It is no secret that music has an uncanny ability to motivate us. The right song can make an otherwise dull workout become our finest hour. And now there is scientific evidence to support it, as well as entire businesses dedicated to helping you produce customized workout soundtracks. The benefits of music impact several areas according to HellaSound.com, a website dedicated to helping you find the right music for your workout.
“In academic-speak, the right music is an ergogenic aid—an external influence that positively affects your physiological performance. Wikipedia’s definition breaks ergogenic aid benefits into 3 facets: performance improvement, minimization of distraction and increased recovery.” – HellaSound
It was with this in mind that the 52 best workout songs were selected in an epic exploration of the foot-tapping, guitar-screaming and beat-boxing tracks that have found a welcome home in gyms across America. Most of them famous, some very obscure, but all great songs for running, lifting, spinning and any other workout you can think of.
As for selection criteria one key element stood out from all the rest: tempo. Why? According to experts it is the most important factor in enhancing workout performance because it provides timing and coordination for your movements. Music in the 120-140 beats-per-minute (bpm) range is best for most aerobic exercise because it most closely matches the average person’s heart rate.
In creating this list much attention was also paid to finding a good mix of genres (though most will notice it skewed on the side of rock simply because it tends to have the most uptempo songs), as well as music from different eras (though most will find it skewed in favor of the 90s and today simply because songs like “My Guy” don’t exactly make the average person want to throw around some weights).
Finally, “Eye of the Tiger” was left out because it has been overplayed and now borders more on cheesy than motivational. If this makes you sad then go watch “Rocky” and eat a pint of ice cream.
Now, Art of Manliness presents the 52 best workout songs for your listening pleasure:
1. “Thunderstruck”- AC/DC
2. “Say This Sooner“- The Almost
3. “Keep the Car Running“ – Arcade Fire
4. “Sabotage“ – Beastie Boys
5. “Loser“ – Beck
6. “Ain’t No Easy Way“ – Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
7. “Hurricane“ – Bob Dylan
8. “No Woman No Cry (Live At the Lyceum)” – Bob Marley
9. “Unconditional” – The Bravery
10. “The Distance” – Cake
11. “Galvanize” – The Chemical Brothers
12. “Should I Stay Or Should I Go” – The Clash
13. “Crossroads” – Cream
14. “I Believe In a Thing Called Love” – The Darkness
15. “Hands Down“ – Dashboard Confessional
16. “Lose Yourself“ – Eminem
17. “Sunday Shining” – Finley Quaye
18. “Everlong“ – Foo Fighters
19. “The First Single (You Know Me)“ – The Format
20. “Flathead” – The Fratellis
21. “Naked“ – The Goo Goo Dolls
22. “Feel Good Inc“ – Gorillaz
23. “Welcome to the Jungle“ – Guns N’ Roses
24. “Jump Around“ – House of Pain
25. “Numb / Encore“ – Jay-Z & Linkin Park
26. “Voodoo Child (Slight Return)“ – Jimi Hendrix
27. “Bleed American“ – Jimmy Eat World
28. “I Walk the Line“ – Johnny Cash
29. “D.A.N.C.E.” - Justice
30. “Somebody Told Me“ – The Killers
31. “When You Were Young“ – The Killers
32. “Red Morning Light” – Kings of Leon
33. “Immigrant Song“ – Led Zeppelin
34. “Last Light“ – Matt Pond PA
35. “Beat It“ – Michael Jackson OR Fall Out Boy (feat. John Mayer)
36. “Enter Sandman“ – Metallica
37. “Always Love“ – Nada Surf
38. “Here It Goes Again“ – O.K. Go
39 “B.O.B.” - OutKast
40. “Testify“ – Rage Against the Machine
41. “Bulls on Parade“ – Rage Against the Machine
42. “Black Betty“ – Ram Jam
43. “Hide Away” – Rock Kills Kid
44. “Paint It Black“ – The Rolling Stones
45. “Start Me Up (Live)” - The Rolling Stones
46. “Hands Open“ – Snow Patrol
47. “Reptilia“ – The Strokes
48. “Oh! Gravity“ – Switchfoot
49. “All Because of You” – U2
50. “Island In the Sun“ – Weezer
51. “Seven Nation Army“ – The White Stripes
52. “Woman“ – Wolfmother
So, by this time some of you are excited, some are perplexed and still others are furious. Let us know what hidden gem we left uncovered or why you think this is the greatest list of of the last several decades.
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I must agree that this list is terrible…I wouldn’t listen to most of that stuff EVER! But in the gym its all about Metal and Gangsta Rap!
