There have been some posts on what music readers like to listen to when lifting, but this one is the only one worth reading. As I’m typing this, I’m listening to Alice Cooper’s “Welcome To My Nightmare” — go ahead and click it if you want the full effect of reading this post (if you don’t like YouTube, go to Playlist.com and search it).
Music can help act as a catalyst for the release of adrenaline, but it can also have a calming effect. It’s incredibly useful to inject a mood when emotion and intensity are low. However, I do believe that music can be a crutch. It denies the necessity to learn how to get psyched up without it, and it also neglects learning how to get relaxed without it. Nevertheless, it’s very useful when training and drinking.
Personally, I’m not impressed with the majority of music. I hate most mainstream music and most types of music. I prefer obvious displays of artistic ability, and that isn’t found within pop, emo, U2, or Creed. Additionally, lifters stereotypically prefer metal that has a guy screaming with a horrible guttural noise that is sorta like, but not necessarily the noise I make when I vomit. Again, I’m unimpressed. That doesn’t mean I don’t like metal or any other type of music; you can go ahead and assume that I not only am unimpressed with your favorite bands or songs, but that I hate them.
Hell, who gives a shit what I think? This post isn’t about what I do or don’t like, it’s about what you like. Detail what your favorite type of training music is, and then what specific type of music or songs you prefer on your heavy or intense sets. To me, “training music” would be something that I would enjoy having on in the background during warm-ups or assistance exercises. That is a category that is different than what I consider “squat songs”, or songs that I listen to specifically for squatting really heavy. Post your favorites to the comments. Don’t hesitate to make fun of each other (it’s all in good fun).
(You can post YouTube links if you want, but remember that you can get better quality on other music sites like playlist.com)
I’ll go first:
Lately I’ve been in a gym that doesn’t have music playing at all, and I don’t use a music device. I psyche up without music, but last night I psyched up thinking about Led Zeppelin’s Achille’s Last Stand, which is an awesome ten minute tune with some intense guitar and drum pieces (and is one of my favorite songs overall). I’ve squatted to When the Levee Breaks by Zeppelin, I’m a Man by Chicago (the first album is solid, down hill after the early days), and most songs from Guns N’ Roses Appetite for Destruction album, namely Welcome to the Jungle, Nighttrain, and especially Out Ta Get Me. With the exception of Sweet Child O’ Mine, that whole album is solid. Most Led Zeppelin is, but I don’t enjoy their stuff that is overplayed on the radio and opt for the more bluesy stuff like Since I’ve Been Loving You, but it’s more for laid back training. Also, I really like Billy Idol for lifting heavy. I shit you not, Rebel Yell and White Wedding get me amped. Other than that, I like most upbeat classic and 80’s rock to have in the background of training. I haven’t heard much metal outside of 80’s metal, but I enjoy Metallica’s early stuff and Motorhead.
106 thoughts on “Music”
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I really enjoy playing the “Metallica S&M” cd when I am lifting. The metal combined with the symphony is a perfect mix.
I like that double disc album too. Solid.
–Justin
I would never trust a man that did not appreciate Zep. Their 1st album is fucking awesome for a break from their stuff that gets a lot of airtime.
Also “Welcome to the jungle” reminds me of playing football. Probably from The Program, and watching Lattimer break windows with his head. Badass.
This will probably seem very odd, but some tracks of the Mumford & Sons album get me amped.
Also, Simple Man from Skynard always gets me focused and ready to work.
I save Zep for when I really need some adrenaline, like if I didn’t really sleep the night before, big PR, etc.
Usually listen to stuff like this:
Mixed in with a bit of Pantera and Metallica
I don’t really like rap, and don’t understand how the majority of it gets so popular. I like my hip-hop to be fun loving, not full of sounds of rounds being chambered into guns, bitches, and drugs.
–Justin
My main musical choices on training days right now are the Drive By Truckers and Waylon Jennings.
I use the metal sparingly, mainly for Prowler sessions.
I listen to a wide range of stuff, depends on the mood I guess.
