Here’s my quarterly RPM review post giving some details and thoughts about the 2018 Q2 release, RPM 78. I’ll start with my general thoughts for the release, and if you’re interested in a track-by-track breakdown, keep on reading.
General Thoughts
RPM 78 is the twenty-third full release of this program that I’ve coached.
As for the music, the majority are new (or relatively new) artists — Jamiroquai, Sigala, Ella Eyre, The XCERTS, Ghastly, Christina Novelli, Salvatore Ganacci, and Sam Gray. Matrix & Futurebound and Tritonal have been seen in RPM before, and The Script hasn’t been heard of since RPM 58. The styles of tracks fit their respective slots well (e.g., drum and bass for Intervals), providing a good mixture of energies from each. In my opinion the music choices are pretty strong in this release; I greatly looked forward to teaching it once I had my hands on it.
Each release brings its own challenges despite not having too many variables in the RPM format (e.g., position, resistance, pace). The highlight for RPM 78 is several tracks with quick changes. In the Hills track, we have rolling climbs on and off the seat; for Intervals we have Standing Attack combos, and for Speed Work we have surges of speed followed by quick recoveries.
Unfortunately I didn’t seem to receive any educational videos with this release. I’ve inquired with Les Mills and have yet to receive a response.
The masterclass has six presenters — Glen Ostergaard (New Zealand; Program Director for RPM, BODYPUMP, and SPRINT), Fiona Fransisca (Dubai; trainer for RPM, BODYPUMP, and SPRINT), Patrick Maes (Belguim; trainer for RPM, BODYATTACK, and CXWORX), Jessica McDonald (UK; trainer for RPM, BODYPUMP, and SPRINT), Lee Smith (UK; trainer for RPM, BODYCOMBAT, GRIT, and SPRINT), and Nuno Teixeira (Portugal; trainer for RPM, BODYPUMP, CXWORX, and SPRINT).
As Les Mills doesn’t seem to provide the release overview on their website, here’s what the program directors have to say:
RPM 78 is a kicker release, both musically and physically. The music, as always, takes you on a journey of emotions, with sing-alongs, fun uplifting tracks, driving beats and pure euphoric trance — all to touch you in a different way.
The workout brings many different challenges. Specifically in Tracks 3, 4, 5, and 6. Track 3 has a faster Climbing Pace with lots of choreography changes, so the coaching of PRP is crucial here. Tracks 4 and 6 are faster-paced tracks, where we need to learn how to coach these tracks properly. For tracks over 140 rpm we shift to a more aspirational approach and coach our riders to “chase the beat” — and, as instructors, we should ride as close to the beat as we can with great Technique.
And finally, in Track 5 there are heaps of short, quick attacks; so again, we have the need for pre-cueing these transitions early using short and sharp cues.
You’ll enjoy teaching this release!
See you next time for RPM 79!
Track-by-track Breakdown
Pack Ride
- Cadence: 118 bpm
- Genre: Nu-disco, funk
- Origin: Jamiroquai is a funk and jazz band from London, formed in 1991
- Released: February 2017
- Other releases: Jamiroquai is new to RPM and BODYJAM
- Thoughts
- The groove and feel of this song make for an excellent way to start the workout.
- Points of difference:
- We find Racing gear straight away in Block 1 and pretty much leave the resistance alone for the rest of the track.
- There’s a 15-second “outro” where we recover as the song fades out.
- Good lyric cues
- (None really seem to fit; I suppose you could reword one: “Only a fool would ride away from me this time”)
Pace
Came Here for Love – Sigala, Ella Eyre
- Cadence: 128 bpm
- Genre: tropical house
- Origins:
- Released: June 2017
- Other releases:
- Sigala is new to RPM and BODYJAM
- Ella Eyre was in RPM 69 (Intervals) — Gravity
- Thoughts
- Most of the time when we race, we’re in Racing (Forward) position. The way the choreography is written, you can really explain the difference between Racing and Racing (Forward) to your class — good for Layer 2 cues.
- Points of difference: In Blocks 2 and 4, there are specific notes in the choreography to distinguish Racing and Racing (Forward)
- Good lyric cues
- So glad I came here tonight
- This is what we came here for
Hills
Wild Kind – Tritonal (ft. Varpu)
- Cadence: 85 bpm
- Genre: electro house
- Origins: (The official RPM 78 release is a cover by Birds in the Court.)
- Tritonal (Chad Cisneros and David Reed) is American music duo from Austin, Texas
- Varpu (unknown)
- Released: June 2017
- Other releases:
- Tritonal
- RPM 76 (Pace) – Broken (Cash Cash Remix)
- RPM 77 (Pack Ride) – Hung Up
- Varpu is new to RPM and BODYJAM
- Tritonal
- Thoughts
- The music brings a good, solid energy to the room that makes you want to really work.
- The musician part of me loves tracks where there’s an extra half measure before the beat drops; it helps build the anticipation and breaks your “musical guessing machine.”
- It’s unfortunate that Les Mills couldn’t obtain the license for the Tritonal version, as I prefer that one to the cover.
- Point of difference: 40 seconds of “rolling climbs”, where we’re changing back and forth between Standing Attack and Power Climb
- Good lyric cues
- I’m the wild kind, I’ma shout it out
- I’ma let it out, indestructible
Mixed Terrain
Feels Like Falling in Love – The XCERTS
- Cadence: 145 bpm
- Genre: indie rock
- Origin: The XCERTS (Murray Macleod, Jordan Smith, Tom Heron) are from Aberdeen, Scotland
- Released: July 2017
- Other releases: The XCERTS is new to RPM and BODYJAM
- Thoughts
- This power ballad with lyrics that stress “feeling” brings an uplifting energy to the fast races.
