Tunes

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“Hello. How ’bout that ride in? I guess that’s why they call it Sin City.”

There is a lot of useless research done on how music affects performance. More importantly, most of us probably train to some kind of music. More than likely we will think that what someone else listens to is pretty terrible (and you can read this as “I probably don’t like whatever you are listening to”). In any case, it might be interesting to see what everyone likes to listen to as they train. Thus the social observation begins, go ahead and post your favorite stuff to listen to as you train to the comments.

I myself like to listen to Chicago, especially the first and second album. I like Led Zeppelin and Queen too. I’ve listened to the Black Keys recently. When I was still doing an intensity day for squat on the Texas Method (as well as the later stages of my linear progression) my favorite songs to squat to were

Chicago – I’m A Man
Led Zeppelin – When the Levee Breaks
Led Zeppelin – Achilles Last Stand

Here is a video I posted a while back that has some of those songs (this was from the beginning of September):

But now I just let the album play out. I don’t need music to get my adrenaline up since I can get it extremely high mentally, but good music can help get you going when feeling lethargic.

———

A nice hearty breakfast.

A nice hearty breakfast.


55 thoughts on “Tunes”

  1. I like to time the climax of a song for right as I”m lifting. Can be beneficial.

    That being said, I don”t lift with music, although with some of the conversations I hear in the gym which distract me, I probably should.

  2. the hangover. too easy.

    i don”t listen to music anymore, but when i did, it was a lot of: at the drive-in, brand new, zeppelin, coheed, clipse, dj shadow, hood internet, girl talk, bloc party, judas priest, muse, opeth, phoenix, et. al.

    the tony hawk pro skater soundtracks always provided for some good tunes, too.

  3. I don”t technically lift with music but Linkin Park”s hybrid theory and meteora (not that new crap) always makes me want to train hard and eat… some good shit they had. Pantera works as well- try ”cowboys from hell” or ”five minutes alone”…

  4. Pendulum, Rage Against the Machine, most metal, anything i can imagine myself murdering another human being to.

    Hey man, take it easy. Get your ass in here so we can rehab your ankle.

    –Justin

  5. Mostly metal influences for me i.e. Metallica, Slipknot, Devildriver, Nonpoint. Depending on the workout or mood, it shifts all over from Pendulum to Army of the Pharaohs or Atreyu to Doomtree.

    The two main songs I”ve been using recently for my heavy squats:
    Slipknot – The Blister Exists
    Metallica – All Nightmare Long

  6. I dont mind having music in the backround between sets but when Im actually in the act of performing a lift I wont even hear any music because of the intense focus on what I””m doing. Taking this into account I dont see how it has much benefit in strength training, unless it helps get you mentally “pumped”.

    That being said, here are my main workout songs:

    Bathory- Nordland
    Primordial- Empire Falls
    Amon Amarth- Any song by them

    I think everyone would agree that the song is preparatory before getting under the bar. It isn’t intense focus that causes you to not hear the song, it’s the exertion.

    –Justin

  7. right now I don”t listen to any music while training, because the place doesn”t allow it.

    back in the day I listened to metallica a lot, keeps you grinding the hardest reps.

  9. Metallica “One”…I know it takes a while to get to the good part but it always helps me gain my focus when getting under the bar.
    Sepultura works well too. “Roots Bloody Roots” is a top tier squat song.
    By the way Justin, you mentioned a while back that you were going to post something on how you can get so mentally pumped up. Inquiring minds want to know. Or at least I do anyway.

    I suppose I can get this done. We have something lined up for tomorrow, so it will be next week.

    –Justin

  10. Used to be a classic rock junkie and listen to nothing else, but since I”ve broadened my musical horizons I”ve found that Bombs Over Baghdad by Outkast works like magic on my bench.

  11. Good call on the Black Keys. Love listening to Journey”s greatest hits while lifting. I”ve found that I get myself psyched better than music. I just need something playing to break the silence since I lift in my garage.

  12. Metallica “One” is awesome for getting in the mood for a tough day at the gym… I like to use it during my squat warmups. Otherwise, I have two setlists I bounce between. Seether, Tool, Etc or Gov”t Mule, Zeppelin, and AC/DC.

