Fit-Ink: music

Showing posts with label music. Show all posts

Saturday, February 2, 2013

Top Workout Songs To Sweat To: February 2013

A cold and somewhat snowy Saturday? I think I'll download music. You have to admit that cabin fever isn't always a bad thing, especially when it means I can add some new tunes to my workout mix. Considering I'll most likely be doing my long-ish run on the treadmill tomorrow (something about me and ice don't mix), the following list from Run Hundred couldn't have come at a better time. Long ago, I dubbed the treadmill the dreadmill. Barely able to tolerate four miles on the sucker before wanting to hop off, I'm going to need every ounce of energy, especially that in musical form, to get me through double that distance.

And February's top workout songs from Run Hundred will do just the trick. These 10 hits are upbeat and fast-paced, exactly what I need for some dreadmill monotony. I can't say that I'm the type of person who wants my gym time to sound like a night at the club, at least on a regular basis, but that happens to be the theme of this playlist. Maybe we all need fast club beats to battle through our winter workouts?

Top 10 Workout Songs for December

What tunes are you sweating to? Credit: stefan.eissing

Like the song goes, December is the most wonderful time of the year. Holiday parties and decorations, gift giving, jingling bells, and plenty of good cheer. But here's another reason I'm loving this month--and it has nothing to do with Christmas traditions and celebrations. It's Run Hundred's top 10 workout songs for the month that have me smitten. The site, which happens to be the web's most popular music blog, polls its readers to find out their favorite workout songs to compile a top 10 list, perfect for keeping the motivation going during the busiest time of the year.

The list is eclectic. It has some of my personal favorites (so what if I've only blasted them on the run and haven't tried them at the gym yet?). It has some beats that are perfect for pumping up the adrenaline. And it's easily my highest ranked list of 2012.

So what are we so excited to download and listen to in December? Here's the full list, according to votes placed at Run Hundred.

Top 10 Workout Songs for November

Tomorrow is November 10. Tomorrow I'm running a 10K. Tomorrow I'm going to need at least 10 songs to get me through those 6.2 miles--and I can't rely on my current playlist for fear of hearing the duds that I can't bear to remove. So it only seems fitting to share the 10 songs that were deemed Run Hundred's best for the month of November.

According to Run Hundred's founder Chris Lawhorn, this list previews some of the albums coming out this winter, with their singles being spotlighted now. For once, it's not a huge surprise to me because I think this is the first time where I recognize, and want to listen to, most of the songs. With the colder weather, I've been at the gym more--taking more classes that regularly use these beats to energize the workouts.

Here's the full list:

Check out these songs, or search for more, in the free database at RunHundred.com. And if you subscribe to the site, you can vote on your favorites to help shape the rankings for next month.

What tunes have you recently added to your workout playlist?

Photo grabbed from Andrew Stawarz at flickr.

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Top 10 Workout Songs for October

Beat, ba-beat, ba-ba-ba beat. Let's fuel that workout! Credit

Need to refresh your workout playlist? I do. Maybe it's the change of the seasons, maybe it's shifting from outdoor to indoor workouts, or maybe it's because I spent a marathon listening to my current playlist. But thanks to Run Hundred, which shared its top 10 songs for October, it's time for some updating.

This month's list has something for everyone. You'll find a hit that is so popular it earned a spot on the Today Show one morning ("Gangnam Style"), comeback (by Christina Aguilera) and crossover (by Scissors Sisters) singles, and a song popularized by a Kia commercial ("In My Mind"). Dragonette, a group that's not a household name, came in with the month's top track, which isn't from the Top 40, meaning it reached its rank through sheer awesomeness--Run Hundred's words, not mine, even though my slightly odd musical tastes find it pretty good. And one of my personal favorites of late (thank you 101.9), One Republic's "Feel Again," is also a hit--I love it for running.

Keep reading for October's list of top songs, according to votes placed at Run Hundred, the web's most popular workout music blog.

Top 10 Workout Songs for March

The weather's getting warmer, the days are growing longer, our training schedules are becoming more defined as those races we signed up for months ago are looming closer. I don't know about you, but that means a little switch up to the old workout playlist. Maybe it's because my old list reminds me of indoor workouts and I'm ready to transition outside, or maybe it's because I'm ready to push the pace and increase my current beats per minute that get me moving.

