52 Workout Songs To Help You Get Bigger, Stronger, and Faster

by schaefer on August 5, 2008 · 162 comments

in Health & Sports

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.


{ 162 comments… read them below or add one }

1 Four August 5, 2008 at 8:53 pm

Sorry, but this isn’t something I would expect to see here. Disappointed.

2 heartattack701 August 5, 2008 at 8:56 pm

while many of these would not have ended up on my list, i must say i’m impressed with the variety. only one made me let out an audible groan for its mistakenly ending up on this list… “islands in the sun” by weezer… really? of all the weezer songs to be on this list, i would not have chosen this one. even “hash pipe” off of the same album would have been better. “buddy holly”, “my name is jonas”, and even “say it ain’t so” would have been much better choices.

fun list. should be fun to see the rest of the feedback.

3 Ted Vona August 5, 2008 at 9:21 pm

Interesting list man. I’ll give some of them some downloads.

But while I personally love Dashboard Confessional, why a work out mix?

I’ve never thought of pumping iron and Chris going well together… just my thoughts.

—————————————
http://www.asocialblog.com

4 Neil August 5, 2008 at 10:00 pm

Agree on the variety – good to see some Arcade Fire!

However, I also have to disagree about the Weezer pick. How about Surf Wax America instead? A lot more driving feel to that song.. 8-)

5 bob August 5, 2008 at 11:05 pm

A couple additions/revisions to a great list:
Rage Against the Machine – Renegades of Funk – awesome song, same idea as one above, but more of a man-on-a-mission kind of feel like in Cake’s The Distance
Weezer – toss Island in the Sun, replace with Hash Pipe, proceed to get pumped up
Techno – having a techno backdrop can make even grocery shopping feel like a James Bond movie. I recommend Propellerheads, and a track from Prodigy called Hotride

6 Frank August 5, 2008 at 11:24 pm

Man, it’s CRAZY how many of these tunes are actually on my workout iPod. I use the Shuffle when I workout because it’s so small and easy to just clip on anywhere.

Some of my other fav workout tunes:

Crazy B*tch, Buckcherry
Infected, Bad Religion
Shake That, EMINEM
The Next Episode, Snoop & Dre
Symphony of Destruction, Megadeth
Quutamo, Apocalyptica
Bang Bang, Rammstein

7 Chet August 6, 2008 at 3:02 am

Best of You – Foo Fighters is one that I would add to the list. Interesting compilation of songs otherwise. Good list Frank, those are several of my picks too.

8 Eric August 6, 2008 at 4:07 am

A good list. Very broad. I’ll check out those songs I’ve never heard. Thanks!

I’ve got several for ya.

Song 2 – Blur (“Wooo Hoooo!!)
Geek Stink Breath – Green Day
Just about anything by System of a Down
The Beautiful People – Marilyn Manson
Leech – Limp Bizkit
Blind, Falling Away from Me – Korn

Just a select few from my iPod

9 EegahInc August 6, 2008 at 4:45 am

Ack! Thanks so much for dredging up one of the horrors of my childhood. The workout song! Every morning at 9:15 my very manly 6th grade gym teacher (an otherwise nice lady) would set the needle down on a scratchy 45 of Blood, Sweat & Tears’ “You’ve Made Me So Very Happy” and drill us like we were in boot camp. Same song, same time, every day for an entire year. Horrible.

10 retrorambler August 6, 2008 at 5:09 am

Can’t agree with the Marley. Too mellow to have on a workout mix.

11 Joel Leggett August 6, 2008 at 5:10 am

Ok, I hate to be totally negative but this is the lamest list of workout songs I have ever seen. While there are some good songs for working out, i.e. AC/DC, Guns N Roses, many of these songs are just weak. I can’t imagine what kind of physical activity one would perform to a Bob Marley song other than getting off the couch to refill the bong. Weezer, White Stripes, Bob Dylan??? Are you even breaking a sweat?

I love Johnny Cash but his music is not something you listen to while getting huge. I have drunk my share of whiskey listening to Cash and that activity tended to make me fill large and in charge but working out had nothing to do with it.

If you are going to to the weight room to do anything more than just stand around and get in the way of people actually trying to accomplish something then I suggest you stick to music with a hard driving beat that will motivate you get get your heart rate to the same level. Your hard rock and heavy metal selections are good choices. However selections like Bob Marley, Johnny Cash, and Bob Dylan make me question the intensity of your work outs.

