The Definitive Nerd Fitness Workout Playlist

Steve Kamb
Written By Steve Kamb
Last Updated:

Screen shot 2010-01-27 at 11.41.00 PM

Does music ever make you feel like this?

It does for me, which is great because music happens to be a huge part of my life.  My day job involves producing floating music festivals on cruise ships (watch a spur-the-moment commercial I made on one of our cruises last week), I go to a few concerts a month, I play both guitar and piano, and I have a playlist in my iTunes for practically every occasion: for work, while studying or reading, when at a party, while falling asleep, and most importantly for working out.

I’m convinced that I can lift five to ten pounds more when listening to the right song. Unfortunately, because my gym loves to play Taylor Swift techno remixes all the time (don’t ask), I’ve resorted to bringing my own iPod and loading up my own workout playlist.  Put in the headphones, keep my head down, and take care of business.  I figured today would be a good day for me to highlight what’s on that playlist and ask you what I should add to it.

Steve’s Nerd Fitness Workout Playlist

This is what I listen to when lifting weights.  Feel free to make fun of anything in here you don’t like, as that’s what’s music is all about: making fun of others who listen to things different than you :).

There you have it – Steve’s proven formula to get pissed off and pumped up: some generic angst-y alt rock and hip hop.  What songs did I leave out?  What am I missing?  Let’s help create a cool list of songs for all readers.  Maybe when I have time I can turn it into an iMix on iTunes or something.  Only time will tell…

Now it’s your turn. What do you listen to when you work out?  Do you need happy music or angry music?

Let’s hear it!

-Steve

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156 thoughts on “The Definitive Nerd Fitness Workout Playlist”

  1. So, I’m a little weird and have some pretty varied tastes, but here’s just a sampling of some of my favorites from my movement list:
    Chumbawumba: Amnesia, I Want More, Tubthumping (that one ought to ring a few bells for some);
    MCR: Party Poison, Headfirst For Halos, Na Na Na;
    B52’s: Debbie, Hot Corner;
    The Futureheads: Robot, A to B, Carnival Kids, Stupid and Shallow;
    Blue Oyster Cult: Godzilla;
    The Ernies: Here and Now;
    Mika: Big Girl (You Are Beautiful), We Are Golden;
    Scissor Sisters: Running Out;
    Blur: Chinese Bombs, Song 2;
    Judas Priest: Freewheel Burning, Metal Meltdown, Ram It Down, Johnnie B. Goode;
    Sex Pistols: Anarchy In The U.K.;
    Misfits: Forbidden Zone;
    Daft Punk: Harder Better Faster Stronger, Aerodynamic;
    Deadmau5: 8bit, Fn Pig;
    Dandy Warhols: Scientist, Rock Bottom;
    David Hasselhoff: True Survivor.

    Maybe I’ve got too much music. o__o;

  4. And I’ve returned to add more shite to this one!:
    Misfits: Don’t Open ‘Til Doomsday, This Island Earth;
    The Ernies: It’s Digestible, You Are Everywhere;
    Red Hot Chili Peppers: Can’t Stop, Cabron;
    Chuck Berry: Roll Over Beethoven, You Can’t Catch Me, Brown Eyed Handsome Man;
    Placebo: Bionic, Loud Like Love, Come Home, Miss Moneypenny, Rob The Bank, Daddy Cool, 20th Century Boy (though that last one is a cover – the original by T. Rex is equally amazing);
    Judas Priest: Screaming for Vengeance, Rock Hard Ride Free, Jawbreaker, Hard As Iron, Riding on the Wind, Electric Eye;
    Franz Ferdinand: Tell Her Tonight, Right Action, Evil Eye, All For You Sophia;
    Dropkick Murphys: Hang ‘Em High, Going Out In Style, The Irish Rover;
    Marilyn Manson: Rock Is Dead, I Want To Disappear, New Model No. 15, Posthuman;
    Studio Killers: All Men Are Pigs, Ode To The Bouncer, Friday Night Gurus;
    Blondie: I’m Gonna Love You Too, 11:59;
    Dandy Warhols: Shakin’, Bohemian Like You, We Used To Be Friends;
    Smashing Pumpkins: Bullet with Butterfly Wings, Jellybelly, Tales of a Scorched Earth, Heavy Metal Machine;
    Steel Panther: Death To All But Metal, Eyes Of A Panther;
    Pet Shop Boys: Love Is a Bourgeois Construct, Shouting in the Evening, Thursday.
    I’ll leave it at that. Obviously there’s going to be stuff in there that is subject to this taste or that (such as Placebo or Steel Panther); I more wanted to suggest songs with a feeling of energy or movement in general. Enjoy!

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