Here’s a taste of what got me through 4-5 trips to the gym a week and from 150lbs to 170lbs in a year…
THE BEAST:
AC/DC…Highway to hell…T.N.T…..Beating around the bush
Accept…Balls to the wall
Metallica…Sandman…Kill’em all…seek and destroy
Guns and roses…Welcome to the jungle
Pantera…cowboys from hell…walk
system of a down…shimmy
big pun…beware
c-murder…fuck them other n!99as
Lil Jon…i dont give a fuck
master p…bout it bout it
tupac…ambitions az a ridah
To name a few of the more well know tracks!
BTW this list is for dudes that go to the gym with the intent to lift heavy shit and get bigger!!! not really beginners or those dudes that like to look at the dudes who put in work (U know who you are)!…
I love a lot of these bands and songs like a lot of the others here, but I don’t think any of them coincide with my workout playlist.
Top Back -TI (played twice because I like to listen to a consistent tune during a quick mile)
Rock You Like a Hurricane – Scorpions
Du Hast – Rammstein
Get Low – Lil’ John (this one REALLY gets me going for some reason)
The Way I Am – Eminem
Not Give A F*ck – Fabolous
In Da Club – 50 Cent
Stronger – Kanye West (I like the original Daft Punk song better, but I find this one better during a work out session)
Just Lose It – Eminem
After all of this I generally toss on a Metallica album for some long distance biking or running.
Also, I was pretty disappointed to see Fall Out Boy and Dashboard Confessional even mentioned on this blog. I didn’t expect to see my songs due to the classy nature of this site, but those two bands are just whiny and unmanly.
Good to see the White Stripes up there….
I personally think you need to put some Techno/Trance up there….
I’m a national level swimmer, and I always walk out to my heat with techno…
It’s was make me tick, I suppose.
Good work.
Also, welcome to the Jungle… Great choice.
Thanks,
@Four -
Tennessee Ernie Ford – Sixteen Tons
As good as I once was – Toby Keith
Save a horse (ride a cowboy) – Big & Rich
What. No Disturbed?
W.
T.
F.
I agree with most of the comments. Some of the songs like Marley etc are good but not for the gym. Some recommendations to step that beat up are:
1 – Testament – Formation of Damnation
2 – Behemoth – Libertheme
3 – Nile – Slashed to the slavestick
4 – Pantera – Fuc kin hostile
Dude, why you gotta put Bob Marley on there? Bob Marley wouldnt listen to Bob Marley working out. What about megadeath, slayer, disturbed ect? You really had no hard stuff. If you lift HEAVY these are a must have. Most of that stuff i would listen to while walking through a park with my girlfriend. Good try but you must be over 40. I give it a 4 out of 10.
This is wonderful. Maintaining a good variety while at the same time using all good music. Great songs all from different time periods, and they are all songs I enjoy running to. Well most of them, there were only a few I had never heard of. Good job, this was very interesting.
this list is awesome. I added nearly 30 songs from this list to my workout playlist. Lost of variety while still up beat great job!
I’m not impressed. I’m with everyone else on Marley, that’s for sure. No Korn, Tupac, Ramstein, Linkin Park? Definitely missed the mark on this list, have you actually ever worked out with all of this? If I heard a guy listening to some of these songs(especially beat it by m.jackson), I’d keep my distance at the least. Some may use some sort of inner-concentration bs or breathing but when it comes down to it, good workouts for me are predicated on good, kick ass music. Some of my favorites(most of which will be repudiated because of their bamf nature):
Linkin Park- No More Sorrow, Figure.09
A.F.I.-Kiss and Control
Korn-Ever Be, Do what they say, Everything I’ve Known, I’m Done, Shoots and ladders, Coming Undone
Slipknot-Step up, Pulse of the maggots(if you really need motivation)
Three Days Grace-Riot
2 Pac-Fight Music, Till I Collapse
Ramstein-Duhast, America, Boom Boom
Young Jeezy-Gangsta Music
That’s just my personal favs, obviously everyone has their own.
this list sucks balls
Surprised no one mentioned any of the following
The Offspring – Come out and Play, Nitro, Meaning of Life, All I Want, and most other Offspring songs.
Anthrax – ‘Got the time’ is great
Motorhead – Ace of Spades
I saw these bands, but specifically I like:
Iron Maiden – Run to the hills
Black Sabbath – Paranoid
Just a few
Later
I can’t belive how heroically BAD this list is. Out of 52 workout songs you came up with like 3 that are actually decent. A monkey throwing darts in a cd store would’ve done a much better job. This is bar none the absolute worst list of workout songs I’ve ever seen. Oh my god you failed sooo miserabally I can’t even express my disgust. In trying to figure out how you came up with this list!! We can all be certain that you have never actually worked out to 95% of these songs, because if you had than even with your horrible judgement you still couldn’t have possible included them on a list of great workout songs. I’m pretty confident in saying that this is not only the worst list of workout songs EVER, but that this list is in fact one of the top 5 worst Lists of ANYTHING EVER. Thank you for wasting my time!