Don’t get me wrong, as a list of favorite songs this is not all that bad. However, as a workout playlist it fails on several levels

12 Bill Bartolotta August 6, 2008 at 5:21 am

The Bob Marley is an odd choice. Here are a couple of must haves:

Steve Stevens – Hellcats Take the Highway
Van Halen – Right Now.
Propellerheads – Spybreak

13 Andy August 6, 2008 at 5:23 am

Personally I find alot of these a bit too slow, although I was surprised to see The White Stripes (One of my favorite bands).

Where’s the
Nine Inch Nails?
Skillet?
Breaking Benjamin?
Nirvana?
P.O.D.?
Three Days Grace?

Things have to be pretty heavy to help me workout.

~DSM from the forums

14 James August 6, 2008 at 5:36 am

How could you give the post that title and not include “Harder, Better, Faster Stronger” by Daft Punk?

15 Conibear Trapp August 6, 2008 at 5:37 am

Your comments concerning “Eye of the Tiger” are just wrong. No list of motivational workout songs without this one can be taken seriously. The fact that you felt you had to include a disclaimer for this song to justify its absence proves its durability.

16 Maikl August 6, 2008 at 5:53 am

All the grunge rock songs; Pearl Jam (Alive, Porch), Nirvana (Smells Like Teen Spirit), Soundgarden, Temple of the Dog, Mudhoney, Alice in Chains…

17 ajax August 6, 2008 at 6:05 am

A workout song list with no Pantera?! Blasphemy!

These are great for raising your heart rate but are admittedly very metal:

Broken – Pantera
Cowboys from Hell – Pantera
What Drives The Weak – Shadows Fall
Stockholm Syndrome – Muse

And only one AC/DC song? Come on, Rock and Roll Ain’t Noise Pollution is an excellent workout starter.

I would also call anything by Bob Marley totally anti-workout.
It’s quintessential chill out music, hearing the Wailers immediately puts you in the prone position and shuts the brain off.

Remember Me – Hoobastank
Separate Ways – Journey
Hero – Foo Fighters
Bawitdaba – Kid Rock
Sweet Emotion – Aerosmith

These are all very accessible rock songs that get the blood moving without destroying the ear drums….like some of the Emo garbage on this list.

I’m confounded how The Killers made this list twice when Metallica, AC/DC, Zeppelin, and G’n'R only get one nod. This list is completely suspect. No one can get strong listening to indie music.

Did a woman write it?

18 Kevin (ReturnToManliness) August 6, 2008 at 6:17 am

This could be a list of “your” favorite songs, but some of these are a tough sell for a workout list. Maikl is right on the grunge stuff. VH’s Right Now should definitely be there. Marley is great but not on this list. Island in the Sun is awesome, but again, not on a workout list. J Cash is a legend, but putting him here is the same as adding a Sinatra tune or Deano melody.

Toughest thing about this is the fact everyone will have their own personal taste. Nevertheless, I’m sure it took awhile to pull it together, so decent effort.

19 Dred August 6, 2008 at 6:45 am

Sorry, but this list sucks. Most of the songs on here seem far too slow to be effective for hyping up the listener.

I’ve been perfecting my personal work out mix for the last year or so, included are bands such as Dragonforce, All That Remains, Bullet for My Valentine, Rancid, Unearth, and lots and lots of techno. Driving bass drum is the most important part of workout music. Keeps the pace.

20 Eric August 6, 2008 at 6:48 am

Finding the right workout song can be a challenge. If I could count the times I put a slow-ish song on my iPod and suffered in my routine because of it, well, then maybe I could by a Big Mac. But that would kind of defeat the purpose …

Lists are great, helpful lists are even better. I don’t own most of these songs … yet … but I’m sure they’ll make their way into iTunes sometime before the end of the week. Thanks for doing the legwork and building me a workout playlist ahead of time!

21 Centinel August 6, 2008 at 6:48 am

ajax, like you I first noticed the lack of Pantera. I also noticed the suspicious lack of punk music. No Sex Pistols? Dead Kennedys? Black Flag? Misfits? Hell, listening to Rancid’s “Indestructible” will get you bigger without any physical activity.

22 Marelize August 6, 2008 at 7:04 am

Great post. I’m glad that you included a bit of variety both in style as well as in tempo. I think having a slower song thrown into the mix every once in a while is great because it breaks up the monotony of a workout. And then it makes the really pumping songs that much more motivational.

23 ajax August 6, 2008 at 7:23 am

To be clear, I do like alot of the music on this list.

Johnny Cash, Marley, Dylan, Gorillaz, Beck are on regular rotation in my personal juke.

But none of them get the heart rate up.

@Centinel. Amen. Dropkick Murphys, Flogging Molly, Ramones, Goldfinger, Chumbawumba (kidding).

