Work out music
Sep 8th, 2008 by keegan
Okay, so it took me seven years, but I finally have an iPod. And I take it to the gym. But, since I don’t have an arm band, or belt, or any other contraption to adhere the thing onto me, I stick it in my shorts, held up by my underwear elastic. But I don’t care if I’m embarrassing to all those 19 year old students jogging in place next to me while my iPod is sliding down my leg, because now I have tunes.
What would be embarrassing is if they could hear what I was listening to. You see, I have not bought a CD (other than Steve Songs and Sesame Street) since buying CDs was still popular. That would mean the 90s. And still, many of my CDs are from the 80s (yeah, baby!). So I download (or is it upload?) most of my CDs onto my computer and then onto my iPod. Whew! But then I realize that ALL my work out music is the same work out music I listened to when I worked out 20 years ago.
So, one would think: “Now that I have an iPod, I will go on iTunes and learn all about the new groovy music out there, download it and jam out contemporary-style.” But, OMG! First of all, there is way too much information. A lot has happened in the grown-up music world over the past twenty years, and there is NO way to figure it all out. So I look for help. I Google playlists for working out. Metallica. Really? I Google playlists for dancing and, I’m sorry, but there has been NO one that I can find that produces dance music (thus work out music for me) like George Michael! Or Janet! Or Prince! Or The Cure. I looked, really!
But, though I will forever adore my 80s and 90s dance stars, I’m kind of tired of working out (and dancing in my living room) to the same six artists. If you have a work out playlist that doesn’t include Metallica, or if you know of some groovy artists born after 1975, PLEASE share. Maybe then I will feel like I can hold my own with that 19 year old student next to me. But probably not. Not at least until I get one of those damn arm bands.
Your post reminds me of when my husband took his portable CD player on the bus. He was convinced that the teen aged girls were trying to figure out what that huge thing he was carrying, attached to headphones, was! I wish I had some suggestions for you — any new music I seem to lean toward is more mellow than workout music. I eagerly await any suggestions…
Ok, here’s my list. (Although I do have my reservations about sharing–maybe my workout list says more about me than anything else… makes me feel weirdly exposed as a cheeseball.)
1. Gnarls Barkley-Crazy
2. Black Eyed Peas– Let’s Get It Started
3. Joan Jett–I Love Rock & Roll
4. Destiny’s Child–Survivor
5. Bobby Bland–Ain’t No Sunshine (for cooling down)
6. U2–Beautiful Day
7. OutKast–Hey Ya!
8. Eminem– Lose Yourself
9. The Beatles–Come Together
10. Pape Fall–African Salsa