the god awful "Play Ball" song need to die a painful death. The music is more noticeable at an NFL, NBA, or NHL game anyway.[/quote']Hockey and Basketball are out of control. You can't hear yourself think at those games.

[BigPapiEnFuego]

I don't mind the batters' entrance themes' date=' but Sweet Caroline and the god awful "Play Ball" song need to die a painful death. The music is more noticeable at an NFL, NBA, or NHL game anyway.[/quote']

 

I agree with this fully. That play ball song is that sort of country sounding song right? That s*** makes me cringe. I don't mind a short intro song to an AB but a lot of the other garbage has got to go.

 

 

They need to cut it down with all the goddamn ceremonies too. Every time I go to Fenway it's another damn hour long ceremony about something I don't care about. Either it's a bunch of kids with some illness, a bunch of kids who grew up in some crazy circumstances and finally learned how to read a book so their prize was a trip to Fenway, some ceremony for servicemen, 35 people throwing out a first pitch, some annoying kid singing the national anthem, or having to sit through new hampshire day or vermont day or any of that, or something else I didn't really pay 50+ dollars to see. It'd be nice to go to Fenway maybe an hour before the game, see batting practice then they clear that off the field and the game just starts.

[iortiz]

I agree with this fully. That play ball song is that sort of country sounding song right? That s*** makes me cringe. I don't mind a short intro song to an AB but a lot of the other garbage has got to go.

 

 

They need to cut it down with all the goddamn ceremonies too. Every time I go to Fenway it's another damn hour long ceremony about something I don't care about. Either it's a bunch of kids with some illness, a bunch of kids who grew up in some crazy circumstances and finally learned how to read a book so their prize was a trip to Fenway, some ceremony for servicemen, 35 people throwing out a first pitch, some annoying kid singing the national anthem, or having to sit through new hampshire day or vermont day or any of that, or something else I didn't really pay 50+ dollars to see. It'd be nice to go to Fenway maybe an hour before the game, see batting practice then they clear that off the field and the game just starts.

 

Wow! All this happen? Seems more like a telethon to me than a baseball game.

[a700hitter]

Wow! All this happen? Seems more like a telethon to me than a baseball game.

Yep. Every Sunday there is at least one ceremony. The Fenway Scholars thing takes forever because each kid is escorted on the field by a player and they are each introduced by the PA announcer. Have a ceremony for them in the State Street Club and have a few players meet them. I'd rather see some BP.

[iortiz]

Yep. Every Sunday there is at least one ceremony. The Fenway Scholars thing takes forever because each kid is escorted on the field by a player and they are each introduced by the PA announcer. Have a ceremony for them in the State Street Club and have a few players meet them. I'd rather see some BP.

 

In Mexico at local professional sport games we don't use to make ceremonies or sing our anthem or something like God bless America. We do it in very special occasions like in international tournaments, I love to hear our anthem specially in the FIFA world cup, I always get goose pimples hehehe

[BigPapiEnFuego]

In Mexico at local professional sport games we don't use to make ceremonies or sing our anthem or something like God bless America. We do it in very special occasions like in international tournaments' date=' I love to hear our anthem specially in the FIFA world cup, I always get goose pimples hehehe [/quote']

 

I wish it was like that here. In my opinion sporting events here have become nothing but a disgusting display of nationalism and consumerism. I really hate to say some hippie crap like that but it's true.

[Gringo]

In Mexico at local professional sport games we don't use to make ceremonies or sing our anthem or something like God bless America. We do it in very special occasions like in international tournaments' date=' I love to hear our anthem specially in the FIFA world cup, I always get goose pimples hehehe [/quote']

 

 

Since 9/11, the singing of "God Bless America" has become mandatory. It's as though if any of the team's music directors suggested to no longer have it sung, they'd be labelled "Anti-American"....

 

In my opinion, they've managed to strip away the solemnity and importance of the song and make it into just another in-game distraction, it's meaning and power lost through sheer repetition.

 

The National Anthem should be performed before every game, but they need to save "GBA" for special observances, like Patriot's Day, Flag Day, Memorial Day, July 4th, and Sept. 11th.

[iortiz]

I wish it was like that here. In my opinion sporting events here have become nothing but a disgusting display of nationalism and consumerism. I really hate to say some hippie crap like that but it's true.

