<< Flowers for Friday - unknown purple flower - *Updated* Columbine | Main | flowers for friday - delayed until later >>
This is one of those blog posts that I am putting up as a resource for the internet. Here's the story: I have been listening to the same playlist on my iPod for about 2 years when I walk for exercise, because I never bothered to find other music at the right tempo. Cut to a day about a year ago, when this post-doc came into a class we had together all excited, because she had found a website that would make playlists for running at a certain tempo. Well, I tried to find the same thing for walking and really came up short. I found a couple of blog posts about walking mixes here and here and somewhere else that I can't find again, but they weren't enough of the right speed and the types of music that I like. I also found instructions on how to get a software program to calculate the tempo for you, but if you use iTunes, it is kind of an annoying process to use MixMeister or to download software that won't work for every song in your library like beaTunes. So, I resorted to the old fashioned way of getting a bpm count for songs in my iTunes library.
Here's what I did: I took 3 songs that were the "perfect" pace on my original walking mix, I calculated the beats per minute (bpm) by listening to the song and tapping a key to the beat using this great website. And lo' and behold, they were 125, 126 and 127 bpm. I also calculated that one song that was almost too fast for me was 138. And thus, my range was born. 120-124 for slightly slower. 125-127 for perfect. 128-130ish for really-cooking power-walking.
And now, the list. It is huge. But I am typing it out here for posterity. And in case anyone comes along looking for songs for walking at a certain bpm rate/tempo. (like I had done, using google)
Warm-up and cool-down songs that I just like even though they are slow - very random/mostly new, or really old songs that I've always liked:
80 Celine Dion - Taking Chances
90 Marie Digby - Say It Again
90 One Republic - Stop and Stare
92 Crowded House - Better Be Home Soon
103 Rascal Flatts - Life Is a Highway
109 10,000 Maniacs - These Are the Days
110 Survivor - Eye of the Tiger
115 Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers - I Won't Back Down
117 Crowded House - Something So Strong
118 Steve Winwood - Roll With It
Moving into songs that are a tad slow, but good for variation:
120 Elton John - Sad Songs Say So Much
120 Five for Fighting - 100 Years
120 Maroon 5 - Not Falling Apart
120 Sheryl Crow - Soak Up the Sun
121 Bob Seger - Night Moves
121 Corrs - Even If
121 Corrs - Radio
121 Dixie Chicks - I Can Love You Much Better
121 INXS - Suicide Blong
121 Shania Twain - When
121 Sting - Fortress Around Your Heart
122 Corrs - Summer Sunshine
122 Creedence Clearwater Revival - Proud Mary
122 Dixie Chicks - If I Fall, You're Going Down With Me
122 Dixie Chicks - Tonight the Heartache Is On Me
122 Electric Light Orchestra - Livin' Thing
122 Gladys Knight - I Got To Use My Imagination
122 Phil Collins - Sussudio
123 Creedence Clearwater Revival - Who'll Stop the Rain
123 Depeche Mode - World In My Eyes
123 Dixie Chicks - Goodbye Earl
123 Fleetwood Mac - Dreams
123 Fleetwood Mac - Don't Stop
123 John Cougar - China Girl
123 Shania Twain - Don't Be Stupid (You Know I Love You)
123 The Beatles - Get Back
124 Bob Seger - Old Time Rock and Roll
124 Dixie Chicks - Tortured, Tangled Hearts
124 Faith Hill - If My Heart Had Wings
124 Martina McBride - Love's the Only House
124 Shania Twain - Love Gets Me Every Time
124 Shania Twain - I'm Gonna Getcha Good
Getting into the best paced songs for my walking speed (14.5 to 15 minutes per mile)
125 Commitments - Bye Bye Baby
125 Good Charlotte - I Don't Wanna Be In Love <-- one of my new favorite songs
125 Harry Nilsson - Everybody's Talkin'
125 John Mellencamp - Rain On the Scarecrow
125 Shania Twain - Man, I Feel Like a Woman ** This was one of the original songs **
125 Shania Twain - Up! **This was one of the original songs**
126 Beach Boys - Wouldn't It Be Nice
126 Corrs - Dreams
126 Four Tops - I Can't Help Myself
126 Gary Numan - Cars
126 John Mellencamp - I Need a Lover
126 Kelly Clarkson - Gone
126 Kylie Minogue - Can't Get You Out Of My Head
126 R.E.M. - Losing My Religion
126 Shania Twain - That Don't Impress Me Much
126 The Byrds - Turn! Turn! Turn! (There Is a Season)
127 Commitments - Take Me To the River
127 Corrs - Irresistible
127 Corrs - Breathless **This was one of the original songs**
127 Creedence Clearwater Revival - Lodi
127 Dixie Chicks - There's Your Trouble
127 Phil Collins - Both Sides Of the Story
127 Sting - All This Time
127 Supremes - Come See About Me
127 Train - Respect
Crankin' On
128 Christina Aguilera - Ain't No Other Man
128 Corrs - Angel
128 Fleetwood Mac - Say You Love Me
128 Huey Lewis & The News - She's Some Kind Of Wonderful
128 R.E.M. - The One I Love
128 Sheryl Crow - A Change Would Do You Good
129 Creedence Clearwater Revival - Up Around the Bend
129 Cranberries - Dreams
129 Ongo Bongo (wasn't this Oingo Boingo?) - Weird Science
129 Shania Twain - Rock This Country
129 Steve Miller Band - Abracadabra
129 Supremes - You Keep Me Hangin' On
129 Three Dog Night - Joy To the World
130 Depeche Mode - Personal Jesus
130 Duran Duran - Hungry Like the Wolf
130 Fleetwood Mac - You Make Loving Fun
130 Genesis - Invisible Touch
130 John Mellencamp - Shy
130 John Mellencamp - Rumble Seat
130 Martina McBride - Safe In the Arms Of Love
130 Shania Twain - In My Car (I'll Be the Driver)
131 Coldplay - Clocks
131 Creedence Clearwater Revival - Fortunate Son
131 Ronettes - Be My Baby
131 Rooftop Singers - Walk Right In
131 The Proclaimers - I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)
132 Doobie Brothers - It Keeps You Running
132 Elton John - Philadelphia Freedom
132 Erasure - Breath of Life
132 Foundations - Build Me Up Buttercup
132 Psychedelic Furs - Pretty In Pink
132 Kelly Clarkson - Since U Been Gone
133 B-52's - Love Shack
133 Elton John - Don't Go Breaking My Heart
138 Shania Twain - What a Way to Want To Be **This was the original crankin' along song**
So there you have it. A sampling of my music tastes. Or at least, the ones that are the 'right' tempo for walking.
