calamityjon has beseeched me to participate in the following:

"List seven songs you are into right now. No matter what the genre, whether they have words, or even if they're not any good, but they must be songs you're really enjoying now, shaping your spring. Post these instructions in your blog along with your 7 songs. Then tag 7 other people to see what they're listening to."

I normally don't engage in this sort of thing; my musical tastes are embarrassingly limited and on top of that I feel like I'm not too hot at writing about the music and other types of entertainment I enjoy. But the bit above about songs that are "shaping your spring" made me think about the fact that I've been getting into the routine of going running every couple days in my neighborhood, and it's basically the only time I ever listen to music; I don't like to listen to music when I'm working or drawing or computering, and I spend a great deal of time working and drawing and computering. I don't like listening to music when I'm out and about, walking the streets or riding the Metro or whatever; I prefer the real sounds of the really real world. However, I do like music while I'm running because it kicks my ass and helps me get motivated. So my iPod only ever has my running music in it, a playlist I arbitrarily and dumbly named "THE ROCKINGEST STUFF" a long time ago before I was going running all the time. This is actually a really weird list for me because I generally prefer music that's very slow and sad and quiet, but you just read my explanation above about how I never listen to music ever except when I'm running, so instead of my favorite-favorites, here are seven of my rockingest-rockingests; songs that make me run faster.

Chuck Berry — Johnny B. Good
There are certain absurd moments of my life that get burned into my brain forever. For as long as I live, I'll never forget that I was darting around a crowd of tourists in the fabric disctrict of Paris when this song came on and it occurred to me that if you were to play a guitar just like you were ringing a bell, it would totally suck.

David Bowie — Watch That Man
The first time I ever heard this song, I was about sixteen and I had set my clock radio really wrong and it woke me up at four in the morning blasting the chorus of this song on some classic rock station, and it was one of the most terrifying moments of my life. I think that's a good measure of rock n' roll right there.

Iggy Pop — Butt Town
I've written enough about Butt Town by now, haven't I? Man, true. My memories associated with this song amuse me enough to make me forget I'm running, which is great, because I fucking hate running.

Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds — Jangling Jack
One of the most violent- and insane-sounding songs I've ever heard; it's completely ugly and out of control and uncomfortable-sounding, like they're (so drunk and) putting so much energy into it they're barely holding it together, and I love that.

Elvis Costello — 45
A rocking rock song about rocking rock music. It rocks.

The Cure — Burn
This song is from The Crow and I pretend I'm The Crow when it comes on.

Adam Ant — Goody Two Shoes
This song is from Adam Ant and I pretend I'm Adam Ant when it comes on.

The end! And I ain't taggin' nobody. Pppth!

If you've done anything extremely good lately, you deserve to listen to Adam Ant rap while he frolics in a suit of armor. You've earned it.

If you've done anything extremely bad lately, you deserve to listen to Adam Ant rap while he frolics in a suit of armor. It's time to face the music.

Believe me, this hurts or delights me more than it hurts or delights you. This is... maybe the worst song ever recorded.

This video may be the best thing that happens to you today, even if you're already having the best day of your life.