In order to make my play for a sub-1:30 half-marathon, I need to run ~6:50 min/mile splits. In musical terms, around 180 beats per minute (bpm) should be an appropriate pace.
To make a suitable playlist, I turned to jog.fm to sort through 180bpm songs for my iPod. A nice trick is that 90bpm works if it is a driving beat, you just mentally double it up. In the end, I managed to create a diverse & high-energy playlist that ranges from MC Frontalot to Falco. (Full list after the break)
There are a few songs present that violate the strict 180bpm rule. Some are too slow (Dropkick Murphys – I’m Shipping Up To Boston), but those are personally inspirational & I run faster than their bpm would otherwise indicate. Some are too fast (Hot Chelle Rae – Tonight Tonight), but a few songs that drive the pace are okay.
In its current entirety, here is my current sub-1:30 playlist:
Title Artist
Another Postcard Barenaked Ladies
Raisins Barenaked Ladies
Never Is Enough Barenaked Ladies
This Cat’s On A Hot Tin Roof Brian Setzer Orchestra
Who Was In My Room Last Night Butthole Surfers
Zoot Suit Riot Cherry Poppin’ Daddies
Down With the Sickness Distrubed
Amazing Grace Dropkick Murphys
The Warrior’s Code Dropkick Murphys
I’m Shipping Up to Boston Dropkick Murphys
Rock Me Amadeus Falco
Singing In the Rain / Umbrella Glee Cast
99 Red Balloons Goldfinger
Tonight Tonight Hot Chelle Rae
Virtual Insanity Jamiroquai
Bawitdaba Kid Rock
Mambo Number 5 Lou Bega
Thrift Shop Macklemore
Tongue-Clucking Grammarian MC Frontalot
Shame of the Otaku MC Frontalot
Someday I Suppose Mighty Mighty Bosstones
The Rascal King Mighty Mighty Bosstones
The Impression That I Get Mighty Mighty Bosstones
Let Me Be Mighty Mighty Bosstones
So Sad to Say Mighty Mighty Bosstones
Last Train to Clarksville The Monkees
I’m a Believer The Monkees
Absolutely Nine Days
Smack My Bitch Up The Prodigy
Give It Away Red Hot Chili Peppers
Take On Me Reel Big Fish
The World Is New Save Ferris
Superspy Save Ferris
Under 21 Save Ferris
Till My Head Falls Off They Might Be Giants
Your Racist Friend They Might Be Giants
Particle Man They Might Be Giants
Twisting They Might Be Giants
Why Does the Sun Shine They Might Be Giants
Meet James Ensor They Might Be Giants
Jumper Third Eye Blind
Headstrong Trapt
Dare to be Stupid Weird Al Yankovic
It’s All About the Pentiums Weird Al Yankovic
Men in Black Will Smith
Getting’ Jiggy Wit It Will Smith
Not a bad start, but still a work in progress. I’m looking for new songs, and jog.fm does not have a definitive list of music – so there are plenty of songs I own that for which I haven’t discovered the bpm. I would love to add more of some of my favorite artists that are currently underrepresented (namely MC Frontalot, Weird Al, & Reel Big Fish), but I want to ensure that the songs I add follow the 180bpm rule.
What say you, internet? Do you have any 180 bpm songs that aren’t listed? Or songs that you just can’t keep out of your running playlist?