Music Monday: Top Tunes From Your Favorite Artists

Make sure you have the best of the best powering you through a workout.
Last Monday, we presented you with the most-searched songs of 2012. But that’s not enough for your music-loving ears, is it? Although 2012 may be fading away, the hottest artists are still dominating our playlists. So with a little more help from our friends over at Yahoo!, we dug up the top searched artists of the year. With that as our inspiration, how could we not have a new playlist just begging for a new dose of sweat? Check it out below, then let us know which of these artists songs you love the most!
Now you tell us: Who was your favorite artist of 2012?
Categories: Motivation, The Fit Stop, Workouts | Tags: Music Monday, top artists of 2012, workout playlist
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Music Monday: The Top Tunes of 2012

This year’s hottest tunes, despite the colder weather. (Photo by Alexa Miller)
Here at FITNESS, we like to play music. A lot. It’s not uncommon to see editors working away at their desks with headphones plugged in, jamming to the latest beats. And every Monday, you know you’ll find a new playlist on The Fit Stop.
So for the last Monday in 2012, let’s have a final jam session to launch us into the new year on a high note. With a little help from our friends at Yahoo!, we present to you the most-searched songs of the year - we gotta admit, you guys have great taste.
Now you tell us: What was your favorite song of the year?
Categories: Fitness, Motivation, The Fit Stop, Workouts | Tags: most-searched songs, Music Monday, Playlist, top songs of 2012, workout music
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Happy Holidays from FITNESS!
We’re wishing our lovely readers a happy, healthy holiday season. We hope you’re spending time with the ones you love and enjoying good food, good drinks and good company.
To add extra cheer as you get ready for your celebrations, we’re taking a cue from DailyBurn.com trainer Keaira LaShae and moving along to the holiday hits. “Dancing is the best way to stay fit while taking the time to celebrate with your family and friends at this time of year,” she says. Hey, dancing along while you tidy up or get dinner ready counts as a workout!
Categories: Motivation | Tags: holidays, Music Monday, Playlist
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Music Monday: The Grammy Edition

This year’s hottest hits are sure to power you to the top. (Photo by Laura Doss)
Written by Jennifer Fiorentino, editorial intern
The Grammy Award nominations have been announced, leaving us inspired to take a trip down memory lane and relive some of the year’s hottest playlist picks. The problem with so many fab finds? There are too many to choose from!
But in honor of music’s biggest night, we gathered our top tunes from the hottest artists dominating the music scene right now. Make sure they’re on repeat during your workouts, then find out who wins top honors in February.
Now you tell us: Who are your favorite nominees?
Categories: Fitness, Motivation, The Fit Stop, Workouts | Tags: Grammy nominees, Grammys, Music Monday, workout playlist
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Music Monday: Power Through Anything Playlist

Tunes to help you get those abs of steel. (Photo by Alex Palombo)
Written by Deanna Cioppa, editorial intern
Long-term home workouts like Insanity and P90X have been around for a few years now, but their appeal hasn’t faded since they hit shelves. Interested in giving one a whirl? In Insanity, a fun, fast-paced diagnostic test is recommended to help determine your starting level so you can watch your progress soar over the next 60 days. And yes, you’ll be repeating the test periodically to gauge how quickly your fitness level reaches rock star status. The test is plyometric madness (they call it Insanity for a reason!), but don’t worry, we’ve got you covered.
Various studies prove that music can boost performance, so we’ve rounded up six of the strongest tunes to help you muscle through that 25-minute diagnostic test, ready for anything Shaun T throws at you. But if six just isn’t enough, we’ve added four bonus tracks to keep you working hard for 40 sweat-dripping minutes. Now punch play and crank out those reps!
Now you tell us: How do you get pumped for a tough workout?
Categories: Fitness, Motivation, The Fit Stop, Workouts | Tags: Insanity, Music Monday, p90x, power playlist
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Music Monday: Hot for the Holidays
Written by Deanna Cioppa, editorial intern
The weather may be colder and the days shorter, but that’s no excuse for skipped workouts and poor nutrition! Our workout plans are great season-round, and to help you stay hot while the temperature drops, we’ve crafted a playlist stocked full of wintry tunes to get you holiday party-ready. Go ahead and enjoy that cocktail, guilt-free.
Now you tell us: Do holiday tunes sneak into your workout this time of year?
Categories: Fitness, Motivation, The Fit Stop, Workouts | Tags: christmas, holiday songs, Music Monday, winter, winter workouts
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Music Monday: Wake Up Your Morning Playlist