24 Jay August 6, 2008 at 7:27 am

dashboard confessional being on this list seems like a terrible, terrible mistake.

Also, to the guy who thought you can’t work out to dylan, I guess you aren’t familiar with that particular song.

If you don’t mind the embarrassment factor, the band that picks me up the most when I am running is Taking Back Sunday (cute without the e, there’s no i in team, you know how i do) and also some Atmosphere (little man, pour me another) or if you want to get really hip and indie, check out some Crystal Castles

Nothing says arguments over the internet like talking about music tastes. I usually just summarize everything anyone can ever say with “your favorite band sucks” and move along.

25 Joshy B August 6, 2008 at 7:31 am

I would have loved to see Daft Punk’s “Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger” on this list. I thought that lyrics like “Work it harder, make it better, do it faster, makes us stronger,” this track would have been a ‘must-have’ for any work out mix.

26 Jonathan Mead August 6, 2008 at 7:56 am

Galvanize is an awesome song to work out to.

I especially like listening to Rage and Tool when I work out. Definitely motivates.

27 y0mbo August 6, 2008 at 8:04 am

I’ve found that the entire album And Justice for All… by Metallica is good for running.

28 ShaunMac August 6, 2008 at 8:33 am

I would like to also submit “Fight Like A Brave” by the Red Hot Chili Peppers

29 Hayden Tompkins August 6, 2008 at 8:37 am

4. “Sabotage“ – Beastie Boys
10. “The Distanceâ€? – Cake
16. “Lose Yourself“ – Eminem
24. “Jump Around“ – House of Pain
25. “Numb / Encore“ – Jay-Z & Linkin Park
40. “Testify“ – Rage Against the Machine
41. “Bulls on Parade“ – Rage Against the Machine

YESYESYESYES

I would only add, PRODIGY. :)

30 Joe Day August 6, 2008 at 8:38 am

Awesome post, hilarious comments! Who know a workout mix could be soooooo controversial!

I could see myself listening to Bob Marley if I were doing pilates. But how manly is that? But if I’m on rep 11 of 13 squats, it’s gotta be:

Equestrian by Les Savy Fav
Neighborhood #3 by Arcade Fire
Machine Gun by Portishead

Or…anything by Botch.

31 anon August 6, 2008 at 8:42 am

HAHAHA … you actually have MJ’s Beat It on there. … HAHAHAAA…

I would love to see you hit a powerlfiting gym and suggest that!!!

This blog has jumped the shark.

32 Cameron August 6, 2008 at 8:47 am

@ anon,

While you may be right about not hearing MJ in powerlifting gym, this list was intended for all types of workouts, from running, to lifting, to cycling. There’s plenty of other songs on the list that would be found in a powerlifting gym like AC/DC, Guns&Roses and Rage.

33 ptitz August 6, 2008 at 9:09 am

loser? naaaah…..

bob marley? thats more like laying on a couch all day song.

and fall out boy? no. just…. no.

34 whsdrum August 6, 2008 at 9:14 am

I really don’t listen to music when I work out. They usually have music on at the gym, but I don’t conscously listen to it. If there is music though it should be fairly consistent and be kind of this background beat the your subconsious tunes into.

Really though, when I work out, it is a time for mind mind to let go and relax while my body works out. Controlling your breathing and heartrate create a meditative state that makes working out rather relaxing. How can you listen to your body if you’re listening to all of this rock instead?

35 Zach Nielsen August 6, 2008 at 9:32 am

No “Eye of the Tiger?”

Come on.

36 John at Hella Sound August 6, 2008 at 10:28 am

Man, tough crowd!

@ajax, I agree w/ Pantera as a choice. And Muse “New Born” was one of my favorite songs to start up my heavy bag routine when I did Muay Thai.

Tool’s “Hooker with a Penis” and “Ænema” can also be good psych-up songs for the right workouts. The triplet pattens the drummer frequently incorporates are amazing for running–something we musically like to incorporate into our songs at Hella Sound.

@Cameron, thanks a lot for the mention! I can dig where you’re coming from on some of these songs that people don’t agree with. I would guess that lyrics are an important part of music to you–the meaning behind the song being a big motivator. Music can be so subjective, and not everybody listens that way, but I can dig why you’d get motivation by some of these songs. Thanks again!

37 Max Cascone August 6, 2008 at 11:12 am

A real man’s workout playlist includes Behemoth, Necrophagist, Decapitated, Lamb of God, Meshuggah, Daath, 3 Inches of Blood, and Strapping Young Lad. Otherwise you’re faking it.

