The Best Training Songs

9. "Keep Those Balls in the Air" (Arrested Development)

It’s not particularly rousing song, nor does it sound that good, but the fact that it’s a training song about juggling gives it a place on this list just by sheer funniness.

8. "Push It To theLimit" (Paul Engeman, Scarface)

This techno-heavy piece is solidied by its appearance in the above movie.  It’s so 80’s and we all know that 80sness is essential to a training song.

7. "Now You’re a Man" (DVDA, Orgazmo)

Like many of Trey Parker’s songs, it’s just as good sounding as it is funny.

6. "I’ll Make a Man Out of You" (Donny Osmond, Mulan)

Some might question Donny Osmond’s being on this list.  The song is uneven, but the great parts are truly rousing. The chant of “BE A MAN” accompanied by metaphorical harmonizing make this song.

5. "We Will RockYou/We Are the Champions" (Queen)

Its subject matter for training is questionable, but it’s undeniably effective, especially for competitive sports.  We Are the Champions also acknowledges the pain of training and competition and the joy of victory.

4. "Eye of the Tiger" (Survivor, Rocky)

The quintessential training song everybody knows.  Need I say more?

3. "Montage" (Team America: World Police)

It sounds good, but what makes it great is how dead-on its description of a movie’s training montage is, right down to the explanation for the final fadeout.

2. "Number One" (Manowar)

Few songs express up the painful nature of working out as this song does: “Turning hours into days/Burning muscles, feel the pain!/The heart and soul of discipline, my friends”  Also, it’s a Manowar song, so it already rocks anyway.

 1. "Live to Win" (Paul Stanley)

Nothing particular about this song’s lyrics or anything.  I just think it’s the best sounding one here.