This post took me longer than any other I’ve done so far, and man it was tough to narrow it down to just 10 songs! I have a pretty random collection of songs on my ‘workout playlist’ that ranges from Johnny Cash to Nas, from Springsteen to Tupac. It doesn’t really matter the genre, if it pumps me up or inspires me in some way I’ll add it to the ol’ ipod.
I don’t know about you but I’ll get in moods, sometimes I want to hear a song that has a hard or faster beat, while other times I just want a song that has some inspirational lines, or an inspirational theme to it. The theme song in “the Gladiator” didn’t quite make the list but that thing pumps me up even though it’s a pretty slow song.
Anyways, here’s the list of my top 10 songs to workout to.
1. Hurt – Johnny Cash
“I hurt myself today, to see if I still feel. I focused on the pain, the only thing that’s real.”
“If I could start again, a million miles away. I would keep myself, I would find a way.”
It’s a great song originally done by the Nine Inch Nails, but Cash’s cover hits a different chord. It’s like he’s looking back on a life with a lot of pain, but also a lot of redemption, you can hear it in his voice. This song motivates me in a different way than most others do.
2. Gonna Fly Now -Bill Conti
Yup, the theme song to Rocky. How can this not be on anyone’s list? It’s one of the greatest sports movies of all time, and one of the greatest theme songs of all time. This is an obvious choice for any stair running :).
3. Pain – Tupac
From the “Above the Rim” soundtrack. Gets me ready to feel some pain :).
3. Don’t Stop Believing – Journey
Sopranos.
4. The Good Life – T.I
“Fear ain’t in the heart of me I learned just do it
You get courage from your fears right after you go through it.”
Those lines alone put it in the top ten.
5. God’s gonna cut you down – Johnny Cash
The lyrics are great, but to be honest it’s the beat and instrumental that gets me going.
6. The Wrestler – Bruce Springsteen
“These things that have comforted me I drive away. This place that is my home I cannot stay, my only faith’s in the broken bones and bruises I display.”
This song is the perfect fit for the movie, they go together so well.
7. God Bless the Dead – Tupac
I love hearing this beat when I’m in a tough workout.
9. One Mic – Nas
Intense!
10. Juicy – Biggie Smalls
“It was all a dream.”
I like hearing about somebody making it, in their own words. He had a dream and he made it happen.
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What’s on your playlist?
