This week’s Friday Favorite is just a groovy little tune by a British funk and acid jazz band that got their start in 1992. Please don’t get scared, because they also do a little pop, rock and electronica.
The cadence is a perfect 90- right where “the experts” tell us we work most efficiently on our bikes! And at 4 minutes 33 seconds, I like to insert this song by Jamiroquai in between a couple nasty hard climbs. Not for a recovery, but for a nice aerobic flat. Here is Jamiroquai singing, “Feels Just Like It Should” from the High Times Singles: 1992-2006 CD:
Every once in a while, an artist comes along that blows me away…grabs me with their extraordinary talent and I cannot get enough of them. That describes this week’s artist from Fargo, ND (although I like to consider him from Minneapolis – that's where his band and first album release is from). His voice is rich like none other and his guitar solos are smokin’, which also happens to be the name of his first album.
Two tracks from Jonny Lang’s most recent CD Turn Around are today’s Friday Favorites. “One Person At A Time” is a great climb at 60 rpm’s, 3:03. The lyrics are great, Jonny’s voice is gravelly and he rocks the guitar as usual. Here is a live video from the Des Moines Rib Fest, but his studio track is much better:
I then roll right into “The Other Side of the Fence”, which is the next track. At 80 rpm’s, I ask my riders to hold the resistance/load they had while they were climbing to “One Person At A Time” and go anaerobic for approximately 3 minutes. The song is 3:04. Here is another live video, and again, the studio track is much better and the CD is well worth the money! I hope you love this guy because I will be featuring him again down the line. He is just so good and started the music scene at age 15.
Who said the Midwest doesn’t make Blues musicians?
In my mind there are two categories of music: fake and real. Fake music is synthesized and real music is human beings playing instruments and truly singing, not just pretending to. For those of us that have to endure our kid’s music, the distinction is necessary and appreciated. Today’s Friday Favorite is “The Big Money” by Rush. These three Canadians know how to make music and this 5:35, 74 rpm climb is multi-layered for great coaching opportunities. At 2:50 the vocals pull back for a full minute and give way for introspection.
Here is the video:
I wasn't able to find anything from RUSH but I used this Moby remix last night in a class I subbed and they loved it! We watched the new Epic Planet DVD: Epic California Mt. Baldy use discount code ICIPRO30% for a 30% discount. This video has a number of very long climbs where a song with a strong beat @ 70 RPM like this track is awesome.
This week we are taking it all the way back to the 1980’s, and some good old recognizable metal. The band started in 1972 in Pasadena California and is just crazy fun and that is what we have in class- crazy fun when their music comes on.
I got Van Halen’s , The Best of Both World’s two disc CD and it is loaded with all their good stuff. I am going to highlight two songs today, but there are so many more great ones to use in class. “Jump” at 72 rpm and 4:04 is what I am currently
using 35 minutes into class for an out of the saddle climb. Everyone knows it, many sing to it, and we love it. I had forgotten about this song. Here it is:
Not as well known, but distinctly Van Halen, is “Feels So Good”, at 90 rpm and
4:32. It is a feel good flat with a great pause/re-start at 1:53 that I love to cue.
Happy Memorial Day to all in the US. And thank you to everyone that is serving,
or has served!
For your free track – here is a great remix/mashup of John's favorite Van Halen song 🙂
Click the little down arrow on the right to download. HotMaus (Van Halen vs. Deadmau5) by {{well in la}}
Today I am introducing a rock band composed of classically trained cellists. Their music borrows elements from many genres including classical music, neo-classical metal, post-grunge, progressive metal, thrash metal and symphonic metal.
Riders in my class look up and ask, “Who is this????”, when their music comes on. It is moving, inspiring and just plain fabulous!
I have to give you three Friday Favorite’s from Apocalyptica today, because I simply cannot give you just one! All are from their most recent CD, 7th Symphony. The first is “Not Strong Enough”. With a cadence of 90, I have been using it for intense flat road work. Starting with just cellos, there is :10 for us to cue before Brent Smith (Shinedown) comes in with his awesome vocals. At :47 the chorus starts with increasing intensity for a nice build and then backs off at 1:10. I use the :35 seconds here to 1:45 to gently remind my class about form for the upcoming increase in load to the end of the song at 3:37. I think possibly a few of us can also relate to the lyrics. Take a look and listen here, but don’t go away, because I have more for you:
Also from the 7th Symphony CD (featuring Lacey from FlyLeaf), I love “Broken
Pieces”. I use it as a flat road resistance build over 3:55 (cadence 90), taking our
work zone right up to threshold. I go right into holding our threshold number
with the next track from 7th Symphony called, “On the Rooftop With Quasimodo”.
This is completely instrumental, but very layered and intense. It works perfectly
in helping riders focus on maintaining a specific heart rate number at threshold
for 5:00, which is challenging and needs very motivating music. This is it! Here are
videos of both songs:
I am not a super heavy metal girl, but if you are a fan, some of their stuff gets
really intense. Check it out and enjoy, enjoy, enjoy!
This week’s Friday Favorite is just a groovy little tune by a British funk and acid jazz band that got their start in 1992. Please don’t get scared, because they also do a little pop, rock and electronica.
“Gogglebox”
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