2014 was another great year for music. Many of the songs that made my list this year dropped in the second half of the year and a few actually came out in 2013 with remixes that dropped in 2014. And I may have cheated here or there with songs that came out in late 2013 and didn’t fall on my radar until this year. Regardless, I’m sure you’ll find something you can use in this list. Maybe you’ll even find something new to you, or a song you had used earlier in the year but had forgotten about. You might even consider putting together a playlist including some of these favorites for your class to ring in 2015.
This year, I’m sharing with you how I used each song in my class. Feel free to use them in the same way or share how you use them in the comment section.
Here are my top 20 Indoor Cycling Songs of 2014 (in no particular order):
1.Lips Are Movin’ by Meghan Trainor: I like this one (at least for cycling) so much better than All About That Bass. They’re both fun, light songs that can always elicit smiles. How I used it: standing climb, warm up
2.Geronimo by Sheppard: There’s nothing NOT to love about this totally catchy tune. How I used it: standing climb, seated climb, warm up
3.Shot Me Down-feat.Skylar Grey by David Guetta: I love this adaptation of Nancy Sinatra’s ‘Bang Bang’ featuring Skylar Grey. It starts out slow and then builds, slows again and finishes with a strong beat. How I used it: alternating seated/standing climb
4.I Bet My Life by Imagine Dragons: This single was released on October 27 to promote their upcoming album Smoke and Mirrors. A big contender for my favorite song of the year. How I used it: standing climb with standing accelerations on the chorus
5.Turn Down For What by DJ Snake, Lil Jon: Technically, this song came out at the very end of 2013, but I didn’t start using it until 2014. Rolling Stone voted it as the 2nd best song of 2014 and I have to agree. How I used it: seated flat with accelerations on the chorus
6.Love Runs Out by OneRepublic: This song was supposed to be the first single from OneRepublic’s album Native, but apparently it wasn’t finished in time. It came out in 2014 with the re-release of the album, and it’s just as amazing as the rest of the songs on Native. How I used it: seated or standing climb/ warm up *Check out the remixes.
7.Fireball by Pitbull, John Ryan: My classes can’t get enough Pitbull, so I was so excited when this song was released in July. The horn melody at the end of each chorus sounds a lot like the Champ’s ‘Tequila’. It’s just a fun song with a ton of great Pitbull energy. How I used it: standing climb
8.All of Me-Tiesto’s Birthday Treatment Remix-Radio Edit by John Legend : All of Me, the original, came out in 2013, and this remix dropped in early 2014. While remixes don’t always work for me, this one really did and I love using it in my classes. How I used it: standing or seated climb
9.Animals by Martin Garrix: Another song that officially dropped in 2013, but I didn’t really start using it until 2014 so it’s going on the list. How I used it: alternating seated/standing climb *Check out the remixes.
10.Uptown Funk by Mark Ronson, Bruno Mars: This single was just released in November. I love the guest vocals by Bruno Mars and the retro sound. How I used it: This is a tough one at just under 60 RPMs, but we don’t always pedal to the beat. I’ve used this one as both a standing climb and a warm up.
11.Come With Me Now by KONGOS : This song by South African band KONGOS was initially released in 2011 but just found commercial success in the US this year. I’m voting for this one as my favorite of 2014. How I used it: seated fast flat road
12.Delirious (Boneless) by Steve Aoki, Chris Lake, Tujarr : This is one of those songs that has a great beat and just keeps your pedals moving. There are several different remixes to choose from as well. How I used it: standing climb *Check out the remixes.
13.Raging Fire by Phillip Phillips: I would definitely say this song is every bit as good as his previously released Home. How I used it: jumps on a hill, seated accelerations on the chorus
14.Sing by Ed Sheeran: This song was written by Sheeran and Pharrell Williams. Williams also provides uncredited background vocals. How I used it: alternating seated/standing climb
15.Centuries by Fall Out Boy: This song was released in September as a lead single for their upcoming album American Beauty/American Psycho. How I used it: seated flat road
16. Maroon 5: I’ve actually chosen two favorites from their most recent album V. The first is Maps, which was the lead single for the album. How I used it: standing climb. The second is Animals, which was the second single from the same album. How I used it: seated flat road
17. Hoochie Coochie by Band of Skulls: At 2 minutes and 40 seconds, it’s short and sweet. It’s around 75 RPMs, so it’s just between a seated flat and seated climb-your choice.
