(And by jog, I mean shuffle along in a bouncy kind of way that is almost certainly faster than my walking speed.)
I love to listen to music while I jog. Actually, it's pretty much the only way I can keep going. I can get a runner's high like no one's business if I have the right music going, but if I'm just listening to myself wheeze, I'll stop after a few hundred yards.
I have found several lists of "The Best Running Songs" or "The Best Playlists for Marathons" or whatever, and mostly, they are all crap. They may have songs that stay at certain beats per minute, but when it's Adele, I don't care if the beat is 120 BPM, that song is not going to motivate me to run anywhere, unless it's to the freezer for a pint of Ben and Jerry's.
So I made my own, more awesome playlist, full of songs to kick up your adrenaline, lose yourself in lyrics, and help you get mad at someone or something or society in general.
Oh, and by the way, I have pretty weird taste in music, so these are not all one genre, most contain profanity, and the performers are usually pretty skeevy. Don't say I didn't warn you.
1) "Let's Get it Started" by The Black Eyed Peas
First of all, the song is CALLED "Let's get it started." Second of all, most of the song has Wil.I.Am in the background going, "Runnin' runnin' and runnin' runnin'..." How can that NOT be on a running playlist?!
2) "Stronger" by Kanye West
"That that don't kill me can only make me stronger?" Yeah. That's what I want to hear when my legs go numb. Also, it's got a killer beat that you can pound pavement to.
3) "All I do is Win" by DJ Khaled
A total ego boost when you need it. Great beat, too. It makes you feel awesome just listening to it. Sometimes I even put my hands up when he says to. 'Cause I'm obedient like that.
4) "Break Stuff" by Limp Bizkit
This is a classic. Even if you've had a great week, this song will get you angry. My running is usually fueled by rage, so this works well for me. But like I said above, just...so much profanity.
5) "Remember the Name" by Fort Minor
Really, I only like the chorus, and then I usually skip to the next song, but it's good enough with just the chorus to include on the list. It was on the preview for the recent remake of Karate Kid, so that's awesome.
6) "Lose Yourself" by Eminem
This is just an amazing song, and when it gets to the part where he says, "Success is my only #$% $#%$#% option. FAILURE'S NOT!" I get a huge adrenaline rush every time. See? Even just thinking about it.
7) "Wake Up" by Rage Against the Machine
Actually I have several Rage songs on my running playlist, but this one is my favorite. It makes me all mad at The Man every time. Also, it's the one from the end of The Matrix, which is extra cool.
8) "Killing in the Name" by Rage Against the Machine
I had to add this one, too, because it might be my favorite running song of all time. Tell me you can't run an extra mile listening to "*#$% you! I won't do what you tell me!"
9) "Du Hast Mich" by Ramstein
It's all in German, so you don't have to worry about language, although I had someone translate it for me one time and if I remember, it's like, 80% gibberish and 20% profanity (which is not unlike most pop songs out there, actually). But the beat is undeniable. It practically runs for you.
10) "Dragula" by Rob Zombie
This kind of dates me a little to admit that I still like this song, because it was super popular when I was in high school, but it's worth it. It's another one from The Matrix soundtrack, and it's great to run to. I think it's about something horribly shady involving the devil, so don't listen to the words. Trust me. Just run.
Cool down: "Live Your Life" by T.I with Rihanna
Makes you feel great about everything, and gets rid of all the anger you were running with. Every time I hear it, I'm like, "You're totally right, Rihanna. I will keep steady gettin' that paper!"
I have others, like anything by Linkin Park, but those are my faves. What about you? And don't say Adele.
OK. I am bad about grabbing my iPod to run or walk. Sometimes I barely get out the door and one more stop to grab the iPod might blow the whole thing (kids invent stuff to keep you in the house). Sometimes, I just need the relative silence (now more kids sing along). All in all, I want stress relief with my walk, so I tend to go happy places. I like pop happy dance songs or remixes that make you feel like your workout might double as a party (e.g. I've got a feeling), and I like throw back to "oldy but goody" feel good songs (Girls Just Want to Have Fun, Thriller, Harry Belefonte's banana song) and I also like to listen to stand up comedy especially Jerry Seinfeld.
ReplyDeleteThe comedy is a good idea! I listen to the comedy station on Pandora while I fold clothes sometimes, but I hadn't thought about taking some when I walk. And yeah, when I'm just out walking, I don't always take my music, or if I do, it's happier pop songs like you were saying.
Delete