Songs about bicycles
Gary Boulanger, US editor Wednesday, Dec 3, 2008 12.19am
James Brown, the godfather of soul, takes a photo op with the QuickStep team at the 2006 Tour of Georgia. He's the one wearing a shiny, satin pant suit. (Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)
Bicycling and music go hand in hand for many BikeRadar readers, and despite the dangers of actually riding a bike while listening to music, sitting back and watching some obscure bicycle-themed YouTube videos seems like a good idea today.
Pink Floyd fans remember the Syd Barrett song "Bike" from the band's 1967 debut The Piper At The Gates of Dawn, with the lyrics "I've got a bike, you can ride if you like. It's got a basket, a bell that rings. and things to make it look good."
We all know about Freddie Mercury's 1978 single "Bicycle Race" which appeared on Queen's album Jazz. Some of you techno fans may be familiar with Kraftwerk's Tour de France album from 1983. The now defunct Seattle alt band Bicycle actually rode from gig to gig on bicycles with portable instruments, and released a fairly catchy record in 1999.
But what about a lost B-side by the Red Hot Chili Peppers? Who woulda thunk Anthony Keidis thought so highly of the bicycle? How about a pleasant little number by Katie Melua? Our fave is the ultra-creative "Bicycle Samba".
Click back and enjoy:
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Bicycle Song
Katie Melua - Nine Million Bicycles
Bicycle Samba
User Comments
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John the Monkey
Posted Wed 3 Dec, 3:34 pm UTC Flag as inappropriate
Radio Nowhere did a show in honour of the Tour De France that had some interesting stuff in - as far as I know, the podcast is still available to download...
http://rubywright.wordpress.com/2008/07/21/rubys-chicky-boil-ups-tour-de-france/
Track Listing;
Rockin’ Bicycle - Fats Domino
En Bicicleta - Manuel Jiminez
La Troisième Roue De Ton Velo - Antoine
A Bicyclette - Yves Montane
Motorcycle - The Rumble Strips
Gravel Rash - Cookin’ on Three Burners
Pedal Pusher - Abdominal
Tour De France - Kraftwerk
Bravo Eddy - Jean Narcy
Blood on the Saddle - Tex Ritter
Henkie de Fiets - Henkie
The Highway Code - The Master Singers
Waiting At The Bus Stop - Kay-Gees
La bicyclette - Annie Duparc
Records were chosen by Jack Thurston, from Resonance FM's Bike Show (http://thebikeshow.net/)
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ian.hallett@yahoo.co.uk
Posted Thu 4 Dec, 7:59 pm UTC Flag as inappropriate
These are so uncool that I am embarrassed:
How about the Pushbike Song by the Mixtures (cheesy 1970 hit), and the Rollerskate Song by Melanie (folky hit of the same era; later ripped off by the Wurzels as 'Oi've got a brand new combinharvester')
Or even 'Chainreaction' by Steps, or Wagners Ring Cycle!
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