Guess what? January 1, 2024, isn’t just the start of a new year; it’s also National Thank God It’s Monday Day!
I know, I can practically hear the collective gasp from here—Jennifer has found yet another silly national day to use as an excuse for a theme ride! But hold on to your handlebars because think about this one…do you know how many FUN songs there are about the days of the week? Either complaining about them or cheering them on? Hundreds!
According to the National Day website, here is what this day is about:
Thank God It’s Monday Day, celebrated every first Monday in January, is all about rewiring our minds to have a positive attitude about the most hated day of the week. A Monday can represent new opportunities, new beginnings, or simply a brand-new chance… On National Thank God It’s Monday Day, seize the day with all your personal energy. It’s not just the first day of the week, it’s the first day of the rest of our lives.
We’re about to turn those Monday blues into Monday hues with a theme ride idea that’ll make you appreciate the start of the week (or any day of the week) like never before!
Here’s the scoop: I’ve got this epic Spotify playlist with a whopping 270 songs on days of the week that I’ve been curating for years and it’s time to share it with you. It’s like my musical time machine, and I’ve always thought of unleashing it as a themed ride. What better day to turn this into a reality than on National Thank God It’s Monday Day? While it’s filled with songs about Monday, it also contains songs about every day of the week, including the weekend—you can call it a sonic journey through the entire week!
So if you happen to teach on Fridays, you can forget the Monday blues; simply channel the Friday vibes with a traditional “TGIF” theme! Dive into the sea of songs about Friday (and trust me, there are A LOT of them, second only to Saturday!). Imagine the energy as you ride to tunes that scream “Thank God It’s Friday!”—because, let’s be real, Fridays deserve their own celebration!
Or, how about including in your theme ride at least one or two songs for each day, plus a few weekend celebrations thrown in?
Here are a couple of tracks to get you started, first a handful on the Thank God It’s Monday concept. But since I don’t want the other days to feel left out, I’ll give you some of my favorites for each day plus the weekend.
Monday Morning, Fleetwood Mac, 2:48, 106 bpm
106 rpm is a fast but possible cadence, although many people struggle to hold this leg speed with good form. For that reason, I prefer to use this song in one of two ways. Being less than 3 minutes, it works well for recovery, asking riders to dissociate from the beat. Or, use it as a second song; start in the mid 80s rpm, then surge the cadence to 100–106 rpm on the chorus to wake the legs up.
Blue Monday, New Order, 7:30, 130 bpm
Where are my ’80s fanatics at? Come play with me, because this is the song of my youthful nightclub days! It’s the perfect soundtrack for an epic climb. Here’s the interesting thing about this track—the word “Monday” never shows up in the lyrics but almost everyone will know (should know) the title, except maybe a small handful of your younger riders. This version is 7.5 minutes, but you can find radio edits, remixes, and covers of all lengths.
Monday Morning – Revaux Remix, Peppermint Heaven, Revaux, 4:29, 174 bpm
This drum ‘n’ bass track makes for a great fast flat. It can also work as a warm-up.
Tuesday Morning, The Pogues, 3:30, 134 bpm
A wonderful gentle climb. As of today’s date in December 2023, the music world is still reeling from losing The Pogues’ lead singer Shane MacGowan way too young. Good song to use as a tribute to this Anglo-Irish Celtic punk band.
It’s Only Wednesday, Crash Kings, 3:04, 90 rpm
Recovery or fast flat.
Thursday, Jess Glynne, 3:36, 112 bpm
A beautiful cool-down.
Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.), Katy Perry, 3:51, 126 bpm
Here is your T.G.I.F. anthem. Set up a steep climb and stand on the chorus.
Saturday Nights, Khalid, 3:30, 84 bpm
The list of songs good for Saturdays is long enough to warrant its own theme—think Bay City Rollers, Elton John, The Eagles, Chicago, and many more. Don’t miss this one as a recovery song.
Sunday Papers, Joe Jackson, 4:19, 101 bpm
This rock-and-roll classic is good for a hard, fast interval, or ride at a slightly slower cadence for most of the song and surge the legs to 100+ rpm on the chorus.
Working for the Weekend, Loverboy, 3:41, 145 bpm
Use this for a fast uphill clip, either increasing resistance or cadence on the chorus (staying seated), or standing.
Tie up your theme ride with a few songs that run through all days of the calendar:
I Gotta Feeling, Black Eyed Peas, 4:49, 128 bpm
This track lets you know that every day of the week is a party day!
Friday I’m in Love, The Cure, 3:34, 136 bpm
This climbing song is de rigeur if you’re including every day of the week in your theme ride.
What theme ride about the week would be complete without this classic? The tempo is good for a climb, but you can also dissociate from the beat and use it as a recovery.
Fun Bonus Idea
Goo Goo Muck, The Cramps, 3:06, 142 bpm
This song isn’t about a day of the week, but it became Wednesday’s (played by Jenna Ortega) signature dance in Tim Burton’s spinoff series of the Addams Family, Wednesday. After the Netflix episode aired, it became a viral dance hit.
Remember, Monday isn’t just the start of the week; it’s the start of endless possibilities. So, join me on National Thank God It’s Monday Day—or any day worth celebrating (which is every day, right?)—and let’s seize the day with all the energy we’ve got. It’s not just a ride; it’s a celebration of new opportunities, new beginnings, and the first day of the rest of our lives…or at least the first day of the upcoming week! 🙂
Happy Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday! Let’s ride into the week like the cycling rock stars we are! 🎶🚴♂️💪
ICA members can access the bucket playlist below. If I’m missing a song that mentions a day of the week, please let me know!