Busting out the Headphones

I couldn't tell you the last time I ran with music... it's probably been over a year or so. When I do have the rare occasion that I'm running solo, it either doesn't occur to me to grab my ipod, or it does, yet I assume that my ipod is dead or that my music is old (it is).

But this morning, I was presented with the opportunity to run alone (thank you running partner for bailing AFTER I had already gotten dressed... otherwise I wouldn't have gotten a run in) and I thought.. HEY! I should run with music!

So I went to check and see if the battery was charged (it was) and I set off on my run... and despite the fact that the playlist I listened to hasn't been updated in about 9 years (well.. probably more like over 1 year) and despite the fact that it's the playlist that I listen to most of the time so I'm VERY familiar with all the songs... I was shocked at how awesome some of them were for running... So, I'm going to share...

My Awesome Running Playlist from this Morning (with commentary and lyrics, of course):
disclaimer: these songs didn't all come up magically in a row, there was some skipping involved.

Gold Dust Woman, Fleetwood Mac
Is it over now/do you know how/pick up the pieces and go home...
I chose this song to start with. Because, who doesn't love a little Stevie Nicks in the morning? Also, I had never ran to this song before and I thought to myself... hmmm.. this will be a good slow song to start out with. Normally, I listen to this song while I'm getting ready, so I thought it would be chill. Uh. Wrong. This song is a kick-ass, balls-to-the-wall kind of running song. Seriously, I felt like I was being chased. Although, let's be honest... who would run from Stevie Nicks?

I almost hit repeat and just listened to Gold Dust Woman over and over again (or at least once more), but I let my ipod pick the next song...

Hospital Beds, Cold War Kids
Bring the buckets by the dozens/ bring your nieces and your cousins/ come put out the fire on us...
Great. I'm on my way to having a heart attack. Another "being chased" song. Except, you're in a race and there's some bitch in your age group right on your heels. And you can hear every one of her footfalls in the beat of the song. So good. So exhausting. (I decided when the song was over, though, that I schooled that bitch at the finish).

Ode to LRC, Band of Horses
The world is such a wonderful place...
Cheesy lyric to choose, I realize... but for chrissakes, this song's lyrics are jacked up. Anyway, so... Band of Horses. I LOVED this band back in the early 90s when they were called BUILT TO SPILL. I actually spent like 2 hours one morning trying to find a song that I had heard in a hot yoga class  (which is precisely why I hate music in yoga) by like two words that I remembered from the song. I even roped my Music Sensai (yes, I have a music sensai, you should too) into the search. I was CERTAIN that it was a Built to Spill song. Uh. No. It was a Band of Horses song. Oops. Anyway... this is a good running song. Good and upbeat... but not so much that you feel like you're running a 5k. Plus you wind up spending the entire 4 minutes thinking to yourself... WTF are they singing about and what is an LRC?

Don't You Evah, Spoon
Bet you got it all planned right/ bet you never worry, never even feel a fright... 
OMG. I love me some Spoon. I've ran to this song (uh. make that all their songs) about a zillion times and it never gets old. Spoon is a band that I never get tired of. And this song is a real gem. It's kinda angry, without being like... I'M GOING TO CUT A BITCH angry. It almost has a like a... nah nah nah nah I'm calling you out subtle anger. Which, let's face it.. is fun to run to.

Under my Thumb, Rolling Stones
Under my thumb/a siamese cat of a girl/under my thumb/she's the sweetest, ooo, pet in the world.
I'm a little late to the Rolling Stones bandwagon. Like... I just hopped on last year. But, I can't get enough and this is one of my favorite songs and I was happy to find out that it was a good song to run to, too. It's got a great, smooth, consistent beat and the lyrics are fun (under my thumb/is a squirming dog who just had her day).

