Pumped up: the best music for your next workout

Given the dour mood of January, it’s likely that your new-year promise to hit up the gym more frequently is already looking a touch shaky. However, it would be remiss to start neglecting the cardio stations altogether, given the mountain of cash you’ve pumped into your new gear and membership – therefore, to help keep you enthused about your fitness regime, we’ve profiled a trio of albums for you to add to your Spotify queue, with each one perfectly suited to a specific type of workout.

So, all you need to do is plug in – or perhaps invest in a new set of speakers if flexing your muscles in your home gym – and pick up those kettlebells. January, after all, is a long slog, so you’ll need all the help you can get.

‘What’s the Difference’, the seventh track on Dr. Dre’s tour de force album 2001, is a statement piece, a thumper of a hit layered with horns and a jangly background that ride on Dre’s punchy lyrics – it’s a steady, strong beat that works well for when you’re fully warmed up and have eased yourself into some explosive reps. ‘The Watcher’, the second entry on the album, provides an easy segue into your session, and big knockouts ‘Still D.R.E.’ and ‘The Next Episode’ will keep motivation up throughout your circuit. During your final few minutes, ‘The Message’ will give everything a slowed-down feel.

For three decades, Icelandic band Sigur Rós has been celebrated for its calming, almost cosmic tracks, mixing electronics with rock and orchestral hallmarks, all of which is tied together by lead singer Jónsi’s ethereal voice. The group’s 2012 album is considered one of the best in its accomplished oeuvre, a slow-buildup work that dovetails choirs, piano keys, strings and distorted guitars; the listener, as a result, is brought to a place of pure stillness, a perfect thing when undertaking slow movements on the mat, whether that’s for Pilates or yoga. There’s a particularly good crescendo in ‘Rembihnútur’, so take note so that you can time it to coincide with your more expressive, exaggerated movements.

It’s a fitness cliché to plug in and listen to ‘Gonna Fly Now’, the smash-hit Rocky theme song that joggers and wannabe Kipchoges listen to when pounding the pavement. To circumvent the iconic trumpets, but still remain close to the Stallone spirit, fast forward a few films and dive into the Rocky IV soundtrack, a glorious 80s-thick arrangement from the likes of Kenny Loggins and Survivor. ‘Living in America’ is a great pick-me-up when the legs are feeling heavy; ‘Heart’s on Fire’ is good for when things begin to speed up; but, it’s with ‘Training Montage’ when one can really run the distance, a song that’ll transport you to the colds and pains of working out in a snow-buried cabin in the Soviet woodlands. IYKYK.

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