Today’s Friday Favorite is actually brought to you by ICI/PRO member and instructor, Chuck Cali. I am just the messenger! Chuck has been using this rocking tune as a high cadence hill climb (85 rpm). He says there is plenty of energy for everyone and the sax riffs are awesome. John Cafferty originally did “On the Dark Side” with Beaver Brown for the soundtrack of Eddie and the Cruisers. The version from the One Night in Weston CD is twice is long and the one he is using in his classes.
Here is the YouTube video from Eddie and the Cruisers. The cadence is a bit faster than the One Night in Weston version and it is only 2:42 long, but it is good stuff! Thanks Chuck!
I wasn't able to find a free version of On The Dark Side but, seeing how Halloween is right around the corner, why not a spooky track about the Dark Side to start off your class Monday the 31st?
Are you looking for the perfect 96 rpm flat road tune to use for discovering anaerobic threshold in your class??? Look no further! This four piece indie rock group from London, England has recorded it for us. “Amazing” by One Eskimo, starts out with a very mellow, but detectable beat and builds bit by bit over time, especially at 1:18 and 2:28. I encourage (push is a more accurate word) my class to keep adding load without slowing leg speed and bring themselves to that uncomfortable place of T2. Then 3:58 minutes into the song, it magically pulls back, and I talk to them about really feeling the difference between working “aerobically” and “anaerobically”. Total time is 4:41, and then it’s time for:
1. Air
and
2. Water!
Here is One Eskimo and “Amazing” from their self-titled CD. I hope you like it as much as I do. It’s a favorite of mine and John quickly became a fan. Here are all their songs in Spotify – there's a bunch of gems in there… which others do you like?
Here's a remix of another One Eskimo track, Givin Up (it's hard to do) for your free track. It has a simple, yet compelling message about persevering you maybe able to use in your class one early morning. Actually many of their tracks have inspirational lyrics you could weave into a motivating class 🙂 One eskimO – Givin' up (Don Diablo Remix) by Don Diablo
I love a good long tune and today’s Free Music Friday Favorite is 7minutes long. It has a “dream pop” type vibe to it, but don’t let that throw you off, because I have found it to be very useful in discovering either T1, or T2. The Verve is certainly
not a new (or still intact) band, but “The Rolling People”, from their Urban Hymns CD is a great 81 bpm tune with good coaching breakout time at 2:30-3:15. The first two minutes I ask my class to start adding load s-l-o-w-l-y. At 2:30, I explain either T1 or T2 (whichever we are discovering) and then we HIT IT! It works well, because we still have plenty of time left to find our threshold. Here is The Verve and “The Rolling People”, circa 1997:
For your free track I wasn't able to find a remix of The Rolling People, but I was able to find another song from The Verve that would make for a focused 72 rpm climb; Appalachian Springs. Listen all the way through and you will find a built in recovery at the 5:50 point of this 7:34 tune. The Verve – Appalachian Springs by cuzzoni
Me with Barbara Hoots at the conference this morning
What???? Did you think I forgot you? Never! Greetings from the ICI/PRO Conference in Boston! I truly wish you were all here. Today’s Friday Favorite is by an artist that my daughter Carly introduced me to. I have used her quite often in my class line ups. You may recognize her voice from the theme song of “Shrek 2”. London’s Imogen Heap is musically unique and diverse. “Headlock” from her Speak for Yourself CD makes for a fabulous out of the saddle climb at 60 bpm.
It starts out with her voice and electronics only, but a strong beat. At 1:15, the drums KICK and it makes for great coaching. She pulls back again at 1:45 and the drum kick happens again at 2:20 for another coaching opportunity. I love these times to really encourage my class to “trust their legs” (gotta credit John with this phrase) and go for it. The song is 3:37…I only wish it was longer.
They call them “mean girls”. There have been movies made about them and books written about them, and sometimes we have them in our lives. I have one in mine right now, so this song grabbed me this week as I listened to the CD and I have started using it in my cycle class. Guys… I am sure there are also “mean guys” for you in your life too, or possibly you just encounter mean girls as well, and that is plenty for you!
Anyway, The Script and “I Promise You Won’t Feel A Thing”, from their Science and Faith CD is 4:35 long and 70 rpm. I use it after my warm up as a quick climb, combining long count (32 count at least) in and out of the saddle work and raising our heart rate up to T1 (low zone 3). The lyrics: “ I promise you won’t feel a thing, cause everything the world could throw, I’ll stand in front and take the blow… for you… for you…” are exceptionally romantic, I know. And no, nobody has offered, nor would I take them up on it, but it is nice to think about. There is a nice instrumental break at 3:00 for cueing opportunities. There is not an official video for this tune, but you can hear it here and see what you think for an early on climb:
And here is a remix of “I Promise You Won’t Feel A Thing” for your free track of the week
[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/5270618″]
Today’s Friday Favorite is a fun little 70 rpm tune that is perfect for lifts. Now, I don’t want to start a whole controversy about whether we should or should not do lifts (jumps), etc. IF you like to use them, and coach them responsibly in your class (why do I feel like I am talking about drinking with my teenage and almost 21 year old daughters here?), then this is a great song by Jessie James to do 8 count lifts to. There is a great little break out at 2:20 to 2:25 that you can play with and look extremely practiced and professional with. Total studio cut time is 3:55 and it is from her self-titled CD. You may also recognize the song from the “Shopaholic” soundtrack. Have some fun practicing your lift cues 4 counts before the lift or lower needs to occur. Your class will appreciate the advanced notice! If you are not a “jumper”, this is a great fast climb song as well.
And here is your free track of the week. It's not from Jessie James, but another recommended artist from Spotify; Fefe Dobson. Click the little down arrow on the right hand side of the player to download. Stuttering by Steffi17