18. Shut up And Dance by Walk the Moon: Another very recent release that I’ve loved using lately. It has a catchy beat and it’s just fun and lively. How I used it: seated or standing climb
19.Come Get It Bae by Pharrell Williams : Pharrell pretty much became a household name this year. How could I not use one of his songs? How I used it: seated or standing climb, warm up
20. Take Me To Church by Hozier: This song has been on my repeat radar since I discovered it. Apparently I’m not the only one because it has received a Grammy nomination for Song of the Year! I will definitely be rooting for this one to win. How I used it: cool down
There you have it. My top 20 of 2014. It was so hard to decide which ones would make the list and if you asked me on a different day, the list might look completely different. I know there are so many great songs that didn’t quite make it, so here’s a list of honorable mentions:
Blame by Calvin Harris, John Newman (check out the remixes)
Peace by O.A.R
All About That Bass by Meghan Trainor
The Days by Avicii
The Nights by Avicii
Stolen Dance by Milky Chance
Am I Wrong by Nico & Vinz
A Sky Full of Stars by Coldplay
Problem Ariana Grande, Iggy Azalea
Angel in Blue Jeans by Train
Cadillac, Cadillac by Train
Feet Don’t Fail Me Now by NEEDTOBREATHE
Bang Bang by Macy Gray
The Man By Aloe Blacc
Ticking Bomb by Aloe Blacc
Can You Do This by Aloe Blacc
Summer by Calvin Harris
Ten Feet Tall by Afrojack, Wrabel (check out the remixes)
The Soundmaker by Rodrigo y Gabriela
Budapest by George Ezra
Fever by The Black Keys
Here’s the Spotify playlist which includes all of the songs mentioned:
What do you think? Did I get it right? Did I miss any? I welcome your comments and music suggestions. 🙂 Here’s to a happy and healthy new year filled with some great new music!
This isn't good… I had two Oh Shit “senior moments” in the same week 🙁
The first was when I arrived at the Laguardia airport on Friday, only to discover I had left my wallet and ID back in the safe at the hotel where I had stayed in NYC. So I missed my flight back to Minneapolis and made another loop back into the city to retrieve my forgotten items. Thankfully USAirways has some compassion for people like me and they placed me on a later flight back home
But this morning was actually worse. It was 5:45 am. I was parked at the club, collecting my stuff to teach. I said outloud (to myself) “Where's my iPhone?” And then remembered (or is it realised?) that I had left it back home on the kitchen counter. “Now what do I do?”
And then I remembered, you have the rescue CD that you created for just such an occasion. I relaxed a bit, as I thought about where I would retrieve my CD.
It's in my employee folder…
In the steel cabinet…
Which is in the Group Fitness Dept Head's office…
AT A CLUB WHERE I NO LONGER TEACH!!!!!!!!!!!!!
OH CRAP – now what am I going to do?
During the short run accross the parking lot and into the club, I came up with a plan. “we will be riding to the sounds of riding outdoors!” So as soon as I was dressed and in the studio, I announced just that and we all rode along to the Epic Planet DVD Epic Race Day. This DVD is complete with all of the sounds of riding a road bike during a criterium – including the cheers of all of your adoring fans!
Actually this was an inexcusable, rookie mistake that should have never happened. I know better than to not have a second option for music. I had gotten lazy and too confident that my trusty iPhone would always be there for me. Until I forgot to bring it.
So while I'm typing this post, I'm burning a few CDs that I will stash in my car, as well as in the cycling studio. Here's to having a backup plan!
Some of the profiles we provide our ICI/PRO members become instant classics. Case in point… Chrispins' (Chris Hawthorne) Four Corners (Two Ways) class profile.
Many Instructors have commented that they (and their classes) enjoy the simplicity and effectiveness of this profile. Many have added it to their portfolio of go-to profiles – which is awesome, except after a few classes the playlist maybe getting a bit tired.
