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.
Even though I have been happily married for 23 years, it occurred to me that some of my favorite songs are based on the common frustrations men have in their relationships with women.
Am I alone here fellows?
This post started as a Friday Favorite, but now I think it would make a great community effort. But first I felt we needed an an anthem for the category. A song that captures the stress and anxiety many of us feel in our quest for a meaningful relationship with a women. After careful deliberation I have decided that there's really only one choice…
Some of my runner-ups included just about any song from the Gin Blossoms. Great music, but these guys must have had some really rough high school years 🙁
OK Guys. I need your help here so we can all express our feelings through music.
Feel free to add your favorites below.
This guy’s voice pretty much rocks my world. Plus, most of his lyrics are awesome and safe, so I don’t feel like I have to audit through the entire CD reading and listening for things that will offend my class…a big time saver. His style is best described as “Bayou Soul”, which translates to a combination of funk, blues, R&B, rock and pop.
The artist I am talking about is Marc Broussard, and my Friday Favorite song is, ” Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)”, originally by Marvin Gaye. I love, and have used, both versions. It makes the best “feel like moving” flat. I have an avid cyclist that simply cannot help himself when this song comes on – he just has to move on his bike, and move he does. Someday he and I are going dancing! Here are both Marc and Marvin performing ”Inner City Blues”. The cadence is 90. Marc’s CD version (SOS: SaveOur Soul), is 5:14 and Marvin’s is off the Zodiak CD is 5:29.
As always, I want to call out other great songs on Marc’s SOS: Save Our Soul CD:
“Yes We Can, Can” ( It’s just a great party feeling flat ) 90 rpm, 4:39.
“Come In From the Cold” 90 rpm, 3:50
“Love and Happiness” 100 rpm, 4:38
“Respect Yourself”( A nice re-make) 60 rpm, 4:30
“Let the Music Get Down in Your Soul” 64 rpm, 3:50
“You Met Your Match” 60 rpm 2:39
Enjoy and happy May Day!
I love when I pull a song from an old playlist and remember instantly why I liked
it so much. This is one of those songs that really moves me, and seems to move
my classes as well because I have been getting a lot of great feedback about this
tune. At exactly 5 minutes, and 90 bpm, it works extremely well for a focused flat
road-at, or just under, threshold. Here is Annie Lennox singing, “Money Can’t
Buy It” from her “Diva” CD
The song has a consistent, driving beat for an established cadence (for those of us
still riding without power and cadence meters!), but starts out softly and builds.
At 2:20, Annie drops back and gives us a wonderful cueing opportunity. I whisper
my cues here, as I am into mixing up my voice cues these days. The song then
builds like crazy, only to pull back at 4:18 until the end, once again giving us nice
cueing entrances as the road finishes.
I also just plain like the lyrics. Let me know what you think.
Other good tunes for cycling classes on the “Diva” CD:
Stay By Me 6:29 90 bpm
Legend In My Living Room 3:46 60 bpm I’ve also used this in the past and love
this one too. Just for the title alone! This, too, has a great distinctive beat,
without being obnoxious. I always wish it was longer because I like it so much.
Walking On Broken Glass 4:13 64 bpm
I think Annie may actually be the first official white female rapper, since
the “Diva” CD dates back to 1992 and she does a kind of rap in “Money Can’t Buy
It”.
Have a great weekend everyone!
Amy
OK, here's what you really came for…free music!
As I was sorting through the new free music available this week, in the back of my mind I was looking for something with a big interruption in the middle. A song that as it builds it takes your students to a place inside themselves. You see focused concentration from everyone. You remain quiet, letting the music do the work. And then BANG! Something unexpected happens that brings everyone back to reality – In my class that would typically mean the chase is on 🙂
The Free song for this week is Fly Away from Julius Dobos. If you're into “Tune Mapping” a song like Doug Rusho you are in for a treat! I can see using this song to simulate a Criterium race.
Song slowly builds
@1:53 in is a big push to close a gap for 17 seconds then maintain a time-trial pace…
@2:43 brief recovery while everyone assesses each other until the 3:30 WAKE UP – LOOK AROUND – but we don't go yet…
@3:47 the chase is on
Blame Sally
“Countdown” (mp3)
Buy at iTunes Music Store
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