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[Sports Day] A roundup of exhilarating, fast-paced tracks perfect for relay race BGM!

Speaking of relays, they’re the event that gets the crowd most excited at a sports day! The music that adds flair to the race is also one of the key elements.

I’m sure you, too, have a song that comes to mind as relay BGM.

In this article, we’ll introduce a wide range of tracks—from classic relay staples everyone’s heard to J-pop numbers perfect for a heated competition.

They’re all songs that will make you want to start running, so use them as a guide when choosing your playlist.

[Sports Day] A roundup of exhilarating, fast-paced tracks perfect for relay race BGM! (101–110)

William Tell OvertureGioachino Rossini

Rossini: William Tell Overture (4th) (Piano Score)
William Tell OvertureGioachino Rossini

Among Rossini’s works, the William Tell Overture is arguably one of the most famous, vying for the top spot in name recognition.

Its usage rate is so high that there may be virtually no sports day that doesn’t feature it.

Characterized by a lively, springing touch on the keys that shifts into flowing passages, it’s used across a wide range of events.

At the same time, because of the extremely high number of keystrokes, it’s also known—apart from its familiar melody—as one of those pieces that can make performers sweat.

Give it some guts!!Urufuruzu

Here’s a danceable number released by Ulfuls in 1995.

It’s said they wrote the song at the recommendation of Tetsuya Komuro, and its disco-style rhythm is sure to get you motivated.

Even the title has a “let’s do this” vibe, making you feel like you’re being cheered on as you run.

It’s a track that might actually get the parents’ generation more fired up than the kids.

Carmen PreludeGeorges Bizet

Bizet: Opera Carmen – Prelude to Act I (Toréador)/…
Carmen PreludeGeorges Bizet

The Prelude to Carmen was composed by the French composer Georges Bizet.

Since it’s based on the novel Carmen, it’s written in a style where dialogue links the musical numbers, and it consists of four acts in total.

The main melody is carried by the strings, with a relatively high register and a sense of speed that gives you the feeling of “I need to hurry.” The woodwinds playing in the background provide a solid balance as a low rhythmic foundation.

There’s a more relaxed tempo in the middle, so try looping the fast-tempo opening section for your use.

In conclusion

We’ve introduced songs that are perfect for relay races at school sports days.

Just by listening, could you picture the exhilarating relay scenes coming to life? Use the songs featured in this article as a reference to get your school’s relay event fired up!