What's in a Name? This Playlist Will Show You

Have you ever wondered where stage names come from? Take Lady Gaga, for example. Her name is an homage to Queen’s song, “Radio Ga Ga.” In fact, many artists draw inspiration for their personal monikers from the music they listen to—so we created a running playlist that features a few acts who did so, compiling their top workout songs.

The list kicks off with Radiohead, who took their name from a Talking Heads’ song. It closes out with the debut single from Boyz II Men, who named the band after a New Edition tune. In between you’ll find Firehouse, a band that owes KISS for its name, and a couple of pop stars like Gaga. Then there’s Motörhead and Rage Against the Machine, who swiped their names from songs by their lead singers’ previous bands.

The more you look around for examples, the more you realize how common it is. The running playlist below highlights a variety of genres across a range of decades. All the songs are full of energy, so when you’re looking for musical inspiration on the run (and some music trivia in the process), consider this playlist below.

Radiohead – Lotus Flower – 128 BPM

Firehouse – Don’t Treat Me Bad – 111 BPM

Rage Against The Machine – Bulls On Parade – 87 BPM

Right Said Fred – I’m Too Sexy – 123 BPM

Lady Gaga – Applause – 140 BPM

Poison – Nothin’ But A Good Time – 129 BPM

ABC – When Smokey Sings – 126 BPM

Motörhead – Ace of Spades – 140 BPM

The Rolling Stones – Jumpin’ Jack Flash – 140 BPM

Boyz II Men – Motownphilly – 114 BPM

To find more workout songs, check out the free database at Run Hundred. Browse the selections by genre, tempo, and era to create the running playlist that best fits your workout routine.