Sunday, 24 February 2008

dispatch from ipod nation gym rat



A Dispatch From iPod Nation - The Gym Rat Edition

I am one of those people that has to have music on constantly. I work

with music, I cook with music and I go to sleep with music, among

other things. And now that I'm on this healthier living program, I

need my music to work out in the gym.

I try to go to the gym at least 5 days a week, but no less than 3 days

a week. And I'm one of those people that needs plenty of motivation to

do the right thing. I created a playlist on my iPod called Benet's

Workout Music. And the songs on that list need 2 things - a good beat

and a motivational message.

I like to start my workouts with a spiritual song, kind of like my

prayer to God to get me through the workout. I have 3 on the list -

"Halleujah Chorus" (yes, that one) by the Quincy Jones All-Stars,

"Optimistic" by Sounds of Blackness and "Never Alone" by the

Contemporary Gospel Choir (on the sountrack of the movie "Fame. No

offense, but no one can sing uplifting spiritual songs like black

people. Halleujah Chorus is self explanatory. Optimistic (as long as

you keep your head to the sky, be optimistic) is just great

motivation. Never alone - "I heard the voice of Jesus, telling me to

fight on, promised never to leave me, oh, never alone" again, self

explanatory.

Next up is "Walking on Broken Glass," by Annie Lennox. And if you're

trying to cut me down You know that I might bleed Cause if you're

trying to cut me down I know that you'll succeed And if you want to

hurt me There's nothing left to fear Cause if you want to hurt me

You're doing really well my dear Works for me!

I've always been a Madonna fan, and her "Die Another Day" from the

James Bond soundtrack has a great beat for boosting the heart rate -

I'm break the cycle, I'm gonna shake up the system, I'm gonna destroy

my ego, I'm gonna close my body now

I've got "Let's Get It Started" by the Black Eyed Peas - Step by step,

like you're into new kid.Inch by inch with the new solution.Trench men

hits, with no delusion.The feeling's irresistible and that's how we

movin'. Can't you just feel the burn in this song?

Peter Gabriel gets two entries on the iPod - "Big Time" and "Solsbury

Hill." Big Time has a nice beat - big time I'm on my way-I'm making it

big time big time I've got to make it show yeah big time big time so

much larger than life big time I'm going to watch it growing big time.

Solsbury Hill is one of 2 songs I use to wind down from the workout -

When illusion spin her net I'm never where I want to be And liberty

she pirouette When I think that I am free Watched by empty silhouettes

Who close their eyes but still can see No on taught them etiquette I

will show another me

Another good walking beat song is Cheryl Lynn's "Got to Be Real." No

inspiration, I just like listening to it. The best

pump-me-up-on-the-treadmill song by far is the extended version of

"Desert Rose" by Sting.

"Higher Ground" by Stevie Wonder is great when I'm lifting on the

machines. I'm so darn glad He let me try it again, 'Cause my last time

on earth I lived a whole world of sin. I'm so glad that I know more

than I knew then. Gonna keep on tryin' till I reach the highest

ground. Doesn't that just make you want to go to the gym right now?

I was a big fan of ESPN's tv show "Playmakers," and I loved the theme

song - "I AM, the invincible man..." It's a shame the NFL forced the

show off the air. After that, is Redman's "Time 4 Sum Aksion," a real

heart pumper that I like during free weights.

Another good one for the treadmill is the extended remix of the

BeeGee's "Staying Alive" by N-Trance - I can flip so, I'm a drop the

solo tip somethin' for da honeys in da crowd lend me yar ear so I can

turn the party out, 'till tomorrow afternoon coz when I grips ma steel

no-one leaves da room ,so tell me can you feel the madskills comin'

wid da fever, fever, fever. Whee!!

I also have the extended version of Tom Browne's "Funkin For Jamaica,"

Phil Collins' "Sussudio," the 12-inch mix of Soul II Soul's "Back to

Life," TLC's "I'm Good at Being Bad," the aching version of Tori Amos'

"Lovesong," (a remake of The Cure hit), Seal's "Waiting for You,"

Nenah Cherry's "Buffalo Stance," and Kansas' "Wayward Son." I end the

workout with James Taylor's "Long Ago and Far Away." Taylor is good

for relaxing.

And now for the numbers - I'm down another 1.4 pounds, to 238.8. I'm

so glad to be out of the 240s, and I'm starting to feel it. Have a

great weekend!

posted by Ben�t @ 8:57 AM

1 Comments:

At 7:53 PM, Blogger Sean said...

love Walking on Broken Glass.

i'm a Madonna fan, too.

Let's Get it Started - check

I also liked Playmakers.

lots in common. keep up the good work!

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