Monthly Workout Playlist May 2013
Post by Pamela Hernandez | May 6th, 2013
I love the 80s.
I was born in the 70s but the 80s shaped me. I watched Dallas with my Mom, had a Cabbage Patch Kid and my first cassette purchase was the soundtrack to Purple Rain. (I got in trouble for singing Darlin’ Nicki on the playground).
When something is such a part of our formative years we may resist the urge to taint it by "bringing it back". But, like the new version of Dallas on TNT, sometimes a revamped 80s tune can actually be pretty awesome. Maybe even better than the original. I’ve got some 80s covers for you this month. I would tell you who does the new version but I would rather you impress me by naming the original artist (sans Google!). Enjoy your retro workout!
- Summer Of '69
by Bowling for Soup
: Obviously wasn't thinking about that turn of the century thing.
- I Want You To Want Me
by Letters to Cleo
: I have such wonderful memories to both versions of this song. I saw Letters to Cleo live in the early 90s – in my checkered shirtwaist mini and platform Mary Janes. Oh grunge….
- Total Eclipse of the Heart
by Nicki French
: I love the original video. Still not sure where the white horse came from.
- Kids In America
by Cascada
: The original was not the version by the Muffs in the movie Clueless. It goes back farther than that!
- Hold Me Now
by Lasgo
: I’m discovering all sorts of new artists. Not the original one, I got that one.
- Don't You Want Me
by Alcazar
: Pure pop in both cases.
- Abracadabra
by Sugar Ray
: The video by the original artist almost killed their career.
- Dancing With Myself
by The Donnas
: These ladies can do no wrong. I like this version better than the original.
- Tainted Love
by Marilyn Manson
: The band has done many covers; this is one of my favorites.
- Lovesong
by Adele
: Stretch and melt into her voice.
Monthly Workout Playlist April 2013
Post by Pamela Hernandez | April 1st, 2013
Are you a Pitbull fan? I am. Although I didn't realize how much of one at first.
I hear new songs all over the place, using Shazam to determine the name and artist and saving it for later. As I started looking at songs for this playlist, I realized more than one included Pitbull. Popular in his own right, he seems to be collaborating with anyone and everyone. While I normally don't want to include too many songs with one artist on a playlist, today I decided to tip the balance and make them ALL Pitbull.
I will save you the pithy commentary on this particular list because honestly I don't know if I can come up with 10 different things to say about Pitbull. So just enjoy the songs. With their strong beat, this list makes a great one for a spring afternoon run.
- Feel This Moment
featuring Christina Aguilera
- Back In Time
- I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho)
- Hey Baby (Drop It To The Floor)
featuring T-Pain
- Shake Senora
featuring T-Pain and Sean Paul
- Get It Started
featuring Shakira
- Don't Stop The Party
featuring TJR
- DJ Got Us Fallin' In Love
featuring Usher
- Pause
- Give Me Everything
featuring Ne-Yo
Monthly Workout Playlist March 2013
Post by Pamela Hernandez | March 4th, 2013
Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
I love the St. Pat’s Day parade in Springfield. It is by no means as huge or popular as parades in places like New York or Chicago. But I love it because it is a big hot mess. To the best of my knowledge there is no entry fee, therefore you have everyone from politicians to the Mustang Owners Club to a guy on a unicycle. It’s a fantastic and fun celebration of all things Irish.
In honor of the parade, and St. Patrick’s Day, I present to you my all Irish workout playlist. Make sure you wear a little green when you listen!
- Dreams
by The Cranberries
: Quintessential 90s.
- Mandinka
by Sinead O’Conner
: Before she insulted the Pope and went a little nutty.
- Try A Little Tenderness
by The Commitments
: This is an awesome movie! You should add it to your Netflix que.
- Vertigo
by U2
: I hear this song and I think Apple. Anyone else?
- Breathless
by The Coors
: One hit wonder but it’s a good one hit wonder.
- It's A Trip
by Shakespeare’s Sister
: Someone named Siobhan Fahey has to be Irish.
- Venus
by Bananarama
: That would also be Siobhan Fahey, before she got “dark”.
- Just Say So
By Brian McFadden
: Former boy band member makes good with a little help from Kevin Rudolf.
