The 11 best songs for your workout

There is no better motivator than a good, fast-paced (and most definitely loud) tune when it comes to working out. Listening to some quality music is proven to help your exercise regime, distracting you from getting tired or wanting to stop exercising all together whether you are on your cross trainer, treadmill or running on the street.

However, did you know music that is too fast may have detrimental effects on your performance and enjoyment too?

It’s a balancing act, this exercising music business, so we’re here to help.

There are many ways to motivate yourself linking with music and sound; a reward after you finish exercising, working out with a friend including a sentimental playlist and having a dedicated personal trainer who knows exactly which song will get the heart pumping can all fuel your fitness progress.

Here are 11 of the most motivating songs to work out to. How many do you already have on your playlist?

Tina Turner – (Simply) The Best

And it’s simply a classic. This positive song is sure to inspire you and make you feel like a hero to boot. Originally released as part of Tina’s Foreign Affairs album in 1989, this song is actually a cover of the song The Best originally recorded by Bonnie Tyler in 1988.

• The medium pace of this song is great for your initial warm up; ensuring you don’t overwork yourself before your muscles are sufficiently warmed up and the lyrics inspire you to make this session your best yet.

Eric Prydz – Call on Me

Made famous by its music video featuring a number of scantily clad women and one man performing aerobics, this song will get your blood pumping and get you working that little bit harder.

• As the music video shows, this song should be used whilst doing aerobics, the tempo will ensure you keep in time with your aerobatic movements and keep working at a constant, fast pace.

Bon Jovi – It’s My Life

One of Bon Jovi’s most well-known post-1980s hit singles is a definite for any workout playlist. The hard rock anthem teaches you to take control of your life and do want you want to do with it, ie working out!

• The powerful rock riffs of this song make it the perfect choice when working on arm weights. Whilst listening to the fast paced music you will choose to accept a higher degree of difficulty to feel the burn.

Queen – Don’t Stop Me Now

Originally seen as one of the lesser songs of the Queen repertoire, when it was first released in 1979, it has since grown in stature through its use in advertisements, television programmes and films. This song will make sure you never stop working out, well not for the 3 minutes and 29 seconds duration of the song at least.

• This song is great to listen to whilst on a treadmill, cross trainer or exercise bike as the fast paced, catchy tune will up your heart rate and improve your mileage.

Queen – We Will Rock You

This song, regarded as one of Queen’s greatest ever hits that shares its name with the Queen musical set up by Brian May himself, with have you clapping your hands and stomping your feet along with the famous beat in no time at all.

• Singing, or banging, along to this song is a must so it should definitely be used whilst stretching before you begin your workout. The tempo and amazing guitar riff will raise your heart rate and get you pumped up for the workout ahead.

Calvin Harris – Let’s Go ft Ne-Yo

An addictive tune that will give you an instant burst of energy and can be played again and again. This song teaches you a few exercising lessons too; it’s not about what you’ve done, it’s about what you are doing. Get proactive!

• To be used when you need it most and are faced with a uphill struggle as your workout session begins to take its toll, this tune is perfect when you need to feel revitalised by making you focus on getting through this one little hard push and then let the rest fall into place.

Imagine Dragons – On Top of the World

A song that quite literally makes you feel like you are on top of the world, this catchy tune expresses perfectly that workout feeling where your begin to feel invincible; like you can keep going forever.

• This catchy song is ideal for muscle building as it raises your heart rate and makes you feel unbeatable; lifting weights suddenly becomes a challenge to excite.

Journey – Don’t Stop Believin’

One of the top selling tracks in digital history that has been featured heavily on television and other media platforms, Don’t Stop Believin’ has become a cult classic that will always get you singing along.

• The fast tempo and strong rock influences make this track perfect for the cross trainer and any other exercise you find challenging, making you want to keep going.

Survivor – Eye of the Tiger

Ever since it was used in the training montages of Rocky III and The Karate Kid, it was destined for workout greatness; one of the most inspiring and motivating workout songs of all time.

• Perfect at getting you into “the zone” before a workout, this song is a great motivator to get your hard racing. Just close your eyes and picture yourself in a training montage.

Swedish House Mafia – Don’t You Worry, Child

This dance track was the last to be released by Swedish House Mafia before the group broke up but has become a classic electronic tune that will get you motivated and ready to work out to the best of your ability.

• The mix of a slow and fast tempo for this song is ideal for any exercise you plan to do for a long period of time, like any cardio-based exercises, keeping you focused but also raising your heart rate to increase your mileage and enjoyment of the workout.

The White Stripes – Seven Nation Army

The simple beat and hypnotic music video this track features makes it an instantly catchy tune that will stick in your head long after you finish listening to it. Great at making you keep pushing to work out even harder and harder and the perfect pace for a bit of power walking.

• This track and its long, continuous beat make it perfect to listen to when keeping a constant rhyme on a treadmill. Towards the end of the song you can start to turn it up a notch as the increasing tempo will make you want to run faster or increase the difficulty to really challenge yourself.

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