Yup, it's January. After the mayhem of the holiday season, a sense of calm has taken back over. The air is clear and fresh, intentions have been made and goals set. All that's left is to get up and GO.

We made this playlist to keep things simple and also motivate you to keep on keepin' on when the urge to complicate things arises (yeah, we're looking at you, after work drinks at the local water hole).

back to the basics playlist

*Editor's Note: new year, new functionality: we are now hosting our playlists on 8Tracks. Check them out - we love them and hope you do too! 

1. haim - forever

Danielle, Este and Alana Haim, three sisters from LA, met up with drummer Dash Hutton and put together an entire album clearly inspired by 80's dance parties growing up. Hints of Stevie Nicks and Annie Lennox swirl throughout this track, perfect for warming up and getting inspired by your favourite ladies of rock.

2. van she - idea of happiness

Electro-tinged with enough bass to keep things from getting too sweet. The entire Van She album is awesome - this title track is the highlight.

3. big boi featuring a$ap rocky and phantogram - lines

Ever since releasing "Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son Of Chico Dusty", Big Boi has been on a mission to prove open-mindedness is as important to him as swagger. His new album has him partnering with some familiar names (Sleepy Brown) as well as some new unexpected artists - Little Dragon shows up twice as does electro darling Phantogram. This track is perfect for grinding out tough intervals.

4. tegan and sara - closer

Somewhere along the line Tegan and Sara decided to ditch their guitars at the coffee shop and go synth EVERYTHING. I was nervous when I first heard they were working with David Guetta ("how does THAT work?!") but the results have made me swallow my skepticism.

5. bruno mars - locked out of heaven

Yup, it's the most popular song on iTunes right now. My inner music snob wants to scoff, but no matter: this song is awesome. After I saw Bruno rock out on Saturday Night Live, I like him even more. Does anyone else hear some Police/Sting vibes in this song?

6. kanye west featuring big sean, pusha t and 2 chains - mercy.1

Ever since Kanye's partnership with Jigga last year, he's been putting out serious sh!t. Maybe it has something to do with trying to make up for "Lift Off" - the fake Ghostface Killah album review of "Watch The Throne" still has to be the best thing I've read in a long, long time.

7. royksopp - what else is there? (thin white duke remix)

It's an oldie and it's still such a goodie. This remix takes a good song and turns it legendary, so much that I struggle not to put it on every workout playlist I put together.

8. solange - losing you

Living in Beyonce's shadow probably isn't the most comfortable place in the world. Solange proves on her new album that she isn't a B-grade version of her sister, she's actually completely different - and it's a really good thing, too. This is the best Madonna song that isn't a Madonna song ever (that's a compliment).

9. santigold - the keepers

Every time I think I've exhausted Santigold's album "Master Of My Make-Believe", I find yet another track that makes my Top 25 Most Played. This was a highlight at her performance at Coachella last year.

10. dirty projector - gun has no trigger

I saw these guys open for TV On The Radio a few years back and was absolutely blown away. If the lead singer's voice sounds familiar, it's because she collaborated with Major Lazer last year on the amazing "Get Free." Definitely worth seeing live.

11. macklemore and ryan lewis featuring evan roman - a wake

Right now these dudes are the toast of the town, with good reason. Their lyrics are awesome and the songs are so easy to listen to, from working out to road trips. We can't wait to see what they come up with next.

What music are you kicking off the New Year with? Share with us what's keeping you motivated and focused on your big plans for 2013!

Fall is a time of both nostalgia and renewal. It’s also a time of many marathons – and with these two themes on the horizon we thought the time was right for a fresh playlist, yes?

We’re clearly not the only ones reflecting because the new music out right now is something of a mid-2000’s renaissance. The Killers, Bloc Party, Young Jeezy, Stars…all we need now is for The Postal Service to come out with some fresh tracks and the revival will be complete (while we’re thinking of it, that’s not such a bad idea, Ben Gibbard *cough cough*). The best part is that along with all of these old faves, the trend in new music has a suspiciously 90’s feel. I think it’s time for me to rescue my Sophie B. Hawkins t-shirt because I smell a movement.

run into fall marathon playlist

1/ grimes - genesis
Warning: this song is kind of weird but in the BEST way. Originally from Vancouver, Grimes went to university in Montreal, enrolled in some Russian Literature classes (honestly, I can’t make this stuff up) and discovered along the way that she’s a musical wunderkind. Take that, Crime & Punishment!

2/ the killers – flesh and bone (jacques lu cont remix)
Brandon Flowers and the boys are back with yet another album filled with soaring rock anthems. They’re touring this fall through North America…go see them if you get a chance. It’s worth it.

3/ air traffic controller – you know me
The best new female voice in indie music since Jade Castrinos came bursting into the mainstream singing “home is where I’m with you” for Edward Sharpe (and 100,000,000 YouTubers). This group is going to get up to big things, mark my words.

4/ pretty lights – hot like sauce
Samples from every genre of music are layered over a sweet beat to create a curiously enjoyable sound (Pretty Lights kind of remind me of some of the old trip-hop groups from the 90’s). This song is perfect for grinding out a long hill in the middle of your race.

5/ moon boots – got somebody
This is one of those songs that doesn’t seem monumental when you first hear it…and yet it gets under your skin and makes your iTunes “Top 25” list out of NOWHERE. Have I mentioned the 90’s are back?

6/ calvin harris – sweet nothing featuring florence welch
The reigning king of electro collaborates with everyone’s favourite ethereal rock star, Florence Welch. This track kind of feels familiar but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing; filled with soaring vocals, sweet beats and bass drops, “Sweet Nothing” is perfect for finding an extra gear just when you need it.

7/ miguel – kaleidoscope dream
“Sure Thing” was the come-out-of-nowhere surprise hit of 2011. Miguel has gone back, studied his dad’s Isley Brothers records and made a really badass new album. Jump on it.

8/ stars – hold on when you get love and let go when you give it
Canadian duo Stars are back after a hiatus and they sound just as sweet (and a wee bit less emo) as before. Put this puppy on when you seen the finish line – your heart will rise right out of your chest.

9/ muse – madness
I’m not sure if I’m excited about the new Muse album or if they’ve jumped the proverbial leap into self-indulgent prog-rock territory (and not in the awesome Meatloaf way). That being said, just because it’s not “Stockholm Syndrome” doesn’t mean that it sounds like Savage Garden (or does it?!) I’ll let you be the judge.

