Given that I've asked you all for song recommendations to accompany
me on a marathon (and that you're all rather predictable souls), it
hasn't been entirely surprising that a number of suggestions contain
"run" in the title. With that in mind, I whimsically decided half an
hour before an eight mile run last Thursday to put together a completely
new playlist, consisting of 65 songs from my iTunes library that
feature the word run. My only proviso? It had to be used in
the correct context (i.e. the physical act of running), which
disappointingly ruled out
Keep the car running by Arcade Fire and any track suffixed with ...
Feat. Run DMC.
With shuffle pressed, I set off. These were the results:
Delta Goodrem - Running Away: Not
exactly the start I was looking for, made doubly disappointing by the
realisation that I possess a Delta Goodrem album. You probably don't
need to be told this, but warbly Antipodean lady-pop is not very good to
exercise to, no matter how lovely her face is. Set the tone for an erratic pace over the eight miles.
Memory Tapes - Run Out: An improvement. The
first minute felt as though I was running through the end credits of an
earnest 80s coming of age drama, and that's no bad thing, surely?
No Doubt - Running: A No Doubt song that I have no
recollection of ever hearing before, despite it being on their singles
collection. Chorus contained the words "running, running, as fast as we
can", which makes me think Gwen Stefani is more of a sprinter than a
long distance runner (admittedly, "running, running, at a consistent and
comfortable pace" wouldn't be as catchy).
Cut Copy - Midnight Runner: A short yet
uplifting burst from the Aussie bleep-merchants, providing the perfect
backdrop to crossing the Thames over Hammersmith Bridge (admittedly not
at midnight).
The National - Runaway: As a child, I
was often forced to accompany my mum to Mackay's, a shop specialising in
mum-wear in the heart of Formby village. Without exception, my limbs
would turn to lead every time we stepped inside, leading my 7 year old
self to believe I was physically allergic to floral polyester (a fact I
made sure did not escape mum's attention). Overcome by lethargy, I would
endeavour to sit down anywhere I could: the seats by the shoe section;
the small ledge in the front window display; the changing rooms (much to the annoyance of those trying on dresses. Especially if they were already in there).
It was a special kind of fatigue I had always thought was reserved for
sulking infants, but then I tried running to this song, and I was 7
years old again, staring at row upon row of houndstooth maternity
blouses. The National are a great band, but unless you want to know how it feels
to suffer from M.E. for five and a half minutes keep them well away from your gym playlist.
Beatles - Run For Your Life: Progress!
Typical jingly-jangly (albeit a bit dark) closer to Rubber Soul gave me two decent songs in a
row for the first time of the evening, although hearing John Lennon
tell me "you better run for your life if you can, little girl" was
slightly disconcerting, not least for reminding me of my childhood P.E.
lessons.
Zola Jesus - Run Me Out: Progress judderingly
halted. When exercising, this is the musical equivalent of being
spurred on from the wound-down window of a hearse. Whilst running
through treacle. In flip flops. There's a time and place for this song.
Four miles into a run is not one of them.
Velvet Underground - Run Run Run: If
Zola Jesus was a metaphorical sinking ship, The Velvet Underground
proved to be an equally metaphorical lifeboat. A lovely lifeboat with a
big engine and filled with beer and a complete set of obscure Eastern
European Subbuteo teams to keep me entertained during the journey back
to shore. Despite being from one of my all-time favourite albums, I'm
ashamed to say it took an email from a man who's name isn't Chris Fox to
remind me of its value to a running playlist (and simultaneously
provide the inspiration for this very blog). Love love love
Run Run Run.
Bogshed - Run To The Temple: This mid-80s
indie band, whose sound was described as "shambling" by John Peel, were
originally known as The Amazing Roy North Penis Band. None of those
words are a typo. It's got a good beat to it which is well suited to
running, but now you know they used to be called The Amazing Roy North
Penis Band I'm pretty sure you won't be concerned about that.
DJ Shadow - Run For Your Life: Sharing a
title with The Beatles' entry earlier, this has a furious pace that is
perhaps too quick for anyone wanting to avoid heart failure when running
long distances. Samples
Miles Davis What I Say, and made me think of
Wacky Races for reasons I'm not really sure of.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Runaway: Also shares a
title with a previous entry, this time with The National. Couldn't
really judge it objectively as I was once again grateful that I wasn't
running along to The National. Or The Corrs. They have a song called
Runaway too. That would have been
awful.
So there we have it. Some good, some bad, but anything called Runaway should be left on your Songs to cry along to playlist.
