# Workout Music Suggestions for a Guy Who Hates Techno **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 16, 2012, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workout-music-suggestions-for-a-guy-who-hates-techno/618991 "2012-04-16T19:51:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2012, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workout-music-suggestions-for-a-guy-who-hates-techno/618991/1 "2012-04-16T19:51:06Z")
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](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3s4Czla6tXc) by The Proclaimers, [Nowadays](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=luef1H24hU8) from Chicago (the fast paced part), [Livin’ La Vida Loca](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p47fEXGabaY) by Ricky Martin, [Gypsies Tramps and Thieves](http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxhBOix2Dms&feature=fvst) by Cher, or if I even embrace my geriatric side I might choose Perry Como’s _[Papa Loves Mambo](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VwIeP9eDb-s)_. 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](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ciLQncj_pk8) 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? ---
**Author:** ![gallows\_fodder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8c91f0/32.png) [@gallows\_fodder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gallows_fodder)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2012, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workout-music-suggestions-for-a-guy-who-hates-techno/618991/2 "2012-04-16T20:39:11Z")
I am completely serious: Phil Collins and Philip Bailey’s [Easy Lover](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JnDYattQH3Y). ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2012, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workout-music-suggestions-for-a-guy-who-hates-techno/618991/3 "2012-04-16T20:42:30Z")
Van Halen’s [Fair Warning](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fair_Warning_%28Van_Halen_album%29), 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](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ptbkH5p3s6o) ---
**Author:** ![Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/le_ministre_de_l_au-dela/32/12181_2.png) [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Le_Ministre_de_l_au-dela)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2012, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workout-music-suggestions-for-a-guy-who-hates-techno/618991/4 "2012-04-16T20:44:34Z")
I like 70s funk, myself - I’d recommend Average White Band - [Pick up the Pieces](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FnH_zwVmiuE) [Cut the Cake](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gvmpfTQTbZY) [Play that Funky Music, White Boy](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8rEkUhevfg) James Brown - [I Feel Good](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DuDeBcpLITQ) [Hot Pants](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JcVnXVxjbJ8&feature=fvst) Stevie Wonder - [Superstitious](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8HlHpACXyw&feature=fvst) [Boogie on, Reggae Woman](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqZSvM3cCGY&feature=fvst) [You Haven’t done Nothin’](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ji2ma2mfyhU) Tower of Power - [What is Hip?](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bnUFVyt1dHQ&feature=related) 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](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZnLjRi_g9o&feature=related) for purely sentimental reasons… ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2012, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workout-music-suggestions-for-a-guy-who-hates-techno/618991/5 "2012-04-16T20:47:48Z")
I also like to use [Songs in the Key of X](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/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 ---
**Author:** ![Trick\_Rider](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Trick\_Rider](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trick_Rider)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2012, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workout-music-suggestions-for-a-guy-who-hates-techno/618991/6 "2012-04-17T03:17:58Z")
Maynard Ferguson’s [“Conquistador”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wYX4TVktOjk)\* is good for this, along with his recording of [“Gonna Fly Now”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wV5vwFbn2aM). Unfortunately, most of my picks are fairly up-tempo electronic music. \*Both Youtube links ---
**Author:** ![Sleeps\_With\_Butterflies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@Sleeps\_With\_Butterflies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sleeps_With_Butterflies)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2012, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workout-music-suggestions-for-a-guy-who-hates-techno/618991/7 "2012-04-17T03:20:51Z")
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… ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2012, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workout-music-suggestions-for-a-guy-who-hates-techno/618991/8 "2012-04-17T03:24:44Z")
The [Jonny Quest Theme](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=40FsKwX-K8U) 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. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2012, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workout-music-suggestions-for-a-guy-who-hates-techno/618991/9 "2012-04-17T04:55:31Z")
