Playlist 13: Walking Music

Walk home through a busy area sometime in the future and you’ll realise that more than ever, people have become more insular. We’re all guilty of it: wearing headphones. It provides a perfect escape from boredom during walking, sanctuary from the otherwise dull noises in the surroundings, as well as an excuse to ignore people.

Yet the one thing that is often overlooked about portable music players is the influence over mood that songs have. It can exacerbate stress, create bravado, galvanise determination and – arguably the best outcome – generate additional happiness and relaxation.

The best tunes are the ones that give you the perfect strut, where your gait is untroubled by a consistent beat and even if it’s halved or doubled during the course of its playtime. Sadly, different people have different leg lengths, strides and walking speeds. Not to worry, you sexy little biscuit: Sound Screen’s Spotify Sunday has this week identified these individual discrepancies through the medium of music.

Songs on this playlist will grow in number when new tunes are identified as being worthy of walking to, so keep checking back for any new additions. On top of this, the variety of speeds also allow for different forms of exercise; some will have you walking so slowly that you’ll never, ever be on time, while others will pick you up to a power walk that will make mincemeat of usual travel times on foot.

Certain songs of note included on this list are ‘Fix Up Look Sharp’ by Dizzee Rascal, ‘Wordy Rappinghood’ by Tom Tom Club, ‘Blue Monday’ by New Order and Marvin Gaye‘s ‘Got to Give It Up’. On top of that, expect to hear from artists like Rick James, The Rolling Stones, Jurassic 5, Stevie Wonder and Blondie. Other previously-featured hits from other Sound Screen columns (One Hit Wonderland and Stop Me If You’ve Heard These Ones Before) are also included.

While we may be becoming more introspective because of this desire to listen to melodies on the move, we might as well do it properly as the trend’s pretty much irreversible. Besides, you deserve to be in a good/strong-minded/happy/determined mood when you finally disconnect your brain from the music.

By Matt Gardner