Also- “Feel So Numb” by Rob Zombie is an awesome song to lift to
Hmmm…too much sissy music on this list. Still, it’s not a total loss. Actually, it’s pretty manly (or at least courageous) just to put up your musical tastes in a public forum! Like religion and politics, it’s likely to cause argument and best not to be spoken of with strangers.
This quite possibly could be the worst collection of music i have ever seen. What on god’s green earth were you thinking? Do you actually even workout? If, so, it must be Jazzersize.
Sincerely,
Dissapointed
here are some good work out songs
1.) “the distance” by CAKE
2.)”Miserlou” by Dick Dale a.k.a the theme song for Pulp Fiction
3.)”jump” by Van Helen
4.)”everlong” by foo fighters
5.)”smooth criminal”by alien ant farm
6.)”she’s so cold” by rolling stones
7.) “time bomb” by BECK
this list is just confirmation that the art of manliness website is actually run by 15yr old girls…
Do you know that you can download playlists for gym works free from this blog?
http://gym-music.blogspot.com/
Pretty cool stuff!
all the music ur guys have it is so stupd for workout its so sly and mking u slow try the house music progres or the tribal house music
the best
Slayer
Here just some suggestions:
Helter Skelter – The Beatles
Live and let die – Guns and Roses
Barracuda – Heart
Do the Evolution – Pearl Jam
Du Hast – Ramnstein
Pride and Joy – Stevie Ray Vaughn
and Lots of Bass Agents tunes…!
Anyway, whatever makes you pump is worth listening to.
Open Your Eyes by the Guano apes makes me want to flip over a car.
Just thought I’d share.
guys I am wondering how you make it not to fall asleep.. especially while listening to the tigher eye or what it is :)
Prodigy – Voodoo People
Prodigy – No good
Faithless – Insomnia – Remix
Radiohead – Creep
Green Day – She
Dogwood – Building a Better Me
The Offspring – You’re gonna far kid
Gigi D’Agostino – La Passion
St Germain – So Flute
The Fratellis – Got ma nuts from a hippie
The Fratellis – Flathead
Madonna – Hung up
Tegan and Sara – Back in Your Head
Tegan and Sara – you wouldn’t like me
Akon ft Eminem – Smack that
Aerosmith – Jaded – this one is too slow but it still keeps me going for a minute or so ;)
Bob “Let’s all chill and take a toke” Marley and Johnny Cash both need taken off this list.
“Headhunter” by Front 242 is a great workout song. Top 52? Maybe.
How about “Superman” by the Kinks? Or the completely different song of the same name by REM?
Giving In by Adema, Love Dump by Static-X, and Just Like You Imagined by Nine Inch Nails are all awesome when you’re trying to pick up the heavy stuff.
I also made a list on my blog of 20 workout beats that no one has heard before.
Wow. This was th worst list imaginable. maybe 5 good workout songs. thanks for wasting my time ass#ole.
For me, a good workout song is one that, when they play it on the radio while you’re driving, makes you drive a little faster, and maybe belt out the lyrics as you drive. Otherwise, I find it has little to do with rhythm or attitude.
In other words, just take your driving music playlist, delete the really mellow tracks, and call it a gym playlist.
I don’t know how (well most of these songs) would even constitute as workout music.?
How can you listen to slow music while working out, not too impressed with the list.
I was really looking for some upbeat and get you fired up music!
first, thanks for the list. I am bored and thought I would post a few of my songs on here.. hope someone likes.
ACDC “thunderstruck”
Survivor “eye of the tiger”
Eminem “till I collapse”
Eminem “lose yourself”
Metallica “enter sandman”
Limp Bizkit “my way”
Korn “coming undone”
Cat Steven “father and son” – “From the moment I could talk I was ordered to listen” great motivational song.
Nickelback “animals”
Fort Minor “remember the name”
Linkin Park “numb”
ACDC “TNT”
ACDC “back in black”
Guns&Roses
try “ohio is for lovers” hawthorn heights and “The district sleeps alone tonight” – postal service.
You’ve been told this before -but I have to say again – this list is garbage
My little contribution to a list.
Automatic – Powerman 5000
Bombshell – Powerman 5000
Ready Steady Go – Paul Oakenfold
Becoming Insane – Infected Mushroom
Break on Through – The Doors
Agenda Suicide – The Faint
The Way You Move – Outkast
I swear to God, it’s like you were in my head. With the exception of about ten, is my workout playlist on my iPod.
Hands down best songs to run to.
Im kinda dissapointed my favorite workout song isnt in the list
Bomfunk MC’s Freestyler
anyway I listened to a few songs on youtube, and I wont use them for workout tbh
NO DMX?!?!? Wow. I love Rock n roll but DMX has to be on a workout mix. In addition to that, what about music from NFL Films?
