Let Me Hear It: The 2013-14 Celtics entrance music tournament

Opening night at the TD Garden 2012. The $12 nachos were flowing, the audience was buzzing with anticipation aka cheap beers had at The Harp, and the crowd was prepping to see what would be the final opening game of The Truth era. I ready. I was amped. I was there.

The lights dimmed, a brand new hype video played, the roof came off The Garden, and the 2012-13 Celtics hit the floor to... Metallica's Wherever I May Roam?! I turned to my friends in attendance with a puzzled look, and they looked back with with an expression that screamed, "...meh." Not good.

Fast forward 12 months. Boston is poised to begin a new era in Celtics history, and we're not starting it with Track 1 Side 1 of Metallica's Black Album.

Introducing CelticLife's Celtics Hype Music Tournament. We are opening up the polls to our audience to help us pick what song plays as the 2013-14 Celtics hit the parquet floor. Listen up, vote with your heart, and let's get this locked in to beast mode.

DISCLAIMER: Nearly 100% of these options are the album version meaning they are laden with cuss words. Throw those headphones on just in case.

Mix Tape Era Conference

The Mix Tape Era is defined as hip-hop songs that were released between 1980 to 2003. While yes, mix tapes still get released to this day, but don't get too tied up in the name. These songs are from an era when a mix tape came on an actual tape. If you graduated from high school before the year 2000, you probably made a few of these.

Hit 'Em Up - 2Pac VS. The Takeover - Jay Z

Ante Up - M.O.P. VS. Protect Ya Neck - Wu-Tang Clan

The Spirit of Boston Conference

The Spirit of Boston is defined as songs by acts associated with Boston through one or two steps. Dropkick Murphys and Aerosmith are both nationally considered as "from Boston", two-thirds of CZARFACE are 7L and Esoteric - two Boston based rappers, and Hells Bells is part of the musical intro package for our beloved New England Patriots. Scotland by the way of Australia? More like Super Bowl by the way of Brady.

Do or Die - Dropkick Murphys VS. Dream On

Air 'Em Out - Czarface VS. Hells Bells

(Relatively) Current Conference

The (Relatively) Current Bracket is defined as hype songs that - you guessed it - have been released in the last few years. Listen... I tried to find more hyped up fightin' music that I thought would fit the Celtics arena entrance, but as it turns out Drake and J. Cole's latest records are pretty mellow. Regardless - these are bangers.

Bonfire - Childish Gambino VS. Ima Boss - Meek Mill (feat. Rick Ross)

Forever - Drake (feat. Kanye West & Lil Wayne) VS. Black Skinhead - Kanye West

Pantheon of Greatness Conference

The Pantheon of Greatness Bracket is a grouping of songs that are just flat out great. Regardless of context, these songs could open anything from a 7-Eleven to being the recessional at a wedding. Baba O'Riley, despite being the Lakers intro music during the 2010 NBA Championship, gets a pass because it's Baba O'Riley. Paperboy's Ditty was a nearly UNANIMOUS CelticsLife staff pick. Crazy Train is Crazy Train; it is the audible equivalent to pounding six Red Bulls and smoking a pack of cigarettes. Roundball Rock is the NBA on NBC theme song, which again, if you were born before 1997 should instantly transport you to a magical time when Michael Jordan was gearing up for the release of Space Jam.

Baba O'Riley - The Who VS. Ditty - Paperboy

Crazy Train - Ozzy Osborne VS. Roundball Rock

And there you have it – round one of the Innagural CelticsLife Celtics Hype Music Tournament. It’s on you, internet! Make your picks on the ballot below. The squad here at CelticsLife will tally the votes and be back next week with the semi-finals and final round.

Photos courtesy of Facebook Songs courtesy of Spotify

Follow Padraic O'Connor on Twitter @padraic_oconnor