38 Max Cascone August 6, 2008 at 11:13 am

Oh, and Gojira. Can’t forget them – amazing French metal.

39 lee August 6, 2008 at 11:50 am

i can honestly this list was not very well thought out. I mean come on “beat it”

40 Chad August 6, 2008 at 11:56 am

I think that if something pumps you up listen to it. You can’t really define a list of 52 workout songs that are applicable to everyone. Personally my list is all 90’s Grunge Era rock (STP, Local H, Soundgarden, Butthole Surfers), Desert Rock, (Kyuss, QotSA, Meat Puppets) with a “healthy sprinkling” of Metal. (Pantera, Machine Head, old Static X).

I personally believe that if its being played on the radio and you can dance to it, it most definitely SHOULD NOT be on any workout mix, ever.

41 Art Gonzalez August 6, 2008 at 12:35 pm

I would add “Coming to America” by Neil Diamond. It always inspires me and pumps me up!

Many blessings,

Art Gonzalez
Check my Squidoo Lens at: Quantum Knights

42 Nesagwa August 6, 2008 at 1:54 pm

Look, all you really need is to get the original Rocky score, throw away every song other than Going The Distance and set that thing on repeat.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4Wy_8Lt9wU&feature=related

There is nothing that Bill Conti cant make feel epic.

43 Frank August 6, 2008 at 4:48 pm

Personally, I have lots of hardcore, fast tempo tunes on my workout list, but I have to mix in some slower stuff to change up the pace–and I do workout HARD. Perhaps it’s because I’m almost 50 and I just can’t listen to an endless string of Pantera, Megadeth and AC/DC. That would make me very cranky. So, I would definitely throw some Marley in there. Dylan…probably not.

44 Music August 6, 2008 at 5:53 pm

Thats funny….songs to help you get bigger. how is a song going to make you bigger?

45 Mark L August 6, 2008 at 6:35 pm

Some of the songs listed are good for the workout.
I have a couple just off the top of my head.

Die MF Die -Dope
Whatever- Godsmack

46 Dave August 6, 2008 at 7:41 pm

Best…post idea…EVER!

47 jared August 6, 2008 at 7:42 pm

Baba O’Reily the Who.

48 Centinel August 6, 2008 at 8:55 pm

jared, that was the second thought I had after the missing Pantera. Tonight I worked out to Lords of the New Church and New Model Army. It seemed to work just fine. Tomorrow I’m thinking the Black Keys and Silver Chair. Maybe the Beastie Boys or Primus if I am feeling the groove is needed.

49 Travis August 7, 2008 at 5:38 am

Every single song on this list should be in the electronica genre.
Sorry, but definitely not pumping enough!

50 Vincent August 7, 2008 at 6:01 am

Yup, half those songs are already on my ipod, i guess i will have to check out the other half. good Job!

51 Steve August 7, 2008 at 6:21 am

No Andrew W.K. or Pantera, yet you find space for Arcade Fire and Cashboard Depressional? COMPLETE, EPIC FAIL.

52 sean August 7, 2008 at 7:03 am

one of my favorite songs to get me amped up is “the champ” by ghostface. that’s good for a mid-run adrenaline boost.

i gotta say, some more heavy metal is needed in this discussion. i’m partial to chimaira, songs like “power trip”, “pure hatred”, “nothing remains”. lamb of god, static-x, arch enemy, nothingface, as i lay dying, shadows fall, spineshank, or even some slipknot (not much better than fast and angry to get you through a workout). for the foo fighters suggestion, what about “monkey wrench”? that’s pretty uptempo and rockin. for the more punk/ska sound, how about “superman” by goldfinger, some less than jake or reel big fish. “at the speed of a yellow bullet” by head automatica (though most of their first disc would work).

53 Shean August 7, 2008 at 11:30 am

Not sure guys. There should be a rap song in the top 20 at least– on top of it, the first two rap songs are jokes of songs, esp. House of Pain.

I offer this up as a sincere critique that I have with the Art of Manliness, at times, the site may be a bit too, white washed. Considering the problems that we face in the black community with men, NOT manning up, I like to look to the art of manliness as a , source, and way to express masculinity without misogyny or gangsta type posturing.

That said, I don’t often mention this critique, but I think if we are men at this table. It can stand and be talked about and argued about, with respect. I love this blog, I think men have been suffering from an effiminization and I want to bring our good names back. That said I’d like all men from everywhere at this table. May not be the place for this sort of discussion but if not here, where?

