Songs to power your day on the slopes
There you are – standing at the top of a snow-crested mountain. Your breath visible thanks to a slight cool breeze and a crystal clear blue sky to highlight it. You scan the trails below you. Will it be the glades? A groomer? Or those moguls that taunt you. And almost as important? What music is going to be playing in your earbuds or in your head?
SnowSeekers did a not so highly scientific sampling to find out what's on playlists and why. We asked our contributors and ambassadors to share their song list. You'll see that there is a theme of inspirational, hard rock and head-banging tunes. And then there is the odd contributions including Old McDonald Had a Farm from Doc Pow of all people!
Powder Matt Mosteller says, "My list is based on personal connections. Interesting fact is that I have personally met all of the bands on my list – either taught them how to ski, met them in a wild place or they have become dear friends over time."
The most important singer/songwriter on Matt's list and playing in his head is Makk Mikkael, a budding musician and his daughter. Check her out on YouTube.
Zuzia Wodzynska moaned in horror when we asked her for one song per heading. "One song! One song is impossible! I have so many on my playlist that inspire me. I listen to all sorts of music, but I am a rock chick at heart. Twisted Transistor and Hail To The King get me so amped, I always end up having the most epic run while listening to them. Occasionally almost too epic. On chairlifts, my best friend and I have a game (kind of like a human Shazam) where we try to guess what the other is listening to based only on the terrible singing. We have yet to get bored on a chairlift and we've made lots of friends that way."
Lisa Monforton, Paula Worthington and myself (Joanne) seem to roll on the same old school wave. But Paula says it best. "I learned to ski as a child of the 80s...and I think some of those songs have remained in my psyche now." (Long live Hot Dog!)
Karen Ung must spring outta bed in the morning with dancing shoes on if Katie Parry and Taylor Swift are on her alarm with Roar and Shake it off!
Here is our list of tunes based on where we are on the slopes.
And, here is a shout out to Mr. Tom Petty who has inspired many of these playlists. Thanks, Tom. We won't back down.
Wake me up
Wake me up - Avicii.
Shout - Tears for Fears.
Roar - Katie Perry.
Shake it off - Taylor Swift.
High Styles - Ghetto Funk ft DJ Wood.
I got a feeling - Black Eyed Peas.
On route to the mountains
Happy - Pharell Williams. Nancy says, "Come on, that is got to be on the list. We are heading to the slopes!"
Hopeless Wanderer - Mumford and Sons.
Hey ladies - Beastie Boys.
Try - Blue Rodeo.
Down the road - C2C.
Diamond in the Rough - Shawn Colvin.
Weighty ghost - Wintersleep.
Life is a highway - Tom Cochrane.
Summit inspiration
Learning to fly - Foo Fighters.
Free Fallin' - Tom Petty.
Eye of the Tiger - Survivor.
Baba ORiley - The Who.
On top of the world - Imagine Dragons.
Dreams - Fleetwood Mac.
Hands - Jewel.
Walking on Sunshine - Katrina and the Waves.
Groomer gold
Downtown - Macklemore & Ryan Lewis pick by Powder Matt "Be fierce even when ripping down the road on a moped. Own it!"
Old MacDonald had a farm. No explanation from Doc Pow. It must be a good story..."I was teaching a friend's kid how to snowboard one day and he couldn't get it. As soon as I started singing this song, the kid started laughing and forgot about what the had to do and just did it. Soon after that, he became a snowboarder!"
Beautiful Day - U2.
Harvest Moon - Neil Young.
I will wait for you - Mumford and Sons.
Pretty Woman - Roy Orbison.
Running down a dream - Tom Petty.
Cruise - Florida Georgia Line.
Jack U, Taje U, Kiesza and skrillex.
How in for you - Black Keys.
Hurt so good - John Cougar Mellencamp.
I turn by camera on - Spoon.
Hail to the king - Avenged Sevenfold.
Waterfall - Jimi Hendrix.
Run - Snow Patrol.
Glade grinders
Crash - Dave Mathews Band. (Maybe Matt picked this as a don't do this in the trees - warning!)
Whoomp! There it is - Tag Team.
Lose control - Hedley.
Ghosts'n'stuff - Deadmau5.
Paradise - Coldplay.
Let It Go - Jon and Roy.
You Shook Me All Night Long - ACDC.
Free Bird - Lynrd Skynrd.
Still alive and well - Johnny Winter. Joanne says, "that's usually my exit song if I'm standing!"
Mogul mixer
Jack U- Take U - Kiesza and skrillex. We dare you to try to go slow with this basher going through your brain!
A Sky Full of Stars - Coldplay.
Fried My Little Brains - The Kill.
Twisted Transistor - Korn.
Staple it together - Jack Johnson.
So what - Pink.
I won't back down - Tom Petty.
Chairlift chill
Five Days in May - Blue Rodeo. You might want to be a few chairs back of Paula, "It's the perfect group singalong by one of Canada's best bands."
Yellow is so mellow - Cold Play - but as Karen Ung warns, stay away from yellow snow.
Sunshine - Matt Costa
Sail - AWOLNATION
Want you back - Haim
End-of-the-day-jelly-legs
No Diggity - Blackstreet.
Get Out The Way - Mother Mother.
Tripping Billies - Dave Mathews Band.
Standing Outside the Fire - Garth Brooks. Paula love says, "It's instant inspiration to keep you going."
Lets get down to business - Mulan.
Parking lot grunt
Santeria - Sublime.
Uptown Funk - Bruno Mars.
Happy trails to you - Roy Rogers. Joanne says, "Seriously, this goes through my head as I see parents drag their bagged kids from the slopes." Another perfect day.
Give Me One Reason - Tracy Chapman. Says Zuz, "Does it really need an explanation? "Give me one reason to stay here / and I'll turn right back around"
Did we miss your favourite song? Let us know on Facebook and we'll add it to the list!
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