There are days when you just don’t feel like exercising. You know you need to lace ’em up and go for that 5-mile run or drag yourself into the gym because it’s leg day. But for some reason, you are just not feeling it today, but like the beast you are, you will complete your workout; you just hate going through the motions.
There is an idiom that says, music calms the savage beast. But before you go off thinking I am all deep and insightful; I learned this from a Bugs Bunny cartoon as a kid. However, I do believe music will motivate you and bring out the savage workout beast within you.
It has happened to us all when we hear our favorite song or a beat that is so hypnotic that it makes you want to move. Research shows that no matter how tired you are, music can motivate you to move, work, and be more productive. This holds true for when you need that little added boost to get that last vein-popping set in; that final push to exhaustion rep, and feel like the beast that you are.
No matter your music preference, when you are fatigued and you have one mile left to run, or you are staring at a bar stacked with more plates than a china cabinet, the first thing you do is turn up the volume on your music as high as it can go as if your name was Radio Raheem.
When you turn up the music and it gets louder and louder with the bass thumping in your ear it gets your blood pumping rushing all throughout your body, your heartbeat increases with every beat of the song, driving more oxygen to your muscles ultimately blowing the roof off your energy level and motivating the savage workout beast within you.
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Headphones
Music while motivating can’t put you into the zone without the right headphones. Headphones are broken out into four different categories.
- Over the Ear
- On the Ear
- Earbuds
- In-ear
Depending on the type of exercise you are performing and the intensity; each headphone has its own advantages and disadvantages. Let’s take a look at the pros and cons for each and you will be able to determine which headphone is best for your workout needs.
Over the Ear
Over the ear headphones have thick headbands that cover and cup your ears.
Workout Advantages
- Comfortable
- Snug fit
- Great sound
- Blocks ambient noise
Workout Disadvantages
- Traps sweat
- Blocks ambient noise (if you need to be aware of your surroundings)
Our Choice:
Bose QuietComfort 35 II Wireless Bluetooth Headphones, Noise-Cancelling, with Alexa Voice Control
Product Description:
- Quiet comfort 35 wireless headphones II are enabled with Bose AR — an innovative, audio-only take on Augmented reality.
- Unlock Bose AR via a firmware update through the Bose Connect app.
- Alexa-enabled.
- Adjust your level of noise-canceling between three settings using the action button or the Bose Connect app.
- Volume-optimized EQ gives you balanced audio performance at any volume, and a noise-rejecting dual-microphone system provides clearer calls, even in noisy environments.
- Easy Bluetooth pairing, 20 hours of battery life, and a durable, comfortable fit.
- Carrying case, Charging cable, Audio cable.
Product Information:
- Product Dimension: 3.2 x 6.7 x 7.1 inches.
- Item Weight: 8.3 ounces.
- Batteries: 1 LR44 battery required (included).
On the Ear
On the Ear headphones lay on the ear as opposed to covering the ear as with Over the Ear headphones and are not as large.
Workout Advantages
- Comfortable
- Good fit
- Great sound
- One size fits all
Workout Disadvantages
- Not very snug with vigorous movement
- Very little noise isolation with open-back design
Our Choice:
Bose SoundLink On-Ear Bluetooth Headphones with Microphone
Product Description:
- Crisp and powerful Bluetooth sound.
- The first on-ear wireless headphones from Bose.
- Crisp, powerful sound in a wireless headphone package advanced 2-way microphone system for clear calls in windy or noisy places.
- Bluetooth Control buttons on the right earcup adjust volume, change tracks and take calls; play up to 15 hours with a rechargeable lithium-ion battery.
- Full charge in just 1.5 hours by plugging the included USB cable into any mobile device with a powered port or wall charger.
Product Information:
- Product Dimension: 7.09 x 5.51 x 2.36 inches.
- Item Weight: 5.3 ounces.
- Batteries: 1 Lithium-ion battery required.
Earbuds
Earbuds are small portable headphones that rest at the edge of the ear canal.
Workout Advantages
- Produces good sound
- Portable
Workout Disadvantages
- May not work well with vigorous exercises
- May not isolate sound very well
Our Choice:
Bose QuietComfort Noise Cancelling Earbuds
Product Description:
- Designed with breakthrough acoustic innovations.
- Crisp, clear audio, and rich, deep bass over a bed of virtual silence.
- Bose QuietComfort Earbuds allow you to personalize your listening experience with 11 different levels of noise canceling.
- Easy to wear all day long because every surface that touches your ear is made of soft silicone.
- Instead of buttons, these true wireless earbuds feature a capacitive touch interface. Tap and press the surface to control your content — just like you would with your phone.
- The instant you take a wireless earbud out of your ear, your music, podcast, or video automatically pauses so you don’t miss a second.
- They’re also IPX-4 rated so sweat, water, and weather won’t get in the way of your music.
- Bose QuietComfort Earbuds are compatible with iOS and Android and optimized for Bluetooth 5.1 so you’ll enjoy a strong and reliable wireless signal as long as you’re within 30 feet of your paired device.
- On a single charge, you can expect up to six hours of playback time, and the wireless charging case gives you up to 12 more hours of listening time.
- For your convenience, the charging case is compatible with any Qi-certified wireless charging mat.
Product Information:
- 1.99 x 3.42 x 1.34 inches.
- Item Weight: 0.317 ounces.
- Batteries: 1 Lithium-ion battery required. (included).
In-ear
In-ear headphones are small portable headphones that are inserted into the ear canal.
Workout Advantages
- Produces great sound (great isolation)
- Portable
Workout Disadvantages
- It may not fit everyone well
- May have wires
Our choice:
Bose in-ear Headphones/Earphones
Product Description:
- Proprietary Stay Hear tips conform to your ear’s shape.
