A Playlist Profile is a great way to learn about a person and key events in their life. For this Playlist Profile I chose Lance Armstrong, he is a great leader to many and someone who I look up for his great mentality in overcoming everything that has been thrown at him in life.
It is safe to say that almost everyone knows someone that has been affected by cancer. Whether they have had it themselves or a loved one has battled the disease. It is a illness in cases, but miraculously there are many that beat the odds and go on to live a happy, healthy life. Lance Armstrong is one of those lucky individuals. Lance Armstrong is a familiar name to most Americans. Whether it is because of his extraordinary athletic ability, his struggle with cancer, or they have worn the bright yellow “livestrong” bracelets created by his foundation Lance is certainly a leader to many. Lance shows his leadership through his drive and perseverance throughout the many battles in his life. Lance’s cycling career was put on hold when he received the devastating news that he was being diagnosed with Testicular Cancer, not only had this cancer spread to his lungs, but his abdomen, and lymph nodes( Contemporary Heroes and Heroines, Book IV). His devotion to maintaining a positive attitude assisted him in fighting this deadly disease and for some he has been a great model in battling their own struggles.
Track #1Bicycle Race
Queen. “Bicycle Race.” Jazz. EMI, 1978.
Lance Armstrong has been an extraordinary athlete throughout his entire life. In the fifth grade he began running six miles each day. His high amounts of energy and perseverance carried with him into adulthood. Dabbling in different sports, from basketball to competing in triathlons he seemed to succeed in anything he tried. Lance has always had the upper hand on his peers. While competing in triathlons he realized that he enjoyed the cycling portion the most and so he decided to stick with that as his main sport. Lance’s strong drive has led him to become one of the most successful cyclists in America. He has won the grueling 21 stage Tour de France seven times consecutively (Ingram 2-3). The Lyrics in this classic Queen song, “I want to ride my bicycle I want to ride my bike I want to ride my bicycle I want to ride it where I like” are fitting to Lance’s perfect anthem.
Track #2 Fighter
Aguilera, Christina. “Fighter.” Stripped. RCA, 2002.
“If I never had cancer, I never would have won the Tour de France. I’m convinced of that. I wouldn’t want to do it all over again, but I wouldn’t change a thing” (Lance Armstrong, Contemporary Heroes and Heroines, Book IV, 1) These reflective words from Lance Armstrong shows that he is proud of what he has done thus far in his life. He has dealt with more obstacles 39 years than most will ever face in their entire lifetime. Defeating cancer has really made him a fighter for life and lifelong happiness. The song “Fighter” by Christina Aguilera reflects this attitude. “So thanks for making me a fighter, Made me learn a little bit faster, made my skin a little bit thinker, makes me that much smarter, So thanks for making me a fighter.” Although Lance never wished that he would be diagnosed with testicular cancer, he made the best out of it and fought it until he was cancer free.
Track #3 Chemo Limo
Spektor, Regina. “Chemo Limo.” Soviet Kitsch, 2004.
During the treatment of cancer, patients who undergo chemotherapy are usually very weak, often leaving them with no energy at all. Lance has experienced this first hand. His high energy lifestyle was difficult to leave behind during this time when he was bedridden and very ill. His life expectancy was very low, some said he had less than a 40% chance of living. However, Lance kept a strong attitude and that he chose to share with others. Lance tells about how during his chemotherapy he had a lot of time to think about his illness as a race. He needed to focus on this victory ahead of him; winning his life back. Of course it was not always easy he had moments of panic as he watched his once perfectly fit body, become laid up do to his illness (Osbourne, 416). This quirky Regina Spektor songs sings about the chemotherapy and possibly some of the thoughts Lance was thinking during this time in his life. “I ain’t about to die like this, I can afford chemo like I couldn’t afford a limo, And besides this shit is making me tired, its making me tired, it’s making me tired, You know I plan to retire some day, But mama’s gonna go out in style.” Even though the chemotherapy wore him down, Lance knew in his mind that it was not the end for him and he planned to “go out in style”.
Track #4 Soar
Aguilera, Christina. “Soar.” Stripped. RCA, 2002.
Throughout the treatment and healing process Lance had to overcome many obstacles that he had not experienced previously in his life. He had always been physically very strong, and during his chemotherapy he became very weak and for him this was disheartening. Before his illness he was extremely healthy and active and during treatment he felt as though his life had only become rest and therapy, this is something he had a hard time adjusting to. In difficult times like this for Lance he found it important to be accepting of the help and support around him so he could focus his energy on healing his ill body (Osbourne 417). The lyrics “In life there’s gonna be times when you’re feeling low And in your mind insecurity seems to take control” in Christina Aguilera’s song Soar fit well with this period in Lance’s life when it was important to adapt to his current situation in order to stay focused on healing, instead of being discomforted by his unfortunate state.
Track #5 The Distance
Cake. “The Distance.” Fashion Nugget. Volcano 3 Heritage, 1996.
After Lance had defeated cancer he got right back on track where he left off in his cycling career. He competed in one of the most difficult courses known to cyclists and did so successfully. In fact, he won the Tour de France seven consecutive years in a row after he was cancer free. This 2235 mile course was no easy task for Lance. The French also were not too happy with him either. Some of the other competitors tried make him crash during the race. Lance however, did not let this negative energy stop him and he kept on going and went on to win each year. The 2005 Tour de France was the seventh and final win for Lance. “The Distance” by Cake is a great song to sum up the drive and focus Lance demonstrated throughout his cycling career. “Because he’s racing and pacing and plotting the course, He’s fighting and biting and riding on his horse. He’s going the distance.”
Track #6 Roam
B52’s. “Roam.” Cosmic Think, 1989.