Getting race ready for the half-marathon in SanFran this weekend? Check out our Grant Ave store event, A Night in Neon, to celebrate all those kms you've clocked.

With just two weeks left to the SeaWheeze and our hardest training run out of the way (congrats btw), it’s time to focus on the fun stuff… like getting together the ultimate race playlist. Here’s a list of 13.1 "take-my-aching-body-over-the-finish-line” songs curated by the folks who know running best, you guys!

13.1 songs for 13.1 miles

1. Dog Days Are Over – Florence and The Machine
2. So Close – Calvin Harris
3. My Body – Young the Giant
4. Run The World – Beyonce
5. Black Betty – Ram Jam
6. Midnight city – M83
7. Work Hard Play Hard – Wiz Khalifa
8. Promises – Skrillex
9. Let it Go – Dragonette
10. Let it Roll – Flo Rida
11. Run This Town – Jay Z Ft. Rihanna
12. Edge of Glory – Lady Gaga
13. Bombs Over Baghdad – Outkast
13.1 Run Forrest Run Remix …Seriously? Who comes up with this stuff!

True story - 13.1 songs will not be enough to get ya through 13.1 miles. Fear not, we’ve purposely built in time for you to unplug and take in the full SeaWheeze experience. We're with Aerosmith on this one... you won't want to miss a thing!

Like any kid growing up, the music my parents played had a profound effect on me. My mom was (and is) a huge lover of jazz, the British Invasion and Motown. My father’s taste, however, isn’t defined so much about genre as it is by location.

Dad grew up in Manitoba and is, in my mind anyways, the walking definition of a “Canadian” person. The man is a walking billboard of canuck clichés – he adores hockey, maple syrup, coffee from Tim Hortons, plaid, fishing and CBC Radio 2. Actually.

Where this is most evident is his musical taste. Yes, my Dad loves him some Dire Straits and Eric Clapton, but on road trips his Winnipeg roots came shining through. We grew up singing in the back of my parent’s station wagon to acts like The Guess Who, Joni Mitchell, Leonard Cohen, Gordon Lightfoot...and yes, even a little Rush.

In the last few years, Canadian acts have blown up around the world in every genre. From Justin Bieber, Carly Rae Jepsen and Deadmau5 to Alanis Morrisette and Sarah McLachlan, Canada keeps pumping out hitmakers. Maybe it’s because of the music programs offered in schools…or maybe it’s that it is too cold to do anything else. Either way, we’re into getting our groove on north of the 49^th Parallel. Download our Canada Day Playlist to kick off the long weekend right.

happy canada day playlist

tragically hip – my music at work
Kind of like Midnight Oil in Australia, Tragically Hip is HUGE in Canada…and kind of medium everywhere else. I’m talking Phish-Grateful Dead levels of fanaticism. Warning: this song may cause you to put lager instead of beer in your water bottle and increase your desire to go camping.

metric – stadium love
Metric has consistently been one of Canada’s favourite live acts of the last 5+ years. Their lead singer Emily Haines has a delicate-sounding voice…until they turn up the amp and start getting buck wild on stage. From ballads to bangers, every album of theirs is gem-filled.

arcade fire – the suburbs
Obviously these kids don’t need a huge introduction, what with their eight billion Grammys and magazine covers. What DOES need to be said is how unbelievable their output over the last five years has been. In my opinion, “Suburbs” is the best front-to-back album of the last decade.

grimes – oblivion
This young chanteuse just exploded onto the scene and if the Kate Bush-esque “Oblivion” is any indication, we’ll be hearing from her a lot more. Born in Vancouver, Grimes first started making tunes in the prolific music scene in Montreal when she was at university.  Check out the music video for this…it’s at a monster truck show. Exactly.

wintersleep – nothing is anything (without you)
Kind of like a mini-Tragically Hip, Wintersleep has been a favourite of Canadians from Victoria to Truro for the last seven years. It’s perfect music for everything from run training to long weekend campfires (or both…use your imagination).

loverboy – turn me loose
Mike Reno and the boys exploded onto the rock scene in the early 80’s and, well...that’s kind of where they stayed, leather pants and all. I asked my spin instructor to put this on a playlist and consequently fist pumped through the entire class. Get into it.

crystal castles – good time
This electro act from Montreal might seem crazy…because they kind of are. I saw Alice Glass perform last year injured from a car accident, and instead of calling in sick she performed like a woman possessed. Pro tip: check out their song “Not In Love” featuring Cure frontman Robert Smith - it's an instant classic.

drake – headlines
One minute, Canadians were watching Drake on the classic teen show “Degrassi High: The Next Generation”…and the next minute he was rapping with Lil Wayne. Huh? Turns out he’d been making mix tapes the whole time he was growing up on our TV sets. This is my current favourite.

MSTRKRFT – heartbreaker (featuring john legend)
These DJs are big in Canada and absolutely HUGE in Europe (no, I’m not just saying that). I put at least one of their songs on every one of my workout playlists with good reason…they churn out some of the most catchy beats in the business.

chromeo – when the night falls
Another act of Montreal, another set of dudes up to cool stuff. They have found a cool way to bridge the electro dance movement while still showing their reverence for old school funk samples – no group has used a talk box this aggressively since Zapp (google “Computer Love” and you’ll see).

the arkells – michigan left
Straight out of Hamilton, Ontario, The Arkells are one of Canada’s hottest indie bands going. Their wandering ballads and melodic guitar licks pay homage to more than a few acts from the past (I’m looking at you, Neil).

feist – i feel it all
Leslie Feist is carrying on the grand tradition of female singer-songwriters in a glorious way. Poignant, distinct, curious, uplifting, prolific…her music just pierces my heart. I saw her perform with Burton Cummings on British Columbia’s 150^th anniversary on the steps of the parliament buildings in Victoria and tried not to cry the whole time.

neil young – cinnamon girl
What do you say about the guy who has been in Buffalo Springfield, Crosby Stills Nash and Young and also had a completely badass career on his own? He beats to his own drummer, is worshipped by multiple rock gods (just ask Eddie Vedder) and still namedrops his Winnipeg roots in songs. Neil Young is a national treasure, end of story.

bryan adams – it’s only love (featuring tina turner)
No Canada Day playlist would be complete without a little bit of Bryan Adams in the mix. Not only did he start a fashion movement, this dude is still selling out stadiums with his accessible working man rock and ballads. This little ditty with Tina Turner still sends my heart a flutter every time I turn on the AM dial.

hey ocean! – big blue wave
This band from Vancouver has been blowing up recently – we love them so much that we invited them to play with FUN. at our SeaWheeze party on August 11^th. I’ve been playing this on repeat on summer runs - the thrusting beat makes me want to keep putting one foot in front of the other. For an extra dose of Canadiana, go on YouTube and find the Hey Ocean! cover of Arcade Fire’s “Sprawl II”…it will make your day, mark my words.