- Lightweight carrying case stores and protects headphones.
- Energize your workout with a full, balanced sound that conventional sports earbuds can’t match.
- BOSE Sound Sport in-ear headphones are sweat-resistant and stay comfortably—yet securely—in place during vigorous exercises.
- Sound Sport headphones for Apple or Samsung and Android devices.
Product Information:
- 7.48 x 1.57 x 8.27 inches
- Batteries: 1 Lithium-ion battery required. (included)
Motivational Workout Songs
The most important ingredient for your music motivation is the tunes. Choosing the right music to motivate and pump you up during your workout is key. For many of us over the age of 40 years old, nothing gets you more pumped than a song from the past.
Here is a list of great songs (many guilty pleasure) to add to your workout playlist from the 80s and 90s that will definitely get your head bobbing, heart pumping, and blood flowing.
Hip-Hop/Rap
- (1980) – The Breaks – Kurtis Blow
- (1981) – Jump On It – Sugarhill Gang
- (1982) – The Message – Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five
- (1983) – Play at Your Own Risk – Planet Patrol
- (1984) – Rock Box – RUN DMC
- (1985) – I Can’t Live Without My Radio – LL Cool J
- (1986) – My Mic Sounds Nice – Salt-N-Pepper
- (1987) – Dope Beat – Boogie Down Productions
- (1988) – Brand New Funk – DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince
- (1989) – It’s Funky Enough – DOC
- (1990) – Welcome To The Terrordome – Public Enemy
- (1991) – Hip Hop Junkies – Nice & Smooth
- (1992) – They Want EFX – Das EFX
- (1993) – I Get Around – 2Pac
- (1994) – Bring The Pain – Method Man
- (1995) – Feel Me Flow – Naughty By Nature
- (1996) – Woo-Hah!! Got You All In Check – Busta Rhymes
- (1997) – Let Me Clear My Throat – DJ Kool
- (1998) – Ruff Ryders’ Anthem – DMX
- (1999) – Da Rockwilder – Method Man and Redman
Metal/Rock
- (1980) – Another One Bites the Dust – Queen
- (1981) – Under Pressure – Queen & David Bowie
- (1982) – White Wedding – Billy Idol
- (1983) – Cum on Feel the Noize – Quiet Riot
- (1984) – Rock You Like A Hurricane – Scorpions
- (1985) – Don’t You (Forget About Me) – Simple Minds
- (1986) – You Give Love A Bad Name – Bon Jovi
- (1987) – Welcome To The Jungle – Guns N’ Roses
- (1988) – I Hate Myself for Loving You – Joan Jett & The Blackhearts
- (1989) – Head Like A Hole – Nine Inch Nails
- (1990) – Hangar 18 – Megadeth
- (1991) – Enter Sandman – Metallica
- (1992) – Them Bones – Alice In Chains
- (1993) – Sober – TOOL
- (1994) – Blind – Korn
- (1995) – The Cry of Mankind – My Dying Bride
- (1996) – Paegan Love Song – Acid Bath
- (1997) – Walking on the Sun – Smash Mouth
- (1998) – American Woman – Lenny Kravitz
- (1999) – Break Stuff – Limp Bizkit
Rhythm & Blues (R&B)
- (1980) – More Bounce To The Ounce – Zapp & Roger
- (1981) – Genius of Love – Tom Tom Club
- (1982) – You Dropped A Bomb On Me – The Gap Band
- (1983) – Let’s Dance – David Bowie
- (1984) – The Glamorous Life – Sheila E
- (1985) – Ready For The World – Oh Sheila
- (1986) – Word Up – Cameo
- (1987) – Just Got Paid – Johnny Kemp
- (1988) – Da Butt – E.U. (Experience Unlimited)
- (1989) – Back To Life (However Do You Want Me) – Soul II Soul
- (1990) – Do Me! – Bell Biv DeVoe
- (1991) – Let The Beat Hit ‘Em – Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam
- (1992) – Rumpshaker – WRECKX-N-EFFECT
- (1993) – Rebirth of Slick (Cool Like Dat) – Digable Planets
- (1994) – Groove Thang – Zhané
- (1995) – Candy Rain – Soul For Real
- (1996) – Return Of The Mack – Mark Morrison
- (1997) – Sleeping In My Bed [So So Def Remix] – Dru Hill
- (1998) – Money Ain’t a Thang – Jermaine Dupri · Jay-Z
- (1999) – Georgie Porgie – Eric Benet
Pop
- (1980) – It’s Still Rock and Roll to Me – Billy Joel
- (1981) – In the Air Tonight – Phil Collins
- (1982) – Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’ – Michael Jackson
- (1983) – Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) – Eurythmics
- (1984) – The Reflex – Duran Duran
- (1985) – Shout – Tears For Fears
- (1986) – Sledgehammer – Peter Gabriel
- (1987) – I Want Your Sex – George Michael
- (1988) – If It Isn’t Love – New Edition
- (1989) – My Prerogative – Bobby Brown
- (1990) – Groove Is in the Heart – Deee-lite
- (1991) – Good Vibrations – Marky Mark feat The Funky Bunch
- (1992) – Keep On Walkin – CeCe Peniston
- (1993) – Come Baby Come – K7
- (1994) – Here Comes The Hotstepper – Ini Kamoze
- (1995) – 100% Pure Love – Crystal Waters
- (1996) – Ready or Not – The Fugees
- (1997) – Fly – Sugar Ray
- (1998) – Cruel Summer – Ace of Base
- (1999) – Fly Away – Lenny Kravitz
Comment and let us know some of your favorite old school songs that get you pumped for a monster workout.
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