Playlist

It occurred to me that in all the posts I’ve written on this blog, I’ve not yet mentioned my closest running companion. I take him on every run to keep me company, spur me along, and invariably provide the motivation I need to get me over the line when much of the rest of me is gently suggesting to (or even screaming at) me to stop and go have a lie down somewhere.

It is, of course, my MP3.

Up until recently, it was an Apple iPod Nano. But as part of a revamp of my music playlist since I returned from my time on the Camino, I’ve now bought a Sony MP3 and stocked it with a much wider range of tunes. Several have been with me since my marathon days a decade ago. Many others have been there over the past 100 or so weeks as I’ve been punching out the last few half marathons. And a few more are recent additions.

So, for the sake of completeness, following is the full list of my current running songs. I might add one or two, and maybe take some away, over the next little while as I get more used to the combinations, but essentially, this is it (in alphabetical order of artist).

Abba - Gimme Gimme Gimme A new addition. It’s got a great driving beat and I really like the tune.

ACDC - Jailbreak + Long Way to the Top if You Want to Rock'n'Roll Another two new additions to my running playlist. I defy anyone to start listening to these songs and not immediately bust out the air guitar!

Adele - Rolling in the Deep A great pounding beat ideal for running.

Bee Gees - Staying Alive Love the beat on this one too. The song itself is also my favourite Bee Gees tune.

Black Eyed Peas - I Gotta Feeling This was the first of a few songs that I picked from a couple of lists after googling ‘best running songs’. It’s not bad.

Bob Seger - Hollywood Nights I’ve had the studio version of this song for a while, but now replaced it with the much better live version with the crowd going off their heads.

Bryan Adams - Run to You I’ve wanted this one on my playlist for a long time and I’ve now finally got around to putting it on there. A brilliant lead-in riff headlines a really punchy tune. The running connection also helps.

Chris de Burgh - Don't Pay the Ferryman This has been a staple for a while now and while it’s not an absolutely outstanding song, I know that when it comes on, it won’t let me down.

Dire Straits - Sultans of Swing + Telegraph Road Both of these are off the live “Alchemy” album, with each over 10 minutes long. I’ve had the much shorter version of “Sultans of Swing” on my list for years, but the 11 minute live version here is an absolute classic. I spent quite a bit of time air-guitaring to it on the Camino. “Telegraph Road” is a little slower in parts and slightly less catchy, but the final few minutes are also excellent.

Don McLean - American Pie A song I’ve loved for years and thought I should add it to my playlist. I’m confident it will survive the transition.

Eagle Eye Cherry - Save Tonight I really like this song and have thought for a while that I should put it on my running list. And finally here it is!

ELO - Tightrope Probably my favourite ELO tune. It builds brilliantly as it goes along and deserves its place here for the first time.

Elton John - Teacher I Need You + Tiny Dancer This is the long version of “Tiny Dancer”, and also builds really well to the chorus, while “Teacher I Need You” is an under-rated rocking tune I really like that is worthy of its place here.

Fleetwood Mac - Don't Stop + Tusk Oldies but goodies. They have that magic combination of the motivational and a great pounding beat.

Foreigner - Feels Like the First Time + Urgent Love these two Foreigner classics, with “Urgent” a staple for a while and “Feels Like the First Time” another song that builds to a wonderful crescendo.

G Wayne Thomas - Open Up Your Heart A much under-played Australian song evidently written in just 20 minutes in the early 70’s. The guy is a genius, with lines like - “There's no formula for happiness that's guaranteed to work; And no lover's ever been in love, and not been hurt; No dreamer has ever dreamed, and seen it all come true”. Give it a listen - it’s sensational.

Gary Barlow - Forever Autumn A beautiful rendition of an amazing song.

George Harrison - My Sweet Lord A wonderful tune and good to jog along to.

Gerry Rafferty - Get it Right Next Time + Baker Street In my marathon days a decade ago (and in the days before the shuffle function), “Baker Street” was always my lead-off training song and I knew I’d get a kilometre or more done before that song had finished. Good to see it back here now. “Get it Right” is my other favourite Gerry Rafferty song and an easy addition.

Glee - Don't Stop Believing + Jessie’s Girl I prefer the Glee versions of these songs over the originals. Both are wonderful workout tunes.

Goanna - Solid Rock A long-time running song with a strong, driving best. A must have.

Heather Small - Proud An inherently inspirational song making a return to my playlist now. It should never have left it.

Hunters and Collectors - Holy Grail This makes a return to the playlist after a while away. A good tune.

John Denver - Annie’s Song + Country Roads Two excellent tunes with both new to my MP3. I’m not sure they’ll last the distance on the running list, but the quality of each should keep them there.

Lady Antebellum - Need You Now A great song but new to the running program. I’m sure it will survive.

Londonbeat - I’ve Been Thinking About You This song first appeared in my consciousness when I heard it as a music video at my gym a few months ago. It made an immediate impression and I just had to have it.

Owl City - Fireflies Not sure if this is going to make the grade as a running song, but I like it a lot. We’ll see how it goes.

Passenger - Let Her Go Another newbie and a simply beautiful tune that I only recently rediscovered on the Camino. A fond memory of someone that I used to know.

REM - Losing My Religion + Man in the Moon I quite like REM and these two songs are probably their best. I’ve had them in my car for a long time but now they’ve graduated to my running MP3.

The Corries - Go Lassie Go Not an immediately obvious running song choice, I grant you. But it builds throughout and deserves its place.

The Script - Hall of Fame Another google running song. Really inspiring stuff when the going gets a little tough.

Train - Drops of Jupiter A favourite song for a while now and it easily retains its place on the new songlist.

Van Halen - Jump Another taken from Google’s list of ‘best running songs’. It’s OK I guess, but it’s on probation for now.

And last but not least ,,,

Yes - It Can Happen + Love Will Find a Way + Rhythm of Love I was at University years ago with a guy who was a massive Yes fan. Back then, I couldn’t really see the attraction. Now I absolutely do. They produced some incredible songs in the mid-80s and these three are probably their best. “It Can Happen” has been a staple running song of mine for a while now and probably also ranks as my favourite all-time song. It’s my go-to tune when I’m at the back end of a hard training session or about to launch into a sprint finish in a time trial. The other two are equally brilliant songs and I’ve only just added them to my playlist. I don’t know why I waited for so long. They should have been on it years ago.