Straight up some of my favorites in no order:
1. Trade yourself in – Shinedown
2.Sold Me – Seether
3. I Wanna Live – Tesla
4. Pleasure – Bang Camaro
5. Night Lies – Bang Camaro
6. Geez Louiz – The Unband
7. The Worm – Audioslave
8. Riot – Three Days Grace
9. Superhuman – Velvet Revolver
10. Because of You – Nickelback
11. Coming Undone – Korn
12. Dragula – Rob Zombie
13. Get Clean – Anarchy Club
14. Tyranny Normality – Papa Roach
15. Wonder What’s Next – Chevelle
16. Till’ I Collapse – EMINEM
17. Undead – Hollywood Undead
18. Stricken – Disturbed
19. Remedy – Seether
20. I Stand Alone – Godsmack
21. Last Resort – Papa Roach
22. Boom – P.O.D (Optional)
If you don’t get pumped listening to this, there is something wrong with you.
The Beast by Tech N9ne
som3e songs to replace the 95% of your choice music that is crappy to workout to.
Black Betty- Spiderbait- this is a cover song obviously very bad ass
enter sandman- metallica
i dissapear
master of puppets
eye of the tiger- survivor
fell in love with a girl- white stripes
iron man- ozzy (who could not have this)
knights of cydonia-muse
la grange- zz top
sharp dressed man
break ya neck- busta rhymes
renegade-styx
rocky mountain way- joe walsh
purple haze- jim hendrix
saturday night special-lynard skynyrd
the stroke- billy squier
everybody wants you
train, train- blackfoot
we are the champions- queen
we will rock you (everybody should have these two songs from queen)
40 oz- D12
Tumult-Stone sour
No one kows -Queens of the stone age
Never gonna find me- the offspring
Cocky- kid rock
forever
Soldier-eminem
criminal
the way i am
welcome to the jungle- guns n’ roses
maybelline-foghat
not a promise of everything godly to workout to but bad ass songs from my playlist. you can call it the powerlifters list.
two greats to work out to are
incubus make yourself
your disease by saliva
if “Walk” and “Cowboys From Hell” by Pantera and don’t pump you up, then you sir, have no soul.
My Generation – The Who
Don’t know if thats been mentioned.
Kanye West – Stronger
Agree with some of the list but some seem to just not do it for me.
It is all down to personal preference, of course, there may of been an even at which at a seriously happy time of your life, a certain song reminds you of this, so everytime you hear this song it triggers adrenaline.
My PE teacher is an ex pro rugby player, played for Great Britain in the 90′s and he had a video made by staff at Great Britain to pump him up before the game. The song in the background of the video, was one he heard when he attended a rugby world cup game in Australia, he said it was one of the best moments in his life, and the song brought back the memory and spurred him on to go out onto the pitch and want to perform. he also told me, (because when he stopped playing he went into managering/coaching that before the match he would use high tempo songs with a small amount of lyrics to pump up his players before a game.
All in all, i just believe it’s down to personal preference.
I have to say, I never expected to see a comment on here mentioning Nile. I love the band – but not to work out to. I have found that Acacia Strain’s album “Continent” is a great one to lift to. Also on my list of albums, Lamb of God’s “New American Gospel” and “Sacrament”, Winds of Plague’s “Decimate the Weak” (also a great album name for the heavy lifting), and as much flak as I’ll get from the death metal crowd here, Job for a Cowboy’s “Doom” and “Genesis” albums.
About the list here – while my workouts are mostly lifting with 10 minute interval training thrown in 3 different places, I don’t really care to switch to “running music”, but if I did, some of these songs would work well for that. It would be pointless to go into which ones at this point, though, because I would be beating a dead horse.
great list…
nara by e.s.posthumous…recently discovered it and man! it’s inspiring!!!
p.s–it’s instrumental
I’ve been folowing this blog for about the past month or so…and making it my browser homepage was the best thing i ever did!!
Screw the haters, I gave this play list a shot, its great for cardio, I do 65 minutes on the elliptical and enjoyed this.
now for lifting, maybe this isn’t the best, but music is personal preference.
Funhouse–The Stooges
Crossfire–Stevie Ray Vaughan
Supernaut–Black Sabbath
School Is Out–Alice Cooper
Move Over-Janis
Murder, Inc–Springsteen
I Want You (She’s So Heavy)–Beatles
I Found Out–John Lennon
Break On Through–Doors
Behind Blue Eyes–Who
Let Me Put My Love Into You–AC/DC
Pretty good list. I will try it out on my next workout. Here is what I have on my ipod. It’s a lot of Drum and Bass, but I use it mainly for running:
X Ray-Sub Focus
Verano-Sub Focus
Valley of Death-Zenon
Slam-Pendulum (great running song)
Serial Thrilla-The Prodigy
Scarecrow-Sub Focus
Pork and Beef-The Coup
Follow the Leader-Eric B. & Rakim
Blowout- The Crystal Method
Bloodmoney-Optical ft. Ed Rush & Matrix
I joined a real boxing gym last year… and it was run by this old, huge, mexican dude…
All he would play while we trained was JOHNNY CASH… it was awesome!
