We all do it. Before a meeting to get pumped up. Prior to a date to calm the nerves. On the D1 bus heading to the office. While waiting for the red line Metro to start working again. Everyone has a “go-to” song for various occasions and DC is no different. I ask some of the Beltway’s heavy-hitters what’s blaring through their ear-buds to pump them up:
Updated 03/27 12:20pm
Grover Norquist, President, Americans for Tax Reform
“[I] listen to classic rock on Sirius satellite radio…channel 25 and 26. Green Onion on the ATR hold music.”
Neil Chatterjee, Senate Leader Mitch McConnell’s Office
“I’ve got three kids who have taken control of my iPad and filled it with everything from Taylor Swift to the Backyardigans. I hate to admit it but I often find myself jamming to their tunes….even when they’re not in the car. When I snap out of it and take over the DJ-ing I bounce around Mumford and Sons, Sublime, AC/DC and miscellaneous 90’s rap.”
Brad Dayspring, NRSC Communications Director
“I listen to Guns N Roses at least once a day every day, especially when I need to get a boost. GN’R is the soundtrack of my life. Metallica runs second.”
Anonymous Tech Lobbyist
“My office listening normally revolves around Pandora. Brett Dennan station for mellow days, Claptone (house music not Eric) station for intense ones.”
Morgan Gress, Editor, FamousDC.com
“Are You Gonna Be My Girl by Jet and Beyonce. Obvi.”
Addison Smith, VP Sphere Consulting
“Kendrick Lamar – m.A.A.d city”
Sara Decker, Sen. Rubio (R-FL)
“If you know me, doesn’t take very much to get me pumped up. Musical theme songs are just a bonus. But my go-to is generally anything on the Arcade Fire Pandora or Spotify station…and the David Gray station for when I feel like we’re losing the fight for freedom.”
Booth Jameson, Senior Director Federal Relations, American Chemistry Council
“No go-to, necessarily. A Steely Dan CD, or if my son is in car, Call Me Maybe?!”
Patrick Gleason, Director of State Affairs, Americans for Tax Reform
“Closer by Nine Inch Nails. It makes me feel warm and fuzzy.”
Anonymous Healthcare Lobbyist
“Like a G6”
Robert Cogan, Legislative Director, Rep. Black (R-TN)
“A typical playlist for me includes the Rolling Stones, Police, James Taylor, Widespread Panic, The Samples, Beastie Boys, Talking Heads and Pearl Jam (to name a few). My go-to song to get fired up is (usually) DISCO by Widespread Panic from the album Light Fuse Get Away.”
Editor, ClotureClub.com
“I like a wide variety of music, my pump up music when I exercise is generally anything from the Killers album Hot Fuss. My car radio dial generally stays on 98.7 WMZQ, country music reminds me of home and growing up in the South. I also really enjoy the new albums by Fun! and Mumford and Sons.”
My ‘go-to’ song is as fluid as the vote schedule. Currently, Maino feat. T-Pain, All the Above, gets me pumped up. Right now, I’m listening to the Buggles, Video Killed the Radio Star.”
Kelly Cobb, Senior Director of External Affairs, CATO Institute
“New Phoenix single, Entertainment. New album “Bankrupt” is out in a month.”
Anonymous Transportation Lobbyist
“Whatever’s playing on my Avett Brothers Pandora station.”
Amos Snead, Story Partners
“Old school Outkast or Jay-Z to get pumped up #CanILive?”
Alex Schauffler, Washington Nationals Communications Manager
“Because I work in baseball, I think in terms of ‘walk-up songs,’ and mine would either be I Ain’t Superstitious by Jeff Beck or Infinity Guitars by Sleigh Bells. But I do get pumped up when I hear Thunderstruck at the start of every Nationals game.”
What are you jamming out to?