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

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 aidâ€”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 the 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

Song cover, ac dc by thunderstruck.

2. “Say This Sooner“– The Almost

Album cover, the almost southern weather.

3. “Keep the Car Running“ – Arcade Fire

4. “Sabotage“ – Beastie Boys

Song album by sabotage.

5. “Loser“ – Beck

Song album by beck.

6. “Ain’t No Easy Way“ – Black Rebel Motorcycle Club

Album cover of black rebel motorcycle club.

7. “Hurricane“ – Bob Dylan

8. “No Woman No Cry (Live At the Lyceum)” – Bob Marley

Album cover by Bob Marley.

9. “Unconditional” – The Bravery

Album cover, the bravery illustration.

10. “The Distance” – Cake

A fashion nugget illustration.

11. “Galvanize” – The Chemical Brothers

12. “Should I Stay Or Should I Go” – The Clash

Album cover, the clash combat rock.

13. “Crossroads” – Cream

Song cover, the cream of clapton.

14. “I Believe In a Thing Called Love” – The Darkness

Album cover, the darkness.

15. “Hands Down“ – Dashboard Confessional

Album cover, dashboard confessional.

16. “Lose Yourself“ – Eminem

Music cover, 8 mile ad mobile court.

17. “Sunday Shining” – Finley Quaye

Song cover by Finley Quaye.

18. “Everlong“ – Foo Fighters

Album cover of fou fighters illustrations.

19. “The First Single (You Know Me)“ – The Format

Girl head illustration.

20. “Flathead” – The Fratellis

The fratellis illustration.

21. “Naked“ – The Goo Goo Dolls

A good doll illustration.

22. “Feel Good Inc“ – Gorillaz

Gorillaz illustration.

23. “Welcome to the Jungle“ – Guns N’ Roses

Guns n roses illustration.

24. “Jump Around“ – House of Pain

Lyrics of house of pain.

25. “Numb / Encore“ – Jay-Z & Linkin Park

Game album of jayz linkin park illustration.

26. “Voodoo Child (Slight Return)“ – Jimi Hendrix

Sound cover by Jimi Hendrix.

27. “Bleed American“ – Jimmy Eat World

Trophies about Jimmy eat world.

28. “I Walk the Line“ – Johnny Cash

Song cover, i walk the line by Johnny Cash.

29. “D.A.N.C.E.” – Justice

Church sign illustration.

30. “Somebody Told Me“ – The Killers

The killers hot fuss illustration.

31. “When You Were Young“ – The Killers

Album cover, the killers by Jams Town.

32. “Red Morning Light” – Kings of Leon

Album cover, kings of leon about youth and manhood illustration.

33. “Immigrant Song“ – Led Zeppelin

Song cover of led zeppelin.

34. “Last Light“ – Matt Pond PA

Song cover, last light by Matt Pond Pa.

35. “Beat It“ – Michael Jackson OR Fall Out Boy (feat. John Mayer)

Song cover of John Mayer.

36. “Enter Sandman“ – Metallica

Album cover metallica illustration.

37. “Always Love“ – Nada Surf

Album cover of nadu surf illustration.

38. “Here It Goes Again“ – O.K. Go

Album cover of ok go illustration.

39 “B.O.B.” – OutKast

Men giving pose in front of us flag.

40. “Testify“ – Rage Against the Machine

Album cover of rage against the machine illustration.

41. “Bulls on Parade“ – Rage Against the Machine

Evil empire illustration.

42. “Black Betty“ – Ram Jam

Ram jam illustration.

43. “Hide Away” – Rock Kills Kid

Album cover of rock kills kid.

44. “Paint It Black“ – The Rolling Stones

Song cover, the rolling stones by Hot Rocks.

45. “Start Me Up (Live)” – The Rolling Stones

Song cover, shine a light by Rolling Stones.

46. “Hands Open“ – Snow Patrol

Snow patrol illustration.

47. “Reptilia“ – The Strokes

Room on fire illustration.

48. “Oh! Gravity“ – Switchfoot

Switchfoot illustration.

49. “All Because of You” – U2

Album cover of how to dismantle an atomic bomb.

50. “Island In the Sun“ – Weezer

Song cover by Weezer.

51. “Seven Nation Army“ – The White Stripes

The white stripes illustration.

52. “Woman“ – Wolfmother

Wolfmother illustration.

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 the last several decades.

David

Submitted by: David in Los Angeles, California