Favorite Workout Songs 2016

I couldn’t run without music. That’s me. I’ve just gotta have it. I listen to all types of music but when I run I do prefer pop, dance, and rap. Kinda weird for someone that loves bluegrass too! Here are my favorite workouts songs from 2016:

TOP THREE FAVORITES:
CAN’T STOP THE FEELING! – Justin Timberlake [113 BPM]
Chase You Down (Extended) – RUNAGROUND [123 BPM]
Sound of Your Heart – Shawn Hook [122 BPM]

ALL THE REST (Alphabetically):
Cheap Thrills (feat. Sean Paul) [Le Youth Remix] – Sia [120 BPM]
Don’t Let Me Down (feat. Daya) [W&W Remix] – The Chainsmokers [80 BPM]
Greenlight (feat. Flo Rida & LunchMoney Lewis) – Pitbull [115 BPM]
HandClap (Dave Audé Remix) – Fitz & The Tantrums [129 BPM]
Help Me Run Away – St. Lucia [158  BPM]
Higher – Carly Rae Jepsen [14 BPM]
Just Like Fire – P!nk [81 BPM]
Me Too 3:01 – Meghan Trainor [124 BPM]
Move Your Body (Alan Walker Remix) – Sia [128 BPM]
Rise (Monsieur Adi Radio Edit) – Katy Perry [124 BPM]
Scars to Your Beautiful (Luca Schreiner Remix) – Alessia Cara [118 BPM]
Summer Nights (feat. John Legend) – Tiësto [124 BPM]
This Is What You Came For (feat. Rihanna)- Calvin Harris [124 BPM]

What are some of your favorite workout songs?

Workout Playlist of the Month: October 2016

The 1980’s is the theme this month. Personally, I love the music from the 1980’s. I hope you do too.

I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles) – The Proclaimers [132 BPM]
Super Freak – Rick James [133 BPM]
Mony Mony – Billy Idol [135 BPM}
Roam -The B-52’s [135 BPM]
She Works Hard For the Money – Donna Summer [136 BPM]
New Attitude – Patti LaBelle [138 BPM]
Wild, Wild West – The Escape Club [139 BPM]
Panama – Van Halen [141 BPM]
Call Me (Theme From “American Gigolo” – Blondie [143 BPM]
In Between Days – The Cure [143 BPM]
We Built This City – Starship [144 BPM]
Working for the Weekend – Loverboy [147 BPM]
The Heat Is On – Glenn Frey [150 BPM]
Devil Inside – INXS [151 BPM]
We Got the Beat – The Go-Go’s [152 BPM]

To learn an easy way to create a workout mix check out my blog post, “Easy Way to Create Your Own Music Mixes Using the Cross DJ App“.

Workout Playlist of the Month: September 2016

Last day of September and I’m just now getting out my playlist of the month. Sorry about that–it’s been a hectic summer and September but I plan to get back on track very soon. I try not to repeat songs in my monthly playlists but I can’t promise I won’t. Each month the list is 50-70 minutes in length. I assure you any tune listed is played by me at some point during my runs.

All in the Name (feat. Elton John) – Bright Light Bright Light [123 BPM]
Somebody Loves You – Betty Who [123 BPM]
Die Young – Ke$ha [128 BPM]
I Wanna Go – Britney Spears [130 BPM]
Timber (feat. Ke$ha) – Pitbull [130 BPM]
Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You) – Kelly Clarkson [116 BPM]
Maps – Maroon 5 [120 BPM]
Black Magic – Little Mix [112 BPM]
Brave – Sara Bareilles [92 BPM]
Cheap Thrills – Sia [90 BPM]
Nobody Love – Tori Kelly [100 BPM]
Worth It (feat. Kid Ink) – Fifth Harmony [100 BPM]
Starving (feat. Zedd) – Hailee Steinfeld & Grey [100 BPM]
Love Myself (KREAM Remix) – Hailee Steinfeld [125 BPM]

To learn an easy way to create a workout mix check out my blog post, “Easy Way to Create Your Own Music Mixes Using the Cross DJ App“.

Workout Playlist of the Month: August 2016

It’s been very busy lately. Sorry for getting this out so late. My August playlist looks like this:

Don’t Let Me Down (feat. Daya) [Hardwell & Sephyx Remix] – The Chainsmokers [75 BPM]
Heart Attack – Demi Lovato [87 BPM]
Once In A While – Timeflies [105 BPM]
Move Your Feet – Junior Senior [119 BPM]
Don’t Be So Hard On Yourself – Jess Glynne [120 BPM]
We R Who We R – Ke$ha [120 BPM]
Music – Madonna [120 BPM]
Stutter – Maroon 5 [120 BPM]
Am I Wrong – Nico & Vinz [120 BPM]
This City (Radio Edit) [feat. Lupe Fiasco] – Patrick Stump [120 BPM]
Kill Em With Kindness – Selena Gomez [120 BPM]
Cheap Thrills (feat. Sean Paul) [Le Youth Remix] – Sia [120 BPM]
Here – Alessia Cara [121 BPM]
Really Don’t Care – Demi Lovato [121 BPM]
Groove Is In the Heart – Deee-Lite [122 BPM]
Somebody Loves You – Betty Who [123 BPM]
Me Too – Meghan Trainor [124 BPM]
Summer Nights (feat. John Legend)- Tiësto [124 BPM]

To learn an easy way to create a workout mix check out my blog post, “Easy Way to Create Your Own Music Mixes Using the Cross DJ App“.

