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What Songs Get Stuck in Your Head While Climbing?

Original Post
F r i t z · · North Mitten · Joined Mar 2012 · Points: 995

... either intentionally, to create a headspace, or unintentionally. What songs play in the back of your mind as you're on a route?

This is a question for intramental music. Externally speaking, here's a big 8=====> for the people who inflict their asinine aesthetics on everyone else at the crag without asking.

I usually end up with an eight-measure loop from one of the songs below. Despite the variety in my personal listening, my climbing samples usually end up being pensive, minor-key and down-tempo (exception: last entry). I don't cultivate the song/climb connection at all; these just pop up of their own accord on the average route.

If I'm climbing at my limit and getting my bowels in a bowline, my mind tends to hit "mute."

- Jimmy Eat World, "Goodbye Sky Harbor" from Clarity.
- Porcupine Tree, "Lips of Ashes" from In Absentia.
- Roots, "I Remember" from Undun.
- Opeth, "Death Whispered a Lullaby" from Damnation.
- Beethoven, Piano Concerto No. 5, first movement

Climb faster ... I hear banjo music.

Slartibartfast · · Magrathea · Joined Jun 2013 · Points: 0

Yeah, but you're gonna need at least 2+ pitches for "Goodbye Sky Harbor."

"Pepper," by Butthole Surfers, always makes me feel like I'm in a climbing video.

Eric Klammer · · Eagle, CO · Joined Oct 2012 · Points: 2,070

"Bye, bye Miss American Pie
Drove my Chevy to the levee but the levee was dry
And them good ole boys were drinking whiskey and rye
Singin' this'll be the day that I die
This'll be the day that I die"

For some reason this is usually what I'm singing in my head when soloing. Good stuff.

B D · · Boulder · Joined May 2010 · Points: 0

It's often Super Mario Bros for me.

Daniel Joder · · Barcelona, ES · Joined Nov 2015 · Points: 0

Lady Willpower: "...willpower, it's now or never..." Sort of out of context since the song has nothing to do with climbing, but the phrase is perfect for that committing move.

Trevor Wellman · · Burlington, VT · Joined Apr 2016 · Points: 0

For me it's "Baby Hold On" by Eddie Money. Started as a joke to mitigate the fear as an amateur trad leader, then became a kind of staple mantra.

JP S · · Phoenix, AZ · Joined Sep 2014 · Points: 0

Seven Nation Army - White Stripes

Henry Holub · · Altus, OK · Joined Nov 2015 · Points: 705

It used to be Free Falling by Tom Petty, but thanks to the Dean Potter tribute in RR10, it is now When My Time Comes by Dawes. Every. Single. Time.

No wonder I don't lead at my limit

Jonathan Cunha · · Bolinas, CA · Joined May 2014 · Points: 62

NAS "Life's a bitch and than you die, that's why we get high..never know when you gonna go"

M Santisi · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Mar 2014 · Points: 1,879

David Bowie Starman, intentionally

T Howes · · Bend, OR · Joined Dec 2010 · Points: 20

Sorry if you've ever climbed next me. How Do You Do - Mouth and Macneal

Rando Calrissian · · Denver · Joined Apr 2016 · Points: 45

Accentuate the positive by Johnny Mercer and the Pied Pipers. Also, single ladies by Beyonce. Sketch section is accentuate, cruiser section is single ladies. Whatever, deal with it.

NeilB · · Tehachapi, CA · Joined Apr 2014 · Points: 45
Rando Calrissian wrote:Also, single ladies by Beyonce. . . cruiser section is single ladies. Whatever, deal with it.
"All the slings have labels (All the slings have labels)
All the slings have labels (All the slings have labels)
Now put your hands up
Up on the holds
And pull 'em as hard as you need..."

Ha! I couldn't resist.
Rando Calrissian · · Denver · Joined Apr 2016 · Points: 45
NeilB wrote: "All the slings have labels (All the slings have labels) All the slings have labels (All the slings have labels) Now put your hands up Up on the holds And pull 'em as hard as you need..." Ha! I couldn't resist.
hahahahahahah i love it!!
caribouman1052 · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Nov 2012 · Points: 5

- "I Wanna Be Sedated" - Ramones
- "Holidays in the Sun" - Sex Pistols
-"Rotating Head" - Special Beat Service
- "Letter to God" - Hole
- "Witches' Song" - Marianne Faithful.
- "Forget That Day" - the Go-go's
- the entire Peepshow album from Siouxsie & the Banshees goes through my head on aid pitches
- "Watermelon Man" from Herbie Hancock's Headhunter's album. That's the groove
- "Walkabout", from the Red Hot Chili Peppers
- "Vertigo" & "Echo my Call" from Disappear Fear's album Echo My Call
- "Lorelei" from the Pogues' Peace & Love
- "You Got to Move" - Mississippi Fred McDowell

kiff · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jan 2010 · Points: 1,035

There's something happening here
What it is ain't exactly clear...

Magpie79 · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Nov 2011 · Points: 0

One time in the gym, this popped into my head:

"Oh what fun it is to clip from a sloper hold tonight" to the tune of Jingle Bells.

This was in July. Am I sane?

J-- Kaiser · · Southern California · Joined Dec 2014 · Points: 116

"Crystalfilm" by: Little Dragon

"carful you" by: TV On The Radio

"the less I know the better" by: Tame Impala

Davi Rivas · · Ventura, CA · Joined Feb 2006 · Points: 1,335

Right now, it's that little ditty by BonJovi in the Direct TV commercials. Ahhhhhhgghghh.....

Bill Kirby · · Keene New York · Joined Jul 2012 · Points: 480

I got a recent commercial stuck in my head too. 1877 cars for kids then I follow it with my own verse. Goes like this: 1877 cars for kids, get the fuck out of my way, 1877 cars for kids...

This gets stuck in my head while I'm driving too.

Justin Headley · · Tucson · Joined Oct 2013 · Points: 622

"Magic Dance" by David Bowie.

-_-

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

General Climbing
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