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The 20 Best Wake-up Songs For Swimmers

Age group, high school, college, masters, amateurs, professionals – all types of swimmers at one point or another have struggled once that early morning alarm blares the most annoying sound in the world to get your body out of bed and into the pool.  

Some people wake up with a natural spring to their step (who ARE you people, anyway??), but for those of us that need any help we can get to activate our minds and bodies in the morning, a music psychologist has come up with the most ‘scientific’ wake-up playlist to assist in our early AM efforts.

During a study, David M. Greenberg, a music psychologist, along with Spotify, collected data on tracks containing 3 primary elements marking the criteria they say contribute to the song’s ability to get your blood pumping before the sun rises.

  • Music that builds – songs that start gently, then build, help you wake up more gradually
  • Positivity – once alert, you need positive motivating lyrics to keep that momentum going; steer clear of grumpy or gloomy attitudes including in your music
  • Strong beats – according to the study, songs that emphasize 2 and 4 beats per measure (usually with bass and drums) with a BPM of 100-130 should do the trick to get that body of yours spunky and spry for practice

What songs fit the bill for waking up in the best predisposition possible in the morning?  Take a look at the tracks below and add to your playlist as needed to get you alive and ready for practice tomorrow.

  1. Coldplay – Viva La Vida
  2. St. Lucia – Elevate
  3. Macklemore & Ryan Lewis – Downtown
  4. Bill Withers – Lovely Day
  5. Avicii – Wake Me Up
  6. Pentatonix – Can’t Sleep Love
  7. Demi Lovato – Confident
  8. Arcade Fire – Wake Up
  9. Hailee Steinfeld – Love Myself
  10. Sam Smith – Money On My Mind
  11. Esperanza Spalding – I Can’t Help It
  12. John Newman – Come and Get It
  13. Felix Jaehn – Ain’t Nobody (Loves Me Better)
  14. Mark Ronson – Feel Right
  15. Clean Bandit – Rather Be
  16. Katrina & The Waves – Walking on Sunshine
  17. Imagine Dragons – On Top of the World
  18. MisterWives – Reflections
  19. Carly Rae Jepsen – Warm Blood
  20. iLoveMemphis – Hit The Quan

 

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Jonathan Brooks
8 years ago

Wake Up- AWOLNATION is perfect

Coach Alex
8 years ago

AC/DC- Rock and Roll Ain’t Noise Pollution. Years ago it was features in a Nike add which showed athletes waking up and working out before dawn and the spot included swimmers. The song has been in my wake up rotation ever since. If you can find the spot on YouTube it’s a fun one to share with your swimmers

Cascade
8 years ago

Every time we touch -Cascade

Jim
8 years ago

Thunderstruck – ACDC
Enter the Sandman – Metalica

If you are into 80’s Pop – Transformers The Movie (don’t knock it) or Rocky IV

Chip
9 years ago

Bawitdaba – kid rock

Or

Believe – Cher

Bo
9 years ago

Wake me up before you go-go… Wham

Bo
9 years ago

Top Gun Soundtrack… Kenny Loggins or Cheap Trick.

Joyride – Roxette

Really anything that doesn’t give a headache at 0500 and does not remind you its -25c outside.

James Strohm
9 years ago

Not Giving In – Rudimental

About Braden Keith

Braden Keith

Braden Keith is the Editor-in-Chief and a co-founder/co-owner of SwimSwam.com. He first got his feet wet by building The Swimmers' Circle beginning in January 2010, and now comes to SwimSwam to use that experience and help build a new leader in the sport of swimming. Aside from his life on the InterWet, …

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