“Supernaut” by Black Sabbath is an awesome song. As philalawyer.net said, “The kind of song that compels certain guests to open field tackle others in the living room.”
I’ve found Rise Against to be an awesome band to listen to during training, as the albums are pretty much comprised of 100% good songs.
Deftones White Pony album also good. I listen to a lot of “Brent Kim Music”, namely Pretty Lights and random electronic mixes of stuff. Some Hip Hop here and there, mostly a few local underground guys. I also believe athletes have set PR’s in our gym with Kesha’s “We are who we are” song playing as well, how ever awesome (or gay) that is. Metallica/Godsmack was playing last weekend in our new gym, was good for PR’s as well.
I forgot to point out that I like electro, but I’m selective on that too. Techno and electro aren’t the same; techno is immature electro. I like Pretty Lights. I hate Kesha. Pop music tries to adopt beats/tones from techno/electro, but they do it terribly and talk-sing too fucking much. That genre of music is about the melody/beat, not about some fuck head talk-singing. Oh, and all the female “artists” have high pitched whiny voices. Is this because of Kesha?
–Justin
Justin,
You should check out the cover of The Rover/ Achilles Last Stand/ Song Remains the Same (all played together as one song) by Dream Theater
Roger that.
–justin
I have to listen to Thrash Metal when I lift. It gets me so jacked up and its hard for me to do it without it. I listen to Metallica(pre- black album), Exodus, Slayer, Megadeth, Testament. I also listen to Judas Priest, 3 inches of Blood, and Shadows Fall. I have a playlist of metal songs on my iPod and it’s a constant loop of awesome.
One time I was at WCW Nitro in Atlanta (I was young…) and Megadeth played after the fake fighting. It was terrible. Completely awful. My friend Shawn remembers what my dad said about it, “The best part was when it ended.”
–Justin
Doom/sludge/stoner metal, its all good, as long as it’s down tuned and heavy…
Im all about the classic rock, best music out there. However, nothing gets me focused and ready to train better then Tool (songs like Lateralus, Third Eye, Hooker With a Penis and Aenima to name a few) and Wu-Tang (Iron Flag mainly, the song and album).
I also put this on when I am feeling sexy:
+1, it puts the lotion on
–Justin
LOG, Hatebreed, Adversary, Throwdown, Terror. Mostly metal, some of the harder DMX shit is pretty good.
I mainly listen to my IPOD in the gym simply to drown out the overwhelming sound of Adam Lambert or some other awful song by one of the garbage musicians of today. Actually, i wouldn’t call most of them musicians. I have no problem getting amped without it.
I like Avenged Sevenfold for max effort attempts. Same with Metallica’s, “For Whom the Bell Tolls”. That song gets me not only psyched up, but elated-ly (yes, I made that up) happy.
As for recovery days and such, I typically go with classic rock, a la Van Halen, Sabbath, Zepp, Pink Floyd, or even Rush.
I also really like grunge. Namely Pearl Jam. But the occasional STP will suffice. Sex Type Thing? Yes, please.
I like PJ and Eddie. PJ went through a weird period there in the early 2000s though.
–Justin
Ween, Ween, and Ween. Throw on some Chocolate and Cheese, get under the barbell, and hit some fucking PRs.
I don’t know what any of this means.
–Justin
Great topic!
I also prefer actual musical talent to autotune, overproduction, tone deaf screaming, collections of cliches, etc. I make a new playlist every month or so. On my “Squat Stack” playlist I currently have the following, plus about 20 other songs. Those with an * are specifically for the heavy sets:
Alice in Chains, Grind*
Alice in Chains, Rooster
Alice in Chains, Would*
Tool, Sober*
Tool, The Pot*
Tool, Vicarious*
Tool, Parabola*
Nirvana, School*
Metallica, Orion*
Metallica, Until it Sleeps
Metallica, Shortest Straw*
Journey, Wheel in the Sky
Johnny Cash, Heart of Gold (cover)
Alice Cooper, Welcome to My Nightmare
Iron Maiden, Wasted Years
Led Zeppelin, Achilles Last Stand
Led Zeppelin, Ramble On
Led Zeppelin, Over the Hills
CCR, Heard it Through the Great Vine Full Version (cover)
AC/DC, Touch Too Much*
The Doors, When the Music’s Over
George Thorogood, I Drink Alone
Beethoven/Satriani, 5th Symphony*
Warm Up/Cool Down
Jethro Tull, Sossity You’re A Woman
Jethro Tull, Locomotive Breath
Metallica, Call of Ktulu
Pink Floyd, Dogs
Pink Floyd, Echoes
Pink Floyd, Grantchester Meadows
Nothing like squatting to heavy scat flute solos! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kr7UMeLjdYQ
Oh Shit Also
Buckingham Green by Ween!!!