Soolaimon, Neil Diamond
Soooo, soolaimon/ soolai soolai soolaimon... (your guess is as good as mine).
Yes, I grew up in the 80s, but I grew up listening to late 60s/70s music and that's where my musical tastes are still rooted. I only know like one Prince song, but give me some Neil Diamond, James Taylor or Gordon Lightfoot and I'm in paradise. Now, as for Neil Diamond, he is one of my favorites (thanks Mom and Dad)... but half of his songs I have no freaking clue what the hell he is singing about (what kind of crazy ass drugs were they doing back then, anyway?). But the beauty is... who gives a shit? This song is fun and makes me want to sing the jibberjabber lyrics while dancing around like a crazy (high) person. I have always wanted this song as my ringtone, but have never been able to find it offered. :( Anyway... the driving beats of this song are fun to run to. I mean, you can't listen to this song and sit still, so, you might as well run your ass off.

Business Time, Flight of the Conchords
You know when I'm down to my socks it's time for business/that's why they call them business socks...
I almost just hit skip when I heard this song come up, but I decided... ehhh.. let's give it a whirl. I usually only listen to this song up until the sock part anyway. But, again, it was a fun song to run to... I mean the song is hilarious... and it reminds me a lot of my best friend and running partner, April... So, yeah, if you need some comic relief while running (who doesnt?) this is a good one with a good beat.

Lake Michigan, Rogue Wave
Go and run yourself a million miles/hoping that the colors run out...
If you haven't figured it out yet, I'm really into percussion. And this song starts off perfectly for a percussion junkie like myself. Also, it has that perfect ebb and flow of build ups and slow downs that can help drive you. Highly recommend for your running playlist.

We Used to Vacation, Cold War Kids
It sounds so soothing/to mix a gin and sink into oblivion...
Lots of drums here and a nice slower chorus that has a build up to the next verses. Everytime I hear the intro to this song I'm like... what Spoon song is this? And then I realize it's Cold War Kids and it's one of my favorite songs! They sing lyrics in such an interesting way... makes for fun singing (and running).

Gloria, Van Morrison
G-L-O-R-IIIIIIIIIIII-A/G-L-O-R-IIIIIIIII-A
I always avoided putting older songs on my running playlists in the past, I was too busy trying to find a new hip hop song or whatever... but, what I learned this morning was this: If I like dancing around to the song in my living room while singing it at the top of my lungs.. then, yeah, I'm going to like running to it. Good lesson.

Glass, Concrete, and Stone, David Byrne
Where the city's blowin' in and out/ this is what it's all about, delightfully...
Lots of Talking Heads, David Byrne stuff is great to run to... but I was surprised about this one. Again, I almost hit skip when I realized what song it was... it's funny how when you listen to songs you think of them as "slower" but then when you try to do something like run to them...you notice the upbeat, faster notes. I found myself trying to sing along to parts, actually.. which I think is a good sign that you've totally forgotten your surroundings (ummm that you're running, in public, with people around you, and you're tone deaf!).

Reckoner, Radiohead 
It's not about the lyrics...I don't give a shit what the lyrics are...
So, this song came on when I was like 15 seconds from my house. And to preface, this song is one of my favorite songs. I listen to it on repeat a LOT. Like more than is reasonable. But... this is a song that makes me feel high without actually being high (and bonus... no paranoia!). It's great, I put it on and zone out and feel awesome. Plus... cymbals GALORE in this song. Who doesn't love cymbals? So, anyway... since it's such a "zone out/chillax" song for me, I assumed it would be an awful running song. Well, I was wrong, because I ran past my house and down around the block till the song finished and then I was like.. "whoa, did I really just run past my house and not realize it?" It's almost like it puts you in this trancelike state. This song is not a 5k song, or a 10k song, this is a mile 19 when you want to give up song. For whatever reason the song just lures you to keep putting one foot in front of the other. And here I thought the song was just an awesome subsitute for booze, xanax, or pot!

Ok, well hopefully amidst all this useless drivel you picked up a song or two to add to your playlist. I mean, there are only so many Kanye, Mariah, and Beyonce songs out there...


Business hours are over, baby...