Recently, I was reading several online reviews of the YouTube Music app and it dawned on me that I listen to a lot of music. Specifically, I listen to a lot of music while being active and working out, and I think most people with diabetes listen to music while working out too.
With this in mind, music is going to be a part of this blog, and hopefully a part of the greater diabetes discussion. I can find tons of write-ups about the best glucose meter or low carb recipes. I think working out is a pretty important part of my diabetes maintenance, and music is a big part of it; at least as big as avocados chia seeds. So music, and the music infrastructure (apps, earbuds, playlists, best songs, the list kind of writes itself) are going to be part of this blog.
To get us started, I will share some of my audio ecosystem:
I currently pay to use the following apps:
I also use the free version of the following apps:
In time, I will get out a review of each of these, and let you know how they tie in to my diabetes experience.
In the interim, I copied out one of my playlists. I typically use it during my after-lunch walks, and it helps get my heart rate elevated a little bit (100-120 bpm):
This is the Day (The The) – I always like to start with this song. It is pretty close to the perfect 1980’s new age alternative positive affirmation song. I like to start my walks hearing “This is the day your life is going to change.”
Last Friday Night (TGIF) (Katy Perry) – A friend of mine once told me that all Katy Perry songs are great workout songs. I don’t think I am there yet, but I like listening to this song. The beat keeps my cadence at a fast walk, and if my legs hurt that day, I am reminded that I at least I am not hung over and have a house to clean up after a party.
Get the Party Started (Pink) – Pink is a force of nature. It seems to me that “Get the Party Started” is a little different from most of her music, but her debut single has the benefit of an upbeat pace, slightly higher than “Last Friday Night (TGIF),” this is where the real walk starts.
Love Shack (B-52’s) – Getting back to the 1980’s, love shack keeps the pace up and the party going in my earbuds.
She Bop (Cyndi Lauper) – Probably the fastest pace song of this playlist, walk-stepping through this song will probably get the highest heart rate of the playlist.
The Seed (The Roots) – Noticeably slower pace than “She Bop” and the music just fills your ears.
Uptown Funk (Mark Ronson/Bruno Mars) – Another great song that you would think is uptempo, but very walkable and at a good pace and cadence.
Tainted Love/Where Did Our Love Go (Soft Cell) – There are a number of cover songs that came out in the 1980’s that through their reinterpretation stand on their own (the Pointer Sisters “Fire” also comes to mind). This British synth-pop remake of the Motown hits is great to walk to, and it goes on forever.
5 Years Time (Noah and the Whale) – I don’t know where I was when I first heard this song, but it has stuck with me for a long time. A generally happy song of ‘sunshine” and “zoos” to cool down and finish.
This playlist has been put on Spotify under the name @nextwavet2d Vol 1. Please go ahead and use it during your next walk and let me know in the comments how it went.
Lastly, let me know in the comments which music apps you use and maybe one or two of your favorite songs to stay active with. I look forward to more beats and rhymes posts in the future.
Next Wave T2D 