10 of the Best-Selling Workout Songs in History
You don't have to be in-the-know about music's top-charting singles to appreciate this fun and fast-paced playlist.
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The other day, I was wondering what the best-selling song of all time was. I thought it would be the 1997 version of “Candle in the Wind” (which Elton John recorded in memory of Princess Diana)—but in fact, Bing Crosby’s “White Christmas” has it beat by 17 million copies or so. While reviewing a list of the best-selling tunes, I thought it might be interesting to pull out some of the workout highlights and collect them here.
Viewed together, the songs’ enduring appeal is hard to dispute. If you have even a passing interest in movies, there’s a good chance you’ve seen John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John strutting their stuff to “You’re the One That I Want” or Sylvester Stallone training to “Eye of the Tiger.” Similarly, if you watched any MTV in the 1990s, you’ve surely seen the videos for “Baby, One More Time” and “Smells Like Teen Spirit.” Assuming you’ve had contact with a radio at some point in the last 40 years, you’re also likely familiar with “I Will Survive” and “Wannabe.”
In short, what the list lacks in surprises it makes up for in both variety and buoyancy. So, if you’re looking for something upbeat and durable to help you pick up the pace, consider adding any of the tunes below to your workout playlist. For context and conversational appeal, the list below is presented in order by popularity—starting with the biggest sellers.
John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John – You’re The One That I Want – 107 BPM
Gloria Gaynor – I Will Survive – 116 PM
Los Del Rio – Macarena (Bayside Boys Remix) – 104 BPM
Britney Spears – …Baby One More Time – 93 BPM
Survivor – Eye of the Tiger – 108 BPM
Shakira – Whenever, Wherever – 107 BPM
Ricky Martin – Livin’ la Vida Loca – 179 BPM
Nirvana – Smells Like Teen Spirit – 119 BPM
Spice Girls – Wannabe – 110 BPM
To find more workout songs, folks can check out the free database at Run Hundred. Visitors can browse song selections there by genre, tempo and era to find the music that best fits their particular workout routines.