Songs to Workout To

*Originally published on 7/8/09




My roommates and I recently joined a gym in order to get back into shape. Early on, we stuck mainly to the bike, going 10-15 miles a day on average as a sort of warm-up. One day I was reaching the end of my ride and my legs were starting to die out on me. I stopped the shuffle list my Ipod was going through and went straight to Europe's The Final Countdown. I actually started to feel myself get a second wind that helped me finish the closing mile. As the song played I actually felt as if I were in a movie training montage, suffice it to say it was awesome. I was discussing this with a college friend of mine and we managed to come up with a whole playlist of songs that would have a similar result.

We started with Cracked.com's article listing the "Top 10 Most Terrifyingly Inspirational 80's Songs" as a base. The songs go as follows

1. The Final Countdown by Europe

I already mentioned this song, but if you haven't heard it you should. The song begs to be used in a montage.

2. Wanted (Dead or Alive) by Bon Jovi

Rock Band and Guitar Hero fans will be pleased with this song's inclusion on the list. Even Dean Winchester from Supernatural admitted that Bon Jovi rules (sometimes).

3. Another One Bites the Dust by Queen

As the article states, this song is best placed at the end as it fits a victory as opposed to a buildup.

4. Love is a Battlefield by Pat Benatar

I probably would've gone with Hit Me With Your Best Shot (another great song that would easily fit into this playlist). Still, it works pretty well.

5. Holding Out for a Hero by Bonnie Tyler

Oh hell yeah! Like The Final Countdown, this song was tailor made for a montage. Shrek 2 put it to good use in the later half of the film. I defy you to listen to this song and not get pumped up. It's impossible; the song is just that awesome.

6. Don't Stop Believing by Journey

While this song lends itself more to a karaoke bar than a training montage, you can't go wrong with Journey. You just can't.

7. Jukebox Hero by Foreigner

8. Danger Zone by Kenny Loggins

Most well known for its use in the film, Top Gun, this is probably the only Kenny Loggins song that a guy could get away with having on his mp3 player.

9. You're the Best by Joe Esposito

You may not recognize this song by name, but if you've seen The Karate Kid, you'll know why this song is on the list. It's the song they play while Daniel-san progresses through the levels at the karate tournament at the end of the film. When I get bored, I'll usually try to find some old video game online. For a while it was all about Space Invaders, and playing this song during game play did improve my score.

10. Eye of the Tiger by Survivor

It seems obvious, but you have to admit, the list would be rather incomplete (if not downright inaccurate) if this song weren't on it.

From there my friend and I added our own tunes such as

Live to Win by Paul Stanley

Most of you will probably recognize this song from the World of Warcraft episode of South Park. Used during a montage no less.

Push it to the Limit by Paul Engemann

This over the top, cheesy song featured in the 1983 film Scarface. Yes, of all the songs on the list, this is the one that goes over the top and actually becomes cheesy. Still, montage music is montage music.

Montage by Trey Parker and Matt Stone

The song not only featured in the film, Team America: World Police, but was also used on an episode of South Park. It essentially parodies the song above.

America $%#% Yeah! by Trey Parker and Matt Stone

I know this is supposed to be a parody of the jingoistic attitude some Americans have, but darn it all this song pumps me up.

Hearts on Fire by John Cafferty, War by Vince DeCola and Gonna Fly Now

I found a cover of Eye of the Tiger as sung by Alvin and the Chipmunks that could also fit on here. I'm putting all of these songs together as you could pick almost any song off of the Rocky soundtrack and add it to the playlist. These are the ones that stand out to me.

It's a Fight by Three 6 Mafia

A pretty drastic genre shift, I know. The lyrics are also, what's the polite word? Stupid at times, but it's a pretty effective song if you want to get pumped up while working out.

Fight to Survive

Like Push it to the Limit, this song is so cheesy that it goes too far, even for montage songs. It was used in Bloodsport and could work well, even if it isn't the best song on the list.

I also came up with a couple of others.

Ghost Love Score by Nightwish

This song, as well as the band, just rules. My friend wasn't sure if it would fit as it leans more toward the sweeping operatic style as opposed to montage music. He's not wrong either, however I think this is the one song in the Evanescence/Lacuna Coil/Nightwish genre that could fit perfectly in a workout montage/playlist.

The Superman Theme by John Williams

You wouldn't think it, but this is actually a great song to work out to. It's an awesome song that's generally uplifting and fills me with geek joy every time I hear it, but hearing it while bike riding or lifting weights does motivate you to push yourself to new heights.