  13. I really like to have my Ipod on while I lift. I have never lifted without it so it is just part of my Equipment,just like a belt or my chucks! I am actually always trying to control my breathing and not get to pumped or move too fast when warming up so I like songs with good rythm (Jay-Z or Eminem) then I move on to something really aggresive to lift my heavy sets to! Bodies-Drowning Pool is the perfect Squat song for me,really hard and full of energy! When it is time for Bench,OHP and Dead usually Metallica or Rage against the Machine! For Powercleans I like fast stuff to remind me to be explosive so Prodigy(Firestarter or Smack My Bitch) or Outkast(Bombs over Bagdad) something like that! Ii usually listen to a lot of country a way from the gym but I like the harder,faster stuff much better when I am lifting!

  14. Well music is a vital part of my everyday life, not just in the gym. I use different music to help me get in the right mindset for everything. The music that I love to listen to while lifting includes groups like Rage Against the Machine, White Zombie, HedPE, some Hollywood Undead, and when I”m feeling gangster I rock some Lil Wayne, Blakroc, Wu Tang, and some DMX. And this is just scratching the surface.

  15. Music before lifting, much like getting pumped up for a hockey game. Quiet radio in the background while lifting. Nothing extreme i like to focus on the lift.

  16. The type of music depends on what I”m doing. For the slow lifts I generally like gangsta rap. The nastier the better. There”s something about someone telling me a story that helps me push through a tough session. NWA, old Dre, Rikki T are good.

    For short fast metcons its usually metal. Panteras Fucking Hostile comes to mind. Certain songs by Clutch, Shai Hulud, Sepultura, Morbid Angel, Megadeth, Black Sabbath, Fear Factory.

    Oh, Justin, if you like the Black Keys, they did an album with a bunch of rap artists. The Keys play while someone raps. Its called Black Rock, or something like that.

  17. I have to listen to music: otherwise I feel I”d start beating people over the head with plates. I kind of get in a zone and keep myself distracted from the bros at my gym.

    That being said, Metallica (Black Album, Ride the Lightning) and Rage Against the Machine are my go-to choices. Cliche? Yes. Effective? Definitely.

  18. I don”t enjoy lifting with an iPod hanging out all over the place, so I am forced to listen to whatever our college gym is playing. Usually Lady Gaga – delightful.

  19. Rage Against the Machine
    Rob Zombie
    Michael Jackson
    ^
    .
    .
    Yes Justin, i am serious

    You should be thankful Rip doesn’t check these comments.

    –Justin

  20. when i lift i do it always with music(except power cleans, but i still put on the earphones between sets), hearing fags talk about how abs are cool. since it christmas break for me, i can”t train at my school”s gym so i train in a pool”s gym, lots of skinny fags.

    anyway, gay gym or not, i think music has a REAL POSITIVE effect on your lifts, i”, pretty confident in saying that without music i wouldn”t be able to complete some reps i did, but on the other hand if you got that crazy dude in your gym that yells at you with that texan accent then i guess its better than music.

    anyway, i”d get bashed for this but:

    Three 6 mafia – it”s a fight
    roy jones jr. – can”t be touched

    and many other, but these two i keep for the last set of squats and the work set of deads.

  22. Some combination of Tool, Deftones, Dropkick Murphys, White Stripes, The Hives, Social Distortion, Audioslave, and Beastie Boys usually does the trick for me.

  23. Most of stuff I listen to while training is crap, just looking for something loud and angry to get me through. During cardio usually something electronic and repetitive. I do like this track by Pendulum & Freestylers during rowing, Painkiller (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhMiKKNcPUE)

    During lifting usually something rock-ish.

    Show Me How to Live by Audioslave (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OipXkb6fOFc) and Twisted Transistor by Korn (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j17ZrTaldz4) have both been helping me through 20 rep squats.

  24. That breakfast looks GOOD! I need loud, heavy, rock.

    But, like you, Justin, I can ditch the tunes and just train in silence.

    The sound of weights clanking together or being dropped on the floor is all the thunder I need.

    LOVE this web site!!

    –Z–

    I don’t usually train in silence unless I am doing the Olympic lifts. WFAC always has music on, it just isn’t loud all the time. Typically Chicago will be on at a background music level.

    –Justin

  25. I dont do music anymore now that I lift with someone…the 37 lbs I put on in 2 months and the size Ive added to my legs gets me high enough to lift the weight everyday.

    On the ss program…even your penis will grow.

    That’s what I keep telling everyone.

