Retro Runners - When Will I Be Famous? - Couch to 5K

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Retro Runners - When Will I Be Famous?

79 Replies

With thanks to Bros, for the useful line.

This month’s suggested playlist is ‘famous names’. As ever the playlist editor’s decision is final to allow for my ridiculous biases, on tunes I just don’t like.

The deal is any tune that has a famous person’s name in the title, be it a real or fictional person will be included.

This is what I’ve got so far:-

Michael Caine - Madness

O Superman - Laurie Anderson

There’s A Guy Works Down The Chip Shop Swears He’s Elvis - Kirsty MacColl

Robert De Niro’s Waiting - Bananarama

Bette Davis Eyes - Kim Carnes

John Wayne is Big Leggy - Haysi Fantayzee

Einstein A Go-Go - Landscape

Geronimo - Sheppard

Grace Kelly - MIKA

Joan Of Arc - OMD

The Joker - Steve Miller Band

Just Like Jesse James - Cher

Free Nelson Mandela - Soweto Singer

Rasputin - Boney M

Clint Eastwood - Gorillaz

Prince Charming - Adam and The Ants

Bruce Lee - Robbie Williams

Sherlock Holmes - Sparks

Andy Warhol - David Bowie

Black Man Ray - China Crisis

Roll Over Beethoven - ELO

Electric Barbarella - Duran Duran

Barbie Girl - Aqua

Walks Like Rihanna - The Wanted

Moves Like Jagger - Maroon 5

Wood Beez (Pray Like Aretha Franklin) - Scritti Politti

Marvin Gaye - Puth and Trainor

Rock Me Amadeus - Falco

So please fellow retro runners, if you know of a famous person/character missing from this Who’s Who of Running Tunes, then please let me know.

I’ll finish it up and release at the end of September

Happy running everyone...

79 Replies
UnfitNoMore profile image
UnfitNoMoreGraduate

Ballad of Tom Jones - Space and Cerys Matthews

Ballad of Davey Crockett - loads of people 😂

Picasso Visita el Planeta de los Simios - Adam and the Ants

Come home (Cardinal Pell) - Tim Minchin

Maybe not the last one considering the charges Pell is facing!

The Pope Song - Tim Minchin. **huge warning on this one, it’s a little offensive, well, maybe**

Genghis Kahn - Iron Maiden

Angel of Death - Slayer

Axel F - Harold Faltermeyer

Michaela Strachan You Broke My Heart (When I Was 12) - Scouting for Girls

The Rime of the Ancient Mariner - Iron Maiden

Churchill’s speech - kinda Iron Maiden... May not count as it’s Churchill, but I sometimes use it in my warm up.

God save the Queen - couple of options... sex pistols for me (and it’s kinda a 2 in 1)

in reply to UnfitNoMore

Tom Jones is in

Axel F is in

Michaela Strachan is in

GSTQ is in

Picasso too

Davey Crockett too

The others I have to listen to them - Editor’s choice and all, but I’m thinking of a follow on list for more ‘parental advisory’ and Cardinal Pell, well I’m still thinking of him... :)

in reply to UnfitNoMore

I think Cardinal Pell is a bit too out there.... whilst I agree with the sentiments..., for that reason the Pope is out too. Sorry, but I guess you won’t be shocked.

Genghis is in.

But who exactly is the Angel of Death - I couldn’t actually run to this at all, I wanted to cry!

UnfitNoMore profile image
UnfitNoMoreGraduate in reply to

Old Testament angel of death, although the song is about Josef Mengele. It’s one of my power finish songs.

Not surprised about the pope... not one I play often with the windows open 😂

in reply to UnfitNoMore

Oh Mr M hits my sensitive button as my family history is Jewish in origin and I just couldn’t put it in even though it’s hardly complimentary. But the famous names Mark 2 list is just about done...

UnfitNoMore profile image
UnfitNoMoreGraduate in reply to

Oops... sorry, i didn’t think there.

in reply to UnfitNoMore

No worries, I asked the question and you told me the answer

UnfitNoMore profile image
UnfitNoMoreGraduate in reply to

I have my triggers too... I guess anyone deliberately hitting them is very rare.

MikeJones68 profile image
MikeJones68Graduate

Crockett's theme - Jan Hammer?

in reply to MikeJones68

Done and In!

icklegui profile image
ickleguiGraduate

Jackie Wilson Said - Van Morrison or Dexy's Midnight Runners ?

