Stop making the eyes at me and I'll stop making the eyes at you

May 8, 2009 12:19 PM

I need recommendations for songs for walking.

I've recently discovered the joys of going on long walks by the river. And my playlist is definitely heavier on the metal side(no pun intended etc).

What I've found is listening to grunts and growls or generally melancholic lyrics while going on a pleasant walk I develop a sullen facial expression and colours the outlook of whatever I experience. I'd like to be all joy and jollity while enjoying the late New England spring. While walking, at least.

Anyway, I'd like to ask for your recommendations on music that you might listen to yourselves while walking. Or music that you think might fit my criteria.

-Fast tempo. Not insanely fast or anything, but not a ballad either.
-Sort of uppity and mood boosting.
-Relatively short. ~3 mins. Not a hard limit.
-No electronic/synthpop. Can't stand it.
-Also, any song that might reference/celebrate the notion of eye contact with a pretty girl

That's it.

Here's what I've find myself enjoying and would like to discover more of the same.

Arctic Monkeys - I bet you look good on the dance floor
Stone Roses - Waterfall
The Clash - London Calling
Collective Soul - December
Oasis - The Importance of Being Idle
Blur - Country House/Charmless Man
Pearl Jam - Do the Evolution
Wolfmother - Joker & the Thief
The Crystal Method - Born too slow
That Dead Like Me song
Led Zeppelin - Dancing Days
Buzzcocks - Ever Fallen in Love

Thank you.

posted by prufrock to grab bag (28 comments total)

Both Sides Now, a Joni Mitchell cover by Jason Falkner. It's available on this disc, hopefully for cheaper somewhere.
posted by troywestfield at 12:31 PM on May 8

The Red Hot Chili Peppers song "Walkabout" always makes me smile and feel better about the people around me. And it has a good walking beat.
posted by muddgirl at 12:31 PM on May 8

Staying Alive! (but by Ozzy)
posted by ian1977 at 12:39 PM on May 8

troywestfield: "Both Sides Now, a Joni Mitchell cover by Jason Falkner. It's available on this disc, hopefully for cheaper somewhere."

That definitely doesn't have a fast tempo, and is pretty near a ballad, which the OP doesn't want.
posted by WCityMike at 12:39 PM on May 8

Jason Mraz - Bella Luna is a song I always find myself walking happy to.
posted by Night_owl at 12:49 PM on May 8

"Beautiful People" by Peplab
"Say Hey (I Love You)" by Michael Franti
"Spinning Away" by Sugar Ray
posted by anderjen at 12:50 PM on May 8

Elvis: Stuck on You, Mess of Blues, Don't Be Cruel

ZZTop: Sharp Dressed Man, Legs

Sinead O'Connor: Jump in the River

Oh boy, gotta run, um, walk. People will wonder what you're so happy about.
posted by effluvia at 1:04 PM on May 8

"Singin' in the Rain"
"Build Me Up Buttercup"
"Common People"
posted by ocherdraco at 1:07 PM on May 8

Sugar Ray! Oh man, I remember I used to love Every Morning

All these are excellent! Keep 'em coming.
posted by prufrock at 1:13 PM on May 8

I can't believe I'm the first to suggest it:
"One Step Beyond" by Madness, or -- even better -- The Complete Madness
posted by dov at 1:26 PM on May 8

"Hey Now Now" by the Cloud Room is definitely my #1 walking song when it's a nice sun-shiny day and the combination of the weather and the song makes me walk around with a smile.
posted by KateHasQuestions at 1:27 PM on May 8

I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles). Had to be done, really.
posted by permafrost at 1:28 PM on May 8

"Coin-Operated Boy" by the Dresden Dolls
posted by BostonTerrier at 1:28 PM on May 8

AM Radio - Everclear
Beautiful Day - U2
Closer to Fine - Indigo Girls
I've Just Seen a Face - The Beatles
Manic Monday - The Bangles
Walkin on Sunshine - Katrina & The Waves
Walkin on the Sun - SmashMouth
Four Seasons in One Day - Crowded House
Something So Strong - Crowded House
Shiny Happy People - REM
posted by pixlboi at 1:29 PM on May 8 [1 favorite]

The '59 Sound - Gaslight Anthem
Constructive Summer - Hold Steady
Intergalactic - Beastie Boys
All Women Are Bad - Cramps
Flathead - Fratellis
Barrier Reef - Old 97's
Rock N Roll Singer - AC/DC
posted by pdb at 1:32 PM on May 8

Just noticed your "eye contact with a pretty girl" notion. Swap out Chelsea Dagger for Flathead in my list.
posted by pdb at 1:34 PM on May 8

Lots of songs by The Jam would fit your list and most of your criteria. Going Underground, Start!, In the city, and lots of others.
posted by umbú at 1:39 PM on May 8 [1 favorite]