It’s literally a perfect song.
The emoish voice with a whiny tinge to it is so boring and an unfortunate blemish to my generation. I’ll sit this one out.
–Justin
Buckingham Green is one of my favorites. I was jamming that the other night at the gym. Saw Ween last August at the HOB in Dallas and they are still killing it. Tried to get my wife to drive with me to Austin to see them at Stubbs the next night but she had enough Ween for a whole year. Actually as much as I listen to Ween, I think she would be content not ever hearing them again. Pure Guava absolutely ruined it for her.
Rage Against the Machine
All That Remains
Alice N Chains
3-6 Mafia
Quote from drunk guy at the bar Friday night while talking some music…’If you do not like or appreciate rock n roll, chances are you are a homosexual!”
Justin,
It seems you’re a man after my own heart when it comes to music. I’m a big fan of quality 70s and 80s metal so for the longest time I wondered what happened to soaring vocals and blazing axes. Well apparently they all moved to Northern Europe. I think you’ll like these:
Helloween – I Want Out
I like this. I also like the highest rated comments that say, “another great song, another weird video”.
Gamma Ray – Rebellion in Dreamland
The video was bad quality and my connection was shoddy, but I’m pretty sure I’d enjoy this too. Maybe a bit intermittent for training though.
Sonata Arctica – The Cage
This reminds me of Dragon Force. Everyone could use some insanely fast shredding guitar every now and then.
All of those songs/bands are something I’d enjoy, but wouldn’t exclusively listen to. That really fast high pitched metal gets old after a bit. I like more of the raspy guitar, like in the next vid:
And you’re forgetting the ultimate squat song:
Yes, Judas Priest kicks ass.
I also really like blues rock and horn-focused jazz.
–Justin
I haven’t commented much on here, love the site, love the VFF post, love the John Wayne and agree 100%, and own a good 79s big shirt.
This subject is extremely important to get right:
AC/DC. I repeat. AC/DC. If you don’t listen to any AC/DC at all while you lift, then you are likely a pantwaist and leaving 50 pounds off of your squat.
In short, wear lifting shoes, watch John Wayne movies, and, most importantly, get a healthy dose of AC/DC.
AC/DC for lifts!
sorry for the typos. 70s big shirt, and if you don’t listen to AC/DC, you are likely a pantywaist.
Again apologies for the typos, I hit two prs last night on bench and squat, and I am suffering from PPRS. Post personal record swagger.
1. I like AC/DC and loved them when I was younger, but they are horribly overplayed. There isn’t much variation in the Brian Johnson era (Bon Scot ftw), and I look at AC/DC as more of an immature version of rock and roll. Their persistence and nostalgia keeps them afloat.
2. Is “McGrok” a reference to Heinlein?
–Justin
Clutch discography gets me through a workout and drowns out the BS the university pumps into the weight room. Their earlier stuff is heavier, but their newer material is much more bluesy. Great band.
My staples are Hatebreed, Pantera, Tool… Lately, I have started to relive my past and have been listening to a lot of GWAR and Misfits. Always like cooling down to Alice in Chains. (Dude, did you really say Chicago? HA)
Justin…Ween is the farthest thing from emo. I’m a insulted you even used that term to describe them. Seriously check out this live version of Awesome Sound and tell me you don’t feel like hitting some PRs and pounding Jager.
Also for all you Zep fans, check them covering All of My Love.
