Science Says That These Are the Best Workout Songs of 2021

With the winter months ahead of us, it’s going to be harder to get outside for a ride. Even if you love the trainer, you might still need something to get you excited.After looking at Spotify’s top streamed songs of 2021 across multiple genres, it got us thinking—which of these tunes would make the best workout songs? Does music positively affect workouts at all? And how would we even determine a “good” workout song from a “bad” one?

Firstly, a study published in Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology discovered that in general, listening to music makes high-intensity exercise of all kinds more enjoyable. Crank up the volume and have some fun!

But does it improve performance? A 2020 analysis of over 100 studies in the Psychological Bulletin says yes. Across multiple athletic activities, listening to music enhanced physical performance, reduced exertion, and improved efficiency.

Now, we just need to learn about what musical characteristics are vital to performance.A study in Psychology of Sport and Exercise researched the relationship between heart rate and music tempo. Results showed that participants on stationary bikes had the most steady heart rates while listening to music in the 125 to 140 beats per minute (bpm) range. On Spotify’s best list there weren’t enough top songs in that range to choose from, so we widened the scope of our list to 120 to 150 beats per minute.

So here it is—a science-backed playlist proven to improve your indoor ride for 2022.