Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Throwback Training Tunes - 1981 edition

Quick recap of the method behind my musical madness:

Recognizing that I’ve got some serious fatigue with my current iPod residents, I’m challenging myself to try and come up with an honest-to-goodness running song from each of the last 20 years of the 20th century (1980-1999). Mainstream to alternative, well-known to abundantly obscure, anything is a potential candidate. I’m test-driving anything I post with a listen during at least two attempts to drag my carcass through a training run, and trying to link to a video or audio-clip of the song so we can all remember how awesome we looked in our killer 80s and 90s fashions. Pegged acid-wash jeans and a rockin’ mullet for this runner. Good times …. good times.

Prior Throwbacks:

‘Look to the Sky’ by the March Violets (1986)
‘Mama Said Knock You Out’ by LL Cool J (1990)

Today’s Throwback:

‘Ceremony’ by New Order (1981) – New Order is a very black or white group with most people. They either like them or have no interest in them. I fall into the ‘like them’ camp, but I find my feelings about their individual songs are somewhat black or white. I either really like a song, or just don’t care for it. Not much gray area. This is one of their top 5 for me, and until I started putting this list together I never realized or considered what a great running song this is for me. The first song on any of my playlists is a critical position for me. It needs to have a good intro, a nice gradual build, and ideally be something that matches the general mood as the sun is just starting to rise. Gets the brain working, the blood pumping, and sets the tone for the miles ahead. I had never found a first-song that could match the live version of Bad by U2 from the Wide Awake in America Album, which I never seem to get tired of despite having listened to it enough that it is tattoed on my eardrums. I think I may have finally found a worthy foe with this one. The history of this song is pretty interesting, and a bit tragic, with the end of Joy Division and the start of New Order, but it’s one of the first songs from New Order, and arguably one of their best. There are several versions of this song available, some by other artists (Joy Division, Radiohead, etc.), and a few different versions by New Order. I’d recommend the version from the New Order – Singles album.

11 comments:

  1. Yeah I was going to say the New Order version of this is better for running. Maybe you flip over to the Joy Division version when you are exhausted laying in a ditch somewhere.

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  2. Cool post, looking forward to seeing what else you come up with. Mama Said Knock You Out is what I say to my kids when they say Mama and then pause. He was amazaing when he first started wasn't he? Bummer that early rap devolved into complete thuggery (my opinion).

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  3. From an 80s girl, this is music to my ears! On those unfortunate days when I am stuck on the treadmill, my go-to choice is VH1s all 80s station to listen/watch. So much fun to revisit those days!

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  4. Mama said knock you out. Is a STAPLE for me. LOVE - LOVE - LOVE it!!! Love all 80's!!

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  5. Looking forward to your choices!! I got bored with my iPod typical playlist too, so one day just put the whole thing on shuffle while doing housework and found some new ones to add- '500 Miles' by the Proclaimers (Benny & Joon, anyone?), and 'Under Pressure' are two of my newest additions. Have fun!

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  6. You just reminded me that I've been wanting download that LL Cool J song! I alawys make these mental notes and then forget.

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  7. I like New Order, but don't have any of their tunes on my ipod. I'm gonna get this one. Thanks! Keep these recommendations coming!

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  8. It's funny, b/c I haven't ran with music now for about a year. And I tried it out last week...and it was hard for me. huh?

    But tunes pre-car ride to a race....that's the best.

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  9. How about some English Beat/General Public for your consideration.

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  10. Momma said know you out - seriously, the best! I'm a 80's, 90's hip hopper myself... I've got some free downloads of hour long music mixes on my blog & just put up some awesome 80's mixes - you should check em out! Who knew you could put Depeche Mode to a running beat?!? :)

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