Workout Playlist of the Month: July 2016

I’m a little late this month but here it is; I’ve put together a mix of Rock/Alternate workout tracks:

The Middle – Jimmy Eat World (81 BPM)
Cherub Rock – The Smashing Pumpkins (86 BPM)
Basket Case – Green Day (87 BPM)
Wonderful (The Way I Feel)- My Morning Jacket (87 BPM)
The Distance – Cake (92 BPM)
7 Minutes In Heaven – Fall Out Boy (93 BPM)
American Idiot – Green Day (93 BPM)
Flathead – The Fratellis (105 BPM)
Numb – LINKIN PARK (110 BPM)
40 oz. Dream – Good Charlotte (112 BPM)
Dance, Dance – Fall Out Boy (115 BPM)
In Too Deep – Sum 41 (116 BPM)
Hands Open – Snow Patrol (124 BPM)
Shut Up and Dance – WALK THE MOON (128 BPM)
Somebody Told Me – The Killers (138 BPM)
All the Small Things – Blink-182 (149 BPM)

To learn an easy way to create a workout mix check out my blog post, “Easy Way to Create Your Own Music Mixes Using the Cross DJ App“.

Workout Playlist of the Month: June 2016

This month I’ve put together another pop/dance mix.

This Is What You Came For (feat. Rihanna) – Calvin Harris (124 BPM)
Disturbia – Rihanna (125 BPM)
Spice Up Your Life – Spice Girls (124 BPM)
Domino – Jessie J (127 BPM)
I Gotta Feeling – The Black Eyed Peas (128 BPM)
Somebody Loves You – Betty Who (123 BPM)
The Life – Fifth Harmony (104 BPM)
Drag Me Down [Big Payno x AFTERHRS Remix] – One Direction (138 BPM)
Secrets (Jump Smokers Remix) – Mary Lambert (125 BPM)
G.U.Y. (KDrew Remix) – Lady Gaga (126 BPM)
Break the Rules (Tiësto Remix) – Charli XCX (128 BPM)
Judas (R3HAB Remix) – Lady Gaga (128 BPM)
CAN’T STOP THE FEELING! – Justin Timberlake (113 BPM)

To learn an easy way to create a workout mix check out my blog post, “Easy Way to Create Your Own Music Mixes Using the Cross DJ App“.

Workout Playlist of the Month: May 2016

Since I just finished the Rock ‘n’ Roll Half Marathon in Nashville I thought this would be a great time to feature some country music tracks.

Where The Blacktop Ends – Keith Urban (79 BPM)
She s So California – Gary Allan (130 BPM)
Boot Scootin Boogie – Brooks and Dunn (131)
You Belong With Me – Taylor Swift (130 BPM)
Best Days Of Your Life – Kellie Pickler (128 BPM)
You Win My Love – Shania Twain (128 BPM)
Gone Country – Alan Jackson (126 BPM)
I Like It, I Love It – Tim McGraw (124 BPM)
Stays In Mexico – Toby Keith (123 BPM)
Seven Nation Army – The Oak Ridge Boys (123 BPM)
Lovin’ All Night – Rodney Crowell (89 BPM)
Kickstart My Heart – Rascal Flatts (89 BPM)
Country Girl (Shake It for Me)- Luke Bryan (106 BPM)
Baby Likes to Rock It – The Tractors (80 BPM)
Ring of Fire – Billy Burnette (81 BPM)
American Middle Class – Angaleena Presley (80 BPM)

To learn an easy way to create a workout mix check out my blog post, “Easy Way to Create Your Own Music Mixes Using the Cross DJ App“.

Workout Playlist of the Month: April 2016

Right Now (feat. David Guetta) [Justin Prime Vocal Mix] — Rihanna (130 BPM)
Cinema (Laidback Luke Remix) — Benny Benassi (130 BPM)
One (Congorock Remix) — Swedish House Mafia (130 BPM)
Marry the Night (Afrojack Remix) — Lady Gaga (131 BPM)
Adore You (Remix) — Miley Cyrus & Cedric Gervais (128 BPM)
Let There Be Love — Christina Aguilera (128 BPM)
Where Have You Been — Rihanna (128 BPM)
Get the Party Started — P!nk (129 BPM)
Hangover (feat. Flo Rida) — Taio Cruz (128 BPM)
Brokenhearted (Razor N Guido Radio Edit) — Karmin (128 BPM)
Painkiller (feat. Meghan Trainor) — Jason Derulo (128 BPM)
Run Wild (feat. Jake Reese) — Hardwell (130 BPM)
Juicy Wiggle — Redfoo (128 BPM)
Moves Like Jagger — Maroon 5 (128 BPM)

To learn an easy way to create a workout mix check out my blog post, “Easy Way to Create Your Own Music Mixes“.