Personal Jesus - Depeche Mode

I'd add Vincent by Don Maclean but that's more for crying than running!!

in reply to icklegui

Oh Vincent, I see what you mean on the sad part, but useful for a cool down part of your run? So it and both Jackies are in as to is Personal Jesus

Mummycav profile image
MummycavAdministratorGraduate in reply to icklegui

Oooo, I love personal Jesus!! 😉

in reply to Mummycav

`me too...

Mummycav profile image
MummycavAdministratorGraduate in reply to

Are you my long lost twin Jan??!! We like the same thing xx

in reply to Mummycav

where we separated at birth ???

Mummycav profile image
MummycavAdministratorGraduate in reply to

How come I wasn’t the one who ended up in Italy?? 😩 x

in reply to Mummycav

that’s because I got the dark hair and Mr JCR - not sure I’m up for partner swapping having invested so much time and effort into him!

But then you got the blond tresses and blonds have more fun, just maybe not in Italy :)

Mummycav profile image
MummycavAdministratorGraduate in reply to

phew, couldn’t start the time & effort investment again that would be exhausting!! Blondes def have more fun, but dark is mysterious??!! Yorkshire will have to be my Italy...just need to eat more cornettos..lol xxx

in reply to Mummycav

Yeah Im way too old to start again. Cornettos are the best, so that gets my vote for your Italian conversion

Agelesslass profile image
Agelesslass

Buddy Holly Weezer

Einstein Kelly Clarkson

Frank Sinatra Cake

Paul McCartney Scissor Sisters

in reply to Agelesslass

Done!

Agelesslass profile image
Agelesslass in reply to

Bette Davies eyes Kim Carnes

Vincent Don McLean

in reply to Agelesslass

Done and in

icklegui profile image
ickleguiGraduate

Had inspiration over lunch: some a bit weird :)

Bela Lugosi's Dead - Bauhaus

Henry the Eighth - Herman's Hermits

Flash - Queen

Ballad of John and Yoko - John Lennon

Doctor in the Tardis - KLF

in reply to icklegui

Okay I like them all - and the list is now so long these are going on the second playlist - the extra cut! Love it...

Agelesslass profile image
Agelesslass

James Dean Eagles

in reply to Agelesslass

Going on the second playlist - the extra cut, as I have sooo many tunes. Who knew there were so many names to fight over?

Agelesslass profile image
Agelesslass

Calling Elvia Dire Straits

Romeo and Juliet Dire Straits

in reply to Agelesslass

They are in on the extra cut list...

Mummycav profile image
MummycavAdministratorGraduate in reply to Agelesslass

Aw, I love Romeo & Juliet...that’ll be lovely as a cool down 😉

Agelesslass profile image
Agelesslass

So Long Frank Lloyd Wright Simon and Garfunkel

in reply to Agelesslass

In on the extra cut list - to be finalised by end of the month

UnfitNoMore profile image
UnfitNoMoreGraduate

I just shot John Lennon - the cranberries

in reply to UnfitNoMore

It’s going on the extra cut list... thanks I like The Cranberries but didn’t know this one

UnfitNoMore profile image
UnfitNoMoreGraduate

Motorhead- Hawkwind (later covered by Motörhead)

mrrun profile image
mrrunGraduate in reply to UnfitNoMore

Motorhead, ideal for interval speed runs. Slower parts and cooling down walk call for something more sensible and gentle. Marylin Manson, perhaps?

UnfitNoMore profile image
UnfitNoMoreGraduate in reply to mrrun

Marilyn great for finding a rhythm... but I like to speed up at the end

in reply to UnfitNoMore

It’s on the ‘extra cut’ list - thanks for the suggestions

UnfitNoMore profile image
UnfitNoMoreGraduate in reply to

Did the pope song make it? 😂

in reply to UnfitNoMore

still under consideration...

UnfitNoMore profile image
UnfitNoMoreGraduate in reply to

😂😱

Jell6 profile image
Jell6Graduate

Elvis Impersonator. Manic Street Preachers

in reply to Jell6

It’s in and on the ‘extra cut’ playlist as we have soo many tracks...

mrrun profile image
mrrunGraduate

Emm. Roll Over Beethoven is written by Chuck Berry not ELO. It was them who butchered it but never mind.. So:

Billy Jean, M Jackson

Angie (as in Angela Bowie), Rolling Stones

Eleanor Rigby, The Beatles

Delilah, Tom Jones

Roxanne, The Police

UnfitNoMore profile image
UnfitNoMoreGraduate in reply to mrrun

Delilah is a cover too... PJ Proby recorded and hated it first.

mrrun profile image
mrrunGraduate in reply to UnfitNoMore

Did he? Didn't know that. Hated it? Was he to blame?

