Music

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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”

  1. Lifting music must be eclectic enough in my gym so that there’s something for everyone.
    I’ll put a vote in for Spiderbait http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w8JpqFh6TAw

    The last 10 songs that ran on the gym iPod here were….

    Aerosmith- Dude looks like a lady.
    The Prodigy- Breathe
    Rage Against the Machine- Renegades of Funk
    Led Zeppelin- Trampled Under Foot
    Red Hot Chilli Peppers- Love Rollercoaster
    Rolling Stones- Tumblin Dice
    Soundgarden- My Wave
    Spiderbait- Buy Me a Pony
    Tower of Power- Down to the Niteclub
    T.Rex- Children of the Revolution

  2. Tupac, Eminem and Nicki Minaj are standards on my playlist. Too Short. Trina. Hip Hop more often than not.

    Marilyn Manson is good depending on my mood. Metallica. Disturbed.

    I’m really superstitious, especially when squatting, so I often put the same song on repeat if I have a good set. And, this is why I have found myself squatting to Hanson’s MMMBop more than once in the last two weeks.

  6. When the Levee Breaks is probably my all-time favorite Zeppelin song.

    In the gym, I usually listen to one of the following albums:

    ACDC – Warning! High Voltage (Greatest Hits)
    Glassjaw – Worship and Tribute
    Guns n Roses – I’ll pick specific songs
    Led Zeppelin – Usually pick specific songs like When the Levee Breaks
    Metallica – Master of Puppets album, Black album, or S&M with the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra.
    Pearl Jam

    The gym I go to plays Sirius satellite radio’s hits station, so it’s all pop songs. If I didn’t bring my iPod, I’d be lifting to a dozen Katy Perry songs and whatever else is popular.

  9. Achilles Last Stand? Welcome to my Nightmare era Cooper? Truly you are a man of taste, Justin. Time for me to buy a shirt.

    You might dig on Budgie http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54H3EUAzpVg they’ve got a lot of deep tracks of awesome 70s rock.

    Or Rainbow, its the guitarist from Deep Purple and Ronnie James Freaking Dio. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32hlw7jacUI&feature=related

    If you like classic rock and metal, but don’t like the metal vox, check out Kyuss. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XThyJ4LQ10Y or Sleep http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zj9IAvv32wE or High on Fire http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6yIRgMQzztc

    With regards to Ween, don’t judge them on one song. They aren’t a band like, well, many others. They aren’t a single genre or style. Buckingham Green is them trying to ape some 70’s prog Rock (Buckingham and Green being members of Fleetwood Mac).

    They made a country album http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PfmB-8onoMo they did up jimmy buffet http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TpGFAMlZsmE make goofy tunes http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WP_C29ic_io http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O0ISF95axZQ

    Check ’em out. I don’t know about lifting music, but once you get their mindset, it all makes sense. Also, take lots of mushrooms. (just a joke. [not really])

  10. I normally go without music, as I prefer to do everything except 1RMs or PR attempts without psyching up.

    However, if I am going to listen to something, I’ll usually go for some Muse, Queen, or maybe some disturbed.

    However, for special occasions I pull out Blind Guardian. Power Metal, a classically trained singer, and Lord of the Rings? What’s not to love!

    Pulled 500 listening to the chorus of Time Stands Still.

  12. Used to listen to Clutch when lifting, pretty much exclusively.

    Once I set up my own garage gym, I stopped listening to music except on rare occasions. When I do need the extra boost that good music provides, it is old school pipes and drums. Usually that is the 78th Fraser’s “Live in Ireland” album.

    Bagpipes make you stronger. Fact.

  13. I might be the most random guy on here but warming up and running sprints I’ll make my ears bleed to misfits, hatebreed, madball, AF, h2o, sick of it all. But, when it comes time to do work I need to be foucused so I’ll do some country playlist
    Jonnhy cash – I won’t back down
    Rascal flatts- stand, unstoppable
    Rodeny Atkins- if your going through hell
    Montgomery gentry- something to be proud of
    Chris young- man I want to be
    Craig Campbell- family man
    Jamey Johnson- I remember you, should have seen it in color, lonely at the top
    Mike ness- big iron, if you leave before me
    And Travis tritt- it’s a great day to be alive
    Make fun but this stuff pumps my nads

  16. I like to listen to Radiohead when I train. Their music is so fucking overrated and fawned over while remaining so average that it gets me mad enough to PR every time.

    Johnny Cash
    Led Zeppelin
    Some Hendrix Tracks
    Frenzal Rhomb
    Descendents
    Black Sabbath (Snowblind ftw).

    If I’m just cruising through a session, anything that I like can be on.
    Aretha Franklin
    Blues Brothers
    Beatles
    Notorious B.I.G.
    Girl Talk
    Tame Impala

  17. I just listen to music I like. Can range from electro/rnb/hip hop.

    today I listened to KRS-One’s “Criminal Minded” and Big Daddy Kane’s “Long Live the Kane”

    I don’t really need music to pump me up, I just like having some background noise. Sometimes lifting in silence in my basement at night is pretty theraputic.

    I also like The Roots, Common, Diggin in the Crates, EPMD, Gangstarr, A Tribe Called Quest, De La Soul. A lot of 80s and 90s hip hop.

  19. Nothing worse than a gym that play soft rock, so this is what I bring to drown out the crap when I am forced to go to a gym that has 20 treadmills and 1 squat rack.
    -The Toadies
    -Ray Wylie Hubbard
    -Johnny Cash
    and for something heavier
    -Alice in Chains
    -Mastodon
    -Sepultura

  25. Lots of good recommendations. I also like some old school funk like Commodores’ Brick House, Rick James, Kool and the Gang or Gap Band to get my but moving.