- The Boys Are Back In Town
by Thin Lizzy
: Yes, they are from Dublin. Who knew?
- Pride (In The Name Of Love)
by U2
: It’s an Irish playlist. With their huge catalog how can I not feature two U2 songs?
Monthly Workout Playlist February 2013
Post by Pamela Hernandez | February 4th, 2013
I don't feel so bad anymore about the lack of new music in my personal collection. I actually feel pretty young and hip.
I recently heard a story on NPR about how the “younger” generation listens to music. They didn’t grow up with CDs, they have always known music on demand with services like Pandora and Spotify. They don’t buy music, they consume it.
I still play my workout playlists for my own workouts but I use Pandora a lot for my clients’ training sessions. Their tastes, after all, are much different than my own. Music services allow me to stay flexible to their tastes (and moods) as well as find new music for my own playlist. For those of us who still buy some music (even if it is just one song at time), here is a great playlist of my latest gems from Pandora and I Heart Radio.
- Scream & Shout
by will.i.am
: I think he’s better on his own. Sorry Black Eyed Peas.
- Kids
by MGMT
: New music from the Alternative Endurance channel.
- Madness
by Muse
: Apparently I am late to the Muse bandwagon. I guess that’s a product of too much NPR.
- Gold On The Ceiling
by The Black Keys
: Finding the right Black Keys song for a playlist has been a challenge. I think this fits the bill.
- Take Me Out
by Franz Ferdinand
: I’ve loved this song for a long time but I never knew what it was called. Thanks Pandora!
- We Come Running
by Youngblood Hawke
: This has an 80s vibe if you ask me. That may be why I like it so much.
- Cannonball
by The Breeders
: This isn’t new. I’ve been watching My So Called Life again. I can’t help myself.
- Push It
by Garbage
: See line above.
- Catch My Breath
by Kelly Clarkson
: I go hot and cold when it comes to Kelly Clarkson. Right now – super hot!
- Try
by P!nk
: This video is creepy but her fitness is amazing!
Monthly Workout Playlist January 2013
Post by Pamela Hernandez | January 7th, 2013
Did I mention that I moved?
As Thrive Personal Fitness has grown, the need for a new training space was becoming more and more apparent. When the opportunity to expand my partnership with Ollis & Company (a local insurance and benefits company) presented itself, the timing was perfect.
Ollis Center is now the new home of Thrive Personal Fitness. The space will be changing over the next few months as I get settled. I’ve reclaimed the yoga room as a second training space (but it can still be used for yoga if need be). I’ll be moving out some fixed machines and moving in more functional tools like a cable machine and chin up bar.
I also have the ability to play my own music. This seems small in comparison to the other amenities (like showers) but good music is vital to a good workout. I started working on a playlist the night before we moved in. It became clear very quickly that the music I actually own, not streamed from Pandora, is extremely limited. Let me correct that, NEW music is limited. It feels like I stopped purchasing music somewhere around 2006.
Since I’ve got a bulk of iTunes credit I decided to update my music library. I made a concerted effort to search out music that came out in 2012. While I haven’t purchased all of these songs, I think they make a pretty good up to date playlist. Have fun getting back in the fitness groove with some new tunes!
- Bad Girls
by M.I.A
: I really think you could belly dance to this. That might make a good warm up.
- Wrong Song
from Nashville
: I honestly believed they weren’t doing their own singing on the show. I was really surprised to find out they are. I don’t really like country but I love the music of Nashville.
- Tongue Tied
by Group Love
: This song could totally come out of 1983. Totally.
- Tonight
by Saint Etienne
: Pop but not obnoxious.
- Scream
by Usher
: This may not be his most popular song of 2012 but this one is at least PG.
- Let's Go
by Calvin Harris Feat. Ne-Yo
: If your energy is waning this one should bring it back up.
- I Can Only Imagine
by David Guetta
: Imagine where you will be in a year if you start now!
- Army Of Me
by Christina Aguilera
: I think her work on the Voice is taking over her musical career. Until I looked I didn’t realize she even had a new album.
- Push And Shove
by No Doubt
: How much can you push?
- Underground
by Jane’s Addiction
: Great to cool down or grind out what remains of your workout.






