This week’s Marie Claire featured an ambitious article entitled “The Nine Best Running Songs Ever”, picked by staff at the publication (although the article link awkwardly only includes eight songs…)
Now we at TR have a rather vested interest in music, with our own “Running Playlist” numbering over 1000 songs in order to ensure no kind of repetition. The list features a bit of everything – Rock, Rap, Indie, Pop, and even some Funk – it’s what keeps us going! With this in mind, we thought the readers of TR and Marie Claire could probably benefit from some better choices.
So with our alternative music hats on, we investigate and evaluate Marie Claire staff’s picks and come up with some other tunes we think you’d really much rather prefer…
- Olivia Cox, beauty assistant: David Guetta – Titanium
A good start – some nice electro-pop with a good build up and emphatic chorus. Surely everyone has played this to death already though? TR RATING – 5/10
WE RECOMMEND – 30h3! – You’re Gonna Love This
Because if you’re going to go cheesy, do it right
- Rebecca Twomey, online writer: Lady Gaga – Just Dance
Ah, its five years ago all over again. To be fair, this is probably her best song, but it’s a bit weedy rhythm-wise – we can’t imagine getting in time with this. TR RATING – 5/10
WE RECOMMEND – Ronnie Hudson – West Coast Poplock
The best song written about dancing ever – fact.
- Tessa Solomons, booking editor: Kelis – Milkshake
Again, not a bad choice…but not one that would get us out running, or give us a spurt if it came on shuffle – although maybe we’re just doing it all wrong? TR RATING – 4/10
WE RECOMMEND – Azalea Banks – 212
Purely filthy and purely epic – a great beat and one to pound the hate out onto those hills with.
- Lisa Potter, online assistant: Jay-Z and Kanye West – N**as in Paris
Finally some proper attitude! But again not a good running song – much too stop start for our liking…where’s the rhythm Lisa?
WE RECOMMEND – NWA – Straight Outta Compton
A pure rap classic – you know West Coast beats East Coast any day of the week too! One to keep you going all afternoon.
- Katie Saxon, fashion assistant: Beyonce and Shakira – Beautiful Liar (Freemasons Mix)
Very very poor choice here Katie. This is a dire song made even worse by the Freemasons dribbling their elctro gubbins all over it. Worth putting on just to pretend you’re running away from everyone responsible for this mess. TR RATING – 2/10
WE RECOMMEND – Santogold – Say Aha
If not just because she has a much better voice than Bey & Shak put together…
Miranda McMinn, associate editor: Talking Heads – Road to Nowhere
Looks like someone at Marie Claire was a bit trendy in the 80’s! Top choice we must say, finally some respect…shame it’s not really a running song – bit too dreary for our liking, although it does have a good beat. TR RATING – 6/10
WE RECOMMEND – King Charles & Mumford and Sons – The Brightest Lights
Come back! It may have Mumfords in it, but this is London indie at its best, with an awesome singalong chorus to push you up that final hill.
- Lucia Debieux, junior fashion editor: Anything by Alicia Keys
Anything by Alicia Keys? Really? A woman whose output mainly consists of drippy piano ballads (although we do admit to a soft spot for “Fallin’”) Lucia, shame on you. TR RATING – 0/10 as she didn’t nominate any particular song
WE RECOMMEND – Elton John vs Pnau – Good Morning To The Night
THIS is how you make a piano-playing genius even better – brilliant stuff
- Suzannah Ramsdale, online news editor: Rihanna – We Found Love
So very, very vanilla. Get back to Oceana Suzannah, your place is not here.
WE RECOMMEND – Eurythmics – Sweet Dreams Are Made Of These
Just an absolute classic
What are your top running songs? Let us know in the comments section below…
Tech Runner 