 

I'm not sure, but I have understood that our government don't allow to mix our national symbols with private events like professional sport games, concerts etc. you need a permission first by the government in order to use national symbols (flag, anthemn, emblem-shield, etc.)

 

Since 9/11' date=' the singing of "God Bless America" has become mandatory[/b']. It's as though if any of the team's music directors suggested to no longer have it sung, they'd be labelled "Anti-American"....

 

In my opinion, they've managed to strip away the solemnity and importance of the song and make it into just another in-game distraction, it's meaning and power lost through sheer repetition.

 

The National Anthem should be performed before every game, but they need to save "GBA" for special observances, like Patriot's Day, Flag Day, Memorial Day, July 4th, and Sept. 11th.

 

Now I understand why you do it.

[Gringo]

I'm not sure, but I have understood that our government don't allow to mix our national symbols with private events like professional sport games, concerts etc. you need a permission first by the government in order to use national symbols (flag, anthemn, emblem-shield, etc.)

 

 

 

Now I understand why you do it.

 

It's not "mandatory" like League-mandated, I meant that it's virtually mandated. Nobody has the balls to say "enough" already.

[iortiz]

It's not "mandatory" like League-mandated' date=' I meant that it's virtually mandated. Nobody has the balls to say "enough" already.[/quote']

 

I see.

 

IMO the game should conserve some of its essentials and traditions and avoid some things that you guys already mentioned.

 

I like the part when the organ is played, I'd say that every ball park has one or at least a CD

[yeszir]

Yes. The blaring rap has got to stop.

[3rdManOut]

Im 40 and have been going to Fenway since 1976, (yeah I know thats young to some of you). You know ever since we won in 2004 I have noticed major changes in the music at Fenway. I really dont like the way it is now. I kinda do like it when Papelbon comes out and they play a small bit of the Dropkick Murphys song for him. However I think it would be better if they did that music when we are like down one and we need to rally up. I think that would be appropriate. Things are just way too loud now. I wouldn't dought if some of that music scares some of the younger kids.

[wyo-sox]

I know watching some other teams in the play offs blaring motley cr?e or guns and roses during big moments..... seemed to create / reflect a bit more electric atmosphere than Sweet Caroline. Welcome to the Jungle seems touch more bad ass than Sweet Caroline.

[3rdManOut]

I forget when they started Sweet Caroline and also um.........why?

[Gringo]

I know watching some other teams in the play offs blaring motley cr?e or guns and roses during big moments..... seemed to create / reflect a bit more electric atmosphere than Sweet Caroline. Welcome to the Jungle seems touch more bad ass than Sweet Caroline.

 

Sweet Caroline is just an annoying song, played to death....

 

But is "Welcome to the Jungle" really the kind of music that should be played at Fenway?

 

Gillette, sure....but baseball is different.

[Gringo]

I forget when they started Sweet Caroline and also um.........why?

 

It's actually a song that has been played at various sports venues for years. The advent of "Red Sox Nation" and the infestation of Pink Hats wrestled the tune away from every other team that occasionally played it, and now we seem to be stuck with it, all by ourselves....

 

Neil Diamond is the perfect singer for baby boomer yuppies and their milquetoast kids to feel all warm and fuzzy inside about.

 

It's "Friendly Fenway" now, full of happy songs, rainbows and ponies.

 

Some goofball music director played it, the crowd responded with enthusiasm, and it just took on a life of it's own.

 

:thumbdown

[3rdManOut]

 

It's "Friendly Fenway" now, full of happy songs, rainbows and ponies.

 

:thumbdown

 

You all know it wasnt like this back in the 70's and early 80's.

[User Name]

The sense of superiority and entitlement some Red Sox fans have is amazing. When you throw the "pink hat" label on anything you wouldn't see at a game in 1934, it kind of loses its touch.

 

Yes, I like the music. That being said, I'm 19 and I don't remember going to games where there wasn't, so it could be just the way I was brought up.

[User Name]

The sense of superiority and entitlement some Red Sox fans have is amazing. When you throw the "pink hat" label on anything you wouldn't see at a game in 1934, it kind of loses its touch.

 

Yes, I like the music. That being said, I'm 19 and I don't remember going to games where there wasn't, so it could be just the way I was brought up.

 

Those "pink hats" are what allow the Red Sox to be amongst the top of the league in payroll year-in, year-out. I hate Sweet Caroline, but it's not the end of the world.