The ten most popular sports and fitness songs

"Compendium of Materia Medica" (Jay Chou), "Wake" (Hillsong Young And Free), "The Lonely Warrior" (Eason Chan), "Stronger" (Kelly Clarkson), "Beier Shuang" (Da Zhangwei), "Victory" (Two Steps From Hell), "Happy Worship" (Wiber Pan/Angela Chang), "Faded" (Alan Walker), "Calories" (Rocket Girls 101), "Blooming Life" (Wang Feng).

This list is a combination of the collection of official Keep playlists in the past year, the BGM playback volume of Douyin fitness content, plus interviews with 7 group class coaches, 2 core members of city running groups, and the BGM pits that I have been through for three years of fitness. There is no false ranking, it is all the popularity that is actually broadcast in the gym and on the track.

As soon as it was released, some people were bound to argue: Wasn't "Compendium of Materia Medica" Liu Genghong's popular internet song? Can you also make the list? I thought the same way before, until I took a novice aerobics trial class last month and tried three popular fitness BGMs from Europe and the United States. Everyone couldn't hit the right steps and cluttered like dumplings. The moment it cut to "Compendium of Materia Medica", most of the people automatically caught up with the rhythm - the BPM of 110 is just suitable for entry-level aerobics and the frequency of Pamela's basic movements. Even aunties who have never skipped aerobics can clap their legs along with the "kaka". Do you think it's annoying or not?

When it comes to step point adaptation, friends who run in the circle will definitely think of "Wake" first. The tempo of 128 is just right at the popular daily pace of 5 minutes and 30 seconds. When I was out of breath in the second half of the last half-marathon, the chorus of this song happened to be cut into my headphones. The drum beat was like my own heartbeat. I gritted my teeth and rushed three more kilometers. Later, I asked the people running the group and found that eight of the ten people had this song on their playlists, and two of them had set it as a special BGM for PB. They said that as soon as the intro played, the legs would automatically lift up.

However, most muscle friends in the strength area look down on these "soft aerobic songs", and their favorite song is "Victory". Don’t laugh, last week I witnessed my partner deadlifting for a PR of 180kg, specifically pumping up the volume for this song. His face turned red as soon as the intro came out, and he pulled up the bar while shouting some unknown slogan. Then he came down and told me that this song gave him a 20kg buff. I later tried doing leg training, and indeed, as soon as the majestic harmony came out, I felt that squatting was not a barbell, but a responsibility to save the world. It was no problem to squat two more sets.

There must be someone here who wants to mention "Calories". They think it is too slobbery, even a bit low, and not worthy of such a "self-disciplined" thing as fitness. I used to bother the instructor to put this in the spinning class, until the last time a instructor put it in the final relaxation session. After 45 minutes of high-intensity sprinting, everyone was almost paralyzed. As soon as "Burn My Calories" came out, more than 30 people in the audience shouted, and the speed of pedaling increased. You say vulgar? Fitness is supposed to be fun, so why should it be so elegant? Good songs can make you pedal a few more times.

Oh, by the way, there is also "The Lonely Warrior". Don't think that only children love to sing it. Last time I met a 185-meter strong man in the gym. During the shoulder training, he hummed "Fight, fight, fight," and the weight of the shoulder press increased by 5kg. After the press, he told me that this song is more effective than a nitrogen pump. I tried it twice, and indeed, as soon as the chorus came out, the energy to refuse to admit defeat came up immediately. The group that I thought I couldn't hold on to, gritted my teeth and finished it.

Most girls who practice core regularly like to put "Stronger" in their playlists. The phrase "what doesn't kill you makes you stronger" is simply a public mental nitrogen pump. My friend used to practice plank support for up to 30 seconds. Later, he specially set this song as a special BGM for core training. Every time he couldn't hold it anymore, he would sing along, and the duration was suddenly extended to 2 minutes. There is also "Bier Shuang". Don't think that only square dancing ladies like to use it. Many middle-aged uncles must play it when they run 5 kilometers. The rhythm is so magical. The last time I saw a man in the park listening to this song, he ran faster than me, who is in my 20s.

The remaining songs are also frequent guests in various scenes: "Happy Worship" is always indispensable for group class warm-up. The rhythm is brisk and not harsh. Everyone can't let it go when they first come in. They sway unconsciously as soon as the song starts, and they let go in an instant.； "Faded" is even more popular. I like it for running circles to control my cadence. People who practice yoga and stretching also like to play it. The rhythm of electronic music is not noisy, and it can make people stay focused and not get distracted while listening. ； As for "Blooming Life", it is simply a standard for long-distance runners. It must be in the playlist of many marathon runners. When I listen to this song when I am about to hit the wall at 40 kilometers, I feel that I can run another ten kilometers.

In fact, this list is not so absolute. I have also seen some people who work out and listen to Guo Degang's cross talk, and practice for an extra half hour while listening to it. There are also people who like to listen to Peking Opera and do ironwork. Everyone's enjoyment is different. The reason why these ten songs are so popular is that they just hit the rhythm and emotional points of most people's exercise. If you are lazy about fitness recently, you might as well play through this playlist next time you go, maybe it will give you a big surprise.