Your London 2012 Summer Olympic Playlist: Songs about Winning, Gold, and Inspiration

Okay, the last word in the headline is a little corny, but I needed a third word about the themes of this playlist, and my grasp of the English language is poor (as regular readers will know – pffft, “regular” readers). Anyway, the London Summer Olympics are (finally) upon us. Sure, there’s been bitching about the traffic, the weather, the security, the prices, the sponsors, the queues but fuck, things haven’t begun yet! To correct all this negativity, we present to you some of the best songs about winning, gold, and inspiration. I say “some” of the best, because a list like this could be massive, especially giving hip hop’s modus operandi for boasting. I also tried to choose songs that I considered good songs. I might’ve failed in a couple spots, but hopefully it’s a list that you can blare right after the Olympic Opening Ceremonies as you try and bench press those 300 pound weights that have been staring at you.

The list is below, and the video from the YouTube playlist is embedded, and you can skip ahead if you don’t like the song (or let it play while you run some laps around the house) and the next song will show up. Alternatively, you can watch the videos via this link and head over to YouTube, since they don’t have enough web traffic. I’ve sort of randomly ended my list after 17 songs, and there are 17 days in the Olympics, so I’m more brilliant than I thought. Check out the full list and videos below.

Muse – Survival: Perhaps cheating because it is this year’s official Olympic song, but it fits and it’s good. (Note: the IOC won’t actually let you embed this video on any websites. They are no fun).

Neil Young – After the Gold Rush: I’m pretty sure Neil Young had a different gold rush in mind.

TV On the Radio – Golden Age: Hopefully Canadian (or British) athletes will enjoy a golden age during these Olympics.

The Black Keys – Gold on the Ceiling: Clearly where I would hang my gold medals – the ceiling.

Fleetwood Mac – Gold Dust Woman: It has the word gold in it! And Karen Elson just covered it. Count it (please).

Daft Punk – Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger: Sampled by Kanye West, listen to the original in all its glory.

Basia Bulat – Gold Rush: A little known Toronto artist, she’s pretty awesome, AND she sings about a gold rush.

Beastie Boys (featuring Santigold) – Don’t Play No Game That I Can’t Win: This used to be my motto, until I realized that I never win – ever.

Razorlight – Golden Touch: The King Midas of songs.

Foo Fighters – Best of You: One of those songs that’s great for sports banquet videos.

Eminem – Lose Yourself: A song about winning rap battles, yet I’ll count it.

Weezer – Greatest Man Who Ever Lived: A song that is not about me, or you, unless you’re David Beckham (in which case – call me back, please!)

U2 – Silver and Gold: They’re only missing the Bronze in the perfect Olympic song title competition.

DJ Khaled featuring Ludacris, T-Pain, Rick Ross, and Snoop Dogg – All I Do Is Win: A song clearly not based on the Toronto Maple Leafs or the English football team.

Cake – Going the Distance: Not sex related, right?

Tina Turner – Simply the Best: Sex related, right?

Queen – We Are the Champions: It is illegal in some places to have a list about sports and songs and not have this on the list. I snuck it at the bottom – I’m a fucking rebel!

Anything you’d like to see on this list? I’d love to tell you where to go, but you make more friends with money and honey and not vinegar and swear words, or something like that. I don’t have many friends, so I don’t get the expression. Tell us in the comments below.