Music is essential to working out: anything that distracts you from the burn in your legs or that cramp in your side surely benefits your inner gym rat. Only music – without having to concentrate like you do watching television or reading a book - has the rare ability to make working out seem a little less like work. However, some music is better to take to the gym than others.
Take the story of my sister, for instance. When she got her iPod she was determined to fill it up with fist pumping, leg running workout music. Instead, she made an error and realized, once she arrived at 24 hour fitness, that the only song she had programmed was by Bette Midler. For some reason, she just didn’t seem to really strain and sweat to the powerhouse song that is “The Rose.”
This brings me to my point, some songs belong in the gym and some songs, such as “The Rose” belong as far away from anything physical as possible (Dear Bette Mrs. Midler, please don’t kick my butt for saying so, even though I know you could).
The following is our list of the best work out songs, songs that are sure to help you get up and run, get up and bike, get up and go, or get up and row.
"Eye of the Tiger" - Yes, you all saw this coming. “Eye of the Tiger” is the epitome of a good workout song, one that can make you try just a bit harder without even realizing it. Released in 1982, this song has become the anthem of sports teams and organizations everywhere. It is also routinely played in gyms and athletic training areas. Putting it on your iPod will make Rocky proud.
"St. Elmo’s Fire (Man in Motion)" - A song that is perhaps best known as being the theme of the similarly titled 1985 film St. Elmo’s Fire was originally written for Rick Hansen, a wheelchair bound Canadian athlete touring around the world to raise spinal cord injury awareness. Performed by John Parr and adapted for film, “St. Elmo’s Fire” became an instant hit, earning a Grammy nomination along the way.
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Article comments
1 - deusdiabolus
Additional suggestions based on observation:
"When The Going Gets Tough, The Tough Get Going" - Billy Ocean (from THE JEWEL OF THE NILE soundtrack)
"No Limit" - 2 Unlimited
pretty much any remix that Jonathan Peters has ever done
"Start Rockin'" - Antiloop (from FASTLANE PEOPLE album)
"Fetish" - Baby Ford (from BFORD 9)
"Reach (Brothers In Rhythm mix)" - Judy Cheeks
2 - Calvin
Best list ever! All the other list put crappy stuff like beyonce! Yours is short, sweet and kickass! Awesome. I will definitely put these on my Ipod.
3 - Mr.Everywhere
I Like all His But Also Add
-you're the best around by phil esposito
-stronger by kanye west
4 - lizgr
yeah all those songs are very good.
i wanna share some of my faves
Black eyed peas- Pump it
Chevelle- The Red
Gravity Kills- Guilty
5 - Work outer
Kelis- Milkshake
Keisha Chante- Been Gone
Chris Brown- Run it
WhigField- Saturday night
The Chordettes- My Boy Lolipop
Fergie-London Bridge
6 - chris
u need more songs with bass in them----
now your gone by basshunter.. great for workouts
7 - Jamieson
Death In Vegas - Hands Around My Throat
Tube & Berger - Straight Ahead
Radiohead - There There
Van Halen - Right Now
Placebo - Without You I'm Nothing
8 - Taylor
I believe in hardcore, guitar busting, drum killing music. No not metal. Just really, really upbeat.
Anberlin's album Cities is a great one.
9 - cathryn
brooke hogan...about us
kings of leon...fans
10 - Ryan
Drowning Pool-Let the bodies hit the floor
Lamb of God-Laid to Rest
Disturbed-Ten Thousand Fists
Disturbed-Down With a Sickness
Mayday Parade-Black Cat
11 - misslisa
Those are good, and some of you are probably going to shoot me for this. BUT as much as I don't like dance music, I HAVE to say that it helps me stay focused, and it's upbeat. So, here's some of my list.
Carrie Underwood - Before He Cheats
The Ramones - Blitzkrieg Bop
Green Day - American Idiot
Warrent - Cherry Pie
Ashlee Simpson - Rule Breaker
Pink - So What
Kelly Clarkson - Since U Been Gone
Avril Lavigne - Girlfriend
12 - lkerknvg
fuckers
13 - Danny
most of those songs aren't really all that great. Try these
Chop Suey-System of a Down
More Human Than Human- White Zombie
Black Dog- Led Zeppelin
Kashmir-Led Zeppelin
Push It- Rick Ross
Face the Pain- Stemm
Metallica- Sad But True, The Memory Remains, For Whom the Bell Tolls
Disturbed- Indestructible,Stricken, The Night
The word best friends become redefined- Chiodos
14 - Lola
Dizzee Rascal's Bonkers. It's so fast it is brilliant for the peak of the workout
15 - thiago
We Ready - Bubba Sparxxx
amazing gets me pumping always!
16 - Kieran
Britney Spears - Body and soul
17 - Rohit Sagar
THE ULTIMATE LIST :
Paul Oakenfold - Ready Steady Go
Mint Royale - Singin In The Rain
Phat Planet - Audiosurf
Ian Brown - Happy Ever After
Darude - Sandstrom
18 - Tobester
One of the best songs u have to have in your gym playlist:
eminem - till i collapse
19 - RALPH
TRY THIS......BEST Workout SOngs
Rise UP-Yves LaRock
Eye of the Tiger-Survivor
Mortal Combat Theme
Fired UP-Hush
Pump IT-BEP
I AM ROCK
20 - Lasith
Haha totally agree on 'anything by Van Halen' anything by GNR and Metallica come to think of it too.
Do check out the list I did too when you have the time.
cheers
L
21 - Joe Bmore
Different age groups will, of course, favor tunes of their time for workouts. I teach taekwondo and for my tournament team practice -- ages 10-45 -- I promote more rhythm in my fighters with standards like "Night Train" by James Brown, "Disco Inferno" by the Trammps, "Freeway of Love" by Aretha Franklin and others on our CD. Strong beats work for us...who ever heard of an 11-year-old athlete digging the Godfather of Soul. But they do.