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Mixtape: 10 Best Songs About Bicycles

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The blizzards in New York and Chicago might have moved on, but the streets are nowhere close to being cleared of snow. Looking out the window of the Flavorpill offices, we’re suddenly nostalgic for times when a constant blur of bicycles would whiz by below, delivery boys and commuters alike pedaling freely toward their destination.

Taking a recommendation from our @flavorpill Twitter followers, we’ve compiled a playlist of the best songs about bicycling, perfect for a commute, reminding you to get out and ride once the big melt is over. Or use it as fodder for imagining Anthony Kiedis or Tom Waits cruising along on a ten speed. Either way.

TV On The Radio – “Bicycles Are Red Hot”
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A hilarious gem off of the first release from the Brooklyn band, when humor trumped sonic variation. It’s difficult to tell what exactly the guys are talking about here, but hey! Bicycles are red-hot. Especially in Brooklyn.

Red Hot Chili Peppers – “Bicycle Song”
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Anthony Kiedis assures us in the chorus that the bicycle is a good invention. It truly must be if he feels strongly enough about that fact to include it in a song that otherwise includes gratuitous references to oral sex.

The Beach Boys – “It’s A Beautiful Day”
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A surfy B-side, this slice of sun and propulsive piano imagines an L.A. where the freeways are jammed with bicycles instead of cars. Idealistic, yes, but something tells us that freeway bikers and L.A. drivers would be a dangerous combination

Tom Waits – “Broken Bicycles”
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Wait’s voice is as grizzled as the road you ride on. Here, he uses bicycles as a metaphor for love lost, refusing to give up painful memories no matter how tangled or twisted they might be.

Danny Elfman – “Theme from Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure”
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This fantastic theme fits perfectly with the whimsical, classic tale of a boy and his bike. Madcap and iconic work by Danny Elfman for anyone who ever truly loved their bike as a best friend.

Pink Floyd – “Bike”
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The track begins with a clanging bell, and slowly devolves in to a psychedelic miasma that characterized so much of Pink Floyd’s work during the Syd Barrett-era. Slightly creepy but very straightforward in bicycle love, refusing to lend out the machine.

Kraftwerk – “Tour De France”
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Members of Kraftwerk are renowned cycling fanatics, puportedly delaying the release of albums to accomodate their attention to the sport. We’re lucky that they took the time to make this scratchy electro ode to the roads, with thick German lyrics that translate to descriptions of the actual Tour de France route, with a dose of competitive intrigue

Flobots – “Handlebars”
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The song seems satirical, extolling aspects of life that might be important but aren’t necessarily awesome (Splitting the atom of a molecule? Have fun with that.). That said, have you ever tried riding a bike with no handlebars? Surprisingly difficult, so that is the one authentically realistic accomplishment for Flobots as opposed to their claims of nuclear holocaust capabilities.

Madness – “Riding On My Bike”
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First it was their house, now it’s their bike. The song tells the story of a cyclist biking for charity, with ominous background vocals suggesting opponents trailing close behind.

Queen – “Bicycle Race”
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As if there was ever any doubt, this song is the ultimate in cycling glorification. Freddie Mercury and Co. repeat “bicycle” 41 times and ringing bike bells act as the bridge. A reminder that bikes are way more important than Peter Pan, Frankenstein, Superman, and the presidency.

Honorable mentions: “Narrow Your Eyes” by They Might Be Giants; “This Charming Man” by The Smiths; “Pretty Good Year” by Tori Amos; “Midnight Bicycle Mystery” by Deerhoof; “Slow Bicycle” by múm; “Tony’s Theme” by Pixies; “Apology Song” by The Decemberists.

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Comments (53)

Bouncing Souls – The BMX Song.

“bicycle” Shout Out Louds.

“Brand New Key” by Melanie is mostly about roller skates, but there’s a bike mention in there somewhere. And it’s thebestsongever.

“Black mags”-The Cool Kids

I want to ride my bicycle, I want to ride my bike! by Queen is the best!

Tomorrow – My White Bicycle

Queen :)

i was gonna rage pretty hardcore if queen wasnt there.

Bicycle bicycle you are my bicycle. By be your own pet.

Err, hello, Melanie? C’mon folks

Bike Thieves can Suck It! – In Defence

Cycling is Fun – Shonen Knife (The bike-bell ringing in the bridge is super sweet)

“Ladies’ Choice” by the Gourds:

Flyin down this hill on my schwin
Well I guess this is where it all begins
Go in Sanford, come out like Ray Charles

Bicycle bicycle you are my bicycle by Be Your Own Pet

Second “My White Bicycle” by Tomorrow.

B-B-Bicycles (by The Bicycles, who else?)

“It’s not just a band it’s a mode of transportation”

needs Red Monkey “bike song”
@ruiml

Magnetic Fields – The Luckiest Guy on the Lower East Side

Boards of Canada – “Happy Cycling”

Amy Correia, “The Bike.” Totally amazing song.

The Rumble Strips: “Motorcycle”, about riding a bicycle while daydreaming about having a motorcycle. The video features the band riding around on bikes while singing and playing. It’s amazing. Good song, Great video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5wORCu26Xw

[...] those of you getting hyped up for the National Bike Summit or just trying to get through winter, here is a (non-exhaustive) list of songs about bicycles. [...]

Ya Memory tapes – Bicycle!!

“Apology” by the Decemberists. As much as his voice grates, it fits this humorous and somehow compelling narrative about a bike. I won;t ruin too much. Just have a listen….

And although not a subject theme, the bicycicular metaphor found in u2′s “tryin to throw your arms around the world”, which paraphrases a feminist slogan, comes to mind.

[...] the 10 best songs about bicycling. And a sad goodbye to Bobby Espinoza, master of the Hammond B3 for the [...]

Ben Charest, The Triplets Of Belleville.

Bicycle Bicycle – Early B (a reggae bike song)

[...] flavorwire [...]

[...] Mixtape: 10 Best Songs About Bicycles [...]

[...] 10 Epic Bicycling Songs 2010 March 3 tags: Best Bicycling Songs, bicycling, cycling, music by saltydogcycling Songs Via Flavorwire.com [...]

“Pedal Pushin’ Papa” from Clyde McPhatter with Billy Ward & His Dominoes:
If you decide
you want to ride
I’ll gladly be your guide

Pedal Power Dont Stop by Pink Destroyer

U-Lock Justice by RAMBO

the very fact that this does not have “daisy bell” (“bicycle built for two”) makes this list HIGHLY suspect and “bicycle race” is just a shadow of “fat bottom girls” which cuts more to the essence of what a bicycle is

Boo! You posted the crappy version of Kraftwerk’s “Tour De France”; I believe the version posted is off the underwhelming early 90s “Mix” album. The original version is better in every imaginable way.

portland’s nun chuksky has a couple of bike songs on their website – http://www.nunchuksky.com – though not as good as most of the songs on the list :)

No radio play, but hey, even Lance tweeted it. Frankly, if you are a fixier hipster or raced USCF, the lyrics kill. Vid works well, too – “Performance” by Mc SpandX:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vn29DvMITu4

More airplay, scant but memorable bike reference:

“My chrome is shining just like an icicle,
I ride around town on my low-rider bicycle.”

– Beastie Boys “Professor Booty”

[...] Finally, listen to what one person thinks are the ten best songs about bicycles and judge for [...]

“Acoustic Motorbike” by Luca Bloom

[...] videos to get you inspired. Neither has much audio to speak of, so I suggest you hum your favorite tune while watching the fabulous sight of thousands of happy cyclists heading to [...]

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