UnfitNoMore profile image
UnfitNoMoreGraduate in reply to mrrun

He recorded it literally weeks before Tom, then hated it and refused to put it on the album... finally released years later.

Just looking for it... controversially it’s on “The best of.. the EMI years”

icklegui profile image
ickleguiGraduate in reply to mrrun

Love ELO, hate that cover! Also I did not know about Angie. However, can you imagine a less appropriate running tune! (Maybe Vincent, as i suggested...)

mrrun profile image
mrrunGraduate in reply to icklegui

Lol, well, l don’t do ‘running’ tunes, l literary listen to my favourite music while running, never running to a beat. And that could be anything from early Miles Davis to hard driven rock at full blast with Johnny Cash and classical music in between. Music and running are great friends.

icklegui profile image
ickleguiGraduate in reply to mrrun

Ahah but... *air piano* "Angie....I still love you babeeeeey, every where aaah look aaah see your eeeeyes" *cries* *trips over*

mrrun profile image
mrrunGraduate in reply to icklegui

Haha, look, his singing there is the absolute top end (try singing the verse if you don’t believe me), song structure and the way they played it was exceptional. They had Taylor on guitar still, and once he left they turned into a cabaret act. I enjoy listening to it and running slow. And then breaking it down and running harder with Rammstein. :)

icklegui profile image
ickleguiGraduate in reply to mrrun

That's the problem, it's good, and it's emotional so would result in 😢 !! Also, I listened to Desert Island Discs with David Beckham on a run once and he only went and chose Wild Horses - maaaaaan.

in reply to mrrun

Yes, I agree on Roll Over but it’s a broad church so I’ll put both in... Now on second playlist - the Extra Cut version, as there are so many...

Razouski profile image
Razouski

Wow - you've got me thinking Jan.

All I've come up with so far is

Jacky Wilson Said - Dexy's Midnight Runner

Joan of Arc - Orchestral Manouevres in The Dark

Marilyn Monroe - Pharrell Williams

JFK - Muse

in reply to Razouski

Sorry - visitors, family, and holidays all getting in the way...

Jackie Wilson - in, Joan of Arc - of course it’s in, Marilyn and JFK have to be in considering their famous affair!

UnfitNoMore profile image
UnfitNoMoreGraduate

Dunno how I missed this one out

John Kettley - A Tribe of Toffs

in reply to UnfitNoMore

in

Tartancat profile image
TartancatGraduate

I could only think of 2 with famous names, but couldn't remember who sang them. Googled them both and weirdly they are both by Landscape!

My name is Norman Bates

Einstein a Go Go

in reply to Tartancat

in

ELSW73 profile image
ELSW73Graduate

Elvis ain’t dead - scouting for girls

in reply to ELSW73

It’s on list 2, as list number 1 is full....

List 2 to be released later this month - list 1 just done...

sarah65 profile image
sarah65

John Kettley is a weatherman - Tribe of Toffs?

in reply to sarah65

in

sarah65 profile image
sarah65

Oliver’s Army Elvis Costello

in reply to sarah65

Okay - so it's real or fictional people - I do have a ‘names’ list that this could go on, but I think this one was just anti-war rather than named after a particular Oliver - but I do love the song and it’s already on this playlist

open.spotify.com/user/janca...

Tartancat profile image
TartancatGraduate in reply to

I always thought this referred to Oliver Cromwell- no idea why. I'll have to listen to the lyrics again (been an awfully long time since I last heard it!)

Tartancat profile image
TartancatGraduate in reply to

Yeah definitely NOT Cromwell. What was I thinking!!

sarah65 profile image
sarah65

Dear Prudence Beatles/Siouxsie

in reply to sarah65

Yes she’s in as she was the sister of Mia Farrow

Catherine the Great, the Divine Comedy (I love the Divine Comedy)

in reply to

In

Agelesslass profile image
Agelesslass

Victoria The kinks

in reply to Agelesslass

Yes she was the Queen so she is in

Mummycav profile image
MummycavAdministratorGraduate

Hey Mickey by Toni Basil?? We can pretend it’s about Mickey Mouse????????? 😂👏🏻

in reply to Mummycav

You are stretching it a bit!!!!

But it is you and I love the song, so it is in... :)

Mummycav profile image
MummycavAdministratorGraduate in reply to

Haha...😉 xxx

Woodrunner profile image
WoodrunnerGraduate

Clint Eastwood - Gorillaz ?

and Al Capone, think it's by Prince Buster

in reply to Woodrunner

both in

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