Counting Bodies Like Sheep To The Rhythem Of A War Drum by A Perfect Circle……that is the best song to workout to if your asking opinions
It’s a great song list
Speed up the routine with some metal!
Static X – Push it
Mudvayne – dig, determined
Metallica – Master Puppets
Beastie Boys – No Sleep ‘Til Brooklyn
Creedence Clearwater Revival – Commotion
Daft Punk – Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger
Nine Inch Nails – Wish
Pearl Jam – Animal
Red Hot Chili Peppers – Suck My Kiss
Rick Astley – Never Gonna Give You Up
This list has some okay songs on it, but it pretty much sucks when it comes to lifting. Go heavy….Metallica, Slayer, Iron Maiden, Slipknot, Lamb of God…etc. I want to feel the anger when I lift!!!
Back in high school we listened to a lot of rock when we lifted weights in our school weight room. Lots of Godsmack, Static-X, Disturbd, etc. Think of rock circa 2000.
it depends on the workout. you need to match the workout beat to your heartbeat and you’ll be all good,
————————–
michael.gentry
“dofollow”> “workout routine
some of my favorites
basshunter – boten anna, all i ever wanted, shut the fuck up, dota
benny benassi – magic box, sanfransico remix w/ global djs
prodigy – smack my bitch up, rockerfeller skank
madonna – give it 2 me
atlas – battles
b.o.b. – created a monster
black eyed peas – ring a ling, pump it harder
blink 182 – all the small things
brooklyn bounce – bass , beats and melody, crazy
u2 – vertigo, beautiful day
coldplay – viva la vida
crystal fighters – xtatic truth
love is gone – david guetta
destra – max it up
great for elliptical and running.. not sure about runnign these are fast paced
Thanks for the great list, but like others have said, there are a few disappointments and surprises here. First off I would like to say that I am not primarily a rock fan, but I am not biased at all, I do listen to some songs from foo fights and more.
But I should say that some of these songs should not be on this list. Bob Marley “No Woman No Cry” WHAT! This song is a great song, but I wont ever be able to work out to it. Its too slow and soft.
What should be added. You did say that rock is definitely a great genre of music to listen to, but that’s pretty much all you added minus 1-2 or hip hop/rap. Whatabout Tupac? Tupac “Ambitionz as a Riddah” is probably one of the most listened to songs from NBA players, Allen Iverson being one of them. Step into a world by KRS-One is also listened to by a few fighters that train in the UFC, Rashad Evans being one of them.
And how can a site dedicated to manliness claim that eye of the tiger is now corny? I must disagree. Just because Eye of the Tiger is overplayed, does not mean its corny. It’s only corny when people choose to make parodies of it. Eye of the tiger and other Rocky songs like “Hearts on fire” are still in the majority of peoples playlist at the gyms (at least in my local gyms). Thanks for the list! I will definitely add some of these songs to my list, but this list in particular needs work.
Ummm…not sure what kind of weight lifting this is for??? Maybe like, curls with 5 lb dumbells while standing on an exercise ball. I don’t know. Try listening to some Five Finger Death Punch – War is the Answer. Guaranteed to make you start head-butting the barbell.
List had some great variety which I love, and I love working out to many of these songs. However, one song I always get pumped up to whenever I’m feeling fatigue…. is….
Tuff Enuff by The Fabulous Thunderbirds.
I have to recommend a song by The Best called “You’re the Best!!!” Can be downloaded for free at http://www.motivationalrock.com or on their FB page at http://www.facebook.com/motivationalrock
Check it out- very upbeat, positive and full of good energy.
Lose Yourself- eminem
Break- Three days grace
I Get It- chevelle
I will not bow- Breaking Benjamin
champange – cavo
closer- Nine Inch nails
stronger kanye west
never enough- five finger death punch
smooth criminal
numb- linkin park
lying from you- linkin park
remember the name- fort minor
nice, but bob marley…..man u gotta be kiddin us……its like listenin 2 lady antebellum while pumpin iron…..fckin lame……guys shud try out till i collapse, by mnm (dats how i spell eminem!) or new workout plan by kanye……..even linkin park’s got sm beats 2 their credit……….
