For previous Inappropriate Walk Up Music posts, click here.

Every day until Opening Day, Scratchbomb presents three tunes that are completely, unequivocally inappropriate for use as major league walk-up
music.

These are not necessarily bad songs–although that
certainly helps. They are merely songs that don’t evoke the fear and dread one traditionally associates with the walk-up song. In fact, they evoke the exact opposite.

Imagine yourself in the on-deck circle. Bottom of the 9th. Down by one. Man on second, two out. You hear the PA system blare, The centerfielder, number 20… The crowd roars at the sound of your name. And as you stroll to the batter’s box, you are greeted with the strains of one of these songs:

* “I’m a Boy”, The Who
A good slice of Mod-era Who, but the subject matter obviously puts it in the Inappropriate ledger. I’m surprised they were allowed to release this song way back in the 60s. Not too many songs about crossdressers back then, even in England (except “Arnold Layne”, that’s about it). And as far as I know, not any others about kids forced to crossdress because their mothers wish they were girls.

* “Octopus”, Syd Barrett
Mentioning an early Pink Floyd track in today’s first selection made me think of this Syd Barrett tune from The Madcap Laughs. That entire album is like listening to someone desperately cling to sanity, and it’s sad and terrifying to know that he never truly succeeded. I find this cut from it particularly awesome/disturbing.

* “To Be With You”, Mr. Big
It’s no better or worse than any other crappy 80s Power Ballad, but it’s inspired far too many dudes with acoustic guitars to film themselves playing it, then post it to YouTube. And no, I’m not going to link to any of those videos, because that’s an almost textbook definition of shooting fish in a barrel.