Happy Canada Day everyone – get out to your favourite lakes, oceans and parks and celebrate what makes this place so special.

Last year, Alexis advised people heading to Coachella on the plateaus and pitfalls of getting awesome in the music festival circuit. She wrote her entry from a wistful yet wise point-of-view, dispensing such sage advice as “your sunglasses will be in every photo – if they are the weak link in your bag, fix it” and “fanny packs are critical for hands-free partying.” This year she is attending Coachella and shares her motivations for returning below.

The countdown is on, my friends. Seven days!

I have been to Coachella before. In fact, I wrote a blog post last year about my experiences in Indio and how to best prepare for the ensuing mayhem. While experiencing some remorse over not going again, I reasoned that I had made the pilgrimage to Coachella before and that it was time to cross other goals off my list.

I was wrong. What I realized while gazing at my pal’s mobile uploads all festival weekend (yes, I am a masochist) was that sometimes an occasion is so awesome that hitting it twice is the right answer.

So now what? My ticket, accommodation and flights are booked. My mates and I are already planning the Ace Hotel and Trader Joe’s visits. I’ve replaced 2011’s acronym F.O.M.O. with W.W.Z.S.D. (what-would-Zoe-Saldana-do) for outfit inspiration. All that’s left is the music.

Oh yeah - the music! With all the VIP-poolside-margarita-hotel-hopping-palm-tree distractions, it’s easy to forget that Coachella is all about the tunes. Last time I went, my buddy Eric made a playlist that we ended up playing on repeat the entire weekend. It was a great way to get familiar with lesser-known acts; to this day I still associate Bloc Party, Wolfmother and Gnarls Barkley together with our 2006 Coachella “soundtrack.”

Without further ado, here is my 2012 Can’t-Miss Coachella Playlist. It’s impossible to get all of my favourite acts on one list (the festival really is THAT big) so feel free to add your favourites and get the party started.

2012 can’t-miss coachella playlist

*Please note: due to certain, ahem, “restrictions” we are no longer able to list these songs in downloadable playlist format. We are working on a solution soon so we can continue sharing the sound love with you.

santigold – disparate youth
Santigold is probably in my top three of artists I am most excited to see. The buzz surrounding her live shows is ferocious.

the weeknd – the morning
The Prince-esque guitar, the unabashed crooning, the auto-tune, the collaborations with Drake…invest in The Weeknd because this show is guaranteed money in the bank. Do yourself a favour and listen to some Frank Ocean while you’re at it.

the black angels – young men dead
I first got to know The Black Angels after one of their songs was featured in Red Bull’s seriously awesome “Art Of Flight” snowboarding video from last winter. If the apocalypse comes as promised this year, “Young Men Dead” will be my soundtrack.

justice – civilization
French people know how to dance. They know how to party. They can wear scarves without looking like twits and eat cheese without gaining weight. Let’s just face it: they’re cooler than the rest of us.

pulp – common people
Between Madness, Tim Armstrong, Mazzy Star and Pulp, the old school acts at Coachella this year are legit. Watching Jarvis Cocker strut his stuff is a can’t miss.

beirut – santa fe
Santa Fe = the catchiest song of 2011. Beirut is producing some of the most innovative music in recent memory. Get into it.

miike snow – paddling out
Okay, I already loved Miike Snow in a borderline-creepy way…and then they released their most recent album and full-on obsession gripped my headphones.

kaskade – 4 am
Kaskade may fall into guilty pleasure territory (see also: David Guetta and Avicii) but I don’t care. We all know these shows are going to be the hot mix so pack your dancing shoes and let’s make it happen.

explosions in the sky – your hand in mine
If you’re looking for a timeout from beat-heavy hip-hop and electro dance parties, check these guys out. Their most recent album is interesting all the way through and only gets better with every listen.

childish gambino – freaks and geeks
The lyrics to this song are so clever. I have a feeling that Childish Gambino is going to be huge so catch him here for “I saw him when…” memories years from now.

bon iver – calgary
It’s always an incredible experience watching an artist perform at the pinnacle of their career. Justin Vernon is known for his interesting live collaborations - let’s hope he has some tricks up his sleeves.

radiohead – weird fishes arpeggi
Thom and the crew are known for pulling Neil Young-style “we’re not playing anything but our latest album’s tracks” antics on tour…but if I have one wish it’s that they put this gem on their playlist.

dr. dre featuring snoop dogg – nuthin’ but a g thang
While you may not listen to these dudes on the regular anymore, this is a Coachella must. Snoop’s never been caught slippin’ – make sure you aren’t either and make this show a priority.

azaelia banks – 212
This is going to be a CRAZY SHOW. Believe it.

the horrors – still life
A favourite of music bloggers everywhere, this could be the sleeper hit of the entire festival.

girl talk – play your part (part 1)
The raging debate about the legitimacy of mash-up artists aside, Girl Talk is going to be a PARTY. Get sweaty in the crowd or safely observe how crazy humans can get from afar.

david guetta featuring kid cudi – memories
78 million views on YouTube can’t be a coincidence. Guetta is FUN – get over the street cred and turn up the party (this also applies to Kaskade, Avicii and anything else that hurts to the hipster bone).

florence and the machine – cosmic love
This show is going to be one for the books. Let’s hope the festival planners put Florence and company on during the gorgeous Indio sunset.

st. vincent – marrow
Every track on St. Vincent’s third album “Strange Mercy” is absolutely magical. Check her out if you need a little mellow time in between party acts.

m83 – wait
I’m already getting goose bumps just thinking about this being performed.

Hopefully this playlist will give you ideas for your own list.  Alexis will be one of 20,000 girls wearing a fringe purse, jean cutoffs, bohemian blouse and taking Instagram photos (she knows she’s being SUPER original )– give her a high five if you see her in Indio!

Are you frantically trying to get your house together for a holiday party before your friends arrive in an hour?

