Inspired by the Comrades Marathon

Watching 12 000 dedicated runners cross the starting line on Sunday, we were inspired to start training for next year. When we heard that 2000 guys registered but didn't show up, we felt a bit better about being couch participants.

But we're on it and every training regimen needs a great playlist, although there is some debate regarding how much benefit it provides. Here are some classics everyone should have in their playlist:

THE EARLY MORNING START
Survivor - 'Eye of the Tiger'

THAT FIRST MONSTER HILL
Journey - 'Don't Stop Believing'

PICKING UP THE PACE
Fatboy Slim - 'Right Here, Right Now'

HITTING YOUR STRIDE
AC/DC - 'Thunderstruck'

ONE LAST BIG PUSH
Apollo 440 - 'Can't Stop the Rock'

THE START OF THE HOME STRETCH
Vangelis - 'Chariots of Fire'

IT'S ALMOST FINISHED
Guns 'n Roses - 'Paradise City'

IT'S FINALLY OVER
U2 - 'Beautiful Day'

If you don't like any of these, this site can help you select your own playlist. So can this one. Let us know what you're listening to on the move, or go download some free stuff here.

Back In The Summer Of ‘69

Today in 1969, John Lennon and Yoko Ono began their famous seven day "bed-in" to promote world peace. Originally meant to take place in New York City, Lennon was banned from entering the United States due to a previous cannabis conviction, and the bed-in took place in the hotel Le Reine Elizabeth in Montreal, Canada.

During the week long protest, the couple took interviews from the Canadian press, and invited some of the great minds of the time to visit them. Among the visitors were Timothy Leary, the influential writer, psychologist and father of psychedelic drugs; controversial disc jockey Murray Kaufman; and American comedian Tommy Smothers.

While the 26 May 1969 bed-in was one of many, the reason this one is so remarkable is that during the seven days, John and Yoko recorded one of the most famous protest songs of all time, Give Peace A Chance, with Leary, Kaufman, Smothers and other visitors lending their voices to the song.

Rave on Buddy Holly

It's not too often one can get really excited about a covers album, but when the line-up includes artists as talented as The Black Keys, Florence and the Machine, Paul McCartney and Modest Mouse, it's worth sitting up and taking notice. When the music in question is that of legendary Buddy Holly, you start ticking off the days till it's released. And that day is coming! The album will be available June 28th and can't disappoint.

Giving an old hit a re-working is nothing new but occasionally someone comes along and does a number on it that makes you think their version may even be a bit better than the original. Muse covering 'Feeling Good' and The XX covering 'Teardrops' readily spring to mind.

It's awesome that the hit making, glasses wearing guitar genius is going to have fresh life breathed into his music by a new generation of artists. Who would you see revived next and who would you want to do the reviving?

Piracy: Easier Than Evarrrrrrr

It’s a great time to be a music lover. Amazon has reduced the price of MP3s, Spotify is upgrading their service and now offering an MP3 download option that syncs playlists with your listening device and is pretty much giving iTunes the middle finger.

And if you still want to get your music free because record labels are the devil and artists produce their best work when they’re poor, try Chinese search giant Baidu, who are offering legal downloads of copywrited music for free.

It’s probably easier to use a Bit Torrent service for your music theft, but this feels slightly more legal. Who says the communists don't know how to have a good time? Thanks, China!

The best of Nigeria Beatmasters

Nigerian artist General Pype has just tweeted links to the second remix of his powerful, ridiculously catchy track ‘BORN CHAMPIONS’. Featuring Zimbabwean artists Winky D, Jusa Dementor, Carlprit, Metaphysics, Cynthia Mare, Tek Neek, Bkay & Kazz there’s a smorgasboard of talent and style on here and they come together perfectly to produce a sound you’ll want to play over and over, whether it’s in the club, the car or anywhere in between. And chances are most people won't have heard of him and that will make you seem edgy and in the know to them. You're welcome.

Check out his Facebook Page.