Suggestions for songs to run to

March 30, 2006 4:18 PM

Seeking some specific work-out music. The type or vintage is unimportant; what I need is songs which exactly match my running tempo. Over the years, I've filled four tapes with these matches, but I'm always seeking more.

I run on the treadmill, at 6 miles an hour. I think my beats-per-minute is about a hundred but I get really confused trying to measure this (IANA Trained Musician).

Here's some examples of what works:
Classic -- "Surfin USA" "Fun Fun Fun" "Shut Down" and even "Good Vibrations" by the B Boys, "The Night Before" and "Tell Me Why" from the Beatles' movies, and "Jailhouse Rock."
Middle era -- "All the Young Dudes" by Mott the Hoople, "Kashmir" by Led Zeppelin, "Dream On" by Aerosmith, "Major Tom" by Peter Schilling and "I Ran" by A Flock of Seagulls. (Also Pink Floyd's "On The Run.")
Current: "Mission Creep" by Massive Attack, "Loser" by Beck and "Yoshino vs. the Robots" by the Flaming Lips.

I used to have access to a dubbing cassette deck with an all-important "pitch" knob, which allowed for tempo-tweaking of the near-fits, but alas (and since I've resisted the movement towards Stereo-Computer convergance, any suggestions concerning software which adjusts MP3s isn't relevant).

posted by Rash to sports, hobbies, & recreation (11 comments total)

Here's an exercise mix I created to listen to on the treadmill-- there are a couple peaks in song speed, but it's more or less consistent.
posted by themadjuggler at 4:28 PM on March 30, 2006

I do about 6.2, here are some favorites that should match your feet:

Bloc Party, Positive Tension (especially good, try to sprint when the rave up begins)
Squarepusher, I Wish You Could Talk (you'll half the beat)
Aphex Twin, XTal
Wolf Parade, Dear Sons And Daughters Of Hungry Ghosts
Luomo, Shelter
posted by The Jesse Helms at 4:31 PM on March 30, 2006

Mos Def The New Danger isn't anything spectacular in real life, but it is amazing for running.
posted by nomad at 4:42 PM on March 30, 2006

DO get the soundtrack to Run Lola Run. The music was MADE for running!

Also, a lot of the songs on Stop Making Sense by Talking Heads might work. Especially Life During Wartime, Thank You For Sending Me an Angel, Found a Job, Making Flippy Floppy, Girlfriend is better, Burning Down the House, What a Day That Was, and Once in a Lifetime.
posted by The Deej at 4:57 PM on March 30, 2006

This is my most recent mix CD. I've been told it's good for working out. It starts at around 133 bpm and ends at 138, I think. It's mixed non-stop.
posted by empath at 6:00 PM on March 30, 2006

Oh, btw:

DJ Prince Has a database of music organized by BPM. Click the DJ Mix Generator at the top of the page, and you can search by key and bpm to find more songs.
posted by empath at 6:03 PM on March 30, 2006

I looked up the bpms of the tracks you mentioned and it seems to me that you are looking for tracks that are either at 160 or 80 bpm (which would match up with each other).

If you are looking for dance music/Electronic Music that matches up with that, you'll want either Hip-hop/Trip-Hop (Kasmir/Massive Attack tempo at 80 bpm) or Drum&Bass or Happy Hardcore (160 bpm range).
posted by empath at 6:12 PM on March 30, 2006

The tracks on Ballroom dance music compilation CDs are specified by BPM (beats per minute) or MPM (measures per minute), and that info is typically also available even when buying online.

More to the point, there are compilation CDs that span a wide range of music genres. I like the pop/rock stuff myself :)
posted by -harlequin- at 6:55 PM on March 30, 2006

Based on my own mental cross reference of the songs you mentioned, I'm definitely seconding the Bloc Party, and also putting forward the Pixies, especially starting with the song UMASS. You may also want to try Kasabian.
posted by idontlikewords at 12:58 AM on March 31, 2006

I've had a lot of luck with interval running to some tracks by Peaches, most by the Raveonettes (from "Whip It On" and "Chain Gang Of Love") and ... well, if they could keep to a locked tempo, the Ramones early work would work well too.
posted by kuperman at 5:21 AM on March 31, 2006

For determination of BPM I got an email-response suggesting this analyzer.

Thanks for all your answers!
posted by Rash at 8:31 AM on March 31, 2006