We get it. Three weeks ago, you serenely sent invites to all of your nearest and dearest for a cozy night of merriment and cheer. Now, the night is here and you’re frazzled, running around vacuuming/blowdrying/cheeseplating before the first chime of your doorbell – and then, to top it off, you realize that you haven’t put together any music. Not to worry, friends; we know how busy you are, so we’ve taken the liberty of putting together a playlist of our holiday favourites for you.

uber-festive holiday playlist

Brenda Lee – Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree
This woman knew Christmas – heck, she backcombed her hair in the shape of a wreath for the entirety of her career. That’s what I call commitment!

U2 – Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)
Call me biased but I have this strange notion that spending the holidays in Ireland would be incredibly festive. Perhaps it has something to do with the large number of pubs…

Boney M – Mary’s Boy Child/Oh My Lord
I like to put this track on, throw on my best sequined sweater and eat sausage rolls with friends. This may sound weird…but I dare you to try it and disagree.

The Beach Boys – Little Saint Nick
One of the best holidays I ever had was spent in a Santa-themed bikini in the tropics, hanging ornaments on a palm tree. Enjoy this surf-flavoured holiday song that comes with subliminal Vitamin D.

Burl Ives – A Holly Jolly Christmas
Burl Ives IS Christmas. End of story.

Wham! – Last Christmas
If the sight of George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley prancing around a ski lodge doesn’t make you feel happy, I’m afraid I don’t know how to help you get festive.

Nat ‘King’ Cole – The Christmas Song
The classic feel-good song of the holidays. This version is my favourite because Nat ‘King’ Cole’s voice is smoother than double-crème brie. (Are you noticing a pattern here?)

Kanye West – Christmas In Harlem
In the past, I have struggled to enjoy newer Christmas carols because they just don’t seem, well, Christmas-y. This has changed now that I’ve heard Kanye, Alicia Keys and Jim Jones talking about hot chocolate being “dericious.”

Bobby Helms – Jingle Bell Rock
If the thought of the AM radio dial is what helps you get in the mood, then look no further; Bobby Helms is just what the doctor ordered.

Paul McCartney – A Wonderful Christmas Time
You work on the appies and sugar cookies, leave it to Sir Paul to ensure everyone’s simply having a wonderful Christmas time.

The Eagles – Please Come Home For Christmas
The Eagles may be famous as the “Boys Of Summer,” but they prove their multi-season resilience with this modern holiday gem.

Mariah Carey – All I Want For Christmas Is You
This epic masterpiece never gets old, kind of like crochet tops and daisy dukes.

Dean Martin – I’ve Got My Love To Keep Me Warm
If Frank Sinatra is “The Chairman of the Board,” then Dean Martin is “The Chairman of Always Having A Drink In His Hand & Having His Celebrity Roasts Re-Run A Billion Times.” That being said, his brand of swagger really sets the holiday mood.

Elvis Presley – Blue Christmas
The holidays can bring out the highest and lowest of emotions. If you are down in the dumps (as opposed to Down Dog), let Elvis commiserate with you.

Vince Guaraldi – Skating
This is my favourite song from ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas,’ the album that accompanies the classic TV special about the beloved animated beagle, Snoopy. Coincidentally, this is also a very tranquil song to pass out to after one-too-many eggnogs.

Nothing says, "peace and joy," like a roaring fire on local cable…so if you’re feeling stressed, take a moment, breathe deeply and turn on the Yule log. We swear it works every time.

Girls in Canada have been dancing, figure-skating and plié-ing in ivivva for the last two years. We know how hard it is to moonwalk over the 49^th Parallel, so to make things easier ivivva gear is now available online in the USA.

To kick this party off, we thought we would put together a playlist of our current favourite tracks for girls to shake their tailfeathers to…and for nostalgia’s sake, we threw in some of the songs we loved so much when we were girls.

Dance. Sing. Floss. Travel. Then dance some more!

ready, set, dance playlist

what the kids are listening to these days
Katy Perry – The One That Got Away
Duck Sauce – Barbra Streisand
LMFAO – Party Rock Anthem
Rihanna featuring Calvin Harris – We Found Love
Selena Gomez – Love You Like A Love Song

old school goodness
Whitney Houston – I Wanna Dance With Somebody
Eric Carmen - Hungry Eyes
Madonna – Holiday
En Vogue – Free Your Mind
Kenny Loggins – Footloose

And as an added bonus (because why not, right?) – here are two holiday songs for you to croon to this coming season!

Justin Bieber – Under The Mistletoe
Wham! – Last Christmas

Grab your hairbrush, your girlfriend and perhaps a little liquid courage and dance this Friday night away.

If you’re anything like me, you get bored of the same workouts. From week to week, my favorite ways to sweat include yoga, spin, bar classes, running, swimming, dancing, and methods not appropriate for a public blog (hi Mom!). If a friend approaches me with a new wacky workout, I get excited to break up the monotony of my routine with something designed to shake me out of my comfort zone.

The same thing applies to a good run playlist. Don’t get me wrong, when the sweet chords of “Don’t Stop Believin’” come through my ear buds, I do an air-guitar slide with as much excitement as the next girl. But having the same tunes repeat OVER AND OVER in your head isn’t going to inspire you to run faster – it’s going to have you plateau and head home early.

update your run playlist

Infadels – Love Like Semtex
Once again proving that British musicians just “get it more,” this 2003 jam jam is still en fuego 10 years later. This high energy number is as good a lead-off batter as Derek Jeter – the perfect catalyst to your new running playlist.

PNAU feat. Ladyhawke – Embrace (Miami Horror & Fred Falke Remix)
Looking to start a neighborhood jazzercise class on your parent’s front lawn? Ding ding ding, we have a winner!

Big Boi feat. Gucci Mane – Shine Blockas
Gucci Mane has an ice cream tattoo on his face. In related news, Gucci Mane has AN ICE CREAM TATTOO ON HIS FACE.

Two Door Cinema Club – Something Good Can Work (RAC Remix)
These Irish dudes know how to fire it up. An added bonus: the lead singer has been known rock an extended TAMBOURINE solo at concerts. If that isn’t hard as #$!% I don’t know what is.

Theophilus London – Why Even Try
Like Theophilus says, timez are weird. Who would’ve thought that the most ethereal and ambient song listed here would’ve been a hip hop track?

The Temper Trap – Fader
Someone might want to look into some sort of Australian musical steroid conspiracy, because ALL of the music coming out of Down Under is completely, butt-kickingly amazing these days. Download this whole album – it’s a keeper.

