If I were the Hurricanes' DJ...

...these 12 songs are what I'd have in the locker-room rotation (in no particular order). I'm ignoring the obvious choices (anything by Queen, the Scorpions, and "The Rising") in favor of stuff that I actually had on my playoff playlist. I even included some lyric snippets. And yes, there's a common theme.

1) The Drowning Pool, "Bodies" -- Why not? It certainly gets me into a frenzy. This is a great pre-game song. Gets the blood pumping. Let the bodies hit the floor / Let the bodies hit the floor

2) Nine Inch Nails, "We're In This Together" -- Because it's not about me, it's about the guy in front of me. You and me / We're in this together now / None of them can stop us now / We will make it through somehow

3) Rammstein, "Ich Will" -- The adoration of the crowd at the loudest arena in the NHL (the RBC) is a good thing. Ich will eure Stimmen hören / Ich will die Ruhe stören...Ich will eure Phantasie / Ich will eure Energie / Ich will eure Hände sehen / Ich will in Beifall untergehen!

4) Alice in Chains, "No Excuses" -- The 'Canes aren't into excusemaking anymore, not like they were when Chairman Mo was in power. Yeah, it's fine / We'll walk down the line / Leave our rain, a cold / Trade for warm sunshine / You my friend / I will defend

5) Ben Folds, "Still Fighting It" -- Because no matter what, the Hurricanes and their fans are still having to fight the stereotypes and truckloads of nonsense. Just because my team won a title, that doesn't mean I have to STFU and let ign'ant wahoos continue to hurl slings and arrows with impunity. it's so weird to be back here / let me tell you what / the years go on and / we're still fighting it

6) Tool, "10,000 Days (Wings Pt. 2)" -- More like 9,394 days, but still. The song oozes with defiance and "damn you it's been long enough now GIVE ME WHAT I HAVE COME FOR". I played this whole album repeatedly during the Great Cup Run of 2006. Ten thousand days in the fire is long enough, you're going home. / You're the only one who can hold your head up high / Shake your fists at the gates saying: / "I have come home now! / Fetch me the spirit, the son, and the father. / Tell them their pillar of faith has ascended. / It's time now! / My time now! / Give me my, give me my wings!"

7) Led Zepplin, "The Immigrant Song" -- Have you actually listened to the lyrics? That'd be the 'Canes, even though really only one of their players (Niclas Wallin) comes from the land of the ice and snow, and the midnight sun where the hot springs flow. The hammer of the gods will drive our ships to new lands, / To fight the horde, singing and crying: Valhalla, I am coming! / On we sweep with threshing oar, Our only goal will be the western shore.

8) Right Said Fred, "I'm Too Sexy" -- I put this in here for one reason: I like it. It's a fun little silly-ass party song. And I’m too sexy for your party / Too sexy for your party / No way I’m disco dancing

9) Seven Nations, "Our Day Will Come" -- The lyrics don't really reflect it, but ever since 2002 whenever I play this song I think of the Hurricanes. And if your heart / still holds on to the pain / You can always return now / But there's no need to give in to the strain / You've just got to believe / Our day will come / To break these chains and fly away

10) Rush, "Bravado" -- I played this song a lot during the 2002 Finals run, and the lyrics really resonated with me. They still do. They just fit so well then, and they still fit now (though the song is really more about a losing effort rather than a victory). If we burn our wings / Flying too close to the sun / If the moment of glory / Is over before it's begun / If the dream is won / Though everything is lost / We will pay the price, / But we will not count the cost

11) Cake, "I Will Survive" -- This song is so wonderfully defiant, whether it's Gloria Gaynor or John McCrea singing it. And really? I think the guys would have an easier time singing along to this version than to the original, since it's more in their range. It took all the strength I had just not to fall apart, / I’m tryin' hard to mend the pieces of my broken heart / And I spent oh so many nights just feelin' sorry for myself, / I used to cry / But now I hold my head up high.

12) Offspring, "Defy You" -- This song was more applicable in 2002, but it's just as good now. Again, another nicely defiant little ditty. You may push me around / But you cannot win / You may throw me down / But I'll rise again / The more you say / The more I defy you / So get out of my face