54 Wayne August 7, 2008 at 1:19 pm

@Joel:
funniest reply on the board “I can’t imagine what kind of physical activity one would perform to a Bob Marley song other than getting off the couch to refill the bong.” LMMFAO!!!!!
I noticed Roxette and Cher didn’t make the list.
I read all the replies looking for a mention of The Crystal Method, can’t believe I’m the only one they pump up. Same goes for DMX. Of course Rage makes the list, man I miss them.

55 Chris August 8, 2008 at 7:00 am

Most of this list is for the modern multicultural, angry masses. Most of it is pure junk. Surely, your comment about Survivor’s classic song proves me right. Clearly, there is so much classic rock and even hair metal from the ’80’s that would make a man pump hard in the gym. No real, red-blooded American white guy would listen to the non-melodic excuse for music on this list.

56 Brian August 8, 2008 at 11:23 am

While I like many of the songs listed, I couldn’t see myself working out to them. “Crossroads”, “No Woman, No Cry” and “Voodoo Child”, are three examples where I LOVE the song, but you wouldn’t find them on my list of workout songs.

“Welcome to the Jungle” is definitely on my list, though.

One that has yet to be mentioned that I have to throw into the mix is “Crazy Train” (Ozzy Osbourne)

57 Mario August 9, 2008 at 6:10 am

Loser by Beck?

That one’s not only got a lame tempo, but if you’re actually listening to it, it’s bound to zap you out of the weight room in seconds.

58 Mark L August 9, 2008 at 11:34 am

I would like to add to my other previous songs

Liberate-Disturbed

59 Logan August 9, 2008 at 1:33 pm

Does anyone have a torrent for good workout music? Could anyone make one? We’d all be very pleased!

60 evan mathews August 11, 2008 at 2:56 am

Workout music should have a type of cadence, whether it be 4/4 time or 1/4 time, etc. Most of this stuff is blather. This list, for the most part is worhless. Try again.

61 Michael August 11, 2008 at 10:27 am

12 Stones – Anthem for the Underdog

Track #4 – Adrenalin (on the 2007 World’s Strongest Man soundtrack)

62 Logan August 11, 2008 at 1:40 pm

Does anyone have a torrent for good workout music? Could anyone make one? We’d all be very pleased!

63 Kenneth August 11, 2008 at 1:59 pm

Cold Hard Bitch by Jet

64 Rage Kage August 12, 2008 at 12:35 pm

This reads like a playlist of songs I would use to put myself to sleep. There’s some good one on there, but as has been stated, most of these songs seem too mellow.

65 Project Swole - Build Muscle and Lose Fat August 12, 2008 at 6:14 pm

I can agree with a couple of these songs, but vital artists are missing, and there is an over abundance of estrogen-driven tunes like Weezer’s Island in the Sun.

See also:
Slipknot
Disturbed
Static-X
Any other Linkin Park
old Metallica
Nirvana’s Smells Like Teen Spirit

66 vee August 14, 2008 at 2:02 am

Eye of the Tiger, cheesy because its overplayed? Well we can scratch a whole bunch of that list then too, like Thunderstruck, Hurricane, The Distance, Jump around, Walk the Line, Beat it, and the list goes on.

Oh and I’d rather watch Rocky III, :p

Workout songs are a good idea, but it is a very subjective idea.

As for those that are making valid comments about the slower songs, some ppl actually remember to warm up and down with stretches.

67 Devi August 15, 2008 at 7:04 am

I love Dashboard Confessional, but if ANY of their songs started playing while in the middle of a run, I’d collapse on the treadmill. DC inspires me to curl up in the corner of a darkened room, not run another 2 miles.

68 Milo August 19, 2008 at 7:26 am

I recommend Guano Apes – Open Your Eyes

69 Ian August 19, 2008 at 10:37 am

Awesome list!

Few from the older generations add…

Iron Man by Black Sabbath
Devil went down to Georgia by Charlie Daniels Band
Slow Ride by Foghat
Hit me with your best shot by Pat Benatar
Jungle Love by Steve Miller Band

One newer one too:

Down by 311

70 Hill Rat August 25, 2008 at 8:19 pm

Not nearly enough punk rock on this list IMHO, but then again 2 minute songs don’t give you much time to work out. Anyway here are a few of my workout faves:

Bad Brains – Sail On, FVK, I, Don’t Bother Me
Minutmen – Vietnam
Misfits – Death Comes Ripping, Bullet, She
Fu Manchu – Evil Eye, Written in Stone

71 alan September 2, 2008 at 9:21 am

obviously these list are so subjective it’s hard not to have some objections, but overall I think it’s a great list with a lot of variety.

72 Nick September 4, 2008 at 6:07 am

How did you manage to leave out “Stronger” by Kanye?

