Music is such a huge part of my life. As a child, I took 12 or more years of piano lessons, was a band member from the sixth grade on, and sang in the choir. There is always, ALWAYS a song playing in my head, even when I'm asleep. Just ask me what's currently tuned in up there. This is the one time of year I actually enjoy sitting down at the piano to play a little too. I simply can't imagine a life without it. To me, music equals memories.
- She's Country (Jason Aldeen) = my first half marathon
- Boogie on Reggae Woman (Stevie Wonder) = running in the Magic Kingdom
- Sunshine on my Shoulders (John Denver) = the death of my brother
- I Feel Fine (James Taylor) = snow skiing in North Carolina
- All Summer Long (Kid Rock) = being at the lake
- I'm Getting Stoned (Eric Church) = running in the Colorado Rockies
I listen to music everywhere! In the car. At work. In our backyard. In the boat. On the beach. When I run. When I cycle. And yes, when I do that crazy pool running thing!
I didn't grow up listening to country music, though. I disliked it for most of my life, actually. Earlier this year, I wrote about how and why I changed my mind about that in Running Country. You can check that out and also see my favorite five country "oldies but goodies" songs for running.
PoPo is a die-hard fan of rock. We mostly listen to that genre in the boat, after all he is the driver. Our boat is pretty tricked out with speakers. I'm afraid you can hear us coming. If I'm skiing, all I hear is wind noise but he is up there rocking out.
I'm not extremely picky about my music. If it has a good beat, I like it. If I can chill to it, I like it. If it feels fun, I like it. So what I end up with is an extremely eclectic selection of music on my phone and iPod shuffle. Here is just a little sample:
Buy Me A Boat (Chris Janson)
Crazy Train (Ozzie Osbourne)
Dance The Night Away (Van Halen)
Don't Be Cruel (Elvis Presley)
Fat Bottomed Girls (Queen)
Georgia (Ray Charles)
Give Me One More Last Chance (Vince Gill)
I Don't Need Your Rocking Chair (George Jones)
Mama Told Me (Three Dog Night)
Mambo No. 5 (Lou Bega)
Nothing Else Matters (Metallica)
Ride The River (Eric Clapton)
River of Dreams (Billy Joel)
Save It For A Rainy Day (Kenny Chesney)
Stitched Up (John Mayer & Herbie Hancock)
Superstition (Stevie Wonder)
The River is Wide (James Taylor)
When You're Hot You're Hot (Jerry Reed)
Wipeout (The Ventures)
Your Mama Don't Dance (Poison)
Does anyone have a match for the win?
Thanks to the wonderful hosts of Tuesday on the Run:
Patty @ My no-guilt life!
Marcia @ Marcia's Healthy Slice
Patty @ My no-guilt life!
Marcia @ Marcia's Healthy Slice
Ericka @ MCM Mama Runs,
I was a band nerd in school too! I love music, if I can sing it, hum it, thump it, wiggle to it- I am In! I love it all! :)
ReplyDeleteBand nerds rule! I can't imagine having to be without music.
DeleteAdding some of these songs to a new playlist in 3...2...1... :) Thanks!
ReplyDeleteIt was hard to just list a few from literally thousands. All kinds!
DeleteI have songs that remind me of certain races too like "Happy" reminds me of a race I ran after coming back from an injury :)
ReplyDeleteI may need to use that one when I return from this injury.
DeleteQuite the eclectic list!
ReplyDeleteI played the flute through college and haven't touched it pretty much since, even though I still have it. I doubt I'd remember my scales. Scratch that, I KNOW I don't remember my scales.
I also sang in chorus & in our temple's youth choir -- in fact, the menorah we use (which has been sitting on our table since last year, and ironically I need to put away for Thanksgiving only to drag it back out like a week later!) I got as a gift from the choir after graduating high school (not just me, everyone who stuck it out that long gets one. Or did, anyway).
I wanted to play the flute but my parents said clarinet because they had someone give us one for free. I don't have one now and am certain I wouldn't remember a scale. I even took private lessons for that too.
DeleteI was an oboist, bassoonist, and I played the piano all through my school years! Gave up the oboe and bassoon after HS, tho. Guess it wasn't "cool". Makes me sad. I do still play the piano, tho.
ReplyDeleteLove your list. Funny how we have no songs in common, even tho we come from basically the same era!
It was clarinet for me in symphonic band. Piano in jazz band. Bells (yep!) in marching band. We have lots of songs in common. I just stayed away from most of the classic rock on this list. I was thinking more about running I think, not the lake. I tend to lean more toward country for a certain cadence.
DeleteEight years playing the violin here. Definitely took lots of heat for that from my friends but I think musical training is so valuable. We were forced to endure my mom's country music in the car as kids and I still can't stand it. Just. Can't. Thanks for linking up!
ReplyDeleteI think music training is valuable too. My kids took a little guitar, but they just didn't get into it. No natural talent. LOL. What were some of your Mom's favorite songs? Today's country is much different from the old stuff.
