I created two playlists in prep for The Big Climb next week.
I think I’m going with rock, but in the event that I change my mind at the last second, I’ll have a back-up playlist for pop. Pop tends to be my genre of choice when working out at the gym. When erging at the boathouse I tend to go with whatever everyone else is listening to (which results in singing Abba in your head for 3 months straight, but oh well).
But race day is sometimes different, sometimes a little pick me up is needed to get in the right zone.
69 Floors of Rock:
- Immigrant Song, Led Zeppelin
- Born to Run, Bruce Springsteen
- Smooth Criminal, Alien Ant Farm
- Even Flow, Pearl Jam
- Turning of the Tide, Bob Mould (The link is to the original Richard Thompson version)
- Rock and Roll, LZ
- Ring the Bells, James
- Elevation, U2 (sorry, couldn’t find the song on Amazon, but we all know it. E-le-va-tion!)
I tested this at the gym this morning (74 flights in 17:30, includes warm-up and cool down), and I think it will do well. The Alien Ant Farm song in the middle is a nice surprise (purchased last week on iTunes specifically for this purpose)
I expect to be done with the climb by the time Bob Mould comes around, but some added tunes are essential, just in case. If I’m still going when Led Zeppelin comes back on the iPod I’m in trouble.
Now, if at the last minute I decide pop is the way to go, I’ve got it covered:
69 Floors of Pop:
- Since U Been Gone, Kelly Clarkson
- A Little Respect, Erasure
- SOS, Rihanna
- Missing (Todd Terry Remix), ETBG
- SexyBack, Justin Timberlake
- Ray of Light, Madonna
I tested this playlist this morning with a 2K on the erg, my warm-up to the StairClimber workout (rowed at a 27, at around 2k+ 5). EBTG sort of slowed things down more than I would have preferred, especially as it came near the end of my piece, so this may get switched up a bit. However for climbing I think it will be OK. Just not good for erging.
You know, I ‘m not sharing this information for my health. I’d like to hear a little bit about what’s on your playlist. All seven of you listening out there. Leave a comment. Don’t be shy. And don’t be ashamed. I just shared that I’m kicking off 69 Floors of Pop with an American Idol, for crying out loud.
Good climbing!
And you KNOW I love dissecting music.
Your “rock list” is solid. Doesn’t get much better than “Immigrant Song;” probably my favorite rock song to play live. Springsteen is a good choice, but “Born to Run???” — OK, you’re running up stairs, I get it…but you’re also RISING up the stairs — thus “The Rising” would have been the ideal choice, and a much better song, IMHO. Bob Mould is God, and Richard Thompson is the Holy Ghost, so “Turning of the Tide” is a great choice. “Even Flow” is decent PJ, though I might have gone for something a bit more primal like “Animal” or even “Hail Hail.” James is cool, more LZ is always cool, and Elevation is thematically appropriate although “New Years Day” will beat up any other U2 song and take its lunch money. You’ll notice that I skipped Alien Ant Farm….and there’s a reason for that…P.U.!
As for the “pop list,” well — I can certainly dig Erasure. The rest makes me want to punch myself in the face repeatedly.
Might I suggest some up-tempo JGrotel in your ear for your next adventure?
http://www.prairiecats.com/mp3/Sorry_Dont_Pay_the_Bills.mp3
~J