George Thorogood people…Bad to the Bone…
No classical??? How about “Ride of the Valkyries” used in “Apocalypse Now”, or “The Anvil Chorus”? (There are MANY others as well) Jeez you guys, get with it. ;)
these some really crap songs here :P
Anything by a band named “Hatebreed” all their music is about is… Well MOTIVATION. Literally, every song is a workout song. And most of it is about being a better Man. check them out. Might be a lil hardcore for some, But i live by them
The Darkness? Their songs only work for me because they annoy me – I can channel that annoyance into my lifts.
Best song for nailing personal deadlift records: Foo Fighters’ “But, Honestly”, which has one of the greatest sweet spots in rock music ever, IMO.
Just googled “Best Metal Workout Songs” and this list was one of the top 5 search results. To put my feelings bluntly; this is some real pussy shit for a website called “Art of Manliness”.
Ummm… no, no, no, on so many levels. How am I supposed to lift heavy weights to a majority of this stuff?
How about more stuff that actually makes you feel like ripping someone’s head off (I mean, after all, how can you lift heavy listening to Weezer, Bob Marley, or Johnny Cash? I love most of the music on your list, but most of it doesn’t belong on a workout list).Try a few of these, for example:
Prong – Snap Your Fingers, Snap Your Neck
Rammstein – Well, they have tons of good stuff, pick one
Motorhead – Ace of Spades, The Game, etc.
Black Flag – Rise Above
Gwar – Ragnarok, Sick of You, etc.
Pantera – Almost anything
Sepultura – Almost anything
Achozen – Deuces (“You ain’t never seen a bigger threat” – from Babylon A.D.)
Judas Priest – Revolution and many others
L7 – Fuel My Fire, Shitlist, many others
Marilyn Manson – This is the New Shit, The Beautiful People, Rock is Dead
Filter – Hey Man Nice Shot, and a few others
KMFDM – Lots of good stuff
Mudvane – Dig
Prodigy – Funky Shit, Firestarter, Diesel Power, Smack My Bitch Up
Nine Inch Nails – Head Like a Hole, Closer, The Perfect Drug, Burn
White Zombie, Rob Zombie – Plenty to choose from here as well
This is far from an exhaustive list, but I think you get the idea. I don’t do aerobics. I lift weights (barbells, dumbbells, rocks, logs, chains, anything heavy I can pick up, really). In order to do that, you need music that makes you angry or no music at all. I’d rather have silence than workout to Yanni or Michael Bolton or whatever else you consider “good” workout music.
Who in the what now? This is a weightlifting song list? There are maybe six songs that are even fast paced enough to warrant being lifting material. What were you thinking advertising this as such? Some of the songs are really good, but most belong to a mix you make for your woman – get a grip and don’t sell this as gym material. I don’t know anyone, my girlfriend included, who would listen to this muddled list for gym level motivation. Here’s a clue – try The Disturbed or anything that does not sound like the Goo Goo Dools… sorry to be a hater, but this is not a lifting song list and you just wasted my time because I thought the list would improve whereas it just got worse.
The comment about this being the worst list of workout songs is exactly right. A banal list complied by a seemingly emo and approval seeking author.
Haha! This is a very interesting topic to cover. First off, I knew there would be many disagreements before I even read the list. Everybody has their opinions on what is the BEST song to listen while working out. Secondly, since I am a Deaf individual (22 years old)…music is not something I can truly speak freely about. Do not get me wrong, deaf people love music–believe it or not. However, it’s not the lyrics– (unless you’re hard of hearing) that matters—it’s the tempo. As long as there is a good solid ‘beat rhythm’ from the drums or etc…any song will do! I love feeling the beats of any good music.Unfortunately, if the song was singing the cheesiest lyrics ever, I still will probably be bobbing my head, screaming let’s get it on!! People might turn their heads at me and think i’m nuts or something, haha. Then again, that may be a good thing…quite obviously, I am not so cynical of music! ha!
I am going to open up a gym in the near future and I know how important music is when working out–so, everybody…thanks for the tips!!
Also–as a final note. I realize it is different for my case, but one should realize they do not need music to workout. I workout in my garage or in the woods, with no music. I always feel a sense of ‘spirituality’.not sure if it is the right word to use. But I am able to connect to my own being when working out. I feel a sense of accomplishment at the end of my workout sessions because it’s only me and the cold iron/logs/woods. I do not need the aid of music and i personally advise…if you become to reliable on music–what will you do the day there is no music for whatever reason? Will you still be able to get yourself moving? I sure hope so!
I lost all my music lately and my gals list is a joke. I had some of this stuff on my old list. I’ll get to work rebuilding. Thanks for posting!
terrible. add tool. add puscifer. add maynard
Quite frankly, I think that the person who created this website was high on marijuana brownies, or they are just born stupid. WHERE IN THE HECK IS EYE OF THE TIGER!!!???
