“Got a real good feelin’ something bad about to happen.”
The line from the “Something Bad,” the 2014 Miranda Lambert and Carrie Underwood collaboration, serves as a message to Arizona fans — and the Wildcats’ opponents: Alyssa Palomino is coming.
The tune is one of two walk-up songs Palomino is using this year. Nancy Bowling used “Something Bad” last season; Palomino liked it so much that she adopted it.
“I just really like the beat and the ‘I’m coming up, something bad is going to happen to the other team,’” Palomino said. “I asked Nancy if I could use it and she said go for it.”
UA’s players are allowed to use 15-second portions of two songs for their walk-up music. They use one song on Fridays and Sundays, and the other on Saturday. The ninth-ranked Wildcats open Pac-12 play Friday night against Utah.
Here’s a look at some of the Cats’ walk-up songs:
- Redshirt freshman Carli Campbell uses just one song, “Trophies” by Drake. The outfielder said she picked the song because it has a “really cool” beat and helps her get hyped up before she plays. “The lyrics, it’s like a very upbeat song, and gets me kind of nervous, but in a good way,” Campbell said. “I’m just ready.”
- Shortstop Jessie Harper walks up to “Thunder” by Imagine Dragons and Queen’s “We Will Rock You.” The sophomore said she doesn’t pay much attention to her walk-up songs during the games. “But I do think a good walk-up song is exciting for both sides of the team,” she said. “Everyone knows what song is coming up and it kind of changes the mood in the dugout.”
- Sophomore Malia Martinez alternates between “Fantasy” by Mariah Carey and “2am” by Slightly Stoopid, a reggae group. The third baseman said she listens to different varieties of different music, but likes the calming effects of Reggae. “I’m more of a relaxed kind of person, so that’s why I chose (2am). It’s one of my favorites,” Martinez said. “And I love Mariah Carey and I think (Fantasy is) a great song.”
- Designated player Tamara Statman probably has the team’s most diverse music taste. The junior from Scottsdale uses “Scatman” by Scatman John, and “Tudo Bom” by Static & Ben El Tavori as her walk-up songs. “Tudo Bom” was a summer hit when Statman visited Israel. The song is sung in English, Portuguese and Hebrew. Statman first heard “Scatman” at a swing dance and has enjoyed it since. “It’s a really fast song and it’s really silly and it’s really close to my last name,” Statman said.
- Palomino brought back another song from last season, this time a personal pick. “Strong Tower” by the Christian group Kutless reminds Palomino to pick herself back up. “I’m very strong in my faith and in my head, usually,” she said. “I think I’m on this platform because of the opportunities that God has given me and I’ve been through a lot.”
