Can’t Stop The Beat

Music snuck into my thoughts today.  I’ve always thought that if I stumbled across a genie that my wish would be to have a soundtrack for my life (after of course asking for an endless amount of money and wishes).  Music can express every emotion and can enhance any experience.  Granted, there are times I’m sure when I would want to mute my life-soundtrack – ie I don’t need it to fuel the fire if I’m feeling a little blue, or could you imagine when some situation at work gets you all fired up and then all your coworkers hear some raging music blasting from your office?

Specifically when talking about working out, music can play a big part.  It’s something that can pump you up, get you moving, cheer you on, and get you in the zone.  I personally listen to a different type of music for a lot of activities – when biking I try to listen to something that almost puts me in a trance, pumping the Fe requires something with a bit more umph to it – maybe something a bit harder and louder, there’s also the pregrame music before some team sport that requires some pop music that gets ya dancin.  Realize this comes with the disclaimer that riding a bike with headphones on is not a very safe practice and can limit your awareness of surroundings and traffic.  I’ve seen some near misses between bike and car with a lot of culpability on the ipod blaring in the riders ears.

That disclaimer being said, I’d like to open up a discussion on what everyone thinks is the perfect song.  I aim this more towards a power song while working out – and feel free to explain the perfect moment that this perfect song works in.  For instance, I know some people like to get a little motivation by hearing them told over and over that they are a sexy thing by Hot Chocolate.  I’ve also had a discussion with a friend that if we ever want to feel like a bad-a-mofo we strut to the beginning of Crawl by Kings of Leon.  Or let’s see, while biking or running I like to get in a trance to songs like Sleepyhead by Passion Pit.  When I need a bit more power I turn up the juice with something like Pressure by Swollen Member.

So again, let me hear your thoughts, any song and suggestion is appreciated.  Kelly and I used to track our runs using the Nike+ accelerometer.  You could link a little gadget to your ipod and it would measure your distance and speed.  One cool feature was that you could hold the ipod button and it would take a break from your playlist and start playing your designated Power Song.

I’ll be glad to shell out the money to itunes to buy up all these suggestions and make a great pre-ironman playlist for Kel-Kel.