Breaking Benjamin + Disturbed + RATM + Three Days Grace “One-X” Album + Adema
You are now jacked
great variety…but personally i need something a little heavier when im workin out
Celldweller – Switchback
Jay Z & Linkin Park – almost anything from collision course but i like 99problems/one step closer/points of authority
Drake – Forever (travis barker remix)
Slipknot – Duality
Pendulum – Propane nightmares
Drowning Pool – Step Up
Limp Bizkit – My way or Rollin’
Metallica – Frantic
Linkin Park – A place for my head/Given up/Papercut/Hit the floor/Faint
Kanye West – Stronger
Everyone will have a different preference when it comes to workin out..this is mine
I’ve been looking for songs to get me pumped while I pump for hours. So far all I can say is that my taste in music seems to differ from everyone on the entire Planet. I’d rather die than listen to any of these.
What about Firestarter by Prodigy or Close To the Edit by Art of Noise? Just some suggestions that work for me.
Bonecrusher- Soulhat
Essayez Vitalic-Disco Terminateur !! c’est pas du disco c’est de l’électro-house française. Du pur délire.
Judas Priest-Painkiller
Born in the USA – Springsteen
Through the Fire and Flames-Dragonforce
worst. playlist. ever.
Most of these are long roadtrip songs. I want motivation and blood/adrenaline pumping music. Most of this lulls me. No gym I’ve ever been to would play 3/4ths this stuff.
Okay, seriously? I agree to the anti Marley thing, when your goal is to become a meathead, you gotta use heavy metal rock that just motivates you enough to destroy stuff…here’s the top three I chose for my list:
1. Down with the Sickness, Disturbed
2. Get up again, Flaw
3. To the Threshold, Hatebreed
I bet these three songs motivate me 100 times more than this list…just sayin’…
Another list I found
49 Of The Best Workout And Motivational Songs/Videos Ever!
http://www.stayfitbug.com/the-fitness-bug/49-of-the-best-workout-and-motivational-songsvideos-ever/
Interesting list you got going on here. Definitely MANLY!
Although I don’t agree with some of the choices and wouldn’t find them very pumping to my workout routine, the list is excellent and varied.
your going down by sick puppies great workout song
Worst Workout Songs
1. Rocky Theme Song
2. Destiny’s Child – Bootylicious
3. Village People – YMCA
4. Village People – Macho Man
5. Grease – You’re The One That I Want
6. The Pussycat Dolls – Don’t Cha
7. Juvenile – Back That Azz Ip
8. Bob Marley – No Woman No Cry
9. Sir-Mix-A-Lot – Baby Got Back
10. House Of Pain – Jump Around
11. Akon ft Eminem – Smack That
12. Will Smith— Gettin’ Jiggy Wit It
13. Will Smith—Wild Wild West
14. Tag Team—Whoomp! (There It Is)
15. Vanilla Ice— Ice Ice Baby
Any song from any Rocky movie ever
I personally believe Two Steps From Hell is literally one Hell of a Workout aid.
Gonna Fly Now – bill conti / Probably the most famous and best work out song EVER
Apollo says,
“Eye of the tiger man”!
When I workout, there’s only 2 forms of acceptable music…..hardcore/heavy metal & rap. I listen to every type of music and I like a bunch of the music on this list but in no way shape or form is this gonna get me pumped for a run, for the bench, or for the bag. Maybe some hipster crying in his skinny jeans but not me.
Here is my list – it kicks butt! All “road tested”
SONG TITLE ARTIST
The Adventure Angels & Airwaves
Africa Toto
All Because Of You U2
All My Life Foo Fighters
All Summer Long Kid Rock
American Girl Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers
Animal Neon Trees
Around the World / Harder Better Faster Stronger (Live) Daft Punk
Battleflag Lo Fidelity Allstars
Beautiful Day U2
Better Days Uncle Kracker
Bitter Sweet Symphony The Verve
Bleed It Out Linkin Park
Body Movin’ Beastie Boys
Bodyrock Moby
Born This Way Lady Gaga
Bounce Bon Jovi
BURN IT DOWN Linkin Park
Cake – Going the Distance
Call Me Maybe Carly Rae Jepsen
The Cave Mumford & Sons
Celebrity Skin Hole
Cliffs of Dover Eric Johnson
Did Ya Ever Look So Nice The Samples
Different Ximena Sariñana
Dog Days Are Over Florence + The Machine
Don’t Stop (Color On the Walls) Foster the People
Drift Away Uncle Kracker
Drive By Train
Empire State of Mind (feat. Alicia Keys) Jay-Z
