— You would think that “London Calling” would be an awesome addition to any workout mix. I have found it to not be so. Odd.<\/p>\n
— You would NOT think that “Cool, Cool, Considerate Men” from the Broadway musical 1776<\/i> WOULD be a good addition to the workout mix … but I can assure you. It is. When all the male voices come in singing, as one: “TO THE RIGHT … EVER TO THE RIGHT … NEVER TO THE LEFT …” Oh my God. Oh. My. God. Seriously. It has to be some of the most exciting music I have ever heard in my life. I grew up on this musical – but suddenly – racing to Nirvana on the elliptical at 8 a.m. – I cannot get enough of this one song. Yes, there is the downtime in the middle … when Dickinson berates Hancock for dancing the gavotte with Adams … come over here with us … so yes, it stops a bit … and in a workout mix this is BAD … but for some reason, because I know the exhilaration, the transcendent<\/i> exhilaration of that sudden chorus of male voices: “To the RIGHT … EVER TO THE RIGHT …” I can deal with the downtime. Not only can I deal with the downtime, but I start to freak out in excitement about what is coming next, and this helps me to keep going.<\/p>\n
— Alanis Morrissette is kinda horrible for any workout mix.<\/p>\n
— Kelly Clarkson is the opposite of horrible. Kelly Clarkson is essential for the workout mix.<\/p>\n
— Sadly, XTC is NOT good on the workout mix. I thought it would be – especially “Dear God” – especially that last verse when he gets pissed … but no. It just doesn’t get me off. In terms of working out. What is inspirational in normal listening sometimes doesn’t have the same effect when you’re trying to keep going, stick to it, not give up (and this goes for “London Calling” too – that’s a song which – well, I’m hard pressed to find a song that makes me feel more angry, more resolved, more … restless … than THAT one … but it doesn’t transfer to the “let’s go one more mile” vibe on the treadmill)<\/p>\n
— Madonna’s “Impressive Instant” from her Music<\/i> album is essential. I have it on the same workout mix multiple times. So so inspirational. Just the beat<\/i>. It keeps you going<\/i>.<\/p>\n
— You wouldn’t think that Elvis Presley’s kind of meandering slow-build “If I can Dream” (from near the end of his career) would really work in a workout mix … but I assure you. It does. It SO does.<\/p>\n
— I thought Lenny Kravitz’s “Fields of Joy” would be an essential addition to my workout mix. But it doesn’t really work for me. Weird. It’s great makeout music, great crush-y I like a boy music – but solitary workout music? No. However, his critically berated “American Woman” is AWESOME for the workout mix.<\/p>\n
— Aerosmith is … God. You have to be careful with them. They’re so damn florid<\/i>, and so self-regarding<\/i> … and yet when they hit it, they hit it GREAT. But you have to be very careful. I have found (oddly) that their “Pink” song – a ridiculous cheesy song – REALLY works in any workout mix you might be putting together.<\/p>\n
— Here’s a no-brainer. Rick Springfield’s “Red Hot & Blue Love” is awesome. It’s an awesome song, in general, I swear to GOD … and it’s also AWESOME when you’re sweating and feeling like giving up … He helps you to say: “No. I am going to KEEP GOING.”<\/p>\n
— This is also a no-brainer. Any workout mix without Justin Timberlake’s “Sexy Back” is not worthy of the name “workout mix” and that’s final.<\/p>\n
— “White America” by Eminem doesn’t work for me on the workout mix, even though I think that’s my favorite of his. However: ‘Til I Collapse – and Sing For the Moment have become ESSENTIAL workout mix components. I would have totally thought “White America” would be the one … but no. It is not. And I have (sadly) over-listened to “Lose Yourself”. And so it has lost some of its impact. I am staying away from it for a while … because I need it to get its oomph back.<\/p>\n
— “Sweet Child O’Mine” is a no-brainer.<\/p>\n
— So is “The One” by Foo Fighters. Holy crap. I sprinkle that song thru the workout mix – because I find it so damn inspirational. By inspirational – I mean: it makes me pissed<\/i> and determined<\/i>.<\/p>\n
— “Christmas in Sarajevo” by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra is a surprise. But I can’t do without it. It starts slow but once it gets going? Watch me fly on the damn treadmill, watch me fly! Chorus of voices: “Sheila’s strong now …. won’t be long now … Sheila’s strong now ….”<\/p>\n
— “Signed, Sealed, Delivered” by Stevie Wonder is … also kind of a surprise. I wouldn’t have thought of that as primo workout material – but it is. I love the song, regardless … but when it comes on, I feel this BURST of adrenaline and that is the whole point of a good workout mix.<\/p>\n
But this morning – there I was – pounding away on the treadmill, surrounded by others who were pounding away … and I seriously have tears<\/i> in my eyes because I am now listening to “Cool, Cool Considerate Men” for the 2nd time … and I find it so uplifting and inspirational. I had to laugh. The odds that somebody else in the gym is listening to, oh, “Sexy Back” or “Since U Been Gone” are pretty high. But what are the odds that somebody else would be listening to “Cool, Cool Considerate Men”?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
— You would think that “London Calling” would be an awesome addition to any workout mix. I have found it to not be so. Odd. — You would NOT think that “Cool, Cool, Considerate Men” from the Broadway musical 1776 … Continue reading