Generationals – When They Fight, They Fight
Were you born in the wrong era? Well throw this puppy on your playlist ASAP – it pairs a sweet 60’s girl-group chorus with run-worthy beats.

Arcade Fire – Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)
I’ll admit it: I always liked Arcade Fire, but I was never the uber-fan that most of my friends are. Then I heard this song and my life changed. Yachtzee!

Kid Cudi feat. MGMT & Ratatat – Pursuit of Happiness (Steve Aoki Remix)
Kid Cudi did what every kid with a Hype Machine account & a dream wishes for and invited his hipster besties onto his hottest track. The results are a confusingly great recipe for sweating it out.

MSTRKRFT feat. John Legend – Heartbreaker
If you’re looking to get into electronic music, which coincidentally is perfect for sweating, try MSTRKRFT. Along with Cut Copy and The Presets, you’ll be ripping it up in no time – this track is a good segue if you’re already a fan of the radical John Legend.

Crystal Fighters – In The Summer (Picture House’s “Summer in the Balearic’s” Remix)
French electro is the triple espresso of the music world. Let this track be your much-needed hit of adrenaline when times get tough.

David Byrne & Brian Eno – Life Is Long
The Emperor of Cool has a catalogue of hits just perfect for an early morning soul-searching jog. This is my favorite ditty for an open-minded sweatathon.

Bon Iver – Towers
Two words: instant classic. Knowing this gem is waiting for you at the end of your run will make you go faster than ever.

Imagine looking forward to your run because you can’t get that unexpectedly catchy song out of your head. Music playlists are like a potluck dishes: some will make you dive for a glass of wine to drown your taste-buds and put them out of their misery; others  are so good they'll have you fencing with plastic forks for the final, delicious mouthful. That being said, who cares? This is a minimal commitment: you aren’t painting your walls silver or getting a pixie cut. So freshen up that iPod already and listen to some things you might normally skip. Who knows, maybe you were a rapper in a former life…you won’t know until you’re rhyming your heart out.

want more?

Check out some of our other rockin' playlists

Image: flickr/yukoners

Ahhh, the sweet scent of summer is upon us! The air is fragrant with flowers, cruiser bike gangs are converging on every corner and weekend missions are being planned with the passion & precision of a NASA launch. One activity that's synonymous with the season is the group camping trip. No matter your style of camping, from a relaxing journey into nature (with canoes, hikes and tents) to a full-on party (complete with BBQs, high-fives and cannonball competitions), there are essential components to take your voyage from lame to ‘best weekend of my LIFE!” status.

miraculously versatile sweater 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

– we all have that one sweater that goes with everything – and you need to be prepared. What happens if your campsite just so happens to sit next to a Dirty Dancing-esque resort and you all decide to crash the party? It’s always smart to have a go-to piece.

one more bikini than you think you’ll need 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

– Okay, so you probably won’t wear it. But swimsuits take negative space in your backpack and you can never have too many options for swimwear. While you’re at it – toss in another pair of undies (pssst, our undies are really awesome, guides honor – no muffin top!!!)

an extra air mattress for the lake 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

– Someone is inevitably going to forget theirs and if you save their day, you’ll enter hero status. To rocket into the camping god stratosphere, bring an inflatable party raft. Sure, it sounds tacky – until you’re having the best afternoon of your life. Schwing!

the perfect beach blanket 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

– Okay friends, be strategic when it comes to picking your blanket, whether it's for sand, grass, or some other miscellaneous surface (hey, I'm not a judge-y camper). Mexican blankets are fabulous; thick enough to not feel sticks and rocks and beautiful enough to add a little boho vibe. Straw mats are also a chic and practical choice. Just don't make one of two classic blanket mistakes: using a too-small towel as your blanket or the ultimate cardinal sin of blanket behavior, bringing your childhood blankie. You might think it's sweet, but lying on your mothball-scented Strawberry Shortcake comforter isn't as cute & ironic as you think.

yoga mat 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

– One of the best ways to soak in the beauty of your camping spot is doing sunrise yoga. Just imagine - gazing out from the familiar home of upward dog at the stunning sight of the sun rising into the sky, followed by a deep, full breath of fresh air. I'm feeling serene just writing this! Bonus: the mat doubles as a comfy seat for you and a friend to sit and eat lunch on! Multitasking is so hot right now.

disposable underwater camera 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

– maybe it’s just me, but underwater photos are still novel and exciting. Plus, you can’t take a billion ‘re-do’ photos with an old-fashioned throwaway, therefore achieving authentic, in-the moment photos - a rarity these days in the world of pose downs and hipster mobile downloads.

playing cards & crib board 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

– You may never need them, but should the weather turn gnarly you’ll be happy you threw these in your bag.

surf rashguard 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

– Going surfing on your vacay? If you’ve been before, you’ll know – a rashguard is a must to prevent, yup, you guessed it, a rash. Is it just me or are we getting smart up in here?

Image: flickr/Eko

ghetto blaster

– The wilderness is one of the few places where being a luddite is still awesome. Get yourself some speakers for your iPod or better yet, a ghetto blaster. You’ll be the de facto party station for the rest of the weekend

new sweet tunes 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

– Sunshine + good tunes = camping nirvana. Bring a ghetto blaster (see above) coupled with great music and you've got a new soundtrack for your life. On that note, see below my favorite songs for mellow summertime hangin'.

"World’s Got A Handle" – Sun Wizard
This might be the new greatest road trip song of all time.

"The Birds" – Serenades
The Swedes do it again – this new Scandinavian group just released an album full of ethereal, catchy beats.

"Young Blood" – The Naked & Famous
This song sounds like skinny-dipping…if that is even possible.

"Pumped Up Kicks" – Foster the People
The hottest track around right now. These dudes sound awesome and look like Jack Johnson’s hot little brothers.

"2 Hearts" – Digitalism
Check out this new song from the most underrated posse out of Australia. Warning: not for the casual camping trip.

"Lizstomania" – Edwin Van Cleef (featuring Jane Hurley)
This clever cover of Phoenix’s monster hit will have you basking in the late afternoon sunshine, praying for the moment to never end.

"Towers" – Bon Iver
Just when you thought it couldn’t be done…Bon Iver goes and releases an even better album. Perfect for late night marshmallow roasts and friendships.

Alright, now pack up the car and get out there! I’ll be the one with the burned veggie dog humming Bob Seger.

