I'm training for another marathon. I took a couple of weeks off from long runs after I ran my first marathon in April 2015. I have been keeping up the long runs ever since, but life has gotten in the way/I still haven't run another one yet/excuses/more excuses/etc. 

I signed up for the Rock n' Roll Nashville Marathon back in September, so I'm set to run on April 30th! I am training with Fleet Feet Nashville again, and could not be happier to be running with a group again! Without my running buddies, I still count on my headphones for my runs during the week and am always on the lookout for new music to add. Please please please give me some music suggestions to add to my playlist! 

Read down to the bottom where you will find two wonderful gems that you might not have in your music library yet. 

Clique – Kanye West, JAY Z, & Big Sean

We moved into a new house two weeks ago. We LOVE our new house SO much, everyday we think to myself, oh my gosh, this is OUR house! As much as we tried to prepare for this move, there were still a couple of hiccups along the way. Aside from our HORRIFIC experience with All My Sons moving company (still makes me blotchy to think about it) the biggest issue is that we still don’t have internet, even though we called to set things up the week before we moved. Nothing has ever made me more confrontational and frustrated than this particular situation. In fact, one time when we were sitting in the AT&T store, I was so angry that my face started getting red and hot. I don’t think that has ever happened. I have dropped the F word more times in the past two weeks than I ever have in my life all together. This has brought out a whole new side of me, like I said, confrontational and upfront.  So I started a gang. If I was going to make an informational video about us, it would probably be to this song.

By the way, my gang’s name is Coffee Drinkin’ Plant Pickin’ Muthaf     z.  We are so bad a   . Bettah watch out Charlotte Park.

Everybody Everybody – Black Box

Windows propped open, Keds tied, over-curled bangs flyin’ in the wind, foam headphones on. This song brings me back to riding in the way back seat in our van, rockin’ my walk man.  It also reminded me about the simple inconvenience of rewinding cassette tapes. Do your shoulders start shrugging up and down to the beat as soon as this song starts? Just me? A shining dance hit from the 90’s. If you listen to this and immediately pretend you’re in the music video, we should be friends. OW! This one is good for those hills when you just need to keep it steady.

Romeo – Basement Jaxx

I first heard this song at a dance show in high school, it wasn’t even from a number I was in, but I have loved it ever since. This was right around the time that Napster came out, so I am about 98% sure someone in our household must have downloaded it this way, because I could not find it on my ipod.

I am pretty sure if this song came out right now, I would totally be into it. So does that mean its timeless? The beat is steady, and will help you keep at a steady pace when things get a little rough towards the end of your run. Even if you’re not running, this song will make you want to dance.

Bomba (Velly Remix) [feat. ZZ Ward] – Angelique Kidjo

Refreshing. You probably won’t hear a song like this on the radio, maybe that’s part of why I love it SOOO much. There are tribal drums woven into this song, so it is an automatic yes for me. Bomba, as far as I can tell, is a girl power anthem. Basically, the whole time you’re running, you feel like there is a tribe of women who are telling you to KEEP GOING!!! YOU GO IT! WE ARE HERE! We’ve all been there one way or another!!  Well, imagine my surprise when I found the music video, its basically exactly that! And you know how rabbit trails go on the internet, turns out, she won a freaking GRAMMY in 2015. “For me, music is the weapon of peace.” – Angelique Kidjo says in her Grammy acceptance speech.

SHINE LIKE THE SUN IN YOUR EYES THAT GOT ME SMILIN’  
NAH YOU DON'T GOTTA BE RICH TO BE A DIAMOND KEEP ROCKIN IT AND LET THAT BOMBA SHOW KEEP THAT FIRE LIT AND ROCK THAT BEAUTIFUL

WILD (XXYYXX Remix) – Troye Sivan  (see also forhim, EASE, BITE, TALK ME DOWN, COOL, HEAVEN, FOOLS, THE QUIET, DKLA, LOST BOY)

This one is like the dessert of the list. The cherry on top. I love this entire album, I can’t even remember the last time I downloaded an entire album (aside from Hamilton, but that’s a little different), nor can I remember when I found an album I wanted to tell everyone to buy the whole thing. It’s a mash up of electronic pop, R&B, peppered with fantastical drum machine rhythms.

My ears are sparkling. The whole album reminds me of a book or a movie soundtrack, but for a person. (<-- Update: After I wrote this, I did some googling and, what do you know, thats exactly what its supposed to be. I mean at least I was on to something?) Ok I’m stopping.

Go download the entire thing. Right now. 

What else should I add to my playlist? Leave me a comment below or follow me on Instagram @corrielanderson, and leave a comment there! HAPPY RUNNING/WALKING/LIFTING/DANCING!!! 

p.s. Don't forget to look here and here for more music to add to your playlist!!