11 Songs You Want Stuck in Your Head During Swim Practice

Jul 18, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Sierra Schmidt of the United States dances on the pool deck before competing in the women's swimming 800m freestyle final during the 2015 Pan Am Games at Pan Am Aquatics UTS Centre and Field House. Mandatory Credit: Erich Schlegel-USA TODAY Sports

Photo Courtesy: Erich Schlegel/USA Today Sports Images

By Chandler Brandes, Swimming World College Intern

As swimmers, we endure grueling practices each and every day, and we need something to keep us going during those long, hard sets. Instead of letting negative thoughts take control, pick songs that will keep your mind busy throughout the workout.

Some days you get songs that you just can’t seem to get out of your head no matter how hard you try, making practice that much harder. Here are 11 songs you actually want stuck in your head during practice:

1. Work―Rihanna
I mean, how can this song not get stuck in your head? Get this song in your head during warmup and it will carry momentum into your practice.

2. Semi-Charmed Life―Third Eye Blind
I don’t know about your team, but when this song comes on the radio, my team goes crazy and everyone starts singing. This song will definitely boost your spirits.

3. Sorry―Justin Bieber
I’m sorry that you’re currently in the middle of a really hard set when you’d rather be doing a million other things, but at least you get to jam to some J Biebs to numb the pain.

4. Runnin’―Jesse McCartney
First of all, be thankful you’re swimming and not actually running. Even though you’d rather be running right out of the pool, this throwback will encourage you to keep going.

5. Drag Me Down―One Direction
There’s no way One Direction wasn’t going to make this list, and if only there was a way you could watch the music video while you swim. Pretend that Harry Styles is at the end of the lane waiting for you and I guarantee you’ll swim faster.

6. Livin’ On A Prayer―Bon Jovi
This classic is always relevant and is great to have stuck in your head. Even though you don’t think you’ll finish, you’ll make it, I swear.

7. Cheerleader―OMI
No description necessary.

8. Jumpman―Drake and Future
At this point during practice, you’re probably feeling like Taylor Swift when she fell of the treadmill. But even she gets up, and you can keep on swimming.

9. New Romantics―Taylor Swift
“We’re all bored, we’re all so tired of everything…” Wow, even Taylor Swift understands how badly you want practice to be over.

10. Worse Things Than Love―Timeflies
As you sing this in your head, you’re probably asking yourself if there are worse things than practice. Let’s hope that time flies and your practice will soon be over.

11. Since U Been Gone―Kelly Clarkson
This is a great song to sing in the locker room after practice or on the way home. Since practice has been done, you’ve finally been able to breathe for the first time.

Photo Courtesy: Kelly Lennon

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Katherine Willis

8 years ago

Dessert by Darwin is also a golden song!
I played it before every race at my conference meet and It got me all pumped up and I won all my individuals!!

Kristin Burlew

8 years ago

Madeline Hiller number 9 and drag me down are in my head all the time hahaha

8 years ago

Radar Love by Golden Earring is the best practice song.

Scott Richardson

8 years ago

Oh hell no, not a one of those please. Try something much heavier, for me at least, like 5FDP.

Wyatt Fate

8 years ago

Reply to Scott Richardson

But FFDP sucks ?

Eric CARRIER

8 years ago

Jérémy Tremblay tiens notre amie qu’on a vu a Austin…:D tu te souviens de miss je dance derrière les blocs hehe

Sara Mamie

8 years ago

Dionisio Sofia just singing everywhere hahaha

Janet Smith-Johnson

8 years ago

The Knack’s “My Sharona”

Josh Barrett

8 years ago

How about Wheel In the Sky by Journey Nate Hesse

Nate Hesse

8 years ago

Reply to Josh Barrett

Can I dislike ?

Dana

8 years ago

MC Hammer’s “2 Legit to Quit”

Ingrid Helmich

8 years ago

Vera Renshof, iets voor je lijstje?

David Cliff

8 years ago

Not even close!

Karlijn Veldhuizen

8 years ago

Vivian de Kok none of out favorites

Vivian de Kok

8 years ago

Reply to Karlijn Veldhuizen

Ik snap niet dat mensen geen behoefte hebben aan onze favourites ik bedoel hier kun je niet lekker op zwemmen.

Karlijn Veldhuizen

8 years ago

Reply to Karlijn Veldhuizen

I know, deze mensen snappen het niet

Vivian de Kok

8 years ago

Reply to Karlijn Veldhuizen

Karlijn Veldhuizen ik bedoel Pony als je vlinder zwemt klassieker.

Karlijn Veldhuizen

8 years ago

Reply to Karlijn Veldhuizen

Hahaha hoe kom je anders in een goed ritme

Sarah Godolphin

8 years ago

Gabrielle Morin Frédérique Lamontagne description de 7 et 9 aha

Gabrielle Morin

8 years ago

Reply to Sarah Godolphin

La 9 ? hahaha c’est parfait

Pimmada Boonma

8 years ago

Where has this article been? Signe Villumsen Lois van Beek

Kristina Fino

8 years ago

Thomas Wareing work work work

Thomas Wareing

8 years ago

Reply to Kristina Fino

Haha sorry my bad ??

Lilly Etlinger

8 years ago

Eva Gerstle 3, 6

Natalie Archer

8 years ago

Brittany Archer

Vilma Corres

8 years ago

Natalia Pinto

Shahira Zakaria

8 years ago

Amr Hossam Abda

Tracey Jones

8 years ago

Bella Jones

Susie Kunz-Saddoris

8 years ago

Sydnie Saddoris

Thomas Maurer

8 years ago

Gabriel Jegher

Brent Falkner

8 years ago

The only songs on my iPod for swimming races were “Eminem- til I collapse” and “Parkway Drive – Sleepwalker”

Thomas Snook

8 years ago

Olivia Sanderson

8 years ago

Reply to Thomas Snook

Haha yes so many laps have been swim with so many of those songs in my head!!

Jodie House

8 years ago

Mackensey House

warda

8 years ago

cendrella man.eminem

Wyatt Fate

8 years ago

Nope… I want the most brutal metal stuck in my head during practice ?

Coach Paul

8 years ago

Maybe it’s because I have two young kids…and I hear these songs before working out…but “B-I-N-G-O” and “Let it Go” (Frozen) have got to be tw of the worst songs to have in your head.

My favorite as an athlete was always “Thunderstruck” by ACDC!