Most Embarrassing Songs on My Running Playlist

March 16, 2016

It is rare that I run without music. Call me a wimp, but an upbeat tempo and inspiring song lyrics keep me mentally stronger for longer. The authors of The Runner’s Brain would call listening to music a dissociative mental strategy – an escape route of sorts to avoid thinking about the pain, boredom or other challenges that can come with running. This is opposed to internal associators who focus their mental energy inward – on how they feel, the course, what their body is telling them in the moment. Needless to say, elite runners tend to be internal associators. Since I’m not going to win the Boston Marathon anytime soon, I’m sticking with my music. We gotta do what we gotta do sometimes.

Speaking of music, my good friend, runner and triathlete Allie from Vita Train for Life {follow her … she’s awesome!} recently confessed the five most embarrassing songs on her running playlist. After I finished laughing, this inspired me to look at my own playlist and do the same. I never leave home without my earbuds {here are the ones I use … I love and swear by them}, but perhaps I should leave these five most embarrassing songs off my future playlist.

The Most Embarrassing Songs on My Running Playlist

The 5 Most Embarrassing Songs on My Running Playlist

  1. In Da Club by 50 Cent: It’s an oldie, but a goodie. Ok, some of you may not agree that it’s a goodie, but it’s admittedly one of my favorite songs to come on when I need extra motivation during a run. I realize the lyrics are ridiculous, but somehow the beat gets me every time. And, in two weeks, I’ll actually get to run to it when it is my birthday. Go, go, go, go go, go, go, shawty, it’s your birthday, we gon’ party like it’s yo birthday.
  2. Show Me How You Burlesque by Christina Aguilera: A year or two ago while binging on crappy TV, I somehow started watching the movie “Burlesque.” Alas, I watched the whole thing. In a moment of weakness, I downloaded this song that Christina sings during the film. Somehow, I haven’t yet deleted it. It’s kind of catchy, but I’m not sure how much longer it will survive on my regular rotation. What do you think?
  3. The New Workout Plan by Kanye West: The lyrics are filthy. They are a disgrace to women. And it is the narcisistic Kanye West. I know. It’s deplorable that it’s on my playlist. Shame on me. *laugh*
  4. Call Me Maybe by Carly Rae Jepsen: Did I really just admit this is still on my playlist?!?
  5. Wobble by Beast: Last time I checked, we’re running not line dancing.

What are the most embarrassing songs on your running playlist? What are the best songs you’ve added lately?

Comments

Christine

I think embarrassing songs are the best to listen to! I tried listening to a podcast while running the other day and it was a slow form of torture. I’m a big on Billy Joel when I run. “You May Be Right” and “We Didn’t Start the Fire” always pick me up when I’m feeling extra tired or slow.

rUnladylike

Thanks for the additional suggestions Christine. I’ve listened to a few Running Connect podcasts while running on the treadmill. If I’m just doing an easy, consistent paced run I find that to be good for the 45-50 minutes of the interview and drawing my brain away from the boredom of the treadmill, but I agree it doesn’t do enough to get me fired up for intervals or a faster-paced run. Thanks again and happy running!

Sarah @ SarahRuns26

Call Me Maybe always reminds me of the 2012 Olympics. I don’t know why I remember the swimming team doing a video of it, but that’s what I think of every time I hear it! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YPIA7mpm1wU

For some reason, I love really dirty songs. Probably because I don’t talk like that in my everyday life and I would ever consider saying any of those things normally, it really pumps me up during a run!

rUnladylike

That is so funny Sarah. I guess a lot of rap-type songs that are good for running don’t always have the greatest lyrics. I’m definitely an offender of that on my playlist. Sometimes when I’m running, I actually cringe at the lyrics … like, my mom would be so disappointed that this is one of my fav songs to run to. LOL! Lately I have tried to find songs that have really inspiring lyrics (think Fight Song) that can raise you up during hard moments of a run. Call it personal growth. Haha. Happy running!

Kimberly

What’s wrong with Call Me Maybe??? 😜. Break My Stride is one on my playlist that makes me laugh…mostly because the music video is absolutely amazing…

rUnladylike

Laughing out loud 🙂

Traci Blanchard

We’d get along great! Not only do I have In Da Club, Wobble & Call Me Maybe but there’s also Back That Thang Up, Bling Bling, Back To Da Hotel, Soulja Boy (Yes, they’re filthy, I know) and a lot of Britney!

Laura F

I mostly stream Pandora when I run now, but back when I was creating playlists my worst offender had to have been a song called “The Christmas Can-Can” by the a Capella group Straight No Chaser. But I just love it so much!

Allie

I absolutely LOVE that you did this. I find other people’s playlists fascinating and yours is right up there! I find NOTHING wrong with In Da Club – one of my all time favorites but Carly Rae? OMG the worst!!! If that song came on I would try to run away from my ears so maybe I should use it during speed sessions 🙂 LOL!!! xo

Ana

I loved this post in Allie’s website! And I’ve made my peace with Dirty by Xtina and Welcome to Atlanta by Ludacris as warm up songs! But I can also add that I have a couple of super filthy Pitbull songs, ones that I would only admit to my sisters… fine, it’s Culo by Pitbull, don’t look it up. it’s embarrassing.

And I don’t know why, but I have Country Girl by Luke Bryan.

There is no shame on the 50 song… we danced that most of my junior year in college, and nobody knew a single word past “we’re gonna party like it’s your birthday”.

Christine @ Two Runners Travel

My Mom LOVES Call me Maybe. I have it on my playlist and it always makes me think of her. 🙂 In Da Club reminds me of college spring break ha!

So it’s not necessarily embarrassing but the craziest songs on my playlist are actually voice clips. A good friend made me a playlist when I was training for my first marathon and he added a quote from the Simpsons called “suckiest bunch of sucks” and there’s one from South Park. The Simpsons one always makes me crack up b/c inevitably my run feels sucky when it comes on.

Laura @ This Runner's Recipes

Oh, Call Me Maybe! I listened to that one way too much years ago while running, it’s definitely my type of running music. I listen a lot to Fight Song (which Allie called out as cheesy in her post lol) and way too much Taylor Swift.

Laura

I don’t even call those embarrassing! In my opinion, listen to whatever ya want as long as it gets you going! I have transsiberian orchestra christmas songs on there year round (some of them have great beats!). I have random bee bops, rap, a total mix of EVERYTHING! I don’t listen to music when I race (anymore…I used to), but I do most of the time during training unless running with a friend.

heather brown

Call me maybe is still one of my favorite songs. I can’t help but smile and think of good times when that comes on, haha.

Christine @ Love, Life, Surf

I love it! I always run with music too and have some pretty embarrassing songs too! But those are the best songs to run to!

Jen

I listen to Rock My Run when I’m running faster paces (generally I’m a podcast listener( and some of my favorite songs that come on are terrible 90s music like Tubthumpin’ and Bawitdaba! I don’t know why but I love old flashback songs!