Memorial Day, observed on the last Monday of May, is a day to honor those who have died while serving in the United States Armed Forces. While the holiday marks the unofficial kickoff of summer, it’s also a time for reflection and gratitude for those who made the ultimate sacrifice. As a cycling instructor, you can create a Memorial Day–themed ride that balances both the solemnity of the occasion and the joyful anticipation of summer’s arrival.
To help you craft the perfect Memorial Day ride, I’ve curated a large bucket list of songs with over 130 tracks that fit the occasion. Because military service and patriotism are topics that are popular with country artists, this playlist has a good amount of this genre in it, including Toby Keith, Lee Greenwood, Carrie Underwood, and Tim McGraw. But there’s more than just country; you’ll also find rock and pop tracks like Sammy Hagar’s “Remember the Heroes,” Mariah Carey’s “Hero,” and Breaking Benjamin’s “Unknown Soldier” to add variety.
Start your ride with some reflective songs that honor those we’ve lost, like “America the Beautiful” by Ray Charles or “God Bless America” by LeAnn Rimes. To infuse your ride with some summer vibes, mix in a few tracks from our summer bucket playlist that welcome the season’s warmth and fun, like “Walking on Sunshine” by Katrina and the Waves, “Happy” by Pharrell Williams, or Don McLean’s “American Pie.” These songs add a lively touch to your ride while still keeping the focus on the spirit of Memorial Day. And if you want a nostalgic feel, consider adding Bryan Adams’s “Summer of ’69” or The Beach Boys’ “Surfin’ USA.” They add just the right dose of sunshine to your Memorial Day ride.
You can find even more patriotic songs in our July 4th bucket playlist.
In 2018, I was visiting New York City in May. While there, I got to take Michael Reilly’s (a longtime ICA member) Memorial Day class at Equinox. You can see the videos I took of his ride here. Along with patriotic and military songs, Michael included “American Pie” by Don MacLean and “Rock & Roll Band” by Boston in his playlist. He was happy to share his profile and playlist, which you can find at that link—I know you will enjoy it and I hope it gives you even more ideas on how to create your Memorial Day remembrance ride.
Encourage your class to embrace the duality of Memorial Day: a time for remembrance, but also a day to welcome the sunshine and outdoor activities that summer brings. Suggest that your riders imagine they’re cycling along a beachside boardwalk, enjoying the warm breeze. By the end of the ride, they’ll feel both inspired and ready to embrace the season.
Below are a few suggestions for your playlist. As usual, if our bucket playlist is missing your favorite Memorial Day track, let me know in the comments.
Remember the Heroes, Sammy Hagar, 6:00, 128 bpm
This poignant song by rocker Sammy Hagar fits perfectly into a Memorial Day ride as an extended climb. Pay attention to the lyrics:
Stranger in a foreign land
Fearful cries surround him
Returning home a wounded man
To find he’s been forgotten, yeah
Courage is the badge he wears
Blinded by obsession
Wars are won by those who dare
The memory still haunts him
Remember the heroes
Who fight for the right to choose
Remember the heroes
We’ve all got a lot to lose
Highway of Heroes, The Trews, 3:51 82 bpm
“Highway of Heroes” was written in honor of Canadian Armed Forces Captain Nichola Goddard, the first woman killed during the War in Afghanistan in 2006. The song takes its name from a stretch of Highway 401 in Ontario named “The Highway of Heroes.” This track would make a nice flat road as a recovery or moderate effort.
Brave, Sara Bareilles, 3:41, 93 bpm
The ultimate manifestation of bravery is being willing to lay down your life for your country, which is why this song is a lovely addition to your Memorial Day ride. It’s an energy-filled fast flat but can also work as a warm-up.
Taps, US Military Bands, 0:54
The powerful sound of a bugler playing “Taps” is a call to remember those who gave their lives in the service of the United States. Born of a French bugle call, the melody we know as “Taps” was rearranged and used during the Civil War as a call for lights out. No words needed when you play this. Insert it at the beginning and end of your ride, and/or as a short recovery after each working segment. In our bucket playlist below, you’ll also find several other short soundbites and clips from military bands that can serve as recoveries or when you want a moment of silence.
America the Beautiful, Ray Charles, 3:36
This song will give your riders chills when they hear it. Use it as your warm-up to set the stage for your ride or as your cool-down for the perfect ending.
I love all your playlists, thank you!!…however, many studios/gyms/health centers where we teach will not allow any “explicit” material.
Yeah, it can be hard to know who can play what. The good news is that this playlist has 73 songs (and growing) so if one doesn’t work you can find another. I understand that some gyms/studios don’t allow explicit songs but many do—and what one person might find objectionable might be perfectly fine to someone else.
My policy at ICA (for my music contributors and for our larger theme playlists) is not to be the music police and to let an instructor or studio decide if they can use it. However, I do try to limit the number of songs that we post that one might consider “explicit.” I draw the line at lots of “f-bombs” (a subtle one might slip in here and there—there is no way I can listen to every song my contributors provide) and no “n-word” or misogyny.
Me personally? I rarely use explicit songs. I don’t mind the occasional “s” word (the song “Original Prankster” by the Offspring comes to mind—but I always warn my class about it and they always laugh when he says it!) or if the song is really awesome, I’ll talk over an “f-bomb.”
I hope you can find some good usable songs in this playlist for Memorial Day!
I have used this song for a more somber cool down:
“Some Gave All” – Billy Ray Cyrus
Thanks, that’s a great one. I added it to our Spotify playlist!
Ohhhh!! Great list! Lots of goodies! Thx! Happy Riding!
Thank you for it as I was looking to swap out a few songs in my Memorial Day ride. I would love this list in Excel so it’s easier to search for what I need.
Thanks so much for posting my Remix of ” Fortunate son ” Jennifer !