What started as an entertaining facebook thread around the office has turned into a hilarious soundtrack, a big hairy audacious playlist, if you will. We're going on record here. If you can honestly say you don't own this music already, you can claim we recommended you invest in it. We won't tell.

Okay, we all know how great it is to have an iPod filled with new music. It’s even more rad if it’s filled with the latest underground & indie tunes, right? We all like to think we have our fingers on the pulse.

But on some days, you NEED those guilty pleasures, those embarrassing personal favorites that help you finish your hill intervals. These songs could damage your street cred. These songs are for headphones ONLY. These songs are too low rent to write a blog post abo…ahem.

We say there's no need to be embarrassed, even if these songs are questionable at best. They're so bad, they're good. Without further ado, without any irony, here is our No Shame Workout Playlist.

“Get Out Of My Dreams, Get Into My Car” - Billy Ocean
The King of the Caribbean wants to take you on a joyride to Love Town. Just let it happen.

“How Bizarre” - OMC
It’s not a good sign when a brand new song is already generic enough to be played in your dentist’s office.

“Jenny From The Block” - Jennifer Lopez
They just don’t make music like this anymore. Maybe because it shouldn’t have been made in the first place.

“Raise A Little Hell” - Trooper
Hesher alert! If this is on your iPod, might I remind you: it isn’t appropriate to drink light beer in your water bottle.

“Touch It” - Monifah
The person who should feel shameful is Monifah herself – homegirl borrowed my one-armed red pleather mini dress & choker twelve years ago and STILL hasn’t given it back.

“TiK ToK” - Ke$ha
I really want to not like this song. I have tried SO HARD. Anyone have any tips for Ke$ha-itis?

“Changes” - 2pac
Okay, so Tupac is rad. But Tupac sampling BRUCE HORNSBY? Um…um. That’s all I have.

“Don’t Cry For Me Argentina (Remix)” - Madonna
This song is shameful for a few reasons. First of all, it sounds like they scrounged the beat out of the Gipsy King’s trash can. Second of all, the video shows Madonna….acting. And we all know how good that is.

“I Like It” - Enrique Iglesias
This song achieves the dubious honor of being instantly cheesy. Congratulations Enrique!

“Livin’ It Up” - Ja Rule
If you are rocking out to this on your morning run, do yourself a favor and take a hard look in the mirror when you get home.

“Baby” - Justin Bieber featuring Ludacris
Does Ludacris need to make a mortgage payment? I mean really!

“Chattahoochee” -  Alan Jackson
Before you start judging – can YOU waterski in cowboy boots? I didn’t think so.

“Opposites Attract” - Paula Abdul
In the video for this song, Paula gets freaky with an animated cat. My question is, how did this happen? Did a bunch of suits sit around and go, “Paula grinding with a cartoon kitty. I like it….GREEN LIGHT!” Terrifying.

“We Didn’t Start The Fire” - Billy Joel
Ahhh, the Piano Man. You know how some music sound timeless, even 25 years later? This isn’t one of those songs.

“Cradle of Love” - Billy Idol
Another Billy. Another no-shame song. Mental note to self: do not name son ‘William.’

“Xanadu” - Olivia Newton-John
Little Miss Grease Lightning literally comes to life FROM A MURAL and rollerskates her way into an artist’s heart. You can’t make this stuff up.

“Over & Over Again” - Nelly & Tim McGraw
If this is your cool down song post-run, we can’t be friends anymore. Final answer.

want more?

• Set big hairy audacious goals to go with your new playlist. Have no shame. Go big.
• Want to look the part? Be bold prints and colours.
• Need to take it down a notch? Bring your yoga practice inside with this playlist.
• Having trouble finding time to use these playlists? We'll help.

We know you have more songs you'd add to this list. The lines are open. Fess up.

Love it or hate it, Valentine's Day is here. (Insert sighs of anticipation or disgust here.) Our resident DJs created playlists for the lovers and the haters: one for working out, one for afterward. Each is around thirty minutes. No matter how you celebrate/avoid the holiday, you're covered.

for the lovers

Work it out

"If you're a hopeless romantic like me, this playlist will get you running a smooth 5k thinking about your sweetheart.  The opening track by Robyn is my anthem this V-Day. I dare you not to smile during The Bag Raiders' "Sunlight" - it's pure gold. Enjoy!" - Andrew, educator at Rideau Centre, ON

"Indestructible" - Robyn

"Sunlight" - Bag Raiders

"Digital Love" - Daft Punk

"Find Your Love" - Drake

"Hang With Me" - Robyn

"When Love Takes Over" - David Guetta

"This Boy's In Love" - The Presets

After your run

Kick off your running shoes, hit the shower and enjoy this playlist from Alexis.

“You Make My Dreams” – Hall & Oates
"This song is pretty self explanatory: you literally make Darryl Hall’s fluffy haired dreams come true. Are you magic?"

“With You Forever” – PNAU
"Because nothing says true love like hypochondria, Luke Steele experiences lust-induced chest pains and sings about it."

“Wicked Game” – Chris Isaak
"Listen, this is an all-ages blog…but all I can say is 'hot yoga.' Ahem."

“Girls Girls Girls” – Jay-Z
"Sometime the line between hopeless romanticism and being a straight player (hollll-a!) is a blurry one. Take inspiration from the master…our pal Jay knows how to do it."

“Forbidden Love” – Madonna
"Crushing on someone off limits? Madge feels your pain and throws it over a pulsing beat perfect for running out your angst-ridden frustrations."

“The Light” – Common
"Hint to the gents: Common saying sweet nothings over a beat is a non-try hard way of getting your lady in the mood. Just do it."

“I Feel For You” – Chaka Khan
"If you look up synonyms for ‘spicy’ in the Dictionary, a sample audio track of this song plays. True story."

“Suck My Kiss” – Red Hot Chili Peppers
"Dating a bad boy and loving every minute? YEAH YOU ARE!"

for the haters

Work it out

"Obviously not everyone is happy on Valentine’s Day. These lyrics will give you extra motivation on your run. Robyn’s ‘Love Kills’ is the highlight and if you’re experiencing heartache, you probably agree. ‘You Used To Hold Me’ closes out the playlist with authority. If you fall in the 'I-loathe-Valentine's' camp, this is your anthem." - Andrew

"Heartbreaker" - MSTRKRFT

"Getting' Over You (Remix)" - David Guetta

"Love Kills" - Robyn

"Better Off As 2" - Frankmusik

"Far Away" - Cut/Copy

"You Gave Me Nothing" - Mark Ronson and the Business Intl

"Not In Love" - Crystal Castles ft. Robert Smith

"You Used To Hold Me" - Calvin Harris

After your run

Get out your arsenal of red wine and chocolates before cranking up this playlist from Alexis. Who needs a date when you have company like this?

