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Bruce Springsteen, game face on
This post starts a weekly series of “strong songs” – music for digging deeper.
I listen to all types of music when I run. Fast and slow. Jazz and rap, alternative and country. Once, I even tried an NPR podcast. The idea is to take me out of my head, where I think about pain. Some runs call for more inspiration so I keep an eye open for strong songs.
I grew up in New Jersey, a few towns over from Bruce Springsteen. Around here, it’s mandatory to honor Bruce whenever possible. Therefore, The Boss leads off this set.
Badlands is the perfect song when you’re pushing harder. It’s centered on being down on your luck and yet unbowed. Plus it’s got that driving beat. If you’re reading this post in Borneo and are unfamiliar with Bruce, sample Badlands here.
Everyone in Jersey has plenty of Bruce stories.
- Delivering flowers to the Rumson mansion past groupies camped at the base of the driveway and his grandmother in Freehold (sweet lady!)
- My high school classmate stalking Bruce at his Red Bank gym – and then staying friends with him to this day
- The family friend who named her daughter “Rosalita” in honor of The Boss
But my favorite “Touched by Bruce” is my friend’s uncle who played against Springsteen in Battle of The Bands in high school. The dude lost. I’m sure he can dine out on that story anyway – but imagine if he’d won.
…
I will cover lots of different music in this series – probably across every genre except polka. Let me know your favorite strong songs in the comments. I’d like to try them and pass some on. I especially want inspiring rhythm from bands you’re friends with.
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{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
Rick -
Jimi does it for me too. Songs like “Hey Joe” use that heavy guitar to take me away. Does he have any fast-paced songs? I can’t think of any off the top of my head.
Also, I’ve never run a marathon myself. Did they give you any kind of hard time on wearing ear buds?
Greg -
Just grabbed coffee with a friend. He’s an elite athlete (was state cross-country champion back in high school), but coaches regular Joes at all levels (to help raise money for different charity teams).
My friend emphasized that even though physical stress is important, so is setting proper goals. You’ve incorporated walking into your routine and can now amp it up a little. But you’ll take it much further if you move gradually into running.
I have an iPOD shuffle that has two purposes: 1) get me through my workouts. The music drives me through the pain and has my mind a 1000 miles away and 2) gets me through the delay ridden flight home from remote cities in my travel. Among my many Bruce tunes is “Radio Nowhere”. Heavy guitar and driving sound makes the miles go a bit more unnoticed. I also have opera and even Les Paul to keep the beat changing and aligns with my changes in speed. However I use Cold Play, Van Halen, Jimi Hendrix, Aerosmith and others that have heavy guitar jams to keep the mind active. Would never have completed the 2008 NYC Marathon without it. The shuffle is not fancy but it does a great job of sound quality and ease of use. I also invested in a very good set of Bose tri-ear buds.
Darkness on the Edge of Town is my favorite Bruce album. If I ran, my playlist would definitely include Badlands (& rosalita for that matter). I usually walk, back and forth, to the car. I need to run.
Mike I grew up with Jimi Hendrixs as he came on to the scene when I was in HS. However there are some songs that I really never paid attention to because they just weren’t cool at the time. He has a song called “Red House” that has some of his best guitar playing. As far as the marathon goes, I understand that they just recently let people use them again. I am not an expert on NYC Marathon but I was told there was a time that they didn’t allow them. I also have heard of other, less prestigious, marathons and 1/2 marathons that don’t allow them to be used. Quite honestly don’t know why not. I assume you could make up a bizzare reason for anything used in a marathon. Actually I had more problems with drinks dropped on the street and causing a very slippery street. Only good thing is that I run so slow I have about 10 minutes to catch myself before I hit the ground.