Throughout Lance Armstrong’s cycling career he has had the opportunity to travel all around the world doing what he loves most, riding his bike. His passion for the sport has given him the opportunity to experience the great culture our world has to offer. He has had the chance to race in Belgium, France, Spain, Norway, and all of the United States to name a few place. His powerful story of triumph and sickness has impacted the lives of the more than just the people in his home country, but all around the world (Osbourne). “Roam if you want to, Roam around the world, Roam if you want to, Without anything but the love we feel.”Roam by the B52’s is a fun song to represent Lance and his travels around the world sharing his story and sharing his talent with everyone in the world. His ability to reach across cultures and still exemplify a leader shows that his impact on people is profound.
Track #7 Heal the World
Jackson, Michael. “Heal the World.” Epic Records, 1992.
Immediately after Lance was recovered from his illness, he started the Lance Armstrong Foundation. The Lance Armstrong Foundation is an organization dedicated better the lives of cancer patients by funding, raising awareness, research, and education. The Lance Armstrong Foundation also donated money to victims of Hurricane Katrina whose cancer treatment had been stalled do to the tropical storm. A large portion of the funds were raise through the sale of the one dollar very popular “livestrong” bracelets. Over 47.5 million were sold within the first year. Through the Lance Armstrong Foundation millions of families have benefited from this organization (Contemporary Heroes and Heroines, Book IV, 7). Michael Jackson’s song Heal the World is perfect to show what the foundation stands for. “Heal the world, make it a better place, for you and for me, and the entire human race, there are people dying, if you care enough, for the living, make a better place, for you and for me.” Lance was able to turn and unfortunate event in his own life into a very positive thing for many others.
Track #8 We are the Champions
Queen. “We are the Champions.” We Will Rock You. EMI 1977
The end of Lance Armstrong’s cycling was very bitter sweet. It almost seems as though he ducked out just in time when victory was almost taken from him in that last Tour de France race. His perseverance and drive kept him fighting until the end. His final race was not easy for him or for the millions of fans watching across the country. In this four day race fans kept track of how he was doing and where the race is taking him (Ingram 1). The appropriate lyrics for this moment in his life are expressed in the song “We are the Champions” by Queen. The song sings, “I’ve taken my bows, and my curtain calls- You brought me fame and forum and everything that goes with it, Thank you all.” Lance was very relieved to have won this final race but immediately retired afterward and left the race on top.
Works Cited
Ingram, Scott. "Lance Armstrong: Super Cyclist and Survivor." Current Health 2 27.7 (2001): 13.Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Web. 9 Sept. 2010.
Lance has always lived a high energy type life. At a very young age he would ride his bicycle many miles across town to swim practice then afterwards his fatigued peers would get a ride home while Lance hopped on his bike and made the ride home. This shows his tremendous endurance has carried with him throughout his entire life. Through his career as a professional cyclist to his later struggles with cancer. It is safe to say if Lance Armstrong has a goal in mind he is going to do everything to accomplish it. Lance began his professional career much earlier than most other athletes. At the age of 21 he competed in his first Tour de France. In 1997 he won it for the first time and then again for the next six years. Some people now refer to the Tour de France as the Tour de Lance.
“Lance Armstrong.” Contemporary Heroes and Heroines, Book IV. Gale Group, 2000. Reproduced in Biography Resource Center. Farmington Hills, MI.: Gale, 2010.
http://galenet.galegroup.com.proxy.library.ndsu.edu/servlet/BioRC
Lance Armstrong is a familiar name to most Americans. Whether it is because of his extraordinary athletic ability, his struggle with cancer, or they have worn the bright yellow “livestrong” bracelets created by his foundation Lance is certainly a leader to many. An outstanding athlete at a young age, he has grown to be one of the top cyclists known to the world. Lance began his athleticism dabbling in different areas and while competing in triathlons he found his niche to be cycling. Lance has raced his bicycle all over the world. Many races in Europe including the Tour De France, which he is most famous for winning first place seven years consecutively. In 1996 Lance was diagnosed with testicular cancer which had also spread to other areas of his body including his abdomen, lungs and lymph nodes. After sever symptoms Lance took action immediately and began the healing process through an altered diet and chemotherapy. Because of these life changing events, Lance created the Lance Armstrong Foundation hoping to raise money and awareness for cancer patients. During the first year the foundation sold more that 47.5 million $1 bracelets worldwide.
Osborne, Sue. "It's Not About the Bike: A Critique Of Themes Identified in Lance Armstrong's Narrative." Urologic Nursing 29.6 (2009): 415-443. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Web. 8 Sept. 2010.
This critique of Lance Armstrong’s book “It’s Not About the Bike” was very helpful in relating how the diagnosis of Testicular Cancer has an effect on the average patient and how it affected Lance Armstrong. I noticed that Lance’s positive attitude and support throughout his treatment and recovery seemed to push him in the right direction. His testicular cancer was not treated promptly and had spread to other areas of his body. This is common in this fast spreading disease especially because males tend to not recognize such a deadly disease as cancer, different factors in Lance’s past have helped him be mentally and physically fit to fight the illness to the fullest. Growing up in a low income family supported solely by his mother Lance was independent at a young age. His athleticism has also taught him drive and will power. In his book he talks about the importance of focusing all of the energy he had a left on fighting the disease. After a year of chemotherapy Lance was cancer free and went on to raise awareness of the disease through the Lance Armstrong Foundation and do what he loves most, race on his bicycle.
Image
Conley, Ken. Lance Armstrong. 2009. Ken Conley. Lance Armstrong-Cycling Photos. 9/15/10 <http://kwc.org/cycling/photos/2009/02/lance-armstrong-22.html>
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