If you’ve taken a basic first aid class, you probably know that the go-to song for the perfect cadence for cardiopulmonary resuscitation (a.k.a CPR) is “Stayin’ Alive” by the Bee Gees. That’s because the song has a tempo of 104 beats per minute (BPM), and the ideal rate for chest compressions when doing CPR is 100-120 compressions per minute.
Thankfully, there are also many other songs that fall within that tempo range that are much more likely to be ingrained within the minds of gay people in a time of immediate crisis, as the American Heart Association (AHA) recently reminded us. The organization posted to its Instagram yesterday to spread the good news that “B2b” by Charli XCX has 116 BPM, which means it’s the ideal tempo to keep in mind when trying to revive someone whose heart needs help restarting.
In the last week, the AHA has posted that Brat songs “Spring breakers” and “360” by Charli XCX also fit within that ideal BPM range, as does Chappell Roan’s “Pink Pony Club.” In light of these revelations, we’ve compiled some of the gayest songs which you could ostensibly use as pace setters for CPR, because hey, if you’re going to be hearing “Good Luck, Babe!” in every department store ever you might as well use that brainworm to save some lives. Seriously — the AHA says that immediate CPR can double or triple the chances of survival after cardiac arrest!
The songs below, performed by out artists and gay icons alike, all fall between that ideal range of 100 to 120 BPM. And if you don’t know how or need a refresher, here are the American Red Cross’ instructions for adult CPR. Let’s get compressing!
“360” by Charli XCX (120 BPM)
I mean, this one even has the lyrics, “I’m tectonic, moves, I make ’em / Shock you like defibrillators” in the first verse. It’s like this song was made for timing CPR.
“Good Luck, Babe!” by Chappell Roan (117 BPM)
As the AHA itself said, the Chappell Roan song “that broke your heart could save one, too.”
“Pynk” by Janelle Monáe feat. Grimes (101 BPM)
Pink like the halls of your heart, which could be restarted via emergency chest compressions delivered to the beat of this 2018 Janelle Monáe banger.
“2 On” by Tinashe feat. ScHoolboy Q (101 BPM)
In a 2014 interview Tinashe told Time magazine, “ A lot of people don’t know what ‘2 on’ means, but that’s the cool thing about music — it’s always open to interpretation. It can be whatever we want it to be.” Bearing that in mind, we’ll say that we too love to get 2 on, and by “2 on” we mean the two rescue breaths that are part of CPR step six.
“Motion Sickness” by Phoebe Bridgers (107 BPM)
Not sure why it feels intuitively correct that the Phoebe Bridgers subreddit contains a list of Phoebe/boygenius songs to do CPR to. But it does.
“wish you were gay” by Billie Eilish (118 BPM)
Sadly, “Lunch” just missed the cutoff at 125 BPM, but here’s another gay(ish) Billie Eilish song that does fall within the right range.
“911” by Lady Gaga (116 BPM)
This one is doubly great because it’ll let you keep time for chest compressions and it’ll remind you of the other really important thing you have to do when you perform CPR on someone, which is to call 911.
“Sofia” by Clairo (113 BPM)
I think we could do it* if we tried.
*increase the chances of someone’s survival by 200-300% by performing emergency CPR.
“I Wanna Dance With Somebody” by Whitney Houston (119 BPM)
I don’t know about you, but the BPM of this song is pretty much permanently seared into my subconscious. Which means that it is also ready to emerge at any moment in case anyone needs to be resuscitated.
“Ivy” by Frank Ocean (116 BPM)
If you’re much more of a “wallowing in suffering” gay than a “doing poppers to Whitney Houston on the dancefloor” gay, don’t worry, Frank Ocean’s got you covered.
“Dancing On My Own” by Robyn (117 BPM)
For those who exist at the intersection of “wallowing in suffering” and “doing poppers on the dancefloor.”
“Work It” by Missy Elliott (102 BPM)
Put your thang down (your hands on someone’s chest), flip it and reverse it (cardiac arrest).
“I Will Survive” by Gloria Gaynor (117 BPM)
Not only is this gay anthem the proper tempo for CPR, but what better mantra could there be for performing a potentially life-saving procedure than “I will survive”?
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