Every Heart Acoustic Junction
Everybody Talks Neon Trees
F*** You Lily Allen
Feel So Close (Radio Edit) Calvin Harris
Feel Us Shaking The Samples
Fight Outta You Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals
Foo Fighters – Monkey Wrench
For Nancy (‘Cos It Already Is) Pete Yorn
Forget You Cee Lo Green
Freedom George Michael
Get Innocuous! LCD Soundsystem
Good Feeling Flo Rida
Good Intentions Toad the Wet Sprocket
Good Life OneRepublic
Good Vibrations Beach Boys
Hard To Handle Black Crowes
Heavy metal drummer Wilco
Helena Beat Foster the People
Help Yourself The Devil Makes Three
Hey Hey Hey Michael Franti/Michael Franti & Spearhead/Spearhead
Hey, Soul Sister Train
High Road Fort Minor featuring John Legend
Highway Unicorn (Road To Love) Lady Gaga
Hollaback Girl Gwen Stafani
Home Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros
Hot Air Balloon Owl City
House Of Pain – Jump Around (Clean)
I’m Yours Jason Mraz
I Can Change LCD Soundsystem
I Can See Clearly Now Jimmy Cliff
I Gotta Feeling Black Eyed Peas
I will survive Cake
Island In The Sun Weezer
It’s My Life No Doubt
Kryptonite 3 Doors Down
Kyrie Mr. Mister
The Lazy Song Bruno Mars
Lebanese Blonde Thievery Corporation
Levels Avicii
Lifestyles of the Rich & Famous Good Charlotte
Lisztomania Phoenix
Little Lion Man Mumford & Sons
Lonely Boy The Black Keys
Lost in My Mind (Alternate Version) [iTunes Session] The Head and the Heart
Mama Said Knock You Out LL Cool J
Marry The Night Lady Gaga
The Middle Jimmy Eat World
Miracle Worker SuperHeavy
Mother We Just Can’t Get Enough New Radicals
Moves Like Jagger (Studio Recording from “The Voice” Performance) [feat. Christina Aguilera] Maroon 5
The New York Times Everclear
New York, New York Ryan Adams
No One Alicia Keys
(Nothing But) Flowers Talking Heads
Numb / Encore Jay-Z & Linkin Park
Oh! Gravity Switchfoot
Optimo Liquid Liquid
Paper Planes M.I.A.
Payphone (feat. Wiz Khalifa) Maroon 5
Praise You Fatboy Slim
Proud Heather Small
Raise Your Glass P!nk
Ramblin’ Man Allman Brothers
Rearview Mirror Pearl Jam
Red Morning Light Kings Of Leon
Rehab- Sittin at a Bar
Reliant K Pressing On
Roam B-52′s
Rock That Body Black Eyed Peas
Roll On Kid Rock
Rolling in the Deep ADELE
Run Vampire Weekend
Running Down a Dream Tom Petty
Rush Big Audio Dynamite
Santa Monica Everclear
Save Me, San Francisco Train
Saw You First Givers
Say Hey (I Love You) Cherine Anderson/Michael Franti & Spearhead
Sex On Fire Kings of Leon
Shake It Out Florence + The Machine
Shake It Up Cars
Shakira – Hips Dont Lie Shakira
She Is Beautiful Andrew W.K.
Simple Song The Shins
Smile Uncle Kracker
The Sound of Sunshine Michael Franti/Michael Franti & Spearhead/Spearhead
Spice Up Your Life Spice Girls
Stay Young, Go Dancing Death Cab for Cutie
Steal My Sunshine Len
Stronger Kanye West
Such Great Heights The Postal Service
Suddenly I See KT Tunstall
Sun is Shining Finley Quaye
These Days Foo Fighters
Two-Timing Touch and Broken Bones The Hives
U + Ur Hand Pink
Waiting for the End Linkin Park
Waka Waka (This Time for Africa) [The Official 2010 FIFA World Cup Song] {feat. Freshlyground} Shakira
Walk Foo Fighters
Wasting Time Kid Rock
Wavin’ Flag (Coca-Cola Celebration Mix) K’naan
We Are Young (feat. Janelle Monáe) Fun.
What A Feeling (Progressive Follow Up Mix) Global Deejays
What A Wonderful World Louis Armstrong
Where Is the Love? The Black Eyed Peas & Justin Timberlake
Wonderful Night Fatboy Slim
You’ll Find A Way Santogold
You’re Gonna Go Far, Kid The Offspring
You Get What You Give The New Radicals
Your Love Is My Drug Ke$ha
This list is pretty bad but I suppose everyone works put to different styles of music. I prefer electronic music along with rock and a little hip hop. Here are my ten favorites:
Big Things Poppin’ – TI
Under the Knife – Rise Against
Ready Steady Go – Paul Oakenfold
Starting Over – The Crystal Method
Push It – Rick Ross
Move – Thousand Foot Krutch
The Fighter – The Gym Class Heroes
Prayer – Disturbed
False Pretense – Red Jumpsuit Apparatus
Hall of Fame – The Script
all of these songs are horrible in the context of working out. except metallica. just sayin
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