Whether it’s a New Year’s resolution, or an effort to shed some pounds after holiday indulgence, many of us will be hitting the gym this January. Here are 10 of our favorite songs to get you in the workout spirit.
1. “Flashdance… What a Feeling”
This iconic hit written by Giorgio Moroder, Keith Forsey and Irene Cara – who also performed it – hails from the 1983 film Flashdance. In addition to topping the Billboard Hot 100, becoming Cara’s only No. 1 hit and earning a platinum record in 1983, the synthesizer-heavy standard won the Academy Award and Golden Globe for Best Original Song in 1984.
2. “Heart Attack” – Raphael Saadiq
Inspired by the heavy, raw sound of his live performances, American artist Raphael Saadiq worked with recording engineer Chuck Brungardt to produce a grittier, louder sound for his fourth studio album, “Stone Rollin’.” The adrenalin-inspiring song of the album – and an awesome workout track – has got to be “Heart Attack.”
3. “Magic Carpet Ride” – Steppenwolf
Written by John Kay and Rushton Moreve of the hard rock band Steppenwolf, “Magic Carpet Ride” was initially released in 1968. It was the hottest single from the album “The Second,” peaking at No. 3 in the US and becoming the band’s second-biggest hit (after “Born To Be Wild”). It’s a good one for the treadmill addicts out there.
4. “Eye of the Tiger”
Yes, we are including “Eye of the Tiger.” After all, it gets the blood going like almost no other rock anthem in existence. In case you’ve been living under a rock, this hit by Survivor was the theme song for the 1982 film “Rocky III.” It was reportedly written at the request of actor Sylvester Stallone after he was unable to get permission for Queen’s “Another One Bites the Dust.”
5. “Stronger” – Kanye West
This Grammy-winning hit is an awesome track for pumping iron and feeling manly. Charting on Billboard’s Hot 100 at No. 1, “Stronger” samples heavily from Daft Punk’s “Harder Better Faster Stronger,” released back in 2001.
6. “I Want You Back” – Jackson 5
A 1969 chart-topper, this song went to No. 1 on the soul singles chart for four weeks. A fantastic retro-chic workout song, “I Want You Back” is widely considered one of The Jackson 5’s best, and it ranked 121st on Rolling Stone’s list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
7. “Waking Up in Vegas” – Katy Perry
Performed by superstar Katy Perry, this 2009 hit is taken as the fourth and final single from her album “One of the Boys.” It was written by Perry, Desmond Child and Andreas Carlsson, and produced by Greg Wells, who is credited with playing all the instruments on the song.
8. “Highway Don’t Care” – Tim McGraw, Taylor Swift & Keith Urban
This one goes out to all the country lovers out there. “Highway Don’t Care” is a bluesy, rollicking tune performed by Tim McGraw and Taylor Swift, with guitar by Keith Urban. It was released in March 2013 on McGraw’s first album for Big Machine Records, “Two Lanes of Freedom.”
9. “A Little Party Never Killed Nobody” – Fergie
This Great Gatsby soundtrack hit will keep you crunching abs and lifting dumbbells until you collapse from sheer exhaustion. The pacing is ideal for fast reps or an intense run, and Fergie’s voice is back in full force.
10. “Physical” – Olivia Newton-John
When Olivia Newton-John released her hit single “Physical” in September 1981, the song was an immediate success. The record shipped 2 million copies in the United States, was certified Platinum, and spent 10 weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100. “Physical” went on to become the best-selling single of the decade in the US and a favorite of gym addicts all over the world.