Posted by danielle at June 22, 2008 01:21 PM
Trackback Pings
TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://mt.gondolin.org/mt-tb.cgi/8938
Comments
Huh, that's really interesting. I always just have upbeat songs in my workout mix, I never thought about trying to match the beat of my steps. It's a good idea though. I might have to spend a bit of time sorting them into different tempo sets!
Posted by: Ern at June 22, 2008 04:49 PM
Ern, I knew you would appreciate the data collection aspect of this. Almost like doing research - but something that will work and has no risks of failing <-- i.e. perfect stuff
In general, I find it really hard to walk off the beat
Posted by: Danielle at June 22, 2008 08:04 PM
Dear Goodness, Danielle!
I have my collection of songs as well on my ipod for good walking pace, but I haven't ever thought of going about measuring the beats per minute, which is a great idea, by the way.
Now I have the "Everybody's Talkin'" song stuck in my head.
And I agree, walking off of the beat is difficult to do, so finding songs with good walking beats is a good thing.
I also find the same thing with driving, but I am not exactly sure how the pacing of that works.
And have you thought about compiling a list of dancin' songs? ;-D
I got a few that I like to "dance like nobody is watching" to.
Hmm..And I wonder if I can start making a list of songs to "words per minute", since I'll be doing a lot of typing.
ANYWAY...
I didn't see any Backstreet Boys on there. ;)
Posted by: Amber at June 22, 2008 08:25 PM
Wow! Thanks for the list!
I have a shuffle and definitely just have random music on it that I forward through when I walk or go to the gym to get the right beat. I have thought about making a note of songs I like for walking or riding the exercise bike but have never actually done it.
Posted by: Jenski at June 23, 2008 09:42 AM
Amber, it would be fun if you figured out the pace of your "good walking" songs and we could compare them. You might find that there are ones in my list that would work for you, and vice versa.
For me, driving songs really depend on my mood. In the mornings, I want slower, melower music. In the evenings, I want mostly lively, danceable songs.
And no, I listened to clips of about 2 backstreet boys songs and decided that I didn't even want to bother.
Jenski, like I said for Amber, it would be fun to find out the pace/tempo and compare them and trade ideas on songs. I'm always looking for new songs.
Posted by: Danielle at June 23, 2008 10:11 AM
I think I may actually try to do a list. (If only we could get paid to do these things.) ;-)
Posted by: Amber at June 23, 2008 02:41 PM
Wow, that's quite a list. I don't have an ipod so I just think about stuff when I walk. Good luck!
Posted by: squirl at June 23, 2008 07:18 PM
Amber, I look forward to seeing your list.
Squirl, I'm impressed with your motivation to keep up a good pace. If I were just thinking, I'd crawl along, especially toward the end. I've been out 6 times in 7 days!
Posted by: Danielle at June 24, 2008 10:10 AM
You're a walking maniac, Danielle! Is the weather good for walking these days?
I'll have to go back and check out the website you linked to, but off the top of my head, Sheryl Crow "Soak up the Sun", "Walkin' on Sunshine", and the Gourds version of "Gin and Juice" is funny...if you like that kind of thing.
Posted by: jenski at June 24, 2008 09:28 PM
Well, the weather was great 7 out of 8 days. Yesterday was really warm.
I've been taking a cold, wet washcloth with me to wipe off my face and arms and that seems to be helping me regulate my body temp a little better.
Soak up the sun is actually on my list (120).
Looks like walking on sunshine is 110. Looks like Gin and Juice is 118; a little odd, that one.
Posted by: Danielle at June 25, 2008 09:51 AM
Just wandered upon your site after looking for workout music on google. I am so glad you posted this list. I have the hardest time finding music that I like that has a walking beat. I love a lot of the songs on your list. Thanks!
Posted by: Bonnie at August 8, 2008 02:42 PM
Hey Danielle, thanks so much, i did a google search for exactly this you're so awesome clever!!!! I'm gonna work out walking bpm's for more songs of mine, and will pass them to u for the list, we have exact similar taste
Having this is so nice now it makes the walking session fly by so quickly.
S
Posted by: Suzette. South Africa at August 14, 2008 11:08 AM