“Foundations” – Kate Nash
"Do you know you’re relationship is doomed but don’t quite have the guts to pull the plug? Kate is your girl."

“Heaven Knows I’m Miserable Now” – The Smiths
"If you are depressed, there is no one better than Steven Patrick Morrissey. Here he talks about how cool it is to walk past two people PDA-ing when you’ve just gotten dumped (hint: not awesome.)"

“Where Do You Go?” – No Mercy
"Made a romantic dinner and your partner is nowhere to be found? We’d say that’s enough to end up on the naughty list."

“Heartbeats” – The Knife
"Still choked that someone you thought you knew, wasn’t…well, the person you thought they were? Yeah, that sentence confused me too."

“What Have You Done For Me Lately?” – Janet Jackson
"Are you feeling neglected? Taken for granted? If it can happen to Janet 'my-abs-are-3-D-without-the-glasses' Jackson, it can happen to anyone."

“Momma’s Boy” – Chromeo
"Do you feel like your man’s focus is elsewhere? Girl, join the club."

“Ex-Factor” – Lauryn Hill
"Really struggling this Valentine’s Day? Pull out this gem – it’s a real bummer remix." (Editor's note: if you're tempted to just hit 'repeat' on this one, give in. I would.)

“Pieces Of What” – MGMT
"More over it than a bridge? MGMT feels your pain."

There you have it. Valentine's will be over soon so enjoy/curse it while you still can.

Union Square ambassador Rima Rabbath embraces her inner homebody

Ever have trouble making it to the yoga studio? Busy schedules, travelling, difficult weather - it can be hard to keep up your practice. Don't let a change in routine stop you. Our friend Andrew (from Ottawa's Rideau Centre store) has just the ticket to celebrate the great indoors and keep your yoga practice alive at home or on the road.

This 66-minute playlist will keep you focused and relaxed while you practice yoga sans studio. The music is a great complement to a DVD or podcast. Once you're comfortable doing the series of postures, ignore the verbal cues and play the music over the audio track.  If you're practicing from memory, it's even easier. Just hit play, breathe and begin.

I've broken the playlist into three sections. If you have the full hour, do the whole playlist. If you're short on time, just tackle one half of the list and finish with the savasana track.

standing postures

These first five songs will accompany your opening sun salutations and flows. Nothing too loud or too mellow, just a great mix of smooth and calming tracks to get your mind and breath on track.

I Walked - Sufjan Stevens
Samskeyti (Track 3) - Sigur Ros
Happiness - Jonsi & Alex
Blank Pages - The Album Leaf
The Road West - The Appleseed Cast

seated postures

The next four tracks take you through your seated postures. Again, nothing sleep-inducing here - just some nice beats and atmospheric tracks to keep you focused on your breath.

Silent - The Field
Into The Sea - The Album Leaf
Too Late - M83
Your Hand in Mine - Explosions in The Sky

savasana

This last track is just over eleven minutes long and is perfect for your savasana or final meditation. I consider it a challenge to be still for the entire song and give my body the proper chance to heal and restore. I challenge you to the same.

Midnight Souls Still Remain - M83

set up your studio

The beauty of practicing on your own is that you really don't need much. Here's what we suggest to get on your way.

• DVDs We are in love with Eoin Finn's Blissology Project yoga DVD right now.
• Podcasts Yoga Journal has a great one that's free.
• A mat We have three yoga mat options online. Click on each one to read more.
• Optional accessories You may need a microfibre yoga mat towel or dense foam brick to support your practice. You decide.

We're loving Andrew's playlist so much we're thinking about staying in for the weekend. What about you?

warm up

A smooth cardio track to get your blood pumping:

The Temper Trap - Resurrection

workout

These tracks are meant to fire you up and push you through your entire workout. Starting with Arcade Fire, you better be ready to move! This song will give you the bounce in your step as you get the workout started. Kanye West’s Power remix is perfectly placed in the middle of the workout. You’ve got the power! Finishing up with Drake, let the song speak to you and how hard you worked. Let your workout make you feel like the greatest and unforgettable!

Arcade Fire - Ready to Start
Yeasayer - O.N.E.
CEO - White Magic
Sleigh Bells - Tell ‘Em
Kanye West - Power
LCD Soundsystem - I Can Change
Robyn - Dancing On My Own
Mark Ronson - You Gave Me Nothing
Drake - Unforgettable ft. Young Jeezy

cardio wrap up

Some steady beats that’ll push you through the cardio wrap up of your workout. As you finish up your cardio, know that the dog days are over! Let this remix of Florence + the Machine’s hit allow you to embrace the hard work of the workout and know that it’s over!

CEO - Come With Me
Bag Raiders - Sunlight
Deadmau5 - Animal Rights
Florence + the Machine - Dog Days Are Over

stretch

Three tracks that’ll help you stretch out and cool down from your workout. The final song on this playlist, by Jonsi, will put a smile on your face as you finish up. Take in all you’ve done today and reap the benefits of a great workout!

Yeasayer - Madder Red
Mumford & Sons - Awake my Soul
Jonsi - Around Us

What were your favourite tracks to warm up, sweat, and cool down to in 2010?

This playlist is about an hour and 15 minutes long and we recommend a lower volume when running outside so that you are alert and aware of your surroundings. A few of these songs contain explicit lyrics, we simply appreciate the beat in our feet and do not promote the ideals portrayed in the songs themselves. Hit the pavement and enjoy!

Warning: it may cause sudden outbursts of dance movements mid stride!

10k running playlist

"Power" - Kanye West
Perfect warm up song. Definitely will get you moving and ready to rock.

"Fly Like a G6" - Far East Movement
This song just makes me want to move, and as much as possible. Still warming up with this song.

"Club Can't Handle Me Right Now" - Flo Rida
Great beat and perfect rhythm to find your stride.

"Commander" - Kelly Rowland
This song kind of makes me want to take on the world. Keep moving and carry on!

"Whip My Hair" - Willow Smith
Really fun song, but try not to whip your hair while running, it actually hurts...