Run Hundred shared its top songs for March according to votes placed at its website, the most popular workout music site online. One of the songs is already on my playlist, added after I heard it on Grey's Anatomy so for once I feel less clueless about hits other exercisers are listening to. As for the list, here are the 10 hits Run Hundred found for March.

Not finding your favorites listed? To find more workout songs--and hear next month's contenders--check out Run Hundred's free database where you can browse songs by genre, tempo and era to build a workout playlist. Or check out the lists they shared with us in January and February.

What songs are you listening to this month?

Photo grabbed from Andrew Stawarz at flickr.

Sunday, February 19, 2012

Why I'm Suddenly Addicted to Mashup Music

Photo: agius at flickr

When it comes to some aspects of technology, I'm not shy to admit that I'm behind the times. I don't have a Kindle, a Nook or an iPad. My iPhone isn't even two years old--and of course it's the most ancient one of them all. My computer isn't using the latest operating system, and I often ignore the system updates once or twice before actually allowing them to go through.

So it comes as no surprise to me that I only recently fell in love with mashup music (and hopefully, I'm even referring to it correctly). And not just for listening, but for exercising. I'd heard of the mashup at least a year ago, and I always promised myself that I'd explore this genre--if you call it that, again, I'm no expert on music terminology--more. Except I never did. Until last night. I guess you could say that I've disadvantaged myself by not watching Glee. Oops.

Top 10 Workout Songs for February

Weather got you down? Tired of slogging away on the treadmill to the same old tunes? Opting out of bundling up for the outdoor runs (that would be me)? Maybe it's your workout playlist that needs a few trade outs to get you motivated. But if you're like me, remember I'm the one who keeps songs on her running playlist for years, you might not know where to start.

Run Hundred comes to the rescue again this month, releasing its list of top 10 workout songs for February. With the Grammy Awards arriving this weekend, and several artists performing at the music show, it seemed all too perfect to download a round now, watch the Grammys and download another round on Monday for a fully loaded playlist. That and I need to get reacquainted with some of the artists up for awards (like Adele).

Here's the full list, according to votes placed at Run Hundred, the web's most popular workout music site.

Top 10 Workout Songs for January

Need new songs to update or add to your workout playlist? I know I am. Give or take a few songs I've swapped out because my iPod ran out of space, I've had the same core playlist for years and it's the shuffle option that saves me from hearing the same selection every time. I can't help it, I'm a creature of habit. But even the best lists need a little refreshing; it's just tough when you're blindly deciding which songs will be the most motivational for a run or a workout. I've made the mistake of adding a song, only to find that I skip over it every single time it hits my ears when I'm running. What I needed was Run Hundred, the internet's most heavily trafficked site for workout music, to help guide me.

The site polled its readers to find out their favorite, current workout songs to compile a top 10 list to keep people motivated during the time of the year when it's hardest to get up and exercise. And what's even better is that they've broken down the tunes to their beats per minute. You know, in case you need faster beats to add a spring to your step--something this runner has yet to experiment with. As for the list, Chris Lawhorn, who operates RunHundred.com, says that the top 10 contains a mixture of songs you'd expect and some surprises.

A Playlist to Remember

It's been a long time since I updated my running playlist. And when I write long, I really do mean long. We're talking eons in the music world, with some of my tunes going as far back as the 2007 Boston Marathon, when I started running with this particular iPod, a nano that would be considered ancient by Apple with its 1 GB of storage space and lack of fun colors. Yet, as much as I want to update this playlist with some current 2011 Grammy nominees, it still manages to surprise me when I'm racing. Not with an I'm-so-sick-of-this-song feeling, but with a Thank-goodness-this-tune-came-now sentiment. It definitely helps to set the iPod on shuffle so I never know what's next, but what's even better is when the shuffle is so on target with my mood that I don't have to skip a beat.