Btw, I would like to add Van Halen to the mix….doens’t get much better than Fair Warning.
To me, whiny singing=emo.
Maybe it was just the previous song. I’ll give Awesome Sound a chance and will report back.
–Justin
Ooops posted the same link. Here is the All of My Love link.
How can you talk about Ween without mentioning Piss Up a Rope?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7M3EEHYkJ0
you’re welcome
Thank you tjsulls. Great recommendation.
Van Halen “Panama” has taken me to PR squats on several ocassions.
I like to crank some metal or electronica beforehand… but for lifting itself I think I actually prefer silence (or whatever ignorable stuff is on the gym PA). It’s easier for me to focus if there’s nothing interfering with the rhythms of my pulse and breath.
@Maslow
My wife thought that song was “Manimal” for years. And it turns out it’s a better song that way.
This.
If you like early Metallica, definitely grab their Live Shit: Seattle Coliseum album. It’s from 1989, before the 90’s happened and it’s pretty intense. Also-“Dyer’s Eve.” Highly underrated, very angry, triples and double bass all over the place.
Live Zeppelin live also rocks. I know that’s extremely redundant, but TSRTS is pretty solid. If you can get an audio rip of DVD, that’s even better.
Speaking of live, Frampton Comes Alive. 70’s enough for ya?
Also: the John B Podcast. 82 and 71, but if you like electro robot rock D&B, it’s all good.
@Justin, Usually I listen to the actual meaningful/political stuff, The Roots, Jedi Mind Tricks, Pharaohe Monch, etc, but badass gangsterness is great to get the blood pumping for squats.
Mcgrok is just a twitter handle. Irish version of “grok.” It’s silly but it’s grown on me.
I should have been clearer, I pretty much only listen to Bon Scott. To each his own I guess, but, for example, bad boy boogie, rock n roll damnation, I just can’t get enough. I’ll never listen to you shook me all night long, hells bells, or back in black. I am talking the deep tracks, baby!
My grandfather Eugene Ryan decorated New York City Police Officer (and son of Michael Ryan, member of the Fighting 69th and winner of Silver Star from Normandy Beach,) bought me For Those About to Rock when I was 7 years old. For me, I guess there’s some nostalgia to it.
“Grok” is a term created by Heinlein in “Stranger In A Strange Land”, so I didn’t know if it was a reference.
Definitely nostalgia, but the early stuff is definitely still good. I got the Bon Fire box set in high school. “Ride On” is an excellent track that isn’t really known.
–Justin
This doesn’t have anything to do with music, but I just came across this crazy video and thought you guys would like it.
Just another example of why it pays to be 70’s big.
http://toshcommunity.comedycentral.com/Video/Scout-vs-Heavy/050BFFFFF0228CB69001B0138037B
@ Justin – regarding female pop whiny voices
I recently heard/read something that defined the genre “slutpop” which encompasses lady gaga, katy perry, kesha, etc. Pretty hilarious.
I’m gonna use that.
–Justin
Chicago Transit Authority was unreal. Terry died and they lost that edge: such a shame.
Agreed. Kath was the backbone.
–Justin
I also forgot to mention that one of our lifters has an obsession with the Rocky soundtrack(s). Obsession, as in, if he is in the gym Rocky is on the soundsystem. Pretty funny, but he’s a former Jr Nat’l Champ/ Jr Pan-Am team member so maybe he’s onto something?
While they’re aren’t the most consistent, the group ‘Elbow’ puts out a killer groove in “Grounds for Divorce.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iL4mywCOJXA
The Desert Rock/Stoner Rock scene deserves a mention. Eagles of Death Metal do not sound like the Eagles or Death Metal thank god. Queens of the Stone Age are the biggest group in this genre. Fu Manchu’s cover of Blue Olyster Cult’s “Godzilla” makes you feel like throwing heavy shit up, then slammin it back down to the platform.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-VWtJomrx0
One of the most Un-70s bands out there is the loudest band in the world, the Prodigy. Their earlier stuff is mostly music to trip balls to, but after “Smack my Bitch Up” they decided to rock as hard as they could.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gTw2YvutJRA
For those who think Rap is still just a bunch of wannabe gangsters who hate women and love selling drugs, maybe you’ll enjoy this. I was impressed by how frantic P.O.S’s “Drumroll” came off.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vfo-EGDBEAY
I’m surprised only one person mentioned Rage Against the Machine. Maybe they just go without saying. I really don’t understand lifters who don’t listen to Rage.
