This story was excerpted from Todd Zolecki's Phillies Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.
The Phillies sprayed champagne and beer, hopped up and down and sang in unison late Saturday night at Busch Stadium.
Specifically, they sang Calum Scott’s “Dancing on My Own” (Tiësto Remix), a cover of a song originally by Robyn. It blew up.
I'm in the corner, watching you kiss her, oh
I'm right over here, why can't you see me? Oh
And I'm giving it my all
I'm not the guy you're taking home, ooh
I keep dancing on my own, ah
“There’s no deeper meaning or backstory to it, other than it’s an absolute banger and we love singing it in the locker room,” Phillies catcher Garrett Stubbs said. “After a win, we play ‘Dancing on My Own,’ ‘Cold Heart’ and a couple other ones. We’ve been playing those songs since the beginning of the season. They come on in order after wins, so everyone knows what songs are going to play and everyone knows the words to those songs.”
Stubbs is the Phillies’ unofficial DJ. He does not know exactly how he got the job.
“I did it a couple times, and all of a sudden it was like, ‘OK, Stubby’s on music,’” he said. “So now when we’re on the road, I’m in charge of the speaker after wins. But as [Matt] Vierling likes to say, it’s a DJ democracy. So, there’s a few songs that go on that are for-sures, then I have a playlist that I’ve come up with that ends up playing. But if anybody has any song requests, it’s a DJ democracy. Everyone is invited to make a request.”
Elton John’s and Dua Lipa’s “Cold Heart” (PS1 remix) is a clubhouse favorite. It played during batting practice before Game 1 of the NL Wild Card Series in St. Louis. Players sang along on the field. It got them fired up.
“I hope when we win a few games here in the NLDS, we’ll have Philly playing ‘Dancing on My Own’ and ‘Cold Heart’ around the bars,” Stubbs said.
Game 1 of the NLDS is at 1:07 p.m. ET Tuesday in Atlanta. Game 2 is at 4:35 p.m. ET Wednesday. Both are on FOX. Game 3 is Friday in Philly. If necessary, Game 4 is Saturday in Philly and Game 5 is Sunday in Atlanta. Times for Games 3, 4 and 5 are TBD.
Three wins in the NLDS and the Phillies will be popping bottles again. If it happens, fans can sing along this time.
“I truly mean this when I say this,” Stubbs said. “There is nothing better than popping bottles after winning. There is literally nothing better in life. It feels so good.
“It’s all-encompassing. It’s being with a great group of guys who have just worked our [butts] off all season. And then to be rewarded with a playoff berth and a Wild Card Series win. You go through a lot with these groups of guys and their families. To be able to then celebrate what we’ve gone through and be able to bring the fans back in Philly some joy, it’s the reward.”
Can he imagine hearing these songs in his 60s or 70s and being taken back to these clubhouse celebrations?
“No doubt, no doubt,” he said. “It will. That’s the goal, right? Win the last game of the season and associate that kind of vibe with the 2022 Phils.”