Friday 11 May 2012

Running out of ideas

Saw what may well be the most poorly-conceived compilation album I've ever laid eyes on the other day, Now That's What I Call Running - ironically, a really lazy title. There are no songs about running on it. Even if there were it would still be a nonsensical name - unless it were chock full of audio clips of people running, which come to think of it would be an even dafter concept (although it would at least involve some logic).

So anyway, no 'running' songs whatsoever, however tenuous. No Keep On Running, No Run To You, I Ran or Road To Nowhere (which, come to think of it, would have just the right rhythm and tempo for jogging); hell, no Tears For Fears or their largely-forgotten 1986 charity single Everybody Wants To Run The World, adapted from the then ubiquitous Everybody Wants To Rule The World in about five minutes as part of that year's big Sport Relief campaign. There wasn't even an attempt to introduce a touch of levity into proceedings by including Jarvis Cocker's Cunts Are Still Running The World (although in fairness that may have risked alienating the target audience). As for the absence of Kate Bush's Running Up That Hill (or, if the rights were a problem, a cover version of said track), words fail me!

Instead the compilers have plumped for a hodge-podge of largely baffling and presumably cheap contemporary filler such as Sexy & I Know It by lmfao (Deluded & You Don't Know It, more like), Moves Like Jagger by Maroon 5 (about renowned keep-fit freak Mick Jogger Jagger) and, erm, Maneater by Nelly Furtado, with just the odd concession to anyone with an age or IQ over 15. Honestly, though, 1 out of 10 for imagination. To borrow an expression from the type of person who'd presumably be in Now That's What I Call Running's intended demographic, whoever cobbled this old guff together can jog on.

While we're on the subject, the following video features much jogging and is very funny, so you should have a look!




7 comments:

Rol said...

No Running compilation is complete without Born To Run. Or Running On Empty. Or Runaway.

Kippers said...

It's like the album's compilers been presented with an open goal two yeards out but have somehow managed to shin the ball ouit for a throw-in.

Kippers said...

Christ, what's wrong with my typing today. Think I might be having a strokeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.

Spike said...

That's rubbish! I may make some compilations like that.

Now That's What I Call Cooking:
1. That Black-Eyed Peas song about humps

2. White Christmas - Bing Crosby
3. The theme tune from Tracy Beaker

Kippers said...

Oh yes! You could also have Walk The Dinosaur and Happy New Year!

Sarah Miller Walters said...

Can somebody do me a compilation called "Now that's what I call a nice lie down"?
I'm thinking
I close my eyes by Dusty Springfield
Sheep by the Housemartins
Lazy Sunday Afternoon etc
I'm sure it would do much better.

Kippers said...

Oh that sounds much more like it!