# Workout music suggestions? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 9, 2008, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workout-music-suggestions/476357 "2008-12-09T05:29:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**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:** [December 9, 2008, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workout-music-suggestions/476357/1 "2008-12-09T05:29:32Z")
I’m getting ready to teach a few water aerobics classes per week at an all-women fitness center. I’ve taught a few classes here and there, but not enough to get a couple of playlists together. Now that I’ll be doing it more often, I want to try to get some music that is somewhat high energy. A few particulars: [ul] [li]From what I understand about my class the age range is from about 20ish to ladies in their 50s. It’s a higher energy class, so I shouldn’t have many women over 60.[/li] [li]People have been expressing dissatisfaction with the techno music that some of the instructors have been using, so I want to stay away from that.[/li] [li]Any type of hardcore music, whether it be punk/metal/POLKA!, is out because I think it’ll be easier to play toward the middle. I want to try to avoid profanity, too.[/li][/ul] So what do you put on your iPod when you work out? What music do you hear at your gym that seems to work? Any suggestions are welcome with those things in mind. Modern pop, classic rock, r & b, alternative…whatever. I will use a few songs that I workout to at home, but not all of it is appropriate. Thanks in advance for any ideas you have 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2008, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workout-music-suggestions/476357/2 "2008-12-09T05:50:02Z")
I wouldn’t listen to it, but your audience might like “Let’s Get Physical” by Olivia Newton John. Might want to do a “Girl Power” thing, and feature female vocalists… Joan Jett–“I Love Rock and Roll”, “Do You Want to Touch” Heart–“Barracuda”, “Crazy On You”, “Magic Man” Janis Joplin “Try (Just a Little Bit Harder)”—maybe for warmup/stretching ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Kobayashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4af34b/32.png) [@Mr.Kobayashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Kobayashi)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2008, 8:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workout-music-suggestions/476357/3 "2008-12-09T08:46:55Z")
I used to stick on _Pure Morning_ by Placebo on the treadmills, perfect steady beat for running, although probably a bit risqué for you. Instead I’d go with 80’s power ballad classics; Asia, Poison, Foreigner, Whitesnake, the list (sadly, depending on your perspective) goes on. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2008, 10:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workout-music-suggestions/476357/4 "2008-12-09T10:16:29Z")
The first stuff that comes to mind is “good techno” I.e. pop music that has a steady beat. Popmuzik by M, Funkytown by Lipps Inc, Blue Monday and other stuff by New Order and 1999 and similar-era Prince… ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2008, 10:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workout-music-suggestions/476357/5 "2008-12-09T10:17:39Z")
Rod Stewart, _Da Ya Think I’m Sexy_ K.C. & The Sunshine Band, _That’s the Way (I Like It)_ War, _Low Rider_ Bee Gees, _You Should Be Dancing_ Orleans, _Still the One_ Iggy Pop, _Lust for Life_ Taste of Honey, _Boogie Oogie Oogie_ Village People, _YMCA_ The Police, _Message in a Bottle_ Sister Sledge, _We Are Family_ Blondie, _Rapture_ Lipps Inc., _Funkytown_ The Romantics, _What I Like About You_ Hall & Oates, _Kiss On My List_ ---
**Author:** ![SuntanTigerTamer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e5b9ba/32.png) [@SuntanTigerTamer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuntanTigerTamer)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2008, 11:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workout-music-suggestions/476357/6 "2008-12-09T11:53:24Z")
For something a little different, try the Yeah Yeah Yeah’s “Warrior”. > **[Warrior — Yeah Yeah Yeahs | Last.fm](https://www.last.fm/music/Yeah+Yeah+Yeahs/_/Warrior)** > > Watch the video for Warrior from Yeah Yeah Yeahs's Show Your Bones for free, and see the artwork, lyrics and similar artists. It starts slow, and keeps building. I’ve put it on more than one workout playlist. Would also fit in perfectly for the suggested “Girl Power” theme. ---
**Author:** ![Kayeby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9de0a6/32.png) [@Kayeby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kayeby)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2008, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workout-music-suggestions/476357/7 "2008-12-09T12:28:33Z")
I’m a huge fan of working out to really cheesy, energetic music. Avril Lavigne - Boyfriend\* Benny Goodman - Sing Sing Sing Belinda Carlisle - Heaven is a Place on Earth Christina Aguilera - Fighter\* DJ Otzi - Hey Baby Eve - Tambourine\* Gwen Stefani - Wind it Up\* Kelly Clarkson - Breakaway Kenny Loggins - Footloose Hairspray - You Can’t Stop the Beat Las Ketchup - The Ketchup Song Mulan - I’ll Make a Man out of You The Turtles - Happy Together Toni Basil - Hey Mickey TV Rock - Flaunt It\* - I can’t remember if it has profanity or not. ---
**Author:** ![WormTheRed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/bbe5ce/32.png) [@WormTheRed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WormTheRed)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2008, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workout-music-suggestions/476357/8 "2008-12-09T12:36:18Z")
Just when I opened the thread, my playlist choose Beastie Boyz’ Bodie Movin’, which is a brilliant workout song. The Beasie Boyz might be to much techno though? ---
**Author:** ![Atomicflea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/58956e/32.png) [@Atomicflea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atomicflea)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2008, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workout-music-suggestions/476357/9 "2008-12-09T16:08:14Z")
-Believe it or not, the remix of Coldplay’s _Lost!_ has this great syncopated beat that is good for lower-impact. -Best warmup song ever is Massive Attack’s _Teardrop_. -Micheal Franti’s _Say Hey_ is pretty up-tempo, and a happy song to boot. ---
