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35 Songs to Motivate and Energize
Research has found that listening to music makes endurance exercising more enjoyable and motivates people to achieve their goals (Wijnalda, et al, 2005).
This cannot possibly be surprising to you if you’ve ever in worked-out while listening to the music you find most motivational. (I, for one, didn't realize the extent of the energizing influence my music had on my own performance until the day I went to the gym and accidentally forgot my iPod at home.)
Over the past few months I have asked you, the readers of this blog on Facebook and Twitter, to help me develop my new playlist for the gym.
Here are your suggestions of songs to motivate and energize:
- I Believe I Can Fly - R. Kelly
- Eye of the Tiger - Survivor
- Maybe I'm Amazed - Paul McCartney
- Lose Yourself - Eminem
- Tonight’s Going to be a Good Night - Black Eyed Peas
- Boom Boom Pow - Black Eyed Peas
- Pump It - Black Eyed Peas
- Remember the Name - Fort Minor
- Right Now - Van Halen
- Panama - Van Halen
- Rock You Like a Hurricane - The Scorpions
- St Elmo's Fire (Man In Motion) - John Parr
- Eye of the Tiger - Survivor
- Modern Day - Foreigner
- Dream On - Aerosmith
- Future So Bright I Gotta Wear Shades - Timbuk3
- Sultans of Swing - Dire Straights
- (Live version of) Hotel California - Eagles
- Shook Me All Night Long - AC/DC
- ABC - Jackson 5
- It's Hard To Be a Saint in the City – Bruce Springsteen
- The Heat Is On - Glenn Frey
- It's My Life - Bon Jovi
- Aint't No Mountain High Enough - Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell
- Hero - Mariah Carey
- Opportunities (Let’s Make Lots of Money) - Pet Shop Boys
- Little Secrets - Passion Pit
- Everybody Ona Move - Spearhead
- This Is the Day - The The
- A New Day Has Come - Celine Dion
- Surfin’ USA - Beach Boys
- You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet – Bachman-Turner Overdrive
- Kickstart My Heart - Motley Crue
- Live Like You Were Dying – Tim McGraw
- I Dreamed a Dream - Susan Boyle
What other songs do you think should be on the list?
The diversity of the songs you suggested is a great example of the different ways we relate to the motivational properties of music. Professor Len Kravitz from the Exercise Science Department at the University of New Mexico states that survey respondents list a number of factors which influence their aerobic performance: “music style (97%), rhythm [beat] (94%), tempo (96%), lyrics (77%), volume (66%), mood (37%), and melody (17%).” What do your most motivational songs have in common? Is it the beat? The lyrics? I, for one, am a lyrics gal.
Whether you enjoy silence or songs, rhythm or lyrics, I hope you are surrounded by whatever motivates you to live your best and energized life.
Wishing you good health and happiness in 2010,
Paula
The impact music has on the human psyche is nothing short of magic. As a musician and singer, I can't live without having music in every part of my life. It energizes my work out, it helps me cope with stress, and it inspires me to dream. When I am lonely, music keeps me company. So when I stumbled onto this blog, I was not surprised to read about the research findings it mentions. I also was not surprised by the song lineup included, as many of these songs are in my own exercise playlist. However, there are few additions I'd suggest others checking out:
1. Kanye West - New Workout Plan
2. Destiny's Child - Jumpin, Jumpin
3. Shakira - Hips Dont Lie
4. Fighter - Christina Aguilera
5. Fall Out Boy - The Take Over, The Breaks Over
Thanks for this great list. It has certainly contributed a few new songs for me to consider adding to my own workout routine!
Hello Paula
I have to agree with you that listening to music while exercising is very motivating. I love listening to music all the time but I really love listening to music while I am working out. I love excerising and I have noticed that when I have my ipod on I tend to work out harder and longer especially when I have music on that is upbeat and uplifting. I like your song choices and some of them would definitley make it to my playlist but I am more into hip hop songs when I am working out becuase of their beats. I have noticed the hip hop songs tend to make me move or run faster becuase of the speed and the intensity of their beats. Black Eyed Peas are exactly the kind of songs that motivate me to go harder and longer.
I agree with your statement that music is uplifting, energizing and a great tool to motivate, but seriously I believe I can fly is just the most ridiculous, retarded song (actually it should not be called a song either because it got no musical attributes to it) of this century. I can't believe you would even mention it in this blog. In my opinion it is suicidal rather than motivational. Would you like to see people running through that open door of their 12th story apartment to their death? R Kelly should be in prison for this.
Some I would like to add is:
1 My friend - Groove Armada
2 Everybody loves a loser - Morcheeba
3 Psalm 69 - Ministry
4 We are the champions - Queen
5 Beautiful day - U2
6 King nothing - Metallica
Hi Chris -- Thanks you very much for these new additions to the running list of songs. Deeply appreciated. Interesting spin on the R. Kelly tune. I am a lyrics gal but I never heard the lyrics of "I Believe I Can Fly" as encouragement to defy the laws of gravity. I heard it as that feeling of self-efficacy that you can accomplish something that seemed otherwise impossible. Your reaction though is a great example that music to motivate is very personal. And, yes, if anyone really wants to fly, please contact an airline and they will accommodate.
On a serious note (to all), if you are "feeling desperate, alone or hopeless, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), a free, 24-hour hotline available to anyone in suicidal crisis or emotional distress. Your call will be routed to the nearest crisis center to you."
Thanks to all for posting comments! Here are 10 more suggestions:
Enjoy,
Paula
Great post Paula, music can really lift one's mood! Now I can't seem to find "I Feel Good" by James Brown no the list, an oversight I am sure ;-)
I too was once only motivated to work out with music - but now podcast are my audio of choice. I like podcast because they generally make me think which helps me forget that exercising is work. I also like the fact that I know, for instance, that a Commonwealth Club podcast will be one hour. I then time my workout to the podcast and there is no need to watch the clock.
Hi Paula,
Great list. Each year at the end of the year up to the last minutes of the year the Dutch National RADIO 2 organises the top 2000. And it appears that most of your songs are in the top 100. Almost each year #1 is Bohemian Rhapsody of Queen and #2 is Hotel California. Both are my favorites.
Erik P.
Dr. C.
I feel that most anything from the Blackeye Peas is emotionally motivating and would be music that would definitely get me to pump up the volume at work or gym.
One song that was not on the list that not just motivates me but inspires me to try to be a better person is Gosh Grobans "You Lift me Up". Music should definately be part of out personal and work lives and it's unfortunate that it is always the first programs to be cut in schools when there are budget cuts.
Music is a great tool for not only improving motivation, it can be used to improve our attitudes and emtions. Great help during stressful work times.
Thanks, Dr. C.
Richard
Hi Paula,
I am definitely enjoying your blog! This post in particular is interesting because I love going to the gym and I love working out to almost half of the tunes on your list! I started working out to slower songs just recently and it definitely helps a lot! I find that my breathing is more relaxed and I have more concentration. Although the faster and upbeat songs are a great motivator, it also makes me exert a lot of energy.
Great song list! There's a wide variety in the choices!
Hi Paula,
I am definitely enjoying your blog! This post in particular is interesting because I love going to the gym and I love working out to almost half of the tunes on your list! I started working out to slower songs just recently and it definitely helps a lot! I find that my breathing is more relaxed and I have more concentration. Although the faster and upbeat songs are a great motivator, it also makes me exert a lot of energy.
Great song list! There's a wide variety in the choices!
Eye of tiger made the list twice. One of my favorites. Definitely deserves it
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