The Power of the Playlist

On my ride, I thought about the music on my "Amy's Workout" playlist, which is what I listen to while cycling. I laughed pretty hard as I realized just how cheesy some of the stuff is that inspires me. First, I noticed a trend in that I have many songs that come from dance movies of the 80's and 90's. Well, I was a child of the 80's, so that explains a lot. Many of the dance movies, whose music now tops my playlist, I have never seen as they were rated R. So having never even seen many of the movies, why do they inspire me? I think it is because of the feelings instilled in me that directly stems from the way I dream. In my dreams, I often see myself running over mountain tops at top speed, scarcely touching earth's surface, leaping over canyons, flying upward and soaring all around. I feel inspired, limitless, and powerful when I have those dreams and the lyrics of some of those cheesy 80's songs remind me of those sensations. I have often wondered if the people who are drawn to flight and extreme physical activities that produce such amazing sensations, have a little memory or fondness for what transportation was like in heaven. Maybe we miss it and do all we can to simulate it in our temporal existence :) Some of the songs that evoke those sensations for me are:

"What A Feeling" by Irene Cara from the movie "Fame" (Forbidden 80's movie. Never seen it.) The lyrics say "Now I hear the music, close my eyes, I am rhythm, in a flash it takes hold of my heart, what a feeling, bein's believin', I can have it all now I'm dancing for my life, take your passion, and make it happen, pictures come alive, now I'm dancing through my life, what a feeling!" I have loved that song since I was about 10 years old.

"Footloose" and "I'm Free" by Kenny Loggins--just the titles alone speak to me, a free spirited freedom lover. They were both from the "Footloose" movie soundtrack. "Footloose" was filmed in my hometown of Payson, UT when I was in grade school. I clearly remember the summer when movie crews took over the town. I have a split second cameo at the beginning as the camera zooms down Utah Avenue, the "main drag" of town where my house was located. My grandpa was walking toward his truck parked outside my house, so he's in the shot too. Little did I know that years later I'd be so involved with film, called to make movies. Funny how life works out.

"Dancing in Heaven" by Orbital Bee Bop from the 80's movie "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun." Ok saw this one as middle schooler. It was pretty irreverent, much too irreverent for my tastes now. A fun fact about this movie was that it was the big break for LDS dancer/actor, Darryl Yeager who plays the dancer in the black muscle shirt in the Dtv audition scene. Darryl now owns and operates Oddyssey Dance Repertory Theater in SLC.

More recent dance movie music:

"We're Dancing" by PYT from the "Center Stage" soundtrack. Love the lyrics, "There's a passion inside An inner strength that drives Can't nobody take that away from you It's the greatest high You set the floor on fire When you come alive"

"Higher Ground" by Red Hot Chili Peppers, which could be their most spiritual song. It was also featured in "Center Stage" with lyrics that say "Gonna keep on tryin' Till I reach my highest ground...Whew! Till I reach my highest ground No one's gonna bring me down Oh no Till I reach my highest ground Don't you let nobody bring you down (they'll sho 'nuff try) God is gonna show you higher ground He's the only friend you have around"

Other stuff that just inspires me:

"All Fired Up" by Pat Benatar. Again, I am a child of the 80's enough said. Also, I do really like the lyrics "Livin' with my eyes closed, goin' day to day I never knew the difference, I never cared either way Lookin' for a reason, searchin' for a sign Reachin' out with both hands, I gotta feel the kick inside All Fired Up Now I believe there comes a time When everything just falls in line We live an' learn from our mistakes The deepest cuts are healed by faith."

"Whip It" by Devo. A true motivational, and 80's classic.

"Elevation" by U2. Love this line "Can't sing but I've got soul." It totally sums me up!

"Beautiful Day" by U2. Who's not inspired by this song? "What you don't have you don't need it now What you don't know you can feel it somehow What you don't have you don't need it now Don't need it now Was a beautiful day"

"Learning to Fly" by Foo Fighters. Reminds me of paragliding in Mexico, thermalling toward the sun. Love all the sensations that go with those memories.

Stuff I like because it's funky and it makes me smile:

"If Everybody Looked the Same" by Groove Armada

"Hot and Cold" by Katy Parry. I think the irony makes me laugh. This is one that has to be listened to from the beginning, clear until the end. "Katy, do you take Alexander to be your lawfully wedded husband? I do. Alexander, do you take Katy to be your lawfully wedded wife? Long Silence....Alexander? Silence, then the song, then after the song...."Alexander, do you? Silence. "I do." Cheers and applause.

"Freestyler" by Bom Funk MC

"Can't Stop the Rock"

"Pump Up the Volume" by MARRS. This song encapsulates that teen/highschool era.

"No Limits" I don't even know who this is by and it is total electronica. Definitely "Jock Jams" fodder. It just happened to play at a life training seminar that Shawn and I staffed while we were dating. We were dancing on a table. Great memories! "There's no limits, so reach for the sky, no valley's too deep, no mountain too high, no limits."

Stuff influenced by my teen kids:

"All the Above" by Maino. "Tell me what do you see When you looking at me On a mission to be What I'm destined to be I done been through the pain and the sorrow The struggle is nothing but love I'm a soldier, a rider, a ghetto survivor And all the above All the above How the heck could you stop me? Why in the world would you try? I go hard forever, That's just how I'm designed, That's just how I was built See the look in my eyes? You take all of this from me, And I'm still gon' survive You get truth from me" (Christian)

"Down" by Jay Sean (Aura)

"Like Whoa" by Aly and AJ (Sierra)

I just remembered that I forgot to add my favorite song in the world to my playlist! I LOVE "Symphony #9 in D Minor: Ode to Joy" by Beethoven. I am deeply moved and inspired every time I hear it. I think it is literally what heaven sounds and feels like. It makes me want to be an orchestra conductor everytime I hear it, and I'm not even musical! I'm going to add it right now. Done. Tomorrow's workout will be that much better!

Music is such a powerful force to inspire or debase. I have to have positive, uplifting, clean and inspiring music in order to have any kind of power to do difficult physical activities. Music that is any less than that is very draining, mentally and physically, as well as soul numbing. If the music isn't right, I can literally feel a physical shut down, a weakening of my overall capacity.