Yesterday's ordeal on the rowing machine was a particularly tough one, not helped buy cheesy European electro pop not only pumping out over the gym sound system, but also dominating the flat screens on the walls with associated music videos. Now maybe I am an oddity, but I would be inclined to argue that of all music you could put on, and furthermore all things you could be showing on the screen, European electro pop is about the most worthless and unhelpful. I accept that occasionally the pounding rhythms might help to keep someone’s rhythm on a running machine, but considering that the rhythm varies from track to track this makes its usefulness in this respect doubtful; surely if someone needs help keeping up a rhythm that much they should bring a metronome.
When I inflict exercise upon myself what I most want is to be distracted, so that I can forget that my heart is feeling like a hamster being microwaved, that my face has gone an embarrassing cherry tomato colour and that I am probably very close to drowning in my own sweat. Unfortunately some generic European music video with a George Michael look-alike sporting oversized sunglasses and rat tails is not quite sufficient to divert my attention more than momentarily.
What do I think they should play and show in Gyms? Well anything other than what seems to be the industry standard at the moment. Seriously anything from showing movies or documentaries or sitcoms or cartoons or some channel 4 shockumentary where a squirrel gets injected with lsd... indeed I'm even prepared to go so far as to suggest BBC News 24 as a preferable alternative to their current choice. As for audio, if it is not linked to the TV then how about Radio so you get some news and weather mixed in with low quality music, or failing that a good old fashioned story tape. In all seriousness though they really need to have a change of strategy, because most people need some form of distraction from the monotony of an exercise bike, rowing machine or treadmill and have intellect at least equal to, more likely greater than that of a block of lead, and thus need something more stimulating than rat-tailed tanned Europeans singing along to mass market pop songs to make exercise more bearable.