© theFiver
With the mean temperature hovering between 50º and 60º F (apologies to our Canadian readers – I don’t know how that translates to Celsius – let’s just say between -12º and 4,352º), it’s great weather to get outside and walk. I actually prefer walking to any other exercise – it’s almost like jogging, except you look happier doing it. But every once in a while, a song will come on the Ye Olde iPodde Shuffle that turns a sunny stroll into a swagger of gangsta-like proportions.
1. “Mama Said Knock You Out,” LL Cool J
As soon as I hear “Don’t call it a comeback!” I have to restrain myself from air-boxing.
2. “No Sleep Till Brooklyn,” Beastie Boys
I could actually walk to Brooklyn when this comes on.
3. “Lose Yourself,” Eminem
The least-offesnsive tune by Eminem, yet, I’ll always do that weird head-bob thing when I hear it.
4. “Mind On The Road,” Rev. Run
Rev. Run’s solo work recalls his early days with Run DMC that saw raw hip-hop infused with metal licks, thanks to producer of Rick Rubin. And dang, Run. Thanks to you, my mind is very much on the road.
5. “Stomp,” George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic
If this song doesn’t make you want to start dancing down the road, then you’re no friend of mine.
What turns your walk into a supergroovalisticexercisexplosion?
Pretty much any number of Clinton/Parliament/Funkadelic numbers do it for me, but “One Nation Under a Groove” and “Atomic Dog” in particular.
Blaxploitation soundtracks, too. Especially Isaac Hayes’s “Theme from Shaft” or Curtis Mayfield’s “Freddie’s Dead.”
I think I’ve brought this song up in relation to another post, but I’ll have to reiterate “Knights of Cydonia” by Muse (despite the fact that Stephenie Meyer has tainted this band for me, like so many other things…dammit Ms. Meyer, how dare you suggest that one of the best live bands I’ve seen inspired your travesty). There’s something so motivating about the driving beat of this song. You can almost picture the thundering horses’ hooves…
Live Your Life by TI, anything by Black Eyed Peas…Come to think of it, I think most of my walking is actually swaggering…
“Because I Got High” just made me start bobbing my head at my desk.
Fixed a couple of typos (thank you, Mr. Muse), so that one’s mother will knock you out, as opposed to “know” you out. Although theFiver encourages you to maintain close relationships with supportive parents. “Are you close with your mom?” “She knows me out.”
Also, we shall now lose ourselves, as opposed to “loose” ourselves. After all, we’re not floozies.
We’re not floozies? Well, that changes everything…
That’s the “royal we.”