Sleigh bells are ringing, carolers are singing, Christmas lights are shining, the only thing that is missing is snow. 

Coping with pop music

Winter has always been the best time for running, but this year has been different. The weather staying in the mid-50s and not falling to its usual 20s has been a bummer for all outdoor sports fans. I’ve caught myself out on a trail or park in shorts and a T-shirt, when by this time, I’m usually bundled up in a few layers with a hat and gloves to keep me from catching a cold. But I’m getting caught in a sweat, and it’s the middle of December. It feels like spring, and usually I would be happy about that, but at this point, it’s gotten old. 

This time of year, I listen to melancholy music on my runs or Lord of the Rings soundtracks, but because the weather is warm, I’m still listening to electronic pop music. Joey Valence and Brae. Jungle. Ninajirachi. Magdalena Bay. FKA Twigs. All of the artists you would think to listen to in the spring and summer months are my soundtrack, still.

This weekend I spent a run listening to “Volcano” by Jungle. When the album was released, the film was all the rage. Fans were uploading and sharing clips of dancers and visual moments. I was in on it, watching the dancers move through each song effortlessly, scene to scene. Released in 2023, “Volcano” became a part of the summer aesthetic. Especially the track “Back On 74.” Now, two years later, I’m running up Bengal Boulevard, reminiscing on the moments dancing along to each track in my living room at my parents’ house. It almost made my run feel easy, catching me in a daze. The soulful, electric R&B tracks fading in and out of each other felt like one endless song, though there were some standouts.

Let’s get down

The album begins with “Us Against The World,” which on its own, sets the tone for a motivated run. Its sudden jolt into an eclectic beat kept my legs moving, even on a vertical incline. There aren’t many lyrics; the bass line is what guides the movement. This was a consistent pattern throughout my run listening to this album. A few other standouts include “You Ain’t No Celebrity,” “Holding On,” “Coming Back” and “Don’t Play.” I began to notice a theme: each song felt like I was on a fashion runway. I was feeling myself on a sunny morning at 9 a.m. rather than huffing and puffing, wishing I was still in bed. It helps that the film is set up that way, so I had a visual guiding my physical reaction to each song as my legs hit the pavement. 

“Volcano” has a sustained BPM of 105 to 140. I’ve listened to this album many times in different situations, and I am only now realising its speed and effects on me as a mover. It made my run feel easy and fun, which has been different from my new technique, which does not involve bringing any music. It is still fun to get into the rhythm from time to time, but I have been enjoying learning how my body sounds and moves as I’m running. Maybe that will be the theme of the next issue of Beats Per Minute.