Take yesterday, during my soaker of a March Madness half marathon. Those songs came in just the right spot, as if I arranged the playlist based on where I'd need a pick-me-up, how I wanted to start and end the race, and where I'd be climbing hills. Now I can't say I'd recommend this playlist for everyone since it's pretty obvious that we all have different music likes, especially when running, but this one was pretty darn good for my mood. So good I might have to keep it in the queue for my next half marathon. Here's what I got:

Lazy Eye by Silversun Pickups. This turned out to be a good choice to start the race, and just loud enough to still hear the gun go off.
1985 by Bowling For Soup
One with Mary J. Blige and U2
Spaceman by The Killers. There's something about the beats in this song that add a spring to my step. It happened at Grandma's Marathon and it repeated at March Madness.
Rosalita (Come Out Tonight) by Bruce Springsteen
The Best Thing by Boom Crash Opera. My version is so old--from the soundtrack from the 1991 movie Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead--and different from what you'd find on iTunes today that I don't think I'd add it to my running list without my faster-paced rendition.
Memory by Sugarcult
Basket Case by Green Day
Sweet Home Alabama by Lynyrd Skynyrd
Hey Julie by Fountains of Wayne
Oh! Gravity by Switchfoot
The Sound of Settling by Death Cab for Cutie
Foundations by Kate Nash
When You Were Young by The Killers
Sometime Around Midnight by The Airborne Toxic Event
Walking on a Dream by Empire of the Sun. One of the few updates to my playlist that couldn't have come at a better time, as I was running up a hill.
Shake It by Metro Station
Ants Marching by Dave Matthews Band
Welcome to Paradise by Green Day
Feel Like Rain by Motion City Soundtrack. I was practically waiting for this song to ring through my ears because of the shower we were running through.
I Still Remember by Bloc Party
The Great Escape by Boys Like Girls
Keep the Car Running by The Arcade Fire
Amsterdam by Guster
City of Blinding Lights by U2
Young Folks by Peter Bjorn and John

What songs do you love to listen to when you're racing? Did any of them land on my list?

Friday, August 6, 2010

A Lollapalooza 2010 Playlist

Admittedly, I've been a little too focused on training (and organizing training excursions) for my Ironman race, selecting and attending races, working and recuperating to pay much attention to the pop culture happenings flooding Chicago this summer.

Transformers 3 filming on Michigan Avenue? I've seen the warnings about street closings, read the headlines in the news and viewed one too many pictures from the scene. But I have yet to see it with my own two eyes.

The celebrities coming to Chicago to run in the Rock 'n' Roll Chicago Half Marathon or participate in its festivities? Missed that too--for the most part anyway--because I was in Michigan over the weekend. Sure, I squeezed in an interview with Josh Cox before I left town (thanks Josh and interview to come soon), but forget seeing Maria Menounos or Five for Fighting at the post-race concert, wins by Patrick Rizzo and Tera Moody, and Al Roker, Kelly Killoren Bensimon and Giuliana Rancic on the course.

So before another happening in the Windy City comes and goes, I'm finally paying attention to its pre-event pandemonium and don't want to miss out. That and well, Lollapalooza, running from August 6 through 8 in Grant Park, really is the talk of the town. My first reminder came on Tuesday while driving up Lake Shore Drive and seeing the assemblage of tents in the park. My second reminder came this morning when the Red Eye contained the weekend's artist line-up. And when I saw who was coming, I immediately thought running playlist.

Who doesn't like an array of new songs to spice up the running mix? If you heard mine with some selections hailing from fifth grade favorites (I kid you not), you might think my answer to this question would be "not me." But on the contrary, it just takes a really good song to make it onto my hardly unchanged from 2006 playlist. I confess: That's partially because I fear I'll never find select songs again if I remove them from the list. I won't miss many of them though if I do some updating from this year's Lollapalooza artists; some are already playlist favorites that I don't dare part with. We're talking Arcade Fire, Green Day and Empire of the Sun, which has a one-hit wonder that I've been loving since it carried me up a tough hill at Grandma's Marathon. Others--mainly Lady Gaga--might float your boat more than my own. Here's what I'd be listening to:

Phoenix: 1901
Phoenix: Lisztomania
Arcade Fire: Keep the Car Running
Arcade Fire: Rebellion (Lies)
Neon Trees: Animal
Green Day: Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)
Green Day: Know Your Enemy
Green Day: anything off the Dookie album (like Welcome to Paradise and She)
The Strokes: Last Nite
Empire of the Sun: Walking on a Dream
Lady Gaga: Alejandro
Lady Gaga: Poker Face

There's no order to the above songs, but their beats will liven up a playlist for your next long run--and if you're attending Lolla, you may just hear them live this weekend. Do you have any favorites from Lollapalooza that you're listening to? Too bad The Killers performed last year, or they would have made my list, too.

