There are times in all our hockey lives when we need a little extra inspiration. Often we turn to our coach, our captain, or just that nuggety little bloke who plays at left half. And then, of course, there is the sound of music, and I’m not talking Julie Andrews twirling in the Austrian Alps. I’m talking big ballsy guitar riffs, heavy bass and a singer whose life depends on it. It might be blaring in the car on the way to a game or pumping through your iPod during your warm up, but everyone has a favourite. But what is the greatest fire up track of all time?

From the outset, I knew I couldn’t please everyone. We each have our own taste. But I’ve done my research, jacked up the iPod, switched on the heart rate monitor and scoured my iTunes, to bring you…

THE TOP TEN FIRE UP SONGS OF ALL TIME.

10. All Fired Up

The 80s are an absolute hot bed of power ballads and emotive fire up tracks and I kind of couldn’t do this list without mentioning this classic 1988 track by Pat Benatar. Hmmmm…unashamedly a fire up track, super popular in Australia for those who just couldn’t get excited about the Expo in Brisbane in the same year. Great for the literal members of our hockey community, the message is clear, now go fire up, fire up, fire up…

9. I Would Do Anything For Love

Meatloaf. WOW! Seriously what can you say about this song, this man? Look, before I tell you why this song has made the list, I just want to talk about something that has always disturbed me. One of the main lyrics in this epic track goes a little something like this “And I would do anything for love, but I won’t do that….No, I won’t do that!” What exactly is it that he won’t do? Have sex with her cat? Cos, I mean, I wouldn’t do that either. No I wouldn’t do that. Meatloaf gets my nod cos the man sweats like an absolute animal and gives it his all. What more can you ask of a singer? His songs are also Don-McLean-esque in length and they’ll fill in the hours as you take the long trek out to ‘Burra on a Sunday arvo. David Fincher (Fight Club) saw the golden goodness that is Meatloaf, and I have to agree. Sans man boobs.

8. Right Here, Right Now

Fatboy Slim is f….not as cool as he used to be, and this song got an absolute hiding by every TV sports show in the universe during the late 90s. BUT, it’s still great. The sense of anticipation that builds in its opening minute is electric and all before a single word is sung. You may have moved on from Fatboy Slim’s fast beats and now be chillaxing in your chunky knit cardy to some twee pop at a bohemian coffee joint in Brunswick, but this track still holds up. It still stirs your senses. It still gets your heels bouncing. And still fires you up.

7. All These Things That I’ve Done

One of the more melodic tracks on the list, it’s a little surprise packet, brought to you by The Killers. It snoozes for a while, a slow build, but when it hits 2 minutes and 25 seconds, this song takes on a life of its own. “I got soul, but I’m not a soldier”… man, I don’t even know what that means, but set it to a rhythmic bass line and get a bunch of people chanting it in chorus and you’ve got yourself an awe inspiring 55 second interlude. I really like this one.

6. O’Fortuna

It may come as a surprise that a classical track has found its way into the top 10, but trust me, if this thing doesn’t fire you up, check your pulse, cos seriously you may be dead. Carl Orff composed this sinister sounding melody for an opera called Carmina Burana, but the easiest way to describe it is the ‘Bohemian Rhapsody of the 1930s’. Made more recently famous by Carlton Draught (“It’s a big ad!”), this song was flogged during the 90s and remixed within an inch of its life. But if you haven’t got it on your iPod, quick, go steal it from Limewire or your Grandpa’s CD collection.

5. Jump

I don’t know, maybe it’s just me, but when Van Halen tells me to JUMP! Go ahead and jump! I not only jump, I ask “How high?” It is true mid-eighties awesomeness. It’s anthemic sentiment and synthy licks get you bouncing around like a hairdresser about to watch “America’s Next Top Model”. Not the same animal instinct of other’s on this list, but a great track all the same. Devotees of 80s music must include this on their play list of fire up songs. Tatiana Grigorieva loves it. And maybe she’ll love you too, if you listen to it.

4. We Will Rock You / We Are The Champions

So, I’m kind of cheating here. Yes this is actually two songs, but I just couldn’t separate them. Like any good fitness trainer will tell you, you’ve got to warm up and you’ve got to cool down, or in this case FIRE UP and FIRE DOWN. There’s nothing quite like swaying with your drunken team mates and belting out some Queen at 4am in the morning. We Will Rock You is the definitive ‘kick some arse’ warm up track and We Are The Champions is, in all its arrogant glory, the ultimate ‘we kicked some arse’ wind down track. Pure excess.

3. AC/DC

Ok, ok, so now I’m completely cheating. This obviously isn’t a song, it’s a band, but if any rock group in history can fire you up these boys can. Simple, gut-wrenching guitar riffs, that make you wanna bust through a wall and choke on your own vomit. If I had to pick one song, it would be Thunderstruck. The grunty chant at the head should get any red-blooded hockey player thirsty for a victory. Or just 14 bottles of Vodka and a limousine.

2. Da! Da-Da-Da! Da-Da-Da! Da-Da-Daaaaaa!

Yes, that’s right! It’s The Eye Of The Tiger, it’s the thrill of the fight, rising up to the challenge of its rivals, and it’s one seriously awesome fire up song. Performed by Survivor (not the TV show), it was originally written for the film Rocky III. Arguably the greatest theme song of all time. It’s guaranteed to get you punching. And with lyrics like “I went the distance, now I’m not gonna stop. Just a man and his will to survive”. Just listening to it, you’ll be strapping on your gloves and endorsing appliances in no time.

1. Killing In The Name Of

In the interests of impartiality, I’ve given this song the due credit I believe it deserves. While not a massive fan of the band personally, this song’s effect is undeniable. Rage against the machine aren’t renowned for their love ballads and this song is no exception. You only need to see the surging pit of die hard fans at their concerts to realise this song incites some serious emotion in people. Even Daft Punk, the slightly more subdued French duo, used Killing in the name of as a warm/fire up song on their recent world tour. And, well, if Daft Punk picked it, it must be cool. This is a seriously aggressive track that will unleash your inner-animal. Or inner-man if you’re a chick.