The New York Times takes a mildly interesting topic–what people listen to when they work out–and gives it the academic treatment today. It has contributions from several professors (one likes to ice skate to the Buena Vista Social Club! another suggests that “Push It” might be the perfect workout track!), the confusing revelation that Oliver Sacks likes to swim to Wagner, and the assertion that people find music from Rocky encouraging. But there was one sentence that caught my attention.
Haile Gebrselassie, the Olympian from Ethiopia who has won the gold medal at 10,000 meters, often requested that the techno song “Scatman,” which has a B.P.M. of around 135, be played over the sound system during his races.
Huh?
Of all the ’90s technopop tracks, why the Scatman John track “Scatman”? That’s the question your article should have asked, Times. Now we might not ever know. My personal choice would be 2 in a Room’s “Wiggle It” (below), but maybe that wasn’t a big hit in Ethiopia. Either way, next time you hear someone scatting over a techno beat while you’re out running, look and see who might be jogging past you. It’s your chance to see a gold medalist in action!
They’re Playing My Song. Time to Work Out. [New York Times]
did you know that scatish is a language not quite like a leprechaun?
almost, but not quite.
That “Scatman” song was flippin’ huge everywhere in the world except America around ‘96 or so. I’m not surprised an African native still loves it.
@dennisobell: Still, it’s no “Wiggle It”.
“You’re the Best” is clearly the best workout song ever. What better way to prepare to take on the Cobra Kai?
In the words of the great Samuel L. Jackson, “Well, allow me to retort…!” What’s your best time over, say, a mile? At age 34, Geb ran a 4:45 mile…repeatedly…26.2 times, winning the Berlin Marathon in 2:04:26. You run that fast, you can listen to whatever you want.
@t2urner: That’s all well and good, but maybe he hasn’t heard “Wiggle It”. It’s clearly the better song.
@DanGibson: It is, indeed, but it’s also at least 10 bpm slower.
@Richfourfour: Good point. Maybe there’s a “jogger remix” out there somewhere. If there is, I’d consider taking up running myself.
@DanGibson: But how can you listen to “Wiggle It” without wanting to drag the needle across the vinyl as a means of segueing into “Gonna Make You Sweat”? And running to Scatman John carries with it the image of someone (Gebrselassie) who’s all lungs and legs moving to the beat of a man who died of lung cancer…
@t2urner: Oh… wow.
I personally can’t get properly motivated without La Bouche.
@DanGibson: But maybe if you play “Wiggle It” for Oliver Sacks he will swim faster.