In honor of the late Michael Jackson I thought I’d put together a playlist of his best songs and go for a run with them. I personally have always enjoyed his music and never paid much attention to his lifestyle choices or weird behavior, what do I care? He still puts out legit music. I also give Prince the same leeway; or the artist formerly known as Prince, or the artist formerly known as the artist formerly known as Prince. Whatever. Try this playlist for a 38:40, good paced 5 mile run. The order is paced so you will start out strong, keep your pace during the middle, and finish even stronger. Not only listed are songs, but I pulled out some good mantras from the lyrics to focus on getting a good run in. Now you can keep your pace with the BPM (beats per minute) while singing your own mantra to the lyrics of the song! Brilliant!
Thriller: “You hear a door slam and realize there’s nowhere left to run.” You’ve closed your front door and that’s the toughest part. Now there’s nothing else to do but go for your run. Start it out right and try; and to keep yourself from doing the dance moves from the ‘Thriller’ video while running. I tried. It’s too difficult.
Bad: “Well they say the sky’s the limit, And to me that’s really true.” Start thinking about how well you are going to do on this run. You’re bad, make sure you act like it and kick this run’s butt.
Billie Jean: “People Always Told Me Be Careful Of What You Do, And Don’t Go Around Breaking Young Girls’ Hearts.” At this point in your run you should be settling down to your normal pace. Pay attention to how you’re feeling. Listen to your heart young girl. Don’t continue on a pace that you can’t maintain.
The Way You Make Me Feel: “The way you make me feel, (The way you make me feel), You really turn me on, (You really turn me on).” This song marks the slowest portion in the run before you start picking up your pace a bit again. Focus on how good running is making you feel, put a smile on your face and keep moving at a steady pace. Turn yourself on. I do everytime I look in the mirror.
Rock With You: “Girl, close your eyes, Let that rhythm get into you, Don’t try to fight it, There ain’t nothin’ that you can do, Relax your mind, Lay back and groove with mine.” Just relax, keep your pace, and groove to the music of Michael. He’ll keep you moving.
Black or White: “It don’t matter if you’re, Black or white.” Only about 15 more minutes left in your run and it’s time to start pushing the pace a bit again. It doesn’t matter who you are at this point in the run, Olympic athlete or a beginning runner, you both have to dig deep to push yourself at this point. It’s just you versus your run.
Smooth Criminal: “(Annie are you ok?) I don’t know! (Will you tell us, that you’re ok?) I don’t know!” You’re ok Annie, but no one else knows that other than you. You’re feeling fine, you may be tired, you may be hurting, but unless you can’t move, you’re ok. Keep running hard! Only 10 more minutes left!
Beat It: “The Fire’s In Their Eyes And Their Words Are Really Clear, So Beat It, Just Beat It…Just Beat It, Beat It, Beat It, Beat It, No One Wants To Be Defeated.” Get the fire in your eyes. Everything becomes clear. You know what you have to do. You won’t be defeated. You’re going to beat this run. Start pushing yourself harder. Not too much longer to go. Beat this run.
Don’t Stop Until You Get Enough: “Keep on with the force don’t stop, Don’t stop ’til you get enough.” Let’s face it, you’re tired at this point but you don’t want to stop until you are finished. Don’t stop until you get it all. What’s enough? Running to the best of your ability. Give it all you have. Don’t slow down until you get it. Get your goal and tell that run who’s boss?
Tags: music
GREAT IDEA! I would like to add one more to the list, though: “One More Chance.” If you’ve gotten some great news you want to celebrate, a good run to the tune of that song is better than any happy hour or dinner party.
A great tribute to an extraordinary musician. I would also like to add P.Y.T (Pretty Young Thing) and Can You Feel It by The Jacksons – it has an incredible beat.
Thanks! I’ll add those to my playlist!
terrible list, pal, I read many your stuff and it is a first thing i’ve previously really really disagreed by using. A number of the songs you not so great are cross generational in addition to iconic. your #10 and #7 shouldnt surface on here period.
Thanks Drew. I was going more for a running playlist of his songs rather than the “best” ones. Any suggestions?
Great list, you also need “Leave me Alone”,”Another Part of Me” and “Jam” – the first two are slightly lesser-known songs than what you listed but the beat is amazing and will help you get some serious swag on! run on!
MJ will always be music legend.