Adventure - Be Your Own Pet
Good Enough - Dodgy
Connection - Elastica
Buck Rogers - Feeder
Cherry Lips (Go Baby Go!) - Garbage
Dark Clouds - Space
Alright - Supergrass
Fell In Love With A Girl - The White Stripes
posted by xchmp at 2:11 PM on May 8 [1 favorite]

Peace Frog
posted by interrobang at 2:11 PM on May 8

Cake:
Short Skirt/Long Jacket
Pentagram
Love You Madly
Mr. Mastodon Farm

The B-52's:
52 Girls
Dry County
Deadbeat Club
Butterbean
Work That Skirt

Donald Fagen
I.G.Y.
Walk Between Raindrops
Green Flower Street

The Go-Go's:
half their catalog

Lonely Boy - Andrew Gold
Sugar Sugar - The Archies
BBC Heaven - Austin Powers Cast
Ch-Check It Out - Beastie Boys
Vehicle - Blood Sweat and Tears
Feels So Good - Chuck Mangione
Just A Gigolo - David Lee Roth
It Ain't What You Do It's The Way That You Do It - Fun Boy Three & Bananarama
Tijuana Taxi - Herb Alpert and Tijuana Brass
posted by chazlarson at 2:26 PM on May 8

A fitting addition to your mix would be the first song on an underappreciate album by an underappreciated band: the great and magnificent Pere Ubu's The Art Of Walking. Beyond being on an album with a fortuitous name, the first song, "Go," is one of my favorite songs anywhere. The lyrics are awesome, and express some of what you're talking about, I think; they're about walking, about seeing, about knowing other people, and discovering. And embracing what you discover. They are, as in most Pere Ubu songs, shouted and keened over a backdrop of chaos:

Go
by Pere Ubu
from The Art of Walking [1980]

Here's to the small things!
Here's to the small things that give pleasure!
Here's to the everyday, everyday things!
Here's to the everyday things that bring a smile!
My hands are complicated thoughts
My hands are complicated

Ah, but my feet just wanna go...

Here's to the finer points!
Here's to the finer points that mean everything!
Here's to the details!
Here's to the details that so often get overlooked:

the way one day fades into another;
the way simple desires get expressed
the way one day fades into another;
the way simple desires get expressed

What's the bus that comes by here?

Here's to the best things!
Here's to the very best things!
Here's to the things that give God pleasure!
Here's to the things that make God smile!
The small victories are the big ones!
The smaller victories are often the biggest!

And as one day fades to another,
As the past gets filled up with failure,
As one day fades to another

The smallest details—
The finest points—

They all add up.
___________________________________

Prufrock: I love Pere Ubu, and I love human beings, so I try to share one with the other as much as I can. Check your MefiMail. Everyone, I encourage you: you can paypal or mail order this fantastic record from Ubu's web site, UbuProjex.net; the original release version (on which a few songs are screwed up) is only five dollars. Five dollars is not a lot to pay for a whole lot of happiness, which is what I've gotten out of this record.
posted by koeselitz at 3:00 PM on May 8

Van Halen's cover of Roy Orbison's "Pretty Woman"
R.E.M., "We Walk"
Aerosmith, "Walk This Way" (or the Run-D.M.C. version)
The B-52s, "Roam"
posted by kirkaracha at 4:10 PM on May 8

Also, any song that might reference/celebrate the notion of eye contact with a pretty girl

"That Was Your Mother", by Paul Simon, from Graceland
posted by Daily Alice at 6:50 PM on May 8

I just made a sort of disco era mix for walking:

More Than A Woman - Bee Gees
Call Me Al - Paul Simon
September 1963 (What A Night) - Frankie Valli
Lady - The Commodores
Keep It Comin' - KC & The Sunshine Band
Silly Love Songs - Paul McCartney

Can't remember the rest off the top of my head but these songs make me happy when I walk.
posted by justlisa at 7:17 PM on May 8

Talking Heads/David Byrne. I picked a few 'fun' songs
- Don't Worry About The Government
- Burning Down The House
- I Zimbra
- Pulled up
posted by artdrectr at 8:17 PM on May 8

Good all around upbeat put-a-smile-on-yourself walking song:

"Ain't Life Grand" - Widespread Panic

For your "eye contact with a pretty girl":

"Papers in Order" - The Old Ceremony

Perfect for walks by the river:

Pretty much anything by Railroad Earth, especially their double CD, Elko.

Good post - enjoy your walks!!
posted by ourroute at 6:08 AM on May 9

Thanks everyone! This was great! I'll check out all of them.
posted by prufrock at 10:53 AM on May 9

Models - I Hear Motion
David Bowie - The Jean Genie
INXS - Same Direction
OMD - So In Love
Roxy Music - Angel Eyes
Simple Minds - Sanctify Yourself
Ultravox - One Small Day
Dead or Alive - Lover Come Back To Me
Altered Images - I Could Be Happy
Cake - Rock and Roll Lifestyle
Soul Coughing - Down To This
Go Go's - Head Over Heels
Bananarama - Shy Boy
posted by ostranenie at 5:40 AM on May 10