23/4/16 – Everything Comes Down to This
This time tomorrow, I’ll be running. Right now I’m in the middle of making a Marathon playlist.
Despite my decision not to run with music, so I can fully enjoy the atmosphere and encouragement of the crowd, I’m putting together an inspirational playlist that I can plug into, in case the going gets really tough.
It’s a mixture of songs that are running favourites, tunes that I find emotional and uplifting and those that contain lines relevant to the task at hand, including some that have been mentally edited to fit. If you see me out on the course with headphones in, then it means I’m having a hard time. However, if you see a tear or so, it might just be because I’m listening to Absolute Beginners by David Bowie rather than any physical hurt. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it!
Obviously, the song that got me here in the first place is on there:
Here’s a selection of the other songs and lines that I hope will see me home:
“When you think your battle is done, is there room for one more run?…
If you can’t hold on, if you can’t hold on… Hold on!”
All These Things I’ve Done – The Killers
“I’m bulletproof, nothing to lose, fire away, fire away
Ricochet, you take your aim, Fire away, fire away
You shoot me down but I won’t fall, I am Titanium”
Titanium – David Guetta ft. Sla
“Blind ambition and mal-gel nutrition will take me there”
One in a Million – Astronaut
“Feeling okay this morning and you know,
We’re on the road to Paradise, here we go, here we go”
Road to Nowhere – Talking Heads
“We’re gonna be rougher, we’re gonna be tougher
And I won’t be the one who’s gonna suffer”
Madness – Madness
“I’m phased out, stunned – that wasn’t in the plan,
Call the Emergency Medical Hologram”
Emergency Medical Hologram – Abdoujaparov
And sometimes it’s just about the Music: those life-lucky songs and favourite pieces, that you just can’t live without…
Pure – Gary Numan
Glad All Over – Dave Clark Five
Cartoon Dad – Jim Bob
King of England – Chris T-T
God, St Peter and the Guardian Angel – Carter USM
A Pain that I’m Used to – Depeche Mode
Come Home – James
(I’m thinking Sit Down might send the wrong subliminal message)
Don’t Stop Me Now – Queen
Play for Today – Belle and Sebastian
Keep it Up – Boomtown Rats
Go West – Pet Shop Boys
Sunchyme – Dario G
The last word, however, is from one of my lifelong musical heroes:
“I don’t know how this is going to end,
I don’t know how this is going to change,
I don’t know how this is going to feel’
But EVERYTHING COMES DOWN TO THIS!“
Gary Numan
See you on Monday, when I’ll most probably be listening to this.