**Author:** ![anu-la1979](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/47e85d/32.png) [@anu-la1979](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anu-la1979)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2008, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workout-music-suggestions/476357/10 "2008-12-09T17:40:33Z")
Supermassive Black Hole: Muse Shake It: Metro Station Paper Planes (DFA Remix): M.I.A. (you can find it on the Slumdog Millionaire soundtrack) Forever: Chris Brown Woman: Wolfmother Miss Independent: NeYo Live Your Life: TI with Rihanna Shine: Booty Luv (I KNOW, terrible name but it’s an uptempo song) Single Ladies: Beyonce Run: Gnarls Barkley Going On: Gnarls Barkley In the Beginning: K’Naan Disturbia: Rihanna Tubthumping: Chumbawumba What I Like About You: The Romantics Say He: Michael Franti Creator: Santogold Amazing: Seal Armageddon It: Def Leppard Just Dance: Lady Gaga Beat It: Michael Jackson Not My Slave: Oingo Boingo (this is one of my favourite songs of all time-it’s so singable) End of the World: REM One Step at a Time: Jordin Sparks Spoonman: Soundgarden ---
**Author:** ![Redfrost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9fc29f/32.png) [@Redfrost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Redfrost)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2008, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workout-music-suggestions/476357/11 "2008-12-09T17:58:13Z")
_I Got You (I Feel Good)_: James Brown _Pump It_: Black Eyed Peas _Immigrant Song_: Led Zepplin _1979_: Smashing Pumpkins _Better Than_: The John Butler Trio _What Would You Say?_: Dave Matthews Band _Bouncing Around the Room_: Phish I work next to a Jazzercise group. I can hear the music through the walls. I frequently hear a remix version of “Puttin on the Ritz”, “Mercy” by Duffy, and “Love Stoned” by Justin Timberlake. There are others, I just don’t know the names of the songs. ---
**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:** [December 9, 2008, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workout-music-suggestions/476357/12 "2008-12-09T20:51:54Z")
Thanks to everyone who has responded so far! There are some really great suggestions here. The New Order-ish techno stuff is definitely stuff I can use. I believe most of what they were complaining about was the DJ driven stuff, which is mostly snippets of words without lyrics. I think they like stuff with lyrics better because they’re able to concentrate on something other than how tired they’re getting And an enthusiastic YaY! for the Beastie Boys suggestion. They are one of my all time favorites, and I listen to “Sabotage” almost every day when I’m kickboxing. Again, thanks a lot 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Glory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7cd45c/32.png) [@Glory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Glory)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2008, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workout-music-suggestions/476357/13 "2008-12-09T21:02:04Z")
I might be too late, but here’s my current work out list (I loathe techno, so none of that!) Kanye West – Stronger Pink - Get the Party Started Let’s Get it Started (Spike Mix) - Black Eyed Peas Mika – Big Girl (You Are Beautiful) Wreckx-n-Effect – Rump Shaker Ok Go – Here It Goes Again Missy Elliot - Shake Your Pom Pom Robert Randolph & the Family Band - Aint Nothing Wrong With That Fefe Dobson - Watch Me Move Show Me The Money - Petey Pabloe Where Are We Running - Lenny Kravitz TeddyBears – Cobrastyle M.C. Luscious – Boom I Got Your Boyfriend Lacuna Coil – Closer (has kind of a slow beginning, but gets good) Good Charlotte – I Don’t Wanna Be in Love Grandmaster T - Too Much Booty in the Pants Missy Elliot - We Run This (don’t remember if this has bad words or not) All Time Low – Dear Maria, Count Me In Shakira – Hips Don’t Lie Le Tiger – Deceptacon (I think this does have the F word in it) Kiki Dee Band - I Got the Music in Me Erick Morillo - I like to Move It The Killers – When You Were Young Beyonce - Get Me Bodied Metro Station – Shake It We the Kings – Check Yes Juliet (love this song, the lyrics actually say “lace up your shoes” and “run, baby, run”) The Spice Girls - Spice Up Your Life DJ Laz & Pitbull - Move Shake Drop The Cheeky Girls – The Cheeky Song (just hilarious) Baha Men - Move It Like This Shakira - Wherever, Whenever Will.i.am – I Got it From My Momma Jennifer Lopez - Let’s Get Loud Can’t Stop Moving - Sonny Jim The Killers – Somebody Told Me Paramore – Crushcrushcrush Red Hot Chili Peppers – Higher Ground Cake - The Distance Fort Minor – Remember the Name (I think there is a clean version of this) ---
**Author:** ![WormTheRed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/bbe5ce/32.png) [@WormTheRed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WormTheRed)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2008, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workout-music-suggestions/476357/14 "2008-12-09T22:00:52Z")
> [@Sleeps\_With\_Butterflies](#): > > And an enthusiastic YaY! for the Beastie Boys suggestion. They are one of my all time favorites, and I listen to “Sabotage” almost every day when I’m kickboxing. > > Again, thanks a lot 🙂 Most welcome; the Beasty Boyz absolutely rock and should be listened to whenever possible 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![phall0106](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/phall0106/32/5934_2.png) [@phall0106](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phall0106)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2008, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workout-music-suggestions/476357/15 "2008-12-10T01:00:34Z")
Just about anything from the BeeGees. Not only does it get one moving, John Travolta comes to mind… Yes, they’re loaded onto my iPod, why do you ask? ---
**Author:** ![furt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/439d5e/32.png) [@furt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furt)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2008, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workout-music-suggestions/476357/16 "2008-12-10T01:10:19Z")
Maaaan, where were all these people when I posted a similar thread a few months back? You must be popular, **SWB**. Spent all summer hiking up mountains, and disco was awesome for me at keeping a good quick walking pace. Fond memories of boogieing down to “Hot Stuff” in the middle of the woods with a 30 pound pack on my back. Yeah, people laughed, but I didn’t care…