Best Motivational Songs to Pump You Up for a Big Event!

Best motivational songs to pump you up for a big event

Eye of the Tiger, The Final Countdown, We Are the Champions – there’s nothing quite like a timeless anthem to get you pumped up. But did you know that Hip-Hop is the top motivational genre to bring out your A-game?

When preparing for a big event – whether it’s a sporting showdown or poker head-to-head – motivational songs can provide the perfect dose of inspiration to hype you. Staccato rhythms and catchy lyrics might help clear your mind, improve focus, or give you a morale boost.

But which tunes actually get the serotonin soaring? We analysed 65 playlists on Spotify and Apple Music that contained the word ‘motivation’, to determine the most motivational artists, songs and albums.

Our key insights found:

• The aptly named ‘Stronger’ by Kanye West tops the chart of motivational songs.
• Kanye West, Eminem and Drake create the best ‘motivational music’, with Hip-Hop being the most motivational genre.
• Classic anthems like ‘Eye of the Tiger’ are still popular choices to get listeners pumped today.
• Movie music features strongly when it comes to motivation – with sport and superhero flicks proving just the ticket.
• Top poker player Alexandre Mantovani listens to music for motivation, and when playing online.

Top motivational songs that strike the right chord

In a long list of motivational melodies, we found that the top 10 songs are an eclectic mashup of genres, ranging from inspirational to boastful – almost like hitting ‘shuffle’ on a giant playlist.

• The appropriately named ‘Stronger’ by Kanye West tops the list of pump-up tunes, appearing 14 times in motivational playlists. Long used in sports montages, inspirational lyrics such as ‘that that don’t kill me can only make me stronger’ are the perfect recipe for a pre-game pick-me-up.
• Eminem’s ‘Till I Collapse’ comes hot on their heels with 10 motivational playlist appearances. As the first Hip-Hop/Rap number on the list, the tune encourages listeners to push their limits with its repetitive lyrics. This sharp, direct approach is probably why Slim Shady not only appears three times in the top 10 but also dominates the chart of top motivational artists.
• With its timeless guitar blasts and powerful vocals, it’s perhaps surprising that ‘Eye of the Tiger’ comes only fourth on the list. The iconic rock hit, which serves as the theme song for the 1982 film ‘Rocky III’, appeared eight times in motivational playlists. Still, the track proves influential some 40 years later, helping to build courage in listeners.

Top 10 motivational songs:

Hip-Hop tips the scales of motivational jams

Sway-inducing rhythms, compelling beats and impactful lyrics – Hip-Hop truly has the power to motivate and inspire. This soulful genre can evoke powerful emotional responses, heightened by lyrics about real-life experiences conveying messages of hope and resilience.

• Kanye West’s ‘Graduation’ tops the list of motivational albums, appearing 23 times in today’s pump-up playlists. The 2007 release was dubbed an instant classic, with inspirational tracks like ‘Stronger’ and ‘Good Life’ dominating the charts.
• But Ye’s accolades don’t stop there. The Atlanta rapper featured two more times in the list, with 2010 studio album ‘My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy’ and 2021 album ‘Donda’.
• Eminem’s fourth studio album ‘The Eminem Show’ ranked third in the motivational charts. The Missouri rapper is credited with popularizing Hip-Hop in middle America, with 22 top-10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 top-10 singles, including ‘Lose Yourself’ and ‘Not Afraid’.

Top seven motivational albums:

Movie soundtracks score big in the motivational stakes

When we listen to music, several areas of the brain are activated, most notably the hippocampus – tied to our memories and emotions.

The peace of mind we get from music can significantly boost our concentration and focus, resulting in an increased mental drive to act on immediate tasks and long-term goals.

This can explain why motivational music also extends to movie soundtracks. Movies often feature uplifting scores that effectively stimulate mood and jumpstart activity, especially if they are sports and action based.