Workout Playlist of the Month: March 2016

Where Are U Now (with Justin Bieber) (Kaskade Remix) – Skrillex & Diplo (126 BPM)
More (RedOne Jimmy Joker Remix) – Usher (125 BPM)
Time of Our Lives – Pitbull & Ne-Yo (124 BPM)
Sound of Your Heart – Shawn Hook (122 BPM)
The Nights (Mike Mago Remix) – Avicii (125 BPM)
Hold My Hand – Jess Glynne (123 BPM)
Emergency (Sam Feldt Remix) – Icona Pop (126 BPM)
Sparks – Hillary Duff (122 BPM)
Under Control (featuring Hurts) – Calvin Harris & Alesso (126 BPM)
Go Big or Go Home – American Authors (122 BPM)
We Own the Night (Chainsmokers Edit) – The Wanted (126 BPM)
Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You) (Nicky Romero Club Remix) – Kelly Clarkson (126 BPM)
Levels (Steven Redant Club Mix) – Nick Jonas (126 BPM)
Telephone (Kaskade Extended Remix) – Lady Gaga (126 BPM)
A Sky Full of Stars (Robin Schulz Edit) – Coldplay (123 BPM)

To learn an easy way to create a workout mix check out my blog post, “Easy Way to Create Your Own Music Mixes“.

Easily Create Your Own Music Mixes

I love to create my own workout music mixes. I create mixes not only for my workouts but for parties and special events with my friends and family. My primary mixing tools are an iPad mini with djay Pro from Algoriddim installed and connected to a Pioneer DDJ-WEGO3 controller. This is a bit of a labor intensive process. Now I know this is overkill for most people but I can make some great motivational music mixes this way and I enjoy doing it. There is one problem with this method though. Once you’ve worked out with the mix a few times you begin to memorize the song order and it becomes boring. How soon this happens varies but eventually you find yourself repeating the creation process again.

Thanks to Chris Lawhorn from the Run Hundred website I learned of an app called Cross DJ from Mixvibes that makes creating your own workout mixes that offer variety and only take a few minutes to create. Before I explain how to do this let me tell you a little about Chris. Not only does he have a website focused on workout music but he is also a contributing writer for Shape magazine and Huffington Post. I find his website very helpful in finding new and sometimes not so new music to use for my workout mixes. If you’re not a subscriber to his site you should consider it.

 Setting Up Cross DJ

Mixvibes offers Cross DJ for Android and Apple iOS devices along with Mac and PC versions. The instructions I’m about to give you assume you have either the Android or Apple iOS version. They offer a barebones version for free but you will have to at least spring for the “Automix” tool. I didn’t think to remember how much the tool costs as a standalone add-on. I think it’s $3.99. You can buy all the added tools for under $10 but Automix is the only tool you will need for what I’m showing you here.

Now that you have the app loaded on your mobile device you will need to change a few settings. First, turn on “Auto-gain” and set “Sync mode” to 4 beats as shown in this graphic.

Next, you will set the “Automix” setting to 16 seconds and “Auto-sync” to on.

That’s it for the settings.

Choosing the Songs for Your Mix

Next you need to make sure the songs you want to include in your mix are loaded on your device. Yes, that’s right; you cannot stream the songs for this–you must own the tracks. Your song selections should all be close to the same beats per minute (BPM). You can experiment with this but I’ve found song selections within six beats of each other will work just fine. Now that you have chosen the songs for your mix; arrange the order or choose to shuffle them and then hit the “Play Automix” button. Cross DJ will do the rest. Change the order or change the shuffle and you will have a new seamless mix every time you hit play button.

How Do I Find the BPM of the Songs I Want to Use?

Well… you could just start playing the song and count the beats for ten seconds then multiple that number by 6. Another way would be to subscribe to Chris Lawhorn’s Run Hundred website. Chris posts the beats per minute for every song listed on his site. I use it quite often.

Starting this month I will post the beats per minute for any song I list in my Playlist of the Month and in any blog post that lists songs I use in my own workout playlists. My lists will not be as complete as the work Chris has done at Run Hundred but it will be an option for you to use.

I hope you find this useful. I’m finding I use Cross DJ for my mixes more and pulling out and setting up my Pioneer WEGO3 not nearly as often. If you listen to music while you work out give this a try. Sometimes it’s nice to bring out the your inner DJ.