We all rely on music as a tool. Tools are used for building things and it's common to describe our practice of creating profiles as; “I'm building my class”. Most of us put a bunch of effort into; “building our playlist”. Track selection is often by BPM or song length. We categorize and file/store our music in ways designed make the selection quicker and easier, i.e. flats, climbs, etc…
In my workshop at home I do the same thing. I have a big tool box with a bunch of drawers. Each drawer has a specific type of tool (sockets, wrenches, screwdrivers), many are arranged by size (1/4″, 1/2″, 10mm, 14mm), or purpose (Phillips Head, Straight Blade, Allen Head).
I'm a self-professed “Tool Guy” – Tim Taylor was one of my favorite TV characters of all time. Tim understood it's “all about the tools”. My Grandfather was often accused (by his wife) of “spending 5 hours to design and build a tool that would save him 2 minutes, on a job he'd only do once.” So I come by this naturally 🙂 Whenever I need to build/fix/repair or create something the first thing I do is find the tools I'll need for the job. And no, I'm not beyond spending an afternoon/day/month designing a tool to solve some problem I'm having. Case in point is my Red Pedal Tool for studios using the red Schwinn triple link pedals. That took about a year from start, to a finished product.
My class preparation probably isn't much different from yours [wlm_firstname]. I start with a basic “plan” and then I select different tracks based on their value as a tool; “I need a 6 minute song @ 150 BPM for this climb I have planned” isn't any different from; “I need a 14mm end-wrench to remove the lawnmower blade, so I can sharpen it”.
The resulting playlist is very functional, very Indoor Cycling 2.0. But I'm learning can also be a bit sterile – dare I say soulless?
This morning a long-time member said hello to me, as I was leaving the club after my 6:00 am class. Her comment stopped me in my tracks; “I so wish I had taken your class this morning John… everyone was saying how great the music was”.
That's not something I hear very often, to be truthful, almost never. What was different this morning? I didn't use a playlist of my own creation. In fact the playlist I used didn't even fit what I had planned. The BPM was all wrong, efforts started in the middle of the songs – and often continued through track changes. There was nothing right about any of it (Rick Springfield?) – the musical equivalent of using a butter knife instead of a proper screwdriver… and yet they loved it.
I believe in giving credit where credit is due and I first heard of this group from Tom Scotto. We were together in Colorado in December for the Cycling Fusion Summit Conference. Tom was graciously showing us how he put together his play lists and I was furiously jotting down his bands of choice!
With play times between 4:26 and 7:25 and BPM ranging from 64 to 92, every single track is usable and wonderful for class. I especially like this CD because there are three great flat road selections. The group is The Crystal Method and this week’s CD is Vegas. The flat road tracks are: “Bad Stone” 5:10, BPM 90, “High Roller” 5:30 BPM 90 (my favorite) and “Trip Like I Do” 7:34, BPM 92. “Comin’ Back” at 5:39 and a cadence of 72 is my favorite climb tune on this CD with a cool vocals and a nice out of the saddle feeling at 1:30.
Check out the YouTube video of the re-release of the 1997 “Comin” Back” with Trixie Reiss on vocals:
iTunes Quick Tip – Sharing iTunes Music Between Computers
Amy has a bunch of music on her computer and I do as well. In the past to move music from her computer to mine I needed to burn a CD or use an external hard drive to transfer music. But not any more.
If you have multiple computers, on the same network (connected via wireless or Lan hard-wired), iTunes will let you share music between them in two ways;
You can play music from another computer.
You can transfer music from another computer.
The difference is whether or not the computers share the same Apple ID.
Computers on the same network, but with different Apple IDs, can listen to each others music.
Computers on the same network with the same Apple ID can listen and transfer music between them.
There's a good chance you already have an Apple ID – that's what you (or your kids) use when you purchase music from the iTunes store. To turn on Home Sharing go to the Advanced Tab > click on Turn on home sharing. You will see a page that looks like this where you need to enter your User Name and Password and then click Create Home Share:
With both computers on and connected to the Internet you will see a new listing for the Shared Library:
Click on the Shared Library to see all the music. Clicking on a track listing will only play it. To transfer and save the song to your computer you can highlight one or more songs and drag it to your Library or highlight and click the Import button in the lower right hand corner. I prefer to create a separate playlist and drag selected tracks into it.
P. S. Don't tell Amy that I have been stealing her music 🙂