"One" - Swedish Mafia House
Bringing the beat back up after the mellow middle of your run. Great song if you are approaching a hill and need a little push.

“Move For Me” – Kaskade
Mellow melody mixed with a funky beat. This song should remind you to work hard and keep your shoulders relaxed.

“Help I’m Alive” – Metric
Perfect for the parts of your run when you want to remain calm and comfortable.

"Waka Waka" - Shakira
Try not to sway your hips as you're running during this song, and try not to smile, because it can cause both to happen.

"Bulletproof" - La Roux
This song is all about being strong, and has the perfect beat to empower you.

"Heads Will Roll" - Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Has anyone ever told you that you are slow, or have you thought you're not a runner? Anyone doubting you, including yourself? Listen to this beat and these lyrics and make their heads roll with your strides.

"Time to Pretend" - MGMT
Reaching the 3/4 mark of your run, this song is not exactly relaxing, but calming.

"Clocks" - Rhythms Del Mundo
Great remix of Coldplay's original song, with a little Latin spice.

"Gold Dust" - DJ Fresh
This reminds me of a 60s diva power song, but with a modern beat and fun mix to run to.

"Only Girl" - Rihanna
Who doesn't want to feel like they're the only girl (or boy) in the world?

"Dancing On My Own" - Robyn
Awesome beat, makes you want to sing along and takes your mind off of running.

"300 Violin Orchestra" - Jorge Quintero
Perfect cool down song. You will still be working, but ready to slow down.

My favourite cold weather running outfit:

• RUN: Alpine Tight
• Run:Swiftly Tech LS
• Brisk Run Toque

This summer has been sweet, hasn't it? Endless sunshine has made for countless ways to sweat once a day - from the beach to the trails, the opportunities to spend time outdoors are endless. That being said, on the days when it gets TOO hot I always head to the gym for a dose of air-conditioned coolness.

This brings me to my next point. You know how a song can instantly transport you back into a specific place or time in your life? Well lemme tell you, all these early morning gym seshs have had me reminiscing about high school, and more specifically, hip hop. I forgot how fun it is to sweat to - the beats are sure to keep you moving on even the slowest mornings! With no further ado, may I present my all-time favourite hip hop workout playlist. *Note: Be careful playing these at work - Colt 45 consumption is considered unacceptable in most office environments.

SHUTTERBUGG - BIG BOI & CUTTY

Big Boi, one half of the magical tandem known as Outkast, released another solo project a month ago and it might be the coolest album of the year. I take back what I said last month about Drake having the song of the summer - Shutterbugg is hotter (sorry, Drake - it isn't personal... I just hadn't heard THIS yet). And don't worry, he and Andre 3000 are still cool - Dre produced half the tracks on this album. Play this for the haters who say all new hip hop sucks.

TIPSY - J-KWON

Is this song mature? No. Is the beat sick? Absolutely. Just let it happen!

1970 SOMETHIN' - NOTORIOUS B.I.G. FEATURING THE GAME AND FAITH EVANS

A lot of the time, posthumous duets are contrived and unnatural feeling. This track, however, feels like all three ducked into a studio one night and cut something awesome... and as per usual with Biggie, the lyrics are an 11 out of 10.

BABY DON'T GO - FABOLOUS FEATURING T-PAIN

T-Pain raps about something other than being on a boat. Miracles ensue.

STILL NOT A PLAYER - BIG PUN FEATURING JOE

Still a banger in the clubs 10 years later, Joe's dedication to wearing the freshest mock necks in the history of crooners is simply the cherry on top.

CHERCHEZ LA GHOST - GHOSTFACE KILLAH

Wu-Tang Clan's eight main members all made fantastic side albums while still recording with the samurai-loving supergroup. This is my favourite, mostly because of Madame Majestic's weirdly edgy yet Edith Piaf-y voice.

SENSUAL SEDUCTION - SNOOP DOGG

Louis XIV style hat, including feather? Check. Electro beats & auto-tune? Check. Hookah pipe with gold fillagree handle? Check. Snoop Dogg getting away with all of it and making it awesome because he is Snoop Dogg? Check, check, check!

ME MYSELF AND I - DE LA SOUL

Hip hop's feel good pioneers will have you whistling while you work... out all day long. And yes, I know my jokes are especially bad today.

VIVRANT THING - Q-TIP

A member of legendary group A Tribe Called Quest, Q-Tip left the group in the late 90s to make an album that was both profound AND danceable - this right here is the best cut.

WORKOUT PLAN - KANYE WEST

Sir Caps Lock inspires you to work out by talking about, you guessed it, working out. Mister West recorded this track before discovering his newest favourite way to sweat - exercising his Twitter finger.

A MILLI - LIL WAYNE

You'd think someone repeating "A Milli" like, a milli times (I warned you about the bad jokes!) would be annoying - but magically, it's turbo awesome instead. Let's hope they've given him at least a key-tar in prison.

GONE TIL' NOVEMBER REMIX - WYCLEF JEAN FEATURING R. KELLY

It's hard to pick one Wyclef song that gets the party started (the whole Carnival album is rippin', for example) - but this jam gets the nod for one very important reason: my top dog KELS. You can trash R. Kelly all you want, but you can't deny that if he invited you to a white-themed boat cruise with a champagne shot luge you'd be there faster than Carl Lewis to a finish line (for reference, check the video for "Step In The Name Of Love"). Braid. My. Hair.

APACHE - SUGARHILL GANG

While Rapper's Delight gets all the love, Sugarhill Gang's "Apache" is my favorite. The harmony sounds like a leftover disco hook that was discarded when punk tookover - and while that doesn't explain their jheri curls, it does explain the sweet funk beat.

HERE I AM - RICK ROSS FEATURING AVERY STORM AND NELLY

It's a good thing we don't use records anymore - because this track is so addictive that it would have worn a groove in the disc in no time. It also provides a neat solution for those of us who front that we don't like Nelly but secretly put "Batter Up" on repeat. Don't judge me!

ALLURE - JAY-Z

It's hard to pick one Jay-Z song and put it on a list - this is simply my personal fave. With what is arguably the deepest discography in hip hop, composed of club anthems, quirky b-sides and collaborations with artists from all genres of music, Jay-Z has successfully traversed the gangster rap/underground-intelligencia hip hop scenes without succumbing to any stereotypes. Proof of his coolness: Little Orphan Annie was sung sans irony by gang-bangers when "Hard-Knock Life" came out. Amazeballs.