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Run on Green Tunes

Need an excuse to revamp your playlist before your next run? Searching for a new theme to attach to your current list of tunes? Why not go green with a special Earth Day mix? Ideal Bite tipped me off to a green-themed list that works appropriately for Earth Day, today. When I first spotted the link I thought I'd be seeing several bands that I didn't recognize, maybe didn't even care for, but I was pleasantly surprised at their list both in the choice of music and the eco-friendly causes supported. Perfect for an Earth Day run, or just for finding some new tracks to listen to.

If you have iTunes, you can even download this mix of their favorite tracks by green artists. Check out the list below, with a few additions and suggestions from us at Fit-Ink.

Flake by Jack Johnson. He uses carbon-offsets for his tours and founded the Kokua Hawaii Foundation which supports environmental education throughout the schools and communities of Hawaii. My faves: Upside Down, If I Had Eyes and Better Together (a shout-out to my brother- and sister-in-law who played this at their wedding)

Lovers in Japan by Coldplay. Who knew they used carbon-offsets on the production of past albums and sew their own clothes? And that tattoo Chris Martin sports on his hand? It's a Make Trade Fair fair-trade mark. My faves: Lost, plus no complaints on Lovers in Japan

Human Behavior by Björk. This Iceland native just released a documentary about eco-issues in the homeland, and available at iTunes.

The Seed (2.0) by the Roots. This hip-hop band has worked with PETA on campaigns and hosted green pre-Grammy parties. Now they'll be jamming weekly with Jimmy Fallon as his new house band.

No Surprises by Radiohead. Lead singer Thom Yorke is a vegan who wrote a climate-change inspired alternative rock album. Friends of the Earth made Yorke a spokesman for their campaign to reduce carbon emissions in 2005. My faves: High and Dry, Fake Plastic Trees and 15 Step.

Holiday by Green Day. I never would have guessed that green had another meaning beyond Billie Joe's band name. This band is a big proponent of green energy and has teamed up with the National Resources Defense Council on environmental concerns. My faves: Good Riddance (Time of Your Life), She, When I Come Around. A little old school, I know.

Love is Free by Sheryl Crow. She's toured with Stop Global Warming and she spoke at the White House Correspondents Dinner in 2007 about global warming policies of the George W. Bush administration. My faves: Soak Up the Sun, Strong Enough

My Humps by Black Eyed Peas. Set to release new album The END in June 2009, lead rapper and producer will.i.am writes songs with environmental themes and drives an electric Tesla roadster. My faves: Where Is the Love, Boom Boom Pow, Let's Get It Started

We Are All Made of Stars by Moby. He's a vegan who supports the Humane Society. My faves: Porcelain and South Side

My Moon My Man by Feist. She uses wind power to offset her tours and recently traveled to the Arctic Circle to experience global warming first-hand. My fave: 1234

Hot Thing by Talib Kweli. His albums are made of recycled materials and he writes eco-themed songs, one of which includes Al Gore.

Heartbeats by José González. While touring the States, he offsets his tours using Reverb, which reaches out to musicians and their fans to promote environmental sustainability.

One more band to add: Maroon 5. Ecorazzi reported in January that this band is all about going green. They try to offset as much as they can, and keyboardist Jesse Carmichael is green overhauling his house with solar panels, a greenhouse, water systems and growing his own food. My faves: She Will Be Loved, Wake Up Call.

Want a couple of classic rock faves with green undertones to add? Check out these five, including Joni Mitchell, Jackson Browne and Cat Stevens. Photo grabbed from Steve Wampler at flickr. Posted by Kate

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Saturday, February 2, 2013

Top Workout Songs To Sweat To: February 2013

Friday, December 7, 2012