Revealed! The Best Workout Songs Ever

These jams raise your mood — and your heart rate while exercising

By Candy Schulman

Originally Published in AARP June 05, 2026

Exercise goes with music like fitness goes with health. Runners plug into earbuds. Spin classes blast upbeat songs. Home exercisers move to online video playlists. You might think listening to music while exercising only relieves boredom, but it’s so much more — strong, steady music tempo, known as Beats Per Minute (BPM), has been proven to lift your mood and intensify your focus while increasing performance and endurance.

Reprinted with permission. Click here for original article.

A study by Harvard Health found that people who listened to music while exercising had slightly faster heart rates, more intense performance benefits and greater enjoyment than those who listened to a podcast or nothing. The songs they chose clocked in at 135 to 142 beats per minute.

"Music helps drive energy and set the tone of a cardio workout," says Jenni Lynn Patterson-LaCour, AEA Aquatic Training Specialist and creator of SWET™ (Structured Water Exercise Training).

"I love using music to motivate people to push a little harder, but I’ll also lower it at times to focus on form and technique. Once the basics are solid, we can really use the music to build intensity."

Pairing certain kinds of songs with workout routines can make you feel as upbeat as the music tempo. But beware: In longer, more intense exercise sessions to the beat of high-tempo songs, you might sweat more, your heart rate might increase and you might lose more fluids and electrolytes. The harder you exercise, the more you need to replenish your body with fluids.

Patterson-LaCour always gives short water breaks in her 45-minute hydro classes. "Hydrate because you brought it. Hydrate, hydrate," is her motto.

Music can also "dampen perceptions of pain and fatigue during a workout, and inspire bursts of effort and endurance," according to Sandee LaMotte in CNN Health’s "The Right Music Playlist Makes Your Workouts More Effective."

Studies conclude that although "music can make exercise seem like less effort, it was more beneficial in terms of enhancing physical fitness." Maximum effects were greatest for brisk walking, running, biking and swimming, as opposed to weightlifting and jump roping.

In a study by physical experts at Instant Hydration, the most popular workout songs on Spotify are best when used for specific types of workouts. So crank up your beats per minute to have your optimal — and most tuneful — exercise sessions.

"Till I Collapse" by Eminem has 2.5 billion monthly streams, Spotify’s most popular workout song. Eminem’s energetic rhythm appears on many gym playlists. At 171.4 beats per minute, this song pairs with running and the most challenging exercises. Run until you almost collapse.

"Toxic," by Britney Spears comes in at #2. Her perennial pop hit is perfect for all cardio workouts because of its fast rhythm. If aerobics or dance cardio is your exercise of choice, "Toxic" will spur you on.

"Fein," by Travis Scott is the fourth most popular exercise song on Spotify. Its fast pace and a driving deep bass spur you on and is ideal for cycling or steady-state cardio, a consistent routine in moderate intensity for 30 to 90 minutes.

"Jimmy Cooks," by Drake pairs with high intensity interval training (HIIT) at a whopping 165.9 beats per minute.

Patterson-LaCour has her own personal playlist. "My all-time favorite workout song is 'Maniac' from Flashdance by Michael Sembello. It never fails to get the heart pumping and my class hyped." She also loves "Only Girl in the World" by Rihanna and "Get on the Floor" by Michael Jackson.

"Both are great for bringing the energy up and really getting people moving."

An essential part of my research was asking two millennial fitness buffs. They always keep me updated on music.

Here is their combined playlist:

"Show Me How You Burlesque," Christina Aguilera

"It’s Raining Men," The Weather Girls

"Pump It," Black Eyed Peas

"Gypsies, Tramps & Thieves," Cher

"Nonstop," Hamilton (Original Broadway Cast Recording)

Any/Everything by Missy Elliott

Strong women like Cardi B and the I, Tonya soundtrack

Bad Bunny for fun, powerful songs

How do you discover how many beats per minute are in your favorite songs? It’s easy enough to do on Spotify by entering the name of a song and quickly discovering the tempo. For example, “Untouchable” by Taylor Swift is a whopping 200 BPM. Some songs start out low but build to groundbreaking beats, like “Thousand” by Moby, which soars as high as 1,015 BPM, a Guinness World Record.

Build your own playlist with your selected songs based on BPM. You don’t have to rely on contemporary music. Many songs from the 1950s rocked high in beats, such as "Tall Paul" by Annette Funicello, over 200 BPM.

You don’t even have to be in an exercise class to get the health benefits of music. Whenever certain songs like “1999” by Prince pop up on my playlist, I get out of my chair and jump into an impromptu solo in my living room, dancing like it’s 1999.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Candy Schulman’s essays, health, and travel pieces have appeared in AARP, The New York Times, The Washington Post, Next Avenue, Oldster, Parents, Travel & Leisure, among others. She is a creative writing professor at the New School in New York City and a private writing coach. Learn more at candyschulman.com.

Because everyone needs a Girlfriend™

Sign up to receive our free weekly newsletter every Thursday.

---

Copyright Disclaimer: All content, including text, images, videos, and other media on this website and blog is owned by Jenni Lynn Fitness and subject to applicable copyright laws and protections. We welcome the use of the information provided for personal, non-commercial purposes. However, you may not reproduce, distribute, modify, or republish any content from this website or blog without prior written permission. We are always open to collaboration and partnerships. If you wish to use any content from this blog, please contact us at JenniLynn@JenniLynnFitness.com to request permission.

AI Disclosure: Some photos in our posts may be AI-generated.