73 darren September 4, 2008 at 2:04 pm

how about ‘Eye of the Tiger’ by Survivor.

it surely helped Rocky Balboa

74 Smiler September 12, 2008 at 2:09 pm

Fall Out Boy! and that has to be the worst cover ever. For shame!
Nice list, but could be for any thing from Best Dad Rock Album ever! to most played songs on college radio. Doesn’t have a work out feel to it.

75 Dude September 17, 2008 at 12:05 pm

What ever happened to working out without music? Much more manly. It’s just you and the effort.

76 Ryan September 17, 2008 at 3:21 pm

That’s a pretty terrible playlist. I’m almost certain that no song by Dashboard Confessional should make its way onto anything ‘manly’ related.. Not that it has to be all about distortion and screaming to be on the man’s workout list– Dashboard Confessional embodies what is wrong with the upcoming generation of men. We’re too busy crying, getting bad haircuts, and painting our nails to be productive.

77 Michael September 19, 2008 at 8:32 pm

This web site is my new favorite, just love it. But I have to say, this list is almost entirely bunk. Most of the music on the list is for 12 year olds and much of it lacks any real adrenaline at all. Where is the Slipknot, Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden or the like? Rap of any sort belongs on no list for individuals who can either read or articulate. The Rolling Stones, to work out with? That has GOT to be some sort of sarcasm. HAS to be. I’d sooner work out to Christopher Cross and The Little River Band. How about Motorhead, Otep and Pantera? Something, driving, energetic and a touch angry?

78 John September 29, 2008 at 9:04 am

Hate to say this, but while the list has undoubtedly a lot of good tracks, i must agree with quite a few of the comments that they ain’t exactly work out music for guy’s guy. I do have a few gay friends who may enjoy this sorta music for a workout.

79 Kevin October 3, 2008 at 7:03 pm

I have workout playlist of all sorts of music too. I forgot to put Beastie Boys on mine though! “It’s a Sabotage!”

80 jack the clipper October 5, 2008 at 5:28 pm

I load my mp3 player with lots of different artists and tempos, set it on shuffle and whatever i feel liike listening to at that particular moment is the right music…..
If it doesn’t fit my mood i just go to the next one………

81 Greg October 8, 2008 at 1:46 pm

Great list. thanks

82 gibson85 October 9, 2008 at 7:06 pm

Song title “Paint It Black” by the Stones isn’t correct- it’s “Painted Black.” And where is Revolution by The Beatles?

83 mikeray October 11, 2008 at 7:30 pm

Several good choices, everyone has different tastes in music:
“Loser” and “Should I Stay or Should I Go” are on my workout mp3 right now.
“The Distance” should be.
Without “More Human than Human” by White Zombie the list is incomplete, IMHO.

84 Sultan Magyar October 17, 2008 at 10:27 am

On the whole i really enjoyed your list ,but for the life of me the ONLY Bob Marley song I would use as a workout song is “Exodus”. I’m glad “Voodoo Chile” by Jimi Hendrix made the list because that song reminds me of a story i once heard about an “elderly” (over 65) dude who was VERY strong and would come into the gym and embarrass wimpy young guys by doing HEAVY breathing squats with that playing in the background.

Anyway here’s my additions to the list for what it’s worth:

“Evil”-Earth Wind and Fire
“Iron Man”- Black Sabbath
“Exodus”-Bob Marley
“superbad” -James Brown
if you can find an instrumental version then also try “Jesus walk with me”-Kanye West
and instead of ” Beat it” I would use “Bad” or “Smooth Criminal” by Michael Jackson
and since you have a couple of “mellow” songs on the list why not
“Like a Rock”-Bob Seger
and don’t laugh but what about the song from “Mulan” “I’ll make a man out of you”

Thanks for your time

85 Sultan Magyar October 17, 2008 at 11:01 am

@evan mathews

Check out my list and tell me what you think

86 Sultan Magyar October 17, 2008 at 11:12 am

@Shean

I couldn’t agree with you more Brother and check out the list i’ve compiled I hope you like it

87 Sultan Magyar October 17, 2008 at 11:30 am

@ptitz

It could’ve beem worse.He could’ve picked “Redemption Song” by Bob Marley LOL

88 T Mot October 21, 2008 at 11:30 am

Whoever made this playlist works out like a woman. The End

89 NTO October 27, 2008 at 10:55 am

@Cameron, you’re very right. I’ve seen a lot of comments about music to pump iron, but a playlist might be suitable for other workouts. I personally like running and cycling, and that’s when “Beat it” makes a lot of sense… they play songs like “Footloose”, at the gym for cycling sessions, and a lot, a lot of electronica.