DeleteGreat variety in your list!! I also LOVE music and it plays such an important role in my life. I have made it my mission to teach my kids all about good music too :) I was in band in elementary school (clarinet) as well as chorus. I stopped playing clarinet but stuck with chorus through high school graduation. I don't sing as well as I used to but I still LOVE to sing and dance. Life is so much better with a great soundtrack playing!
ReplyDeleteI played the clarinet! I even sing old commercial jingles. Ugh! Once something gets stuck in the old brain, it's hard to move it along.
DeleteI agree with you 100%. I'm always singing. Either out loud or in my head. :) I love music and couldn't imagine life without it!
ReplyDeleteI do wish I could turn it off at night! It's on 24/7. Even weird snippets or jingles will play. My husband says he has never had a song in his head. What? I don't understand.
DeleteMy parents made me do band since I love music. It wasn't the same thing :-p My running music tastes are a pretty wide range. One time my mom bought a Lady Gaga song and I bought a Stevie Nicks song. Shouldn't that be the other way around?
ReplyDeleteThat is too funny! You are your Mom definitely swapped generations on that one. I have gotten more into appreciating the older stuff myself.
DeleteLove the music suggestions! Mambo no 5 used to be my jam! Two of the women's names in the song are Erika and Monika- which is my mom and her sister's names. So we always loved that song growing up and played it all the time!
ReplyDeleteThat's cool! It was just a fun, peppy song that gave me enough motivation to try and run for 3 1/2 minutes without stopping. That's how it all began.
DeleteI'm impressed you have memory of the songs from races. I cant ever remember what songs play at the end of every run I do :) haha
ReplyDeleteI think my brain is just wired to associate everything with music. Music is the memory trigger.
DeleteKaren, I have run to that song for YEARS. OMG. It's has a great tempo! I can't believe someone else listens to that. HA! On my list, Elton John's Honky Cat follows right behind it. Both are great for pace!
ReplyDeleteI'm still blown away you have that on your playlist. I wasn't brave enough to list it! LOL. I've got to tell my sister. It was on an album of mixed hits we listened to repeatedly as kids. I wish I had that album.
ReplyDeleteLove your songs. I have to download a few of them. What no Jimmy Buffet?
ReplyDeleteMy hubby is a rock fan - Aerosmith, Led Zepplin, Lynard Skynard.
My tastes are eclectic - from Lady gaga to zac brown.
I do have Jimmy Buffet! I just couldn't list everybody. Volcano is a favorite! I have Knee Deep by Jimmy Buffet and Zac Brown! And of course Where The Boat Leaves From...that just says it all! It was once my ringtone. I'll admit I don't have anything by Lady Gaga.
DeleteMusic does remind me of memories so much! I'd be hard pressed to just remember something but let a song come on that's attached to a memory and I can tell you what I was doing, maybe a smell or who I was with, a time in my life. Crazy. I love the variety in your music too, same here I can go from Godsmack to TobyMac without missing a beat too! I too was a band nerd until my Senior year when I wanted to have "fun". I wasn't any good at it just enough to get by.
ReplyDeleteI can't imagine not having music in my life. Music is life. I learned to run with it, keeping to a certain beat on the treadmill. I think I raced without it once and had to sing the same two songs over and over and over and over.
DeleteWow, you totally have eclectic taste in music! I love it! It is amazing how some songs bring back memories. In terms of country, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band "Fishin in the Dark" reminds me of summertime and my high school boyfriend. Johnny Cash's "Ring of Fire" reminds me of my oldest son when he was about 3. he loved that song and would dance and sing! I also love that you have Ozzy Osbourne and Poison in your list!!
ReplyDeleteI don't have too much new stuff but just tons of older stuff of all genres. Rockin' Robin (the old song by Bobby Day from the 50s) is one of my favorite running songs because they played it at the amusement park when I was a kid. It brings back a happy memory.
DeleteMy husband read an article recently that said that there are some people who always have music running through their heads - it's like a trait you're born with! I don't always have music running through my mind, but I definitely associate certain songs with strong memories!
ReplyDeleteReally? I need to read that article. My sister has this and I've passed it along to at least one of my sons. I wake up to the same song every morning too. It's like the movie Groundhog Day.
DeleteMy running playlist is pretty eclectic too but it keeps things fun :)
ReplyDeleteHaving a lot of different types of music keeps it interesting.
DeleteWhat a fun mix!
ReplyDeleteThanks, that's what I aim for.
DeleteGreat topic and great mix! I've never really liked country music, either, but I have to admit that some of Carrie Underwood's songs are pretty catchy. I like her "Smoke Break" song and she has the honor of being the first country artist to earn a place on my playlist!
ReplyDeleteI'm not a HUGE fan of Carrie, but I do like that song very much. It's probably my favorite of hers. I also like the one she sings with Miranda Lambert...Something Bad is About to Happen.
DeleteYour huge variety of music just cracked me up! I think is great to have wide tastes, it's the spice of life they say! Have a great holiday! (StainedwithStyle)
ReplyDeleteThe variety keeps me entertained during a long run or ride. The same type of music over and over becomes too boring.
Delete