Is your same old workout playlist no longer doing it for you? Is the gym’s replay of mindless Top 40 Hits driving you crazy? Whether you like rock, hip-hop, or electronic music, a thumping, non-stop workout playlist is a MUST to boost your endurance and work your personal hardest. Since we really want you to succeed in your fitness goals, we’ve made it easy for you and assembled these songs in an energetic and dynamic playlist that you can try out at your next workout:
- One More Time/Aerodynamic by Daft Punk
The melding of Daft Punk’s anthemic smash hit “One More Time” with the funky, instrumental “Aerodynamic” in 2007 is simply genius, creating a euphoric, powerfully building (fl)ab burner. We can even imagine the helmet-wearing robots of Daft Punk working out to this song in their LED-plated suits.—Marley Lynch
2. Welcome to the Jungle by Guns N Roses
As the story goes, the lyrics to “Welcome to the Jungle” were inspired by a homeless man in New York City, who asked a young Axl Rose, “Do you know where you are? You’re in the jungle, baby. You’re gonna die!” Cue up this eternal rock gem to harness your fight or flight instinct during your next sweat session.—Kristen Zwicker
3. “Another One Bites the Dust” by Queen
Finding music for cardio is easy enough, but for reps you need something more basic in its thump, more regular in its drive—more, in other words, like Queen’s 1980 megahit. Time your lifting to the relentless bass, and enjoy the bonus of Freddie Mercury’s high rock tenor urging you to find vengeance against whatever is powering the anger of your workout that day.—Adam Feldman
4. “Lose Control” by Missy Elliott
Missy “Misdemeanor” Elliott looked to freestyle electro to craft her hit single “Lose Control,” creating a slick re-envisioning of Cybotron’s “Clear” (with a red-hot vocal sample from Hot Streak’s “Body Work”). Between Fatman Scoop’s signature roar, Ciara’s croon, and Missy’s all around bad-assery, this uptempo jam is the perfect way to ramp up the energy.—Kristen Zwicker
5. “Little Lion Man” by Mumford and Sons
We’re just as surprised as you are to find a Mumford & Sons track on a workout playlist, but the pure, “Dueling Banjos”–esque fury of 2009’s “Little Lion Man” can’t be denied. On this self-flagellating breakup anthem, Marcus Mumford sings, “I really fucked it up this time, didn’t I, my dear?”—pretty tough language for a guy wearing a linen vest. But a touch of self-loathing is an essential ingredient for any good workout, so let the hate flow through you and leave it all on the treadmill.—Gabrielle Bruney
6. When a Fire Starts to Burn by Disclosure
Disclosure’s infectious blend of dance and pop has earned the U.K. duo big crossover success over the past few years. This garage-tinged house gem—which opened the outfit’s 2013 debut album, Settle—pairs a bouncy bassline with incendiary sermonizing, making it a no-brainer when you’re going for that deep burn.—Kristen Zwicker
7. Night by Night by Chromeo
Dismiss Chromeo as a mere good-time party band at your peril; 2011’s “Night by Night” captures the workings (or lack thereof) of men and women—“She says I’m not romantic! I say she’s too dramatic!”—and turns it into a sizzling electro anthem, a disco Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus, if you will. One to accompany you on the treadmill in times of friction.—Sophie Harris
8. Temperature by Sean Paul
If you’re looking to work out those nether regions, there’s really nothing better than a good dutty wine session to Sean Paul’s international dancehall hit. Sitting at 125 beats-per-minute, it’s the perfect tempo for breaking a sweat. Revisit the video beforehand for some inspiration on how to turn up the heat. —Kristen Zwicker
9. Hey Ya by Outkast
“Shake it like a Polaroid picture,” urges André 3000 in his epically funky booty-mover from OutKast’s 2003 double album, Speakerboxxx/The Love Below, and who are you to tell the man no? What makes “Hey Ya” so enduringly popular—the Song of the Millennium, even, according to voters in Grantland’s 2013 bracket battle—is not just how catchy it is, but how unpredictable it is, even after countless listens; the shifts of time signature practically force you to spaz out. Channel that impulse into your workout: Shake, shake it, and see what develops.—Adam Feldman
10. “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on it) by Beyonce
There’s no better workout inspiration than Beyoncé; end of discussion. Every treadmill in the world should come with her photo Scotch-taped to its digital display. And few songs capture Queen Bey at the height of her powers as well as 2008’s “Single Ladies.” By the end of the track, you’ll slip into hand-clap-induced hypnosis and barely notice that you’ve cleared an extra half mile. Even outside of the gym this tune is a portable cardio routine—can anyone fight the urge to do the signature “Single Ladies” bend-and-snap dance whenever the song comes on? We definitely can’t.—Gabrielle Bruney
11. “Push It” by Salt-N-Pepa
Tell us you don’t remember dancing to this as a kid, and we won’t believe you. Admit you didn’t know what a “fly mother” was, and we will. Either way, it’s physically impossible to listen to this 1988 hit and stay still—we recommend Salt-N-Pepa’s gymtastic dance routine as your calorie-burning mode of self-expression for this one.—Sophie Harris
12. “Runnin’ Down a Dream” by Tom Petty
Whether you’re currently pursuing your dreams or fleeing the smoldering embers of your once-bright hopes, Tom Petty’s 1989 jam, which celebrates the freedom of the open road, will put some fire in your step. What was it you wanted to do again? Make yourself a healthy, farmers’-market dinner? Join a book club? Take a nice weekend trip? By the time the solo hits, you’ll be in full sprint, grasping at that damn dream’s heels.—Andrew Frisicano