I also saw a comment about Roxette not making it in the list. I think Marie’s voice is incredibly energizing and can lift you up from a couch to make you hit the road immediately or set in you in the mood to lift weights.

Talking about electronica, almost any track by Gigi D’Agostino erases any lazy thought on my mind and makes me focus on speed and the beat.

90 NTO October 27, 2008 at 11:01 am

Oh yes… I might combine two comments above in one suggestion, “Harder, Better, Faster, Sgronger” with Daft Punk feat. Kanye West is awesome to workout.

As well as many other Daft Punk and Kanye songs…

91 Talmage D. October 28, 2008 at 11:21 am

Great list… obviously built mostly on personal preferences of the author though. I definitely recommend to everyone a band called AMERICAN BANG!!! http://www.americanbangrock.com & http://www.myspace.com/americanbang

Also AUTOVAUGHN, HANK III, and SHOOTER JENNINGS

Just some suggestions

92 adamredwoods November 1, 2008 at 9:13 pm

Add to list:

Hum – Stars (from the Cadillac commerical)
Hum – The Pod
Prodigy – Firestarter
PJ Harvey – Long Snake Moan
Basil Pouledaris – Anvil of Crom
Rick Hansen – St. Elmos Fire
Underworld – Two Months Off

93 Andrew Barbour November 2, 2008 at 6:30 am

The correct answer is the entire “Jailbreak” album by Thin Lizzy. That is all you need. However, you may also substitute other albums by Thin Lizzy, including Bad Reputation, Black Rose, or Johnny the Fox.

94 Meghan November 5, 2008 at 10:48 pm

Lots of my favorites are already on the list but I have to add Nemesis by Shriekback and Let it Rock by Kevin Rudolph.

95 Trevor November 15, 2008 at 8:02 pm

decent stab at a list. here are some that are on my workout mix now. enjoy.

Party Hard – Andrew W.K.
Dragula – Rob Zombie
The Pretender – Foo Fighters
Remember the Name – Fort Minor
Blue Monday – Orgy
Scotty Doesn’t Know – Lustra
Fever for the Flavor – Hot Action Cop
It’s My Life – Bon Jovi
Move Your Body – Eiffel 65
I’m Shipping up to Boston – Dropkick Murphys
My Sharona – The Ramones
Du Hast – Rammstein
Smack That – Akon

96 Joe November 16, 2008 at 8:59 pm

Did the blogger ever listen to any of the other tracks on his CDs besides the ones they play on the radio/MTV?

It’s annoying how all the wankers think sandman is the best metallica song. Most of their best stuff is from before that album. I have alot of metalica in my workut mix but not that song. Ever heard of “hit the lights” “shortest straw” “am I evil”

Shipping off to boston is ok but over played and the murphys have even better tunes. Again there is a ton of their stuff on my ipod. How about “The Warriors Code” ” the fighting 69th” “rocky road to dublin” “black velvet band” I never miss a rep when I hear “far away coast” very inspirational lyrics and when “workers song” comes on I wish I could turn it up loud enough to make the walls crumble.

No shadows fall? yes my taste in workout music leans toward metal. I love weezer but “island in the sun”? come on thats the kind of stuff I bring headphones to the gym to avoid.

97 you smell November 19, 2008 at 5:01 am

your taste in music is terrible and i hope you fall down a well and no-one comes to save you!

98 Ant November 21, 2008 at 9:15 pm

This is perhaps the worst workout music list ever……. good songs but def not workout material. Bob Marley? WTF?

99 Jambamagamba November 25, 2008 at 11:55 am

Davidian by Machinehead, and pretty much anything by Pantera.

100 JJ November 28, 2008 at 7:21 am

All you manly men here whine like little girls when you don’t agree about some songs on this list.
Boo hoo.

“great songs for running, lifting, spinning and any other workout you can think of.” – Not only running, not only lifting, just everything that has to do with working out.

“In creating this list much attention was also paid to finding a good mix of genres”
So that everyone could find some songs they would like to use on their work out cd’s.
Seriously, 4 year old girls whine less than you “men”.

101 Nova November 30, 2008 at 11:37 am

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!

102 Nova November 30, 2008 at 11:47 am

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)!…

103 Fred December 1, 2008 at 7:42 pm

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.

104 John December 7, 2008 at 2:11 pm

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 -

105 Michael December 7, 2008 at 6:09 pm

Tennessee Ernie Ford – Sixteen Tons

As good as I once was – Toby Keith

Save a horse (ride a cowboy) – Big & Rich

106 Kyle December 18, 2008 at 1:31 am

What. No Disturbed?

