When you need to conjure up a perfect finish line song, not all students crave the driving force of The White Stripes' Seven Nation Army. In fact, many are begging for an uplifting, inspiring arrangement to push their pace while stirring emotion and empowerment. These two FRIDAY FAVORITES are soaring with optimism, and your students will cross the finish line with euphoria. Both can be found on iTunes orAmazon.com
Wonderful by Gary Go (Disney Oceans soundtrack)
If you Believe by Blues Saraceno (Indie Pop album)
John adds: This got me thinking about my favorite uplifting songs. Long forgotten, but hearing Climbing from Lionel Richey again still brings a little shiver as it gets to the finish.
Keeping with inspirational climbing songs, here is your free track for today!
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}}
Back on ICI Podcast #125 — Barbara Hoots Explains How To Get Your Playlist Order Right, Barbara explained the importance of using recognizable music in your class as an important little detail your class will really appreciate and enjoy. But the solution may not be playing the same old tired version everyone has heard a thousand times. Finding a new version, in the form of a cover, re-mix or mash-up, can really freshen up your playlist and add that special connection we all look to make with our students.
So where do you find these tracks?
Better question; where do you find these tracks and download them for FREE?
Barbara turned me on to soundcloud.com as a fantastic source for music – much of it is not only free, but legal 🙂 Sound Cloud's users are made up of DJ's and Bands that upload their latest creations. Some are available as free downloads.
Like any other music discovery process, navigating through Sound Cloud will take some time. We're all spoiled with by the speed of iTunes' music sampling (I hate clicking and then waiting for something to happen) and I don't think you'll be disappointed by Sound Cloud. Their streaming is very fast and you can click on the music wave form to quickly sample within the song!
Go ahead and create a profile at Sound Cloud
Here's how to search Sound Cloud so you only see tracks that can be downloaded – NOTE: some tracks may have reached their download limit and no longer available. At the top go to Tracks > Search for Tracks and then tick the box for Show Advanced Search Options to see this: (click image to enlarge)
I set the Track/set type to Remix and then add search terms into the Tags/genres box. You may also what to choose the length of songs, long = ~9 minutes or more. Looking for a fun 80's mix? Try this one (it includes promos). Dj Vegaz – In The Lab – April 2010 Eighties Rock by Dj Vegaz
Click the little down arrow on the right to download.
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!
I am not typically a fan of “live” CD’s, and usually prefer the studio cuts, but
this “live” version rocks. It has just the right amount of crowd in the background
and newness to the tunes. We have been jamming up a moderate climb in my
class to Sting’s (If You Love Someone) Set Them Free, from his All This Time (Live)
CD. The cadence is 68 and the song lasts 4:57 minutes. It builds beautifully at
2:40, 3:15 and blasts wide open at 4:00 to a huge “Sting freestyle”! This concert
was recorded in Italy on September 11, 2001 and Sting dedicated the concert to
all that lost their lives that day in the New York terrorist attack. Here he is that
night doing his thing:
Two other great cycle class tunes on the All This Time (Live) CD:
If I Ever Lose My Faith In You RPM 60, 4:31. Great horns and strings!
Brand New Day RPM 60, 4:47. Kind of a “Big Band” rendition. I am definitely
using this soon.
See you all next Friday!
Here's this weeks free tracks.
Both of these are off a new release from the band Blame Sally and I can hear using them back to back as a nice climb and then a fun downhill recovery.
When I cannot decide whether I like the re-make or the original song better, then I know that it is a great re-make – and this is one of those songs. I have been using this for a kick butt out of the saddle climb in my anaerobic threshold interval training class lately. We all know it and sometimes it is nice to hear an old classic with a new twist like Fergie doing “Barracuda”, or just and old classic like Ann and Nancy Wilson with Heart doing it.
Take a look/listen at both and decide which you like better:
Either way, the rpm is 68 and your class will know it, love it and easily reach and hold threshold for 4:40 with Fergie’s version and 4:23 with Heart’s. Gotta love the1970’s video! Have fun with it and have a great weekend everyone.
“Gogglebox”
Buy at 
Buy at 