Written by Sam Graham PHOTOGRAPHS BY XAVIERARNAU
SPRING IS FINALLY HERE (YES!) The season of new beginnings, growth, and a celebration of life itself. Spring also means that sunny season is just around the corner, so it’s time to get pumped in the gym.
If you’ve slumped over the winter months, you may find it difficult to get into the headspace needed for such a task. After all, if the mind’s not in it, the heart’s not in it, and if those two aren’t engaged, you won’t be able perform to your maximum potential. Go easy on yourself though, because it’s OK. It’s normal and it does happen to the best of us.
Below you’ll find a carefully constructed playlist for the task of motivating you. While most, if not all gyms play music in the background, it’s unreliable as there’s no telling what you’re going to get and most of the time it falls into background ambience
This list will keep your mind psyched for the workout ahead, so you can focus entirely on the task at hand – getting your body jacked ready for summer… 10 Fight To Survive – Stan Bush Hailing from the martial arts classic, Bloodsport, which stars 80’s karate legend and fitness enthusiast, Jean Claude Van Damme, this high-energy track is short and sweet. A fitting warm-up for the killer session ahead. If it’s good enough for the Muscles From Brussels, it’s good enough for anyone. 9 Holding Out For A Hero – Bonnie Tyler From its iconic piano intro by rock maestro, Jim Steinman, to the wailing pipes of Bonnie in the chorus, this song became an instant classic and a staple of Miss Tyler’s career. If you want to be a hero, you’ve got to work at it. Remember: Winners never quit, and quitters never win. 8 Push It To The Limit – Paul Engemann Straight out of the soundtrack to Al Pacino’s Scarface; a movie about excess, exuberance, and a desire to want it all, you’re going to need this one while you work your way through those first few sets. 7 Maniac – Michael Sembello Everyone loves Flashdance. People that say they don’t either haven’t seen it, or they’re lying. A maniac is what you’ll become once this tune hits, dragging you to your feet, ready for the next set. Just one more rep. One more mile. You can do it. 6True Survivor – David Hasselhoff This one’s a little obscure, but a modern classic in its own right. Released in 2015, this retro-sounding gem reminds us why you shouldn’t hassle The Hoff. Like the man says, “you need some action, if you’re gonna make it like a true survivor.”
5 Mighty Wings – Cheap Trick “I feel the need… the need for speed.” Feeling dangerous? You should be. By now you’ll be pretty fired up, a little tired, but all in all, invincible. You can find this one blasting out on the soundtrack to the Tom Cruise classic, Top Gun. 4 Thunder in your Heart – John Farnham This little-known song comes from a film called Rad, which isn’t remembered for its quality viewing. However, this track is purpose-built to get the adrenaline flowing. The song is about fighting for victory, breaking through the boundaries, defying the odds, and tasting that sweet taste of glory at the end. 3 You’re The Best Around – Joe Esposito This one comes in at number three, because by now you’ll be wanting to call it a day. Don’t. Like the song says, “nothing’s gonna ever keep you down.” That includes you. Don’t let YOU keep you down. Keep that focus no matter what. 2 Maximum Potential – Power Glove From an underground genre known as Synthwave, Australian duo Power Glove have experienced some well-earned success. This is one of their earlier tracks and features voice samples from none other than Dolph Lundgren. Taken straight from the action hero’s 80’s workout video, Maximum Potential, let Dolph motivate you to reach that final stretch. 1 The Entire Rocky IV Soundtrack OK, we know this one is technically an entire album, but listen to it and you’ll understand why. This film has four, yes FOUR separate montages, and for each, a motivational tune to boot. From Eye of the Tiger, No Easy Way Out, the Training Montage instrumental, to the iconic Hearts On Fire, you too will garner the strength to fight on. Run up that mountain and proclaim your victory to the world. Work that set like it’s the last set of your life. Know what you’re fighting for, and hold on to that vision in your eyes.
There are many more that didn’t make our playlist: Far From Over by Frank Stallone, Angel Of The City by Robert Tepper, anything from Guns N‘ Roses’ Appetite for Destruction, but this list can only be so long!
We hope these kickass tunes inspire you to reach your maximum potential, not just in the gym, but in all aspects of life. A certain fictional boxer once said: “It ain’t about how hard you can hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward.” And truer words have yet to be spoken.