  27. I can’t believe more people don’t appreciate the blues! Allman Bros, Clapton, Skynyrd, Pat Travers, Gov’t Mule, ZZ Top, Delta Moon…come on guys, those are all rock/blues too (except Delta Moon) so it should cover a broader base. Blues has influenced the greatest bands in history, it deserves respect.

    Maslow,
    You mention that you are not a fan of much production, yet most the Tool songs you list (not Sober) are heavily produced, that is why they use samplers in concerts. After Undertow, they were not nearly as raw. Great music though.
    I can’t believe you left out Deftones.

    jfirerad,
    “won’t back down” is a Tom Petty song, but Cash did a killer cover of it (amongst some other great covers).

    stankrom,
    I’m a classic rock/country (real country) guy, but Pantera fucking rocks. I PR to them almost everytime. Domination is my favorite.

    Sidenote

  29. I can’t believe more people don’t appreciate the blues! Allman Bros, Clapton, Skynyrd, Pat Travers, Gov’t Mule, ZZ Top, Delta Moon…come on guys, those are all rock/blues too (except Delta Moon) so it should cover a broader base. Blues has influenced the greatest bands in history, it deserves respect.

    Maslow,
    You mention that you are not a fan of much production, yet most the Tool songs you list (not Sober) are heavily produced, that is why they use samplers in concerts. After Undertow, they were not nearly as raw. Great music though.
    I can’t believe you left out Deftones.

    jfirerad,
    “won’t back down” is a Tom Petty song, but Cash did a killer cover of it (amongst some other great covers).

    stankrom,
    I’m a classic rock/country (real country) guy, but Pantera fucking rocks. I PR to them almost everytime. Domination is my favorite.

    Sidenote:
    Rage has killer music, but horrible lyrics and message.

    Sidenote2:
    Rap like Westside Connection, Wu-Tang, Tupac, No Limit, etc…get the blood flowing.

  30. Damn, came late to this party. 71 comments is pretty ridiculous. As is people lifting to Kesha!? WTF? My 11 and 8 year old nieces listen to that bullshit. You guys are whack.

    @stankrom – Hell yes to slipknot, corey taylor’s got some sick pipes.

    Some others I throw down to include Rise Against (easily my favorite going right now), Disturbed, Dropkick Murpheys, Eminem, and some various hip hop, Jurassic 5, Dialated Peoples, Blackalicious and AC/DC is always included on the playlist.

  31. Before all of my headphones stopped working because of sweat pouring into them, I would listen to Slayer’s “Raining Blood” on repeat.
    The intros build up of thunder is brutal.

  34. Top songs that I workout to…

    Era – Enae Volare Mezzo (Fedor Emelianenko’s Walk-in Music)
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J86uvsZgnro

    Turisas – Battle Metal
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J8oEUtNr7j0&feature=related

    Andrew WK – Ready to Die
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YlBnJ0egT_4

    DJ Ozma – Shippu Jinrai Bom-Ba-Ye (roughly translated to “Lighting Speed Kill Him”)
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jkXj3jOZ86k
    It has real 70s feel and is based on this song from the prowrestler Antonio Inoki and Mohammad Ali’s theme songs
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UAFdtj1aQdg

    For PR attempt/Meets…

    Seether – Out of My Way
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OClem7RprLk

    I like the lyrics how it says that “I can’t pass up this opportunity to make myself absurd.” It seems very appropriate for max effort lifts.

  35. @MattTruss223

    Corey Taylor is an awesome singer. I like some slipknot, but I actually prefer his other band, stone sour. It’s still relatively heavy, but has more singing and less of the guttural vocals. I’ve got two albums, audio secrecy and come what(ever) may – both very good.

  41. @hawkpeter

    Thy is pretty good for a gym playlist, mate. Most of the time it’ll just be the local commercial station shit :( any gym that plays zep, soundgarden, rage, the prodigy and spiderbait (i love “calypso”) is ok in my book!

  42. I waited until this morning to read the comments, that way I could ROFL in the morning. I read what Brett (Favre?) said, and it was everything I hoped it could be.

    That being said, this thread screams elitist. I’m purposely going to listen to the worst music possible this weekend, so that I can hear your commentary. Afterward I will call you an elitist, and ask if you need a spot.

  43. I feel the same way about Appetite for Destruction, I skip sweet child o’ mine every time.

    I like Megadeth, Judas Priest, Dokken, Led Zeppelin, Iron Maiden, 80’s hair metal in general, and whatever Pandora puts together as one of those channels.

    The other day I was finishing a 5/3/1 cycle of squats, and on the last set I put on Iron Maiden’s “Alexander the Great” and waited for the galloping intro to start squatting. That was an enormous success!

  46. @kitensmash–I said I’m not a fan of overproduction, as in using production to compensate for lack of talent. I guess that’s pretty subjective and possibly just a reason to hate on things that I think suck for other reasons.

    That said, I think we can all agree this kid is going to be 70s Big one day: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QkDR06BQtm4

    (I think youtube keeps taking this video down–it’s the one of the Australian kid fighting back against the tiny bully)

  47. Someone mentioned techno.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pk6VGYfxB6Y

    I have also lifted heavy to Concrete streets by Jurassic 5.

    This said, having trained in my old gym which continuously played MTV Dance, Music has become something quite irrelevant to my training. Now that I have the choice, I just don’t care. Plus I cant be lifting with earphones in.

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