Rock 1999

Sandstorm as a Walkup Song

by Darude

Preview

Is "Sandstorm" a good walkup song?

The synth lead is one of the most recognizable hooks in EDM. Unlike most rock entrance songs, Sandstorm scales — it gets bigger and bigger as it plays. For an extended bullpen-to-mound walk with a stadium PA, no walkup gets a crowd more amped.

Notable players who've used it

Bobby Jenks made Sandstorm a famous closer entrance with the White Sox in the mid-2000s. Since then it's become a generation's favorite electronic closer entrance — used by minor league closers, college closers, and high school relievers who want EDM energy instead of metal.

How to trim "Sandstorm" for a walkup

Start at 0:30, run for 20 seconds. Skip the build. Trim into the main synth lead at 0:30 — that's the hook the crowd recognizes.

The trim point is the difference between a great walkup song and a great walkup. A song's first 15-20 seconds rarely happen to be the best 15-20 seconds — most popular tracks have a build, an intro, or a bridge before the hook lands. Pick the slice that hits hardest. The last second of your trim window should land on a peak, right as the player steps into the box.

Best for

• Closers
• Pitchers
• Stadium hype

Clean / explicit version notes

"Sandstorm" has no explicit content — it's safe for any age and any league. No need for a clean version or careful trimming. Pick the song, set the trim, lock it in.

Songs that pair well with "Sandstorm"

If "Sandstorm" is on your shortlist, these are the walkup songs players most often consider alongside it. Same vibe, same energy, same kind of moment at the plate.

• Narco — Blasterjaxx & Timmy Trumpet
• Enter Sandman — Metallica
• X Gon' Give It to Ya — DMX

How to set up "Sandstorm" for your team

Setting up a walkup song requires three things: an app that handles per-player audio, custom trim points, and one-tap playback on game day.

1. Build your roster in Walkup Pro — assign "Sandstorm" to the player who picked it
2. Scrub to 0:30 and set the trim duration to 20 seconds
3. Connect a Bluetooth speaker at the field (a JBL Charge or similar will cover any youth field — see our guide to the best Bluetooth speakers for a baseball field)
4. On game day, tap to play as the player walks to the box

For a complete game-day setup walkthrough, see how to play walkup songs at baseball games. For more on what makes a great walkup work, see the anatomy of the perfect walkup song.