A Music Playlist for Softball 2025 – New Songs or Golden Oldies?

As I’ve assembled playlists for various sports and events over the years, I’ve learned the importance of having a wide range of songs. I think it’s for obvious reasons but the biggest is because people like all kinds of different songs and styles. With that said, it’s also important to have a theme. For instance, I’m not going to play Disney songs at a funeral. Or slow ballads at a men’s retreat. There’s usually an overarching theme for each event but within that, anything goes. The most recent compilation was for my men’s adult league softball. Check it below then scroll down for an epiphany I had about the songs on the list…

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I hope there are a few songs you like on that list but at the same time, I hope you’re exposed to some songs you haven’t heard before. Same goes for me. As I’m researching and listening to songs, I go for songs that I know will work well and also listen to a lot of songs I’m not familiar with. I learned something as I put this particular list together: It’s important to cater to age and tempo. Most of the guys on the softball team are middle-aged so I’m discovering what songs illicit a positive response are the ones from previous decades. Classic rock, 90s country, Taylor Swift. OK, I threw in a Taylor song just for giggles but to tell you the truth, there was more reaction to her than any other specific artist on the playlist. Crazy, right? But rest assured, there is only one Taylor song on the list at any given time. Even within these genres (classic rock, 90s country, etc), tempo matters. I’m not going to include Tim McGraw’s “It’s Your Love” but I’m sure as heck blasting “I Like It, I Love It” because it’s an uptempo song where lyrics are not super important. That’s another thing, lyrics. I try to avoid songs that require a lot of close attention. If the song is telling a story or the lyrics are deep/meaningful, I skip it. The music needs to be thought of as background noise but in a positive way.

If I were making a softball playlist for guys in their 20s or women in their 20s, the songs would be a lot different than the playlist I shared before. I guess it’s a generational thing, too. But in every sporting scenario, they’re songs that help us feel good because when we feel good, we play good. So to answer the question in the title of this post, I guess it’s kind of like a band playing a concert. Play appropriate songs that most of the people already know and pepper in an unfamiliar (or new) one every now and then.

Or something like that.

-Out of the Wilderness