- Point of difference: The race phases are at 3/4+ (instead of 1/1) because the bpm for the track exceeds 140
- Good lyric cues
- And it feels…
- Keep your heart strong, they said
- And don’t you give up…
- Circles and circles…
Intervals
Light Us Up (Dossa and Locuzzed Remix) – Matrix & Futurebound feat. Calum Scott
- Cadence: 90 bpm
- Genre: drum and bass
- Origins:
- Matrix (Jamie Quinn) and Futurebound (Brendan Collins) are from London and Liverpool, England
- Calum Scott is from Kingston upon Hall, England
- Dossa and Locuzzed are from St. Pölten, Austria
- Released: July 2017
- Other releases:
- Matrix & Futurebound
- RPM 71 (Intervals) – Happy Alone (Extended Mix)
- RPM 75 (Intervals) – Wild Horses (Matrix & Futurebound Remix)
- Dossa and Locuzzed as well as Calum Scott are new to RPM and BODYJAM
- Matrix & Futurebound
- Thoughts
- The track structure is fairly familiar, but Blocks 2 and 3 seem longer than usual. 90 seconds isn’t unheard of; it just feels longer because the work is harder!
- The quick Attack combos hit all six of the skill-related components of physical fitness: agility (moving quickly and accurately), balance, coordination (integrating movements), power (high resistance and high cadence), reaction time (responding quickly), and speed (reaction time and velocity).
- Point of difference: Combos with quick Standing Attacks and seated races (4x and then 8x)
- Good lyric cues
- You gotta light the fire
- When did we get so tired?
- Take us to higher ground
Speed Work
We Might Fall – Ghastly ft. Matthew Koma
- Cadence: 155 bpm
- Genre: bass house
- Origins:
- Ghastly (David Lee Crow) is from Los Angeles
- Matthew Koma (Matthew Bair) is from New York
- Released: May 2017
- Other releases:
- Ghastly is new to RPM and BODYJAM
- Matthew Koma
- BODYJAM 64 (D.R.E.A.M Two) – Sparks (Turn Off Your Mind) (Radio Edit)
- BODYJAM 70 (Mash It) – Dare You (Tiesto vs Twoloud Remix)
- BODYJAM 70 (Mash It) – Dare You (Cash Cash Remix)
- BODYJAM 72 (Rage the Night Away) – Cannonball (Earthquake) (Yellow Claw Remix)
- Thoughts
- The quiet, lyrical parts of this song give me chills; usually I wait about 15 seconds before I even cue anything — just letting the music fill the room. In contrast, when the beat drops and the fast arpeggios kick in, you want to move fast!
- Given the tempo of this piece, it’s a great opportunity to remind riders of their options, or to challenge those that need it. As an instructor, it’s important to model both.
- Points of difference:
- The race phases are at 3/4+ (instead of 1/1) because the bpm for the track exceeds 140
- Six surges on and off the rhythm
- Good lyric cues
- So what’s it gonna take…
Mountain Climb
Lighthouse (Extended Mix) – Andrew Rayel & Christina Novelli
- Cadence: 67 bpm
- Genre: big room house
- Origins:
- Andrew Rayel (Andrei Rață) is from Maldova
- Christina Novelli is form London
- Other releases:
- Andrew Rayel
- RPM 72 (Mountain Climb) – Rise of the Era (Digital X Remix)
- RPM 73 (Speed Work) – Once in a Lifetime Love (Extended Mix)
- RPM 75 (Mountain Climb) – All Systems Down (Extended Mix)
- Christina Novelli is new to RPM and BODYJAM
- Andrew Rayel
- Thoughts
- I believe this been the first time in quite a while where the track structure is different in every block. (Most RPM tracks have a block or two that repeat.) The first is 45 seconds, the second is longer and is preceded by a Power Climb, the third has no Power Climb, and the fourth adds a 30-second race.
- Point of difference: 30-second race at the end of the last block
- Good lyric cues
- (None seemed applicable)
Ride Home / Stretch
Way Back Home – Salvatore Ganacci ft. Sam Gray
- Cadence: 105 bpm
- Genre: tropical house
- Origins:
- Salvatore Ganacci (Emir Kobilić) is from Bosnia
- Sam Gray is from Hull, England
- Released: June 2017
- Other releases: Both Salvatore Ganacci and Sam Gray are new to RPM and BODYJAM
- Thoughts
- The lyrics and uplifting beat make this a great song to wrap up the workout. The title says it all!
- Point of difference: None
- Good lyric cues
- Hello to the blue sky breaking overhead
- I don’t care how far I have to run
Outro
- Genre: pop
- Origin: The Script (Danny O’Donoghue, Mark Sheehan, Glen Power) is from Dublin, Ireland
- Released: July 2017
- Other releases:
- RPM 52 (Ride Home) – Science & Faith
- RPM 58 (Ride Home) – Hall of Fame (Original Version)
- Thoughts
- I don’t have anything in particular to say about this Outro track. So far I believe my favorite Outro is Gemini (by What So Not) from RPM 69 and my least favorite is Play That Song (by Train) from RPM 75.