W.

T.

F.

107 white magpie December 21, 2008 at 10:21 am

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

108 Sky December 22, 2008 at 3:39 pm

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.

109 Cameron December 23, 2008 at 11:58 am

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.

110 rav2833 December 26, 2008 at 6:09 pm

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!

111 Jack December 27, 2008 at 9:44 pm

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.

112 Dill December 28, 2008 at 8:27 pm

this list sucks balls

113 Ken Fitzpatrick December 31, 2008 at 6:29 am

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

114 Nate Hays January 6, 2009 at 10:00 am

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!

115 Nate Hays January 6, 2009 at 10:11 am

Also- “Feel So Numb” by Rob Zombie is an awesome song to lift to

116 H. E. Bianchi January 9, 2009 at 4:31 pm

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.

117 Matt January 10, 2009 at 9:01 am

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

118 lynn January 11, 2009 at 11:33 pm

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

119 denver hayes January 12, 2009 at 6:06 pm

this list is just confirmation that the art of manliness website is actually run by 15yr old girls…

120 Tim Roth January 15, 2009 at 7:59 pm

Do you know that you can download playlists for gym works free from this blog?
http://gym-music.blogspot.com/

Pretty cool stuff!

121 khalil January 24, 2009 at 6:52 pm

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

122 MetalMeatHammer January 27, 2009 at 8:47 pm

Slayer

123 Zarteaga February 4, 2009 at 9:32 pm

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.

124 Steven Copley February 10, 2009 at 9:30 pm

Open Your Eyes by the Guano apes makes me want to flip over a car.

Just thought I’d share.

125 Lucia February 13, 2009 at 3:47 pm

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 ;)

126 Michael February 16, 2009 at 1:39 pm

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?

127 David Ridarelli February 17, 2009 at 1:01 am

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.

128 tim February 19, 2009 at 6:23 pm

Wow. This was th worst list imaginable. maybe 5 good workout songs. thanks for wasting my time ass#ole.

129 Kevster March 3, 2009 at 1:37 pm

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.

130 Ashley March 4, 2009 at 2:27 pm

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!

131 Qdizzle March 5, 2009 at 10:03 am

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

132 Brain March 8, 2009 at 6:01 pm

try “ohio is for lovers” hawthorn heights and “The district sleeps alone tonight” – postal service.

133 Stan March 10, 2009 at 8:25 pm

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

134 van March 12, 2009 at 10:19 pm

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.

135 CJay March 17, 2009 at 6:01 am

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

136 tfm March 24, 2009 at 6:56 pm

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?

137 Zach March 30, 2009 at 9:13 pm

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.

138 Ken April 21, 2009 at 3:09 pm

The Beast by Tech N9ne

139 tom May 3, 2009 at 4:14 pm

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.

140 kynon May 6, 2009 at 1:46 am

two greats to work out to are

incubus make yourself

your disease by saliva

141 lllll May 6, 2009 at 3:07 pm

if “Walk” and “Cowboys From Hell” by Pantera and don’t pump you up, then you sir, have no soul.

142 Rooseter! May 19, 2009 at 3:25 pm

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.

143 Chris June 7, 2009 at 10:19 pm

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.

144 shiva July 8, 2009 at 1:21 pm

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!!

145 Rude Barista July 12, 2009 at 3:24 am

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.

146 MIKEY July 17, 2009 at 3:36 pm

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

147 The Rick A Show July 21, 2009 at 10:19 pm

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

148 johnny July 23, 2009 at 1:31 pm

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!

149 Zach July 23, 2009 at 9:50 pm

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

150 Yoga online September 10, 2009 at 7:01 pm

It’s a great song list

151 Aaron September 15, 2009 at 12:50 pm

Speed up the routine with some metal!

Static X – Push it
Mudvayne – dig, determined
Metallica – Master Puppets

152 Steve September 17, 2009 at 10:03 pm

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

153 Brad September 28, 2009 at 8:32 pm

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!!!

154 Nathan November 26, 2009 at 7:03 am

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.

155 michael gentry January 2, 2010 at 2:21 pm

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

156 jennlett January 9, 2010 at 2:19 pm

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

157 Toneezy January 12, 2010 at 4:46 am

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.

158 Country January 22, 2010 at 6:54 pm

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.

159 BK January 25, 2010 at 2:04 pm

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.

160 The Best January 28, 2010 at 10:46 pm

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.

161 Justin Symonds March 9, 2010 at 1:45 am

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

162 mufleen March 17, 2010 at 6:29 am

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……….

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