# Best song for workout or exercise **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 23, 2020, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-song-for-workout-or-exercise/918792 "2020-08-23T02:45:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2020, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-song-for-workout-or-exercise/918792/1 "2020-08-23T02:45:41Z")
There are some studies that show listening to music you like during exercise can increase your performance 5-10 percent. So it’s worth putting some effort into music that inspires you. I once read the most popular exercise song is supposedly Eminem’s Lose Yourself. (These days. I’m sure Let’s Get Physical has its day). Not my favourite. What are your favourites? ---
**Author:** ![Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hilarity_n.suze/32/6223_2.png) [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hilarity_N.Suze)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2020, 6:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-song-for-workout-or-exercise/918792/2 "2020-08-23T06:52:51Z")
Uptown Funk. Crazy Little Thing Called Love. Twist & Shout. Only the Good Die Young. Hey Ya. U Can’t Touch This. Whatever gets YOU going and tapping your foot. Lose Yourself would not work for me as a workout song. Frankly some of the songs that would, though, are not songs I would otherwise choose to listen to. I won’t mention them on peril of earworming myself. Music helps. Once I was at a silly party and we were playing horseshoes, which I had never done before. My team was doing horrible. I was doing the worst of anyone. Someone put on some good dancin’ music and we perked right up and won. I actually threw two successful whatever-they’re-called that pushed us into winning. (I don’t know the terminology as I never played that game again.) I credit the music. ---
**Author:** ![LegendsofClear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/77aa72/32.png) [@LegendsofClear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LegendsofClear)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2020, 6:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-song-for-workout-or-exercise/918792/3 "2020-08-23T06:59:06Z")
Gonna Fly Now, really anything from the Rocky movies. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2020, 7:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-song-for-workout-or-exercise/918792/4 "2020-08-23T07:52:23Z")
**Tear it Up** by The Cramps [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/QMth9WBwBxk/hqdefault.jpg "The Cramps - Tear this damn place up!!! (Live)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMth9WBwBxk) ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2020, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-song-for-workout-or-exercise/918792/5 "2020-08-23T14:32:36Z")
Kush. Inhale. Exhale. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2020, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-song-for-workout-or-exercise/918792/6 "2020-08-23T14:38:18Z")
Since the OP specified one song, I’d go with Alice’s Restaurant. It’s just over 18 min long. That’s a decent workout. 😀 ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2020, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-song-for-workout-or-exercise/918792/7 "2020-08-23T20:46:46Z")
For the sake of conversation, go nuts if you want to list a few favourites. ---
**Author:** ![Icarus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icarus/32/72_2.png) [@Icarus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icarus)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2020, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-song-for-workout-or-exercise/918792/8 "2020-08-23T22:27:46Z")
I like “Under Pressure” by Queen/David Bowie. It’s not as jumpy as Uptown Funk, etc., but I like the slower drive. ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2020, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-song-for-workout-or-exercise/918792/9 "2020-08-23T22:55:05Z")
For intensity listen to some Metallica. Blow out that stairmaster. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2020, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-song-for-workout-or-exercise/918792/10 "2020-08-23T23:06:28Z")
tempo matters. I think exercise music should generally be 110-135 beats per minute. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2020, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-song-for-workout-or-exercise/918792/11 "2020-08-23T23:20:17Z")
Unpopular opinion: every time you hear the opening to Under Pressure you are secretly hoping it turns out to be Ice Ice Baby. ---
**Author:** ![5\_time\_champ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/5/278dde/32.png) [@5\_time\_champ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/5_time_champ)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2020, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-song-for-workout-or-exercise/918792/12 "2020-08-23T23:44:08Z")
I pity the po’ fool that don’t think Rocky; Gonna Fly Now is the greatest workout song ever. And I wonder how many times I have posted that over the years. Also Going the Distance from the Rocky soundtrack is pretty good, not necessarily up-tempo, but really motivating. The overture to Riverdance is also a good upbeat workout song. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2020, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-song-for-workout-or-exercise/918792/13 "2020-08-24T00:33:11Z")
Anything by Mantovani.\* It helps me pass the time until the urge to exercise goes away. \*Percy Faith, if he’s not available. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2020, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-song-for-workout-or-exercise/918792/14 "2020-08-24T00:37:35Z")
[Pow 2011 by Lethal Bizzle](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FzU5Q4uI3iw) ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2020, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-song-for-workout-or-exercise/918792/15 "2020-08-24T00:53:43Z")
I like the boxing songs. But the two I like for weightlifting are “You Can Do It” and, oddly, the Quincy Jones song which was the theme song to Austin Powers (Soul Bossanova). ---
**Author:** ![xizor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xizor/32/102_2.png) [@xizor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xizor)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2020, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-song-for-workout-or-exercise/918792/16 "2020-08-24T17:17:36Z")
“Work Bitch” by Britney Spears has a great tempo for workouts or running. ---
**Author:** ![smithsb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smithsb/32/12107_2.png) [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2020, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-song-for-workout-or-exercise/918792/17 "2020-08-24T23:28:59Z")
Pointer Sisters - Jump, Neutron Dance, I"m so Excited. Flashdance soundtrack. ---
**Author:** ![peedin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peedin/32/14095_2.png) [@peedin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peedin)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2020, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-song-for-workout-or-exercise/918792/18 "2020-08-24T23:33:38Z")
If you want long and medium tempo (get your mind out of the gutter) go for InAGaddaDaVida. My life goal is to ride the spin bike for the whole song. ---
**Author:** ![Reeses\_Monkey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reeses_monkey/32/2885_2.png) [@Reeses\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeses_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2020, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-song-for-workout-or-exercise/918792/19 "2020-08-24T23:45:02Z")
I listen to various song from Jive Bunny & the Mastermixers. If I can. Figure out how to post a link, I will. ---
**Author:** ![Reeses\_Monkey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reeses_monkey/32/2885_2.png) [@Reeses\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeses_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2020, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-song-for-workout-or-exercise/918792/20 "2020-08-24T23:48:30Z")
[Jive Bunny album](https://youtu.be/NoRc5vlf3mk)