*updated December 2012* Is there a rule that all Christmas and Holiday songs must sound sappy, slow, and performed by someone who is ancient? Or must they be so obviously commercial that they make “Rock Star” by Smash Mouth sound like a lyrical masterpiece? Furthermore, if you want to get into the holiday spirit on a run, what are the chances you’d find up-tempo, well-done, interesting music for running? Well, if you have been suffering thru previous holiday seasons with sappy, decaying, malodorous music, I would like to share with you a few of my cures for the boring xmas music blues…
While the holiday songs below do not always have something to do w/ running, they do all meet our standard of being either about running, inspirational, or at least fun w/ a great beat (most are the later “fun” type). For over 30+ hrs more of running music and fitness music, go to home page at Bold Pace Music)
Wondering if music can really improve your performance? We give links to several studies and discuss in more detail at our Bold Pace Music home page.
Marathon Mantras CD Tin Notecard Set (6 cards, 2 of each style for $13 at remanents.com)
Looking for a perfect gift for a runner?: Take some music below and slip it in with a running CD tin notecard set from Remanents. These cards, gifts, and tees have been sold at Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, Anthropologie, Nordstroms, Henri Bendel, Fortnum and Mason (London) and many other fine stores, however, you’ll find the largest selection at www.remanents.com. See more running cards and tees along with beautiful Couture Fabric Holiday cards and Halloween cards too.
There are 19 songs (plus another 29 non-running songs) below with a total playtime of 1.3 hours. Enjoy…
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To get this music, just click on either itunes or amazon playlist above and download either entire the playlist or individual songs. Or see our Amazon store for the very best full albums by artists on the playlists.
- The Man with all the Toys – The Beach Boys (138): OK, I know the Beach Boys aren’t really indie or alternative, but I’m amazed how many people have not heard this song. It’s a great warm up song that was originally released in 1964 on Christmas With the Beach Boys. This is the 2005 remake from Brian Wilson’s What I Really Want for Christmas. Love the classic Beach Boys harmonies.
- Carol of the Bells – The Bird and the Bee (148): This musical duo from Los Angeles has worked with a wide variety of musicians from The Flaming Lips, Beck, and Red Hot Chili Peppers to Britney Spears and Kylie Minogue. This fits well after the Beach Boys with more beautiful harmonies on this re-interpretation of a classic holiday song.
- Christmas Time – Chris Stamey (129): You may know Chris from his bands the dB’s or the Sneakers or perhaps thru his work with Yo La Tengo. But in any case, here’s another sound alternative to the typical holiday saccharine…
- Holiday – Glo-Worm (149): Influenced by the Cure and Everything But the Girl, Glo-Worm began as a two-piece ensemble and then expanded to a trio playing lo-fi, indie pop. Unfortunately, they only released one album called Glimmer where this song is found.
- Jonathan David – Belle and Sebastian (150): More of a reference to the biblical duo of Jonathan and David then a typical holiday song. I especially like the fact that this song is on the album “Push Barman to Open Old Wounds” and can be found along with the song “The Loneliness of a Middle Distance Runner” (which unfortunately isn’t a great running song at 108 bpm, but a great song anyway).
- Merry Christmas (I Don’t Wanna Fight Tonight) – The Ramones (153): From the 1989 album “Brain Drain” which also contained one of their bigger radio hits “Pet Sematary” (written for the Stephen King movie of the same name). While that song was pretty commercial and definitely not the Ramones at their best, this one actually sounds more like a typical Ramones rocker, just with a little holiday cheer…
- You are my Joy – The Reindeer Section (153): The Reindeer Section is a “super group” made up of some of Scotland’s finest indie rockers including Mick Cooke and Richard Colburn (Belle and Sebastian), Aidin Moffatt (Arab Strap), John Cummings (Mogwai), Gary Lightbody (Snow Patrol) as well as select members of Astrid, Hercules, Eva, Mull and Historical Society, and V-Twin. They only released two albums, and this was on the second titled “Son of Evil Reindeer”
- In This Home on Ice – Clap Your Hands and Say Yeah (155): This even has a running reference with the line “To see how far I’ll come a-run a-run, run, running”
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