@Justin
if you like blues rock you’ll probably like Joe Bonamassa (if you don’t already know who he is)
Yep, I like him.
–Justin
+1 for Rise Against
Any 90s Hardcore and punk for me also. Deadlock, The Hoods, Strungout, No Use For a Name, etc
Sometimes Tupac, BIG, and other early 90s hip hop works great. My “concious rapper” music doesn’t seem to get me hyped at all.
Between The Buried And Me. Yes please. These dudes are skilled.
Led Zeppelin for training?????????
Metallica? Tool? Wu Tang????????????
fucking LOL i can’t tell if some of you guys are trolling or not
“oh let me listen to a dead fucking genre while i bang out these presses, i am totally benefiting from a 50 year old coke head moaning about how awesome it is to be a rock star”
Tool isn’t even fucking music to begin with, if any band is sold completely on marketing an image to angst ridden teenagers alone it would be Tool
fuck everyone in this thread, except for the guy who listens to the Inception trailer song and Brian Smith, the only two guys who have exhibited even a shred of personality
i just read the sentence “i like Avenged Sevenfold for PRs,” jesus christ i should ban you
WCW Nitro was pretty rad until Goldberg changed his music to that weak Megadeath song. Then it really went to shit.
Also- here’s a mere taste of the intensity of Live in Seattle Coliseum. (Ecstasy of Gold + Blackened)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vYx3wIt0sts&feature=related.
That’s how you start a concert.
For those of you that dig “For Whom The Bell Tolls,” this is my favorite version:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eb2ozHFE730
That bass intro is pretty sweet.
Fu Manchu, Red Fang, Jim Campilongo, Melvins, Mastodon, Kylesa, High on Fire, Neil Young, Black Keys…
Here are some of my favorite ones…
Fu manchu “Saturn III” – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTcKiOY_DAw
Red Fang “Prehistoric Dog” – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fuRKRFjm-HA
Jim Campilongo “Finger Puppet” – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2YF8KGSiXLY&feature=related
Mastodon cover of the Melvins “The Bit” – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3EMXPkrk2M4
I listened to Kesha while I clean and jerked 140 during my first time olympic lifting in 5 months on Friday.
Zeppelin and I have had a falling out after reading about this: http://www.complex.com/music/2010/09/the-50-worst-rock-fails-of-all-time/led-zeppelin-fails-to-credit-blues-artists
Black Label Society is great for that adrenaline kick, as is some of Metallica’s stuff, and things like Skynyrd are good background music for the extended training session. I take the time to put a good list together, including the general timing for warmup, heavier lifts, cooldown, etc. I’ll have to try out a training session with no music, see how that goes. I’m sure the neighbors would appreciate it, since I’m usually lifting at 11pm or so.
Brent, I thought you’d like Wu-Tang since you’re both Asian?
@Penn
That POS video was great. Mux Mool makes some of my favorite beats these days, and one of the tracks I’ve had in heaviest rotation is the Death 9000 version featuring POS and Prof off the Viking Funeral EP, he put it up for free download here:
http://soundcloud.com/muxmool/sets/viking-funeral/
Wow. Brent just went down a notch.
If you’re going to criticize on the basis that people are stuck listening to older stuff, you’ve got to at least offer some alternatives.
Until then, let there be rock!
10/10 troll, Brent. I’m a big fan of your work.
Anyway, looks like I came a bit late to this discussion. I personally don’t give a shit about musicianship or artistic merit when looking for music to train to, I just want something with a hard driving beat and some intensity to get me going. Pantera is very good for this, they combine metal intensity with great grooves.
Here’s “Invaders Must Die” an electronic song I came across recently: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Ku6gagYh80