A work-out without great music is like slogging through a marsh, thigh deep in mud on a cold windy day - it sucks and you want to stop doing it.
A great tune can keep you motived to the bitter end of any rigorous exsercise, so here's a playlist made up of our favorite songs to get us sweating.
Melody Stone, CapRadio Music Web Editor
"The Final Countdown," Europe
I chose this song because I love the TV show Arrested Development and a character always plays this song during his magic act. One day at the gym it came on as I was wrapping up my workout and it just made me so happy and helped me push through the final reps.
Evan Matsler, Director of Operations
"Final Teen Spirit," a mash-up of "Final Countdown" and "Smells Like Teen Spirit"
Building on Melody’s choice of “Final Countdown.” I’m a big fan of mash-ups, and this one adds another workout-crunching layer to an already great workout song.
Marianne Russ, Managing Editor
OK GO, "This Too Shall Pass"
This band is famous for its videos, and this one is awesome.
Kent Teeters, Classical Host
"Ride Of The Valkyries," Richard Wagner
The hands-down classical music workout choice is the Ride of the Valkyries by Richard Wagner. To paraphrase Lieutenant Colonel Kilgore in the movie Apocalypse Now: I love the smell of heavy opera in the morning…it smells like…the gym.
Steve Milne, Morning Edition Anchor/Reporter
"Exodus" Bob Marley & The Wailers, Exodus Deluxe Edition
The live version of this song (recorded during a 1977 performance at London's Rainbow Theatre) is a nearly 12 minute opus of heavy bass lines and driving, four-on-the-floor drumming coupled with Marley's impassioned singing spurring us to "walk - through the roads of creation." I can't help but move to this one!
Donna Apidone, Morning Edition Host
"Uptown Funk," Mark Ronson Ft. Bruno Mars.
'Cause I need to dance.
Victor Forman, Jazz & Classical Host
"Electric Eye," Judas Priest, Screaming For Vengeance
Oh, come ON! Just listen to this! How can one NOT give extra pumps of the iron or run faster on the treadmill? My workout mix is full of AC/DC, Scorpions, Def Leppard, Ted Nugent and so on. But this entire album by Judas Priest is probably the most energizing, and this song most of all.
Devin Yamanaka, All Things Considered Host
"Good Day," The Click Five
This song and much of the band's oeuvre is pop-rock goodness. Use this at the beginning of the workout, especially if you don't feel like working out.
Gary G. Vercelli, Jazz Music Director
A Love Supreme, John Coltrane
This 33 minute suite of heartfelt prayer in music works well during my sun salutations. As an Iyengar practitioner, it's more of a work-in than a work-out.
Amy Quinton, Environment Reporter
"Going the Distance," Cake
"Reluctantly crouched at the starting line," are the first words in the song. That seems to be my mindset before any workout, which is why it's the first song on my workout playlist. The song's positive "going the distance" lyrics is repeated enough to keep me running or pushing me to do that extra rep.
Cody Drabble, Morning News Producer
“Birth In Reverse,” St. Vincent
“Birth in Reverse” is an excellent workout song because the up-tempo beat sets a great pace for a jog. Annie Clark ferociously shreds in the last minute of the song, and the video looks pretty cool too. No workout mix is complete until there are a few St. Vincent tracks to pump up your energy.
James Morrison, Insight Producer
"Satellite Skin," Modest Mouse
I like how it has a nice and steady tempo that builds in sections. Whenever I’m on a bike ride and it comes on my song list I find myself getting out of the saddle and pedaling a little harder.