• Boxing films ‘Southpaw’ and ‘Creed’ appeared in the top five motivational movie tracks, with ‘Southpaw’ appearing 11 times across playlists, and ‘Creed’ five.
• ‘Uncle Drew’, another popular sports movie, appeared fourth. Meanwhile, the superhero flick ‘Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse’ came second.

Top five motivational movie soundtracks:

Motivational speeches top the frequency for inspiration

Nothing says motivation like a good speech. Before a big tournament, a rousing speech can help to get your head in the game. Motivational speakers may share stories of physical endurance, encouraging listeners to visualise success and strive to achieve their goals.

It stands to reason that the top motivational tracks include compilations of inspiring speeches.

• Fearless Motivation topped the list of motivational artists, appearing a whopping 260 times. The aptly named artist specialises in inspirational speeches, music and videos, with carefully curated playlists dedicated to affirmations, workouts, building confidence and more.
• Power Music Workout featured second in the list of top motivational artists with 145 appearances. The artist provides power-focused music designed to energise listeners during intense workout sessions.

Speaking of workout jams, 888poker’s ambassador Alexandre Mantovani listens to music during his own exercise sessions before a tournament.

“I always workout before playing to be in my best version and have stamina for long hours of playing,” he says. “In my workout I like listening to Rock music and Hip Hop, depending on the kind of workout I’m doing!”

Music genres that deliver for poker pros

Whether you’re playing poker at the table, online or at the casino, music can help keep the flow during those extra-long sessions. Choosing the right track is key to clearing your mind, prepping you for the game and staying focused. But balance is crucial. The last thing you need is to go on tilt during a game, and the ideal music can help to avoid this.

“There’s an 888poker Brazil playlist called ‘Made to Play’ that I listen to on pretty much every session,” says Mantovani. “It’s very eclectic and makes me realise what sort of music I’m more in the mood for listening that day, and then I just double down on that specific sort of music.”

Electronic music might aid poker performance

For some poker players, music that is uplifting with as little vocals as possible is the perfect backdrop for a big game.

Trance, House and Progressive music work well during long poker sessions due to their positive vibes. Mid-BPM types of electronic music have little vocals, helping to avoid distractions.

Jazz music repels the poker blues

Jazz music is smooth and playful, complementing the measured subtlety of a poker game. Whether you’re playing classic Texas Hold’em or in the midst of an intense Draw poker match, the luxury tenor of saxophones and bass guitars may assist with maintaining concentration levels.

Popular Jazz playlists typically include ‘So What’ by Miles Davis and ‘What a Wonderful World’ by Louis Armstrong, which featured in our round up of top motivational tracks.

Soul music keeps poker pros centred

Similar to Jazz, Soul music matches the overall mood and vibe of a poker game. The expressive vocals, soothing rhythm and large horn sections are easy to listen to. When the game ramps up, soul music can help to keep you centred, even if you feel like your luck is running out.

Sly & the Family Stone’s ‘Family Affair’ and Bill Withers’ ‘Lean on Me’ feature heavily in popular Soul playlists, and also appear in our top tunes for motivation.

A mixed genre bag to suit the mood

Sometimes the ideal genre for poker can depend on the mood or situation. For Mantovani, certain moods call for different types of music when playing online.

“If I’m feeling sleepy, I put [on] some rock music. If I’m feeling agitated, some acoustic music and so on,” he comments. “I like to be on a more stable mood while playing and I think music can play a big part on that.”

The type of poker game can also influence music choices. Mantovani adds: “While I’m playing live, I only listen to music if there’s someone very annoying at the table, because I think live poker is a great opportunity to connect to different people and also there’s a lot of information to be gained in conversation!”

It’s all about state of mind

Being in the right mental state is fundamental during a high stakes game, according to Mantovani.

He states: “Poker is already a very tough game if you’re in your best version, and there are a lot of routines you can have and control in order to have a more stable performance, and that makes a huge difference.

“With experience you even start learning when you’re going to play well and when you aren’t before the session.”

There’s no doubt that music and poker can make a great match, helping to increase focus and get you in the right mood for you. Before your next poker session, why not consider putting on some of the top motivational tracks?