When dumbbells and plates are weighing you down, the right workout playlist can lift you right back up. Whether you throw on the first song that Apple Music suggests, or you have a perfectly curated queue in your Spotify, music can make or break your every gym sesh.
Some stick with a genre, never listening to the same song twice. Others hang on to the tried and true, with their favorite jam on replay. For many, the type of exercise makes all the difference. Leg day motivation is not the same as bench max motivation, of course.
But Swifties and metalheads can all agree, the perfect song is key to any good workout. So, to help you find that essential soundtrack, here are 17 songs, straight from the playlists of Rec Sports members and staff that we interviewed in the Strength & Conditioning room.
Give Me Everything – Pitbull (ft. Nayer)
This jam is perfect for hitting the StairMaster like you’re on your way to the club
I Never Lie – Zach Top
Zach Top mixes country twang with slow burn for the ideal cool-down song after leg day
Bandit – Don Toliver (ft. Kodak Black)
A great choice for zoning in on those biceps with free weights, this song is mid-tempo and just moody enough
Man in the Box – Alice In Chains
Gritty and rock n’roll – queue this one up when you’re channeling all of your inner rage to hit a new max
Money in the Grave – Drake (ft. Rick Ross)
This song will get you pumped for any pump – an anthem for you to load plates like they’re weightless
Somebody Told Me – The Killers
This classic will make every cardio sesh feel like a music video montage
Exes – Tate McRae
Tate McRae always brings that little bit of bite to our favorite pop hits, which we are so grateful for when we’re feeling the mid-crunch burn
Where You Are – John Summit & Hayla
Dance vibes meet endurance in this song, perfect for keeping pace on a bike or rowing machine
Green Green Grass – George Ezra
Feel-good and funky, this song is ideal for a long leg press set or jamming through some calf raises
Intergalactic – Beastie Boys
Intergalactic is wild and unpredictable in all of the best ways — best served with battle ropes or box jumps
Rookie of the Year – Moneybagg Yo
This high-energy swagger track is ideal for a personal record attempt or power set
Life of the Party – The Weeknd
The Weekend is moody with a beat – jam to this song during those late-night workouts when you want to disappear into your own world
Teenage Dream – Katy Perry
This nostalgic pop hit that made our childhoods pairs surprisingly well with high-intensity interval training or bodyweight circuits
False Confidence – Noah Kahan
More mellow than muscle, this song hits during a warm-up or cool-down
God’s Plan – Drake
God’s Plan has been a staple in the gym since 2018, and it honestly hits for any lift
Armies – KB
This fierce anthem is perfect for refueling your strength and grinding through that last rep
Noise Cancelling – AirPods
We’re not sure either, but Aiden Childress ‘25 said it’s calming
It seems hip-hop and country top the charts in the weight room, but there are some pop hits and rock anthems in there to get your blood pumping. Whatever your style, check out one of these songs during your next workout at the Southside or Polo Road Rec Centers this summer
