AWmusic

Namely, I tried to put together a playlist that shows which songs by which folks would likeliest accompany someone going for a jog.

It was a mixed success, as most of the current crop is better suited to a brisk walk.

With the exception of a pair of blazing tracks from Jamaica and We Are Scientists, most of the music I stumbled across fell into the 120-130 range.

But, at the very least, I was able to weed out the slow, atmospheric stuff.

Moreover, as the Busta track proves, a song needn’t be quick to have momentum.

Anyway, here’s what I found, if you want to take a gander:

Busta Rhymes – Fire – 93 BPM

Jamaica – I Think I Like U 2 – 156 BPM

Chromeo – Bonafied Lovin’ – 126 BPM

Bjork – Hyperballad – 136 BPM

Yacht – I’m In Love With A Ripper (Party Mix) – 115 BPM

We Are Scientists – After Hours – 161 BPM

Wiz Khalifa – Say Yeah – 144 BPM

Cut Copy – Lights & Music – 125 BPM

Nujax – Super Duper Fly – 129 BPM

Grum – Through The Night – 133 BPM

Chris Lawhorn runs an online workout music database.

To hear samples of current tracks, vote on upcoming ones, or find more music with a particular BPM–check out his workout music site.

I’ve created this list based on 3 things:
1) it made my feet move.
2) it made me put the sh&t on repeat.
3) it made me put it on a playlist.

A. Let’s Go To War – Burn Down The Disco. This group is from Toronto and have opened for M.I.A. and Santogold, and performed at the Virgin fest. This track crosses the “urban” boundaries in my opinion, a nice mix of rock/urban/electro. I love: The intro, the bridge and the riff through the song.
Let’s Go To War – Burn Down The Disco

B. Brazilian Girls – Losing Myself. I’m pretty sure this is not a “single”. But, during their show at the Diesel house (which I weakly reviewed, lol), this track stood out to me most from their 2008 LP. I love: the bilingualism and the strangeness of her voice during the chorus.
Brazilian Girls – Losing Myself

C. Yelle – Je Veux Te Voir. This track is a re-release from 2006. Yelle is French singer from France. The intro is similar to the beginning of the 20 Fingers’ 90s track Short D*ck Man. I love: her high pitch annoying voice, the electro beat and the bridge.
Yelle – Je Veux Te Voir

D. Björk – Earth Intruders. It’s nice to see Timbaland produce something outside his tim-box and evidence that he’s beyond pop. Björk is always producing something innovative and then singing it weirdly. This song sounds like a dance march for funk and freedom I love: the lyrics, her weird articulation, and the beat.
Bjork – Earth Intruders

E. Robyn – Cobrastyle. I’ve always liked Robyn, even when she was a pop star. Robyn came back these last two years an independent artist with a dance movement. Her album is excellent, but this track is most electro danceable for me. I love: the lyrics (I press trigger, I don’t press people button) and the bass line.
Robyn – Cobrastyle.mp3

F. Kanye West – Love Lockdown. I so wanted to do this LP review, someone beat me to it. lol. Anyway, I was thoroughly impressed with this 808 album because it’s Kanye somber, electro and outside his box. The lyrics are weak as hell. I’ll make it an exception on this track because it’s heartfelt. I love: the Auto-tune, the tribal drums on the 808 and the simplicity.
Kanye West – Love Lockdown

G. N.E.R.D. – Spaz. There’s no doubt that N.E.R.D.’s Everybody Nose is a cool electro/dance track too… but Spaz‘s drum-n-bass effect works so much better for me. I always like N.E.R.D.’s work anyway, but this song, it’s a step towards what I want to hear from them. I love: the lyrics “Spaz if you want to…” damn right, the drum-n-bass beat and the mix of rock for the chorus.
N.E.R.D. – Spaz.mp3

H. Santogold – You’ll Find A Way (Switch and Sinden Remix). Of course everybody loves Creator, that’s her anthem (I do too). You’ll Find A Way is always overlooked in favour of L.E.S. Artistes. This track though is “tough” though… I love: the opening beat, the whispers and the bridge.
Santogold – You’ll Find A Way (Switch and Sinden Remix).mp3

I. Janelle Monae- Sincerely Jane. A lot of people like Many Moons more, but I think it sounds too “Outkast”ee for me. Sincerely, Jane is an original urban track that’s danceable with live horns.. mid-tempo dancing maybe, lol, but I still groove to it. I love: the lyrics, the scratching, the live horns, and her voice.
Janelle Monae – Sincerely, Jane

J. Weezer – Troublemaker. Yes, I’m well aware this is not a dance/urban/electro track. But… this track is just so much fun and makes me want to rock out the dance floor. These self-proclaimed nerds’ guitars and drum line makes me move. I love: always the nerdy and sarcastic lyrics, the beat, the little interruption bridges… “I’m gonna be a rock star… marrying a biatch”. lol. This is my anthem of the year. I know.. I’m a total geek. Yes, and the buildup bridge, works every time.
Weezer – Troublemaker.mp3