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Crowd in Front of People Playing Musical Instrument during Nighttime
Crowd in Front of People Playing Musical Instrument during Nighttime
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The Work It Out! Playlist

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Carly Buchanan Student Contributor, George Washington University
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Melissa Minton Student Contributor, George Washington University
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at GWU chapter and does not reflect the views of Her Campus.

 

As the semester starts to dwindle down, it is the perfect time to head back to the gym to sweat out the winter weight. There’s no better time to get into a workout routine, and a good playlist is key to getting motivated to exercise. Here’s a mix of songs to get you pumped up about getting in shape!

 

  1. The Spins – Mac Miller

My roommate from freshman year swears that this is the best workout song ever, and I’m inclined to agree. Upbeat, ridiculously catchy, and complete with plenty of classic Mac Miller drugs references, it’s the perfect track to kick off your workout.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dwu0n-2aSYw

  1. Hot N Cold – Katy Perry

The epitome of bubblegum pop, this song is sugary enough to make you want to forget the workout and just get up and dance (hey, it’s still a form of cardio, right?) Whichever way you choose to exercise, this bubbly beat will keep you going strong as you conquer your workout.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kTHNpusq654

  1. Fergalicious – Fergie feat. Will.I.Am

Aside from the obvious reason I picked this song – because you’re up in the gym, just working on your fitness, of course – it’s a little bit of a throwback to those middle school days, back when you couldn’t turn on the radio without hearing this and “Big Girls Don’t Cry.” On top of that, Fergie’s sass and bold confidence will inspire you to be fierce at the gym.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U1o1XWRIbe0

  1. Monster – Kanye West Feat. Jay-Z, Rick Ross, Nicki Minaj & Bon Iver

This killer track is star-studded and impossible not to love. It features one of Nicki’s first guest appearances on a major rapper’s song, and despite the star power of the other featured artists, she still manages to steal the show. Personally, I’ve listened to this song so many times that I could probably rap the entire thing (embarrassing) and I’m still not tired of it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UCVCQmxb7YQ

  1. Numba 1 (Tide Is High) – Kardinal Offishall feat. Keri Hilson

A re-imagining of the 1967 song “The Tide Is High” by Jamaican band The Paragons – or as you might better remember, the 2002 version by Brit pop band Atomic Kitten – this fresh take on the hit comes from the soundtrack of Easy A. For anyone who was obsessed with the 2002 version when it came out, (like me), it’s the perfect update to a cool track.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BR6OujSO6AQ

  1. Bang Bang – K’naan feat. Adam Levine

The vocals of  Maroon 5’s Adam Levine perfectly complement this track’s killer beat and cool vibe. The chorus is the catchiest of all, and it’s sure to make you pick up your pace and get you pumped to finish out your workout.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xj6JiqYKLfM

  1. Lose My Breath – Destiny’s Child

While a song featuring BeyoncĂ© was definitely a necessity for this mix – and really, this could be interchanged with many of her most upbeat songs – I decided to go with a classic Destiny’s Child track. The drumbeat in the background adds to the catchiness of the beat, and helps make this another song that you won’t know whether to dance or run to.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AqeIiF0DlTg

  1. Power – Kanye West

Is an explanation even necessary? This is probably one of the greatest (and most used) pump-up songs for athletes everywhere. Even though I’ve already included a Kanye song, there was no way I could pass this one up.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ouwCWDbBskU

  1. Up All Night – Drake feat. Nicki Minaj

Another track where Nicki manages to steal the spotlight, this was her first of two major collaborations with Drake. The second, called “Make Me Proud” was released later but is equally awesome – it’s just a little too slow for a workout soundtrack. As an aside, I’m pretty sure their chemistry on both tracks is proof that they’re soulmates (if there was any doubt).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xtQS-vq9-Y

  1. Stronger – Britney Spears

Ending the playlist on a high note, this song is another classic, a little more old school than “Fergalicious,” but just as epic. Plus, now that you’ve finished your workout, Britney isn’t the only one who’s stronger than she was yesterday…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YPDbHybmgYU

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Carly Buchanan

GWU

Carly Buchanan is a member of the class of 2015 at the George Washington University, where she is a journalism and mass communication major at the School of Media and Public Affairs. In addition to writing for HerCampus, she is a communications intern, guest contributor for Green Connections Media, and member of the Phi Sigma Sigma sorority. She spent the Fall 2013 semester studying abroad in Madrid, Spain, and currently resides in Washington, D.C. Passionate about music, especially hits of the '90's, Carly also prides herself on her New England roots and mental catalog of rom-com knowledge.  You can find her on Twitter at @buchanan_carly.
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Melissa Minton

GWU

Melissa Minton is a junior at the George Washington University from New Jersey. She is majoring in Journalism and Mass Communications in the School of Media and Public Affairs. Along with being the Campus Correspondant for HC GWU, Melissa is the Vice President of a community service sorority, Epsilon Sigma Alpha. She has interned at Elle Magazine and hopes to one day write for a top fashion magazine.