    –Justin

  29. I cannot lift my best without music. For me it”s a huge part of my training ritual.

    I”ve listened to these songs Ad Nauseum and have set many PRs to them:

    Red Fang – Prehistoric Dog (MUST HEAR!!!)
    Andrew W.K. – Ready To Die
    Tool – Vicarious
    Eminem – Till I Collapse, Lose Yourself
    Prodigy – Invaders Must Die, Smack My Bitch Up
    System of a Down – Aerials
    High on Fire – Fury Whip
    16 – Sniper
    Slayer – Here Comes the Pain
    Nine Inch Nails – 1,000,000
    Kyuss – Asteroid
    Clutch – Profits of Doom
    Ice Cube – Go to Church
    Rage Against the Machine – Every Song

    Good Headphones and Loud Music are often a necessity. Most of us don”t train in Hardcore Gyms or don”t train every day in Hardcore Gyms. If you train somewhere blasting House Music, Lady Gaga, or anything else played on FM Radio, then a good high-end pair of earbuds and an ipod is a necessity.

  31. Pingback: Led Zeppelin News » Blog Archive » » Tunes

  32. I mostly listen to Tool or Rage against the machine when I lift…however when the sets get really heavy I always play Led Zeppelins when the levee breaks.

  33. I have set many a squat PR while listening to the likes of Beyonce singing “If I Were a Boy…”

    I”m still waiting to hear Justin”s cues for getting his adrenaline flowing. Sometimes I can do it for myself, sometimes I can”t.

  34. I set PR”s to Slipknots, Wait and Bleed, or to Disturbeds, Criminal.

    In other news. I”m solidly an adult male and as such made a bacon, fried egg, cheeseburger, two of them, last night for a midnight snack.

  36. Justin, based on your musical tastes, check out Wolfmother, specifically their 1st self-titled album…its like heavy 70”s style stoner/doom rock. Their 2nd album blows.

    Oh, nice one on the Black Keys. If 10 AM Automatic doesn”t get someone ready for heavy squats, then nothing will.

  39. BICURIOUS GEORGE–

    The meets I have been to have had Music before and after the competitors have lifted. What ones did you go to? As in USAPL or what?

    Not in weightlifting meets, stooge.

    –Justin

  40. I know i posted this yesterday but wanted a couple more responses. And also my left pinki is kinda numb. It doesnt effect me in anyway other than bein annoying is that bad?

    I recently sublixated my shoulder (i think thats how u spell it.) Originally i dislocated it in high school football. And the other day it popped out a little during a snatch. And on Christmas when i unracked the bar it slipped again. Any suggestions on helping fix this problem. Should i do a shit ton more presses and cut out bench? thanks guys.

    Not enough info here. E-mail me, call me, or go to Rip’s Q&A.

    –Justin

  41. I typically just listen to heavier music on the way to the gym to get a little pumped up and then more mellow stuff after, examples below. I found messing around with my Ipod during training gets me out of focus.

    Pre training favorites:
    Pantera – Mouth for War/Walk/Cowboys from Hell
    Tool – Aneima
    Danzig – Mother
    Rage Agianst the Machine
    Motorhead – Ace of Spades/Iron Fist/Motorhead
    Toadies
    Drop Kick Murphys
    Black Sabbath
    Ministry – So What/Theives
    GNR

    Post training favorites:
    Allman Brothers
    Rolling Stones
    Merle Haggard
    CCR
    Slaid Cleaves
    Alice In Chains

  44. My gym plays top 40 bullshit. Nothing kills my adrenaline levels like Miley Cyrus. I usually listen to mash-ups; Girltalk is kick ass and gets my heart rate up. If the gym were silent, I wouldn”t listen to anything.

  45. My college gym just plays the local stations in the gym. The receiver is out in the open so anyone can change the station. I”ve done a SS session with one kid searching the airwaves for Party in the USA twice.

  47. Music is essential so I dont get stuck in conversations with guys who use the gym for social hour…

    I know its not PR friday but I hit 405 today on Deads. New PR! Happy Fucking New Year!

  50. penn,

    prehistoric dog is pretty sweet- good guitar work.

    on topic though, there is one song I listen to for every work set of every lift.

    Ramstein”s “du hast mich.” I start head banging at :17. I walk to the bar at :46. I stomp my feet and lift the bar at 1:03… I get this adrenaline that RAGES through my body.

    I don”t hear the song during the lift (it totally just drowns out), but I need to learn to harness this adrenaline without having to rely on the music…

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