Pop on these tunes and bounce out of bed! (Photo by Sarah Kehoe)
Written by Deanna Cioppa, editorial intern
Getting out of bed after the first alarm is tough enough by itself, never mind getting pumped for an early morning workout. Sometimes our beds are just so comfortable! We could use all the help we can get, so here’s an early morning mix that helps us get moving and grooving once our feet hit the floor. Download into your own music library and see if you hit the road, gym or yoga mat bright-eyed and ready to sweat!
Now you tell us: Is it easy for you to wake up for a morning workout?
Categories: Fitness, Motivation, The Fit Stop, Workouts | Tags: morning music, morning workouts, Music Monday
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Music Monday: All-American Workout Playlist

Pump up your patriotic pride with this playlist. (Photo by Ericka McConnell)
Written by Jennifer Fiorentino, editorial intern
November is a very patriotic month with Election Day, the Marine Corps birthday and Veterans Day all wrapped into the month of gratitude and Thanksgiving. As Americans, we have a lot to be thankful for — our freedom, liberties and those who fight and defend our nation. Boost your American pride this week, as well as your workout, with some of our favorite tunes honoring the red, white and blue.
More from FITNESS:
Plan a Perfect Patriotic Party
Categories: Fitness, Motivation, The Fit Stop, Workouts | Tags: america, Music Monday, patriotic, veterans day
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Music Monday: Make Your (Running) Dreams Come True

Ready to race like a princess! (Photo by Laura Doss)
We may be adults now (whether we like it or not), but our favorite Disney characters will always hold a special place in our hearts. Whether it was waking up to watch cartoons on Saturday mornings, singing along to The Lion King soundtrack or re-watching Toy Story until we’d memorized every line, our animated childhood friends always gave us an extra boost of excitement, and we’re not ashamed to say they still tug at our heart strings.
I’m headed off to the land where dreams come true this weekend to race my fifth half-marathon, the Disney Wine and Dine through Disney World! To channel that childhood energy, I’ve added these top Disney tunes to my race-day playlist. Download them yourself and enjoy a blast of nostalgia – and maybe a little fairy dust.
Now you tell us: What are some of your favorite Disney songs?
Categories: Fitness, Motivation, The Fit Stop | Tags: disney, disney wine and dine, Music Monday, Playlist
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Music Monday: A Playlist to Pace Your Home Workout

Listen up! (Photo courtesy of Bryan McCay)
We’ve all been there: It’s an “off” day at the gym. Your workout feels more challenging than usual and the clock can’t move fast enough. Then the right song comes pumping through your earbuds (cue Kanye West with “Stronger”) and everything falls into place. Your feet start stepping to the beat, you forget about your worries and are finally happy to be exercising.
Matt Basso, president of Iron Lotus Personal Training, is a strong believer that the right playlist can transform a sweat session. So much so that he’s produced all of the music for each of the workouts in his new DBX3 program so that the pace lines up perfectly with the routines for an extra motivation boost. Read on for his dance and pop music picks, and a workout tailor-made for this Music Monday mix.
- “Too Long/Steam Machine” The consistent pulse builds, and since it’s live, “it’s like they’re cheering you to get started,” says Basso.
- “Don’t Wake Me Up” The intro allows you enough time to grab a kettlebell and swing along to the driving beat, Basso suggests.
- “Cry (Just a Little)” Do jumping jacks during this tune with 120 beats per minute (BPMs), the ideal tempo for cardio and dance.
- “The Way You Make Me Feel” “Do I even need to explain how hard Michael Jackson grooves? This song is ideal for some seated rows and push-ups,” Basso says.
- “The Night Out (Madeon Remix)” Get inspired by the 17-year-old DJ who created this remix (“he could make you happy doing the hardest exercises,” Basso says) and knock out burpees for as long as you can for the duration of this 120 BPM song.
- “Electric Feel (Justice Remix)” The tempo slows a bit, so pick the kettlebell back up and swing again.
- “Right Round” and “Da Funk” Freestyle! Try something new or your favorite moves from above through the hip-hop and dance beats.
Categories: Fitness, Motivation, The Fit Stop | Tags: at home exercise, Cardio, kettlebell, Music Monday
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