Workout Music Suggestions for a Guy Who Hates Techno

Cafe Society
1

Title pretty much says it all, but to elaborate:

I can’t stand techno music, and that’s what a lot of workout CDs are. What I really prefer are fast-paced rock, soft rock, classic rock, showtunes, even easy listening.

Some songs I like working out to include 500 Miles by The Proclaimers, Nowadays from Chicago (the fast paced part), Livin’ La Vida Loca by Ricky Martin, Gypsies Tramps and Thieves by Cher, or if I even embrace my geriatric side I might choose Perry Como’s Papa Loves Mambo.

These aren’t, I’ll admit, as fast paced as techno, but that’s offset by the fact they don’t make my brain bleed.
And while I loathe most techno, there are some "techno songs for people who don’t like techno. The showtune I Just Wanna F&cking Dance from Jerry Springer: the Opera comes to mind. And some techno remixes I like if I liked the original (and only for workout).

Can anybody recommend some other non-techno or “techno with an exception” fast paced workout music for somebody whose taste in music would imply he was the oldest living person on Fire Island?

2

I am completely serious: Phil Collins and Philip Bailey’s Easy Lover.

3

Van Halen’s Fair Warning, the entire album, has worked for me since I first got it back in 81.

For lifting weights, “Sunday Afternoon in the Park” was a real motivator.

you tube of SAitP

4

I like 70s funk, myself - I’d recommend

Average White Band - Pick up the Pieces
Cut the Cake
Play that Funky Music, White Boy

James Brown - I Feel Good
Hot Pants

Stevie Wonder - Superstitious
Boogie on, Reggae Woman
You Haven’t done Nothin’

Tower of Power - What is Hip?

Well, you get the idea - there’s also Weather Report, Return to Forever, Herbie Hancock, Jimmy Smith & Wes Montgomery…

I have to include the Shuffle Demons for purely sentimental reasons…

5

I also like to use Songs in the Key of X

You can tell I tend to like a metal or alt rock based workout.

Some songs seem to cross over genres, so ymmv.
.

work that body

work that body

6

Maynard Ferguson’s “Conquistador”* is good for this, along with his recording of “Gonna Fly Now”. Unfortunately, most of my picks are fairly up-tempo electronic music.

*Both Youtube links

7

You’re looking for a high number of beats per minute. There are tons! Not sure if you’re looking for older or newer stuff mostly, so I’ll list a few of each:

Stevie Nicks - Stand Back
Every Little Thing She Does is Magic - The Police
Enter Sandman - Metallica
Everlong - Foo Fighters
Believe - Cher (You may just hit dangerous levels of gay though, take heed)
American Idiot - Green Day
So What - Pink
Hey Ya - Outkast
Call Me - Blondie
Dog Days are Over - Florence + the Machine

I’ll stop now…

8

The Jonny Quest Theme as covered by the Reverend Horton Heat. (You can stop that video at about 1:41; it segues into Stop That Pigeon).

No need to thank me.

9

If you’re looking for something different, how about some John Phillip Sousa? It’s marching music so it’s written to get you up and moving to a beat.

Cavalry March
Garry Owen
El Capitan
Gladiator March
Invincible Eagle
King Cotton
Liberty Bell
Semper Fidelis
Stars And Stripes Forever
Thunderer
Washington Post March

10

If I were going to workout “to a song that was a hit before your mother was born…” I’d probably go with Scott Joplin.

11

It doesn’t help your case here that you mentioned Chicago, Cher, and Perry Como in your OP.

We’ve established you’re an old fogey, now we’re just arguing decades.

12

Here’s some songs that help set a good pace for me.

Barracuda - Heart
Holiday - Green Day
Disco Inferno (don’t judge me!)
Fuck You - Cee Lo Green
U + Ur Hand - P!nk
Separate Ways - Journey
Back to Black - Amy Winehouse
Invincible - Pat Benetar

13

Try angsty Nu-Metal- like Korn, Limp Bizkit, Deftones, etc from the 90s.
I second the Metal- Metallica, Dragonforce (if you just want sheer ludicrousness), or Mastodon
If you hate Techno- try “Alive 2007” by Daft Punk. I HATE techno, but… for some reason, I think that album is a fantastic one and can listen to it endlessly.

Otherwise, try Rap with heavy emphasis on the 808s and bass? Outkast comes to mind.
And of course, LMFAO’s “party rock” genre is another whole fun basket of music to listen with.

14

I don’t know if punk is your scene, but The Hives put together some tight, fast paced songs.

Hate to Say I Told You Sois super-awesome

What about pop? Beyonce and Lady Gaga have some great peppy stuff. Their recent stuff is kinda techno, though.

Telephone is great (song doesn’t actually start until about 3 minutes in).

Or Janelle Monae is also great (some car commercial made this song ubiquitous).

The Go! Teamis AMAZING for working out. Almost literally every song they do is fun and peppy. (That also happens to be a super-fantastic video)

15

What’s the matter with these tunes?

16
  1. Buy iPod etc.
  2. Acquire mp3 of “Joe Esposito - You’re the Best” and put on player.
  3. Hit repeat and work out.

Some may say that “Eye of the Tiger” is allowed, either in conjunction or as a substitution. Purists may disagree.

17

Wait.

You’re gay. How can you not like techno?

18

He said he liked Cher. That fulfilled his gay quota.

19

Actually… as much as I hate to say this of anything with even tangential relationship to a scantily pantsed Richard Simmons… those are like kinda sorta perfect. I’ll download them. Thanks. :smiley:

And showtunes, so, homosexuality motioned and seconded.

20

I use several of the tracks from Oingo Boingo’s “Dead Man’s Party” for workout music. “Hour of the Wolf”, “Dead Man’s Party” and “Weird Science” are particularly fun and upbeat.