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](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IeG3Rx4OJ7k&feature=related) [Garry Owen](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htmyaOYu8wA&feature=relmfu) [El Capitan](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P1vPmC_CQQY) [Gladiator March](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=urRYK8Nh7FM&feature=relmfu) [Invincible Eagle](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WgFUNADP_Ck&feature=relmfu) [King Cotton](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3u3DFp6OLTY&feature=relmfu) [Liberty Bell](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1PizaJJQgto) [Semper Fidelis](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=--SVyKdx8u0) [Stars And Stripes Forever](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXwu0h_ulpw) [Thunderer](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_nJPUD57L7c&feature=related) [Washington Post March](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pOCxegQupMU) ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2012, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workout-music-suggestions-for-a-guy-who-hates-techno/618991/10 "2012-04-17T05:20:20Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > 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. 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. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2012, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workout-music-suggestions-for-a-guy-who-hates-techno/618991/11 "2012-04-17T05:26:36Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > 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. 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. ---
**Author:** ![kathmandu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kathmandu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kathmandu)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2012, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workout-music-suggestions-for-a-guy-who-hates-techno/618991/12 "2012-04-17T05:26:47Z")
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 ---
**Author:** ![ToeJam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dfb087/32.png) [@ToeJam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ToeJam)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2012, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workout-music-suggestions-for-a-guy-who-hates-techno/618991/13 "2012-04-17T20:49:48Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![phreesh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9fc29f/32.png) [@phreesh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phreesh)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2012, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workout-music-suggestions-for-a-guy-who-hates-techno/618991/14 "2012-04-17T22:10:03Z")
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 So](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MCQ7VLoY7bQ)is super-awesome What about pop? Beyonce and Lady Gaga have some great peppy stuff. Their recent stuff is kinda techno, though. [Telephone](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQ95z6ywcBY&ob=av3e) is great (song doesn’t actually start until about 3 minutes in). Or [Janelle Monae](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pwnefUaKCbc) is also great (some car commercial made this song ubiquitous). [The Go! Team](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQg7qOB5Heg)is AMAZING for working out. Almost literally every song they do is fun and peppy. (That also happens to be a super-fantastic video) ---
**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:** [April 17, 2012, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workout-music-suggestions-for-a-guy-who-hates-techno/618991/15 "2012-04-17T22:26:13Z")
[What’s the matter with these tunes?](http://www.amazon.com/The-Complete-Collection-Sweatin-Oldies/dp/B000Z0UEV0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1334701430&sr=8-1) ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2012, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workout-music-suggestions-for-a-guy-who-hates-techno/618991/16 "2012-04-17T23:09:06Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![miss\_elizabeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/838e76/32.png) [@miss\_elizabeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/miss_elizabeth)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2012, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workout-music-suggestions-for-a-guy-who-hates-techno/618991/17 "2012-04-17T23:29:36Z")
Wait. You’re gay. How can you not like techno? ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2012, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workout-music-suggestions-for-a-guy-who-hates-techno/618991/18 "2012-04-18T02:08:29Z")
> [@miss\_elizabeth](#): > > Wait. > > You’re gay. How can you not like techno? He said he liked Cher. That fulfilled his gay quota. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2012, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workout-music-suggestions-for-a-guy-who-hates-techno/618991/19 "2012-04-18T17:24:39Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > [What’s the matter with these tunes?](http://www.amazon.com/The-Complete-Collection-Sweatin-Oldies/dp/B000Z0UEV0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1334701430&sr=8-1) 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. 😃 > [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > He said he liked Cher. That fulfilled his gay quota. And showtunes, so, homosexuality motioned and seconded. ---
**Author:** ![Mrs.Cake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/2acd7d/32.png) [@Mrs.Cake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mrs.Cake)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2012, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workout-music-suggestions-for-a-guy-who-hates-techno/618991/20 "2012-04-18T17:51:27Z")
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. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workout-music-suggestions-for-a-guy-who-hates-techno/618991.md?page=2)