There’s nothing like a great song to get your heart pumping, particularly a song that has a fast beat.
Whether you are looking for a good song to help you stay on tempo as you work out, or just want a fast-paced song to motivate you through chores, these songs will hit the spot.
Having a list of workout songs or just fast tunes like this in your back pocket is awesome, but if you don’t, I’ve got you covered with my list of songs with a fast beat.
- Thousand by Moby
- Hey Ya by Outkast
- HandClap by Fitz and the Tantrums
- Pom Poms by The Joans Brothers
- Blinding Lights by The Weeknd
- In Da Club by 50 Cent
- Don’t You Just Know It by Captain Jack
- White Light, White Heat by Julian Casablancas
- Mr. Brightside by The Killers
- Mad Love by Mabel
- Bye Bye Bye by NSYNC
- Footloose by Kenny Loggins
- Livin’ La Vida Loca by Ricky Martin
- Every Time We Touch by Cascada
- Last Resort by Papa Roach
- Bing Bang Boom by Highway 101
- All I Do Is Win by DJ Khaled
- Here I Go Again by Whitesnake
- I Want It All by Queen
- I’m So Excited by The Pointer Sisters
The list spans many genres, including EDM, rock, and pop.
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Table of Contents
“Thousand” by Moby
No list of tunes with a fast beat is complete without Moby’s song, “Thousand.”
That’s because this energetic song off of the electronica artist’s first album is the Guinness World Records holder for the highest Beats Per Minute of any single.
The record starts slower but builds a faster and faster tempo, eventually reaching 1,015 BPM.
If you’re trying to run or dance and keep pace with your song, “Thousand” might be too fast, but the fast beat will certainly get your heart pumping!
“Hey Ya” by Outkast
This more popular tune is quite a bit different than their debut single, “Player’s Ball.”
“Hey Ya” by Atlanta rap group Outkast is one of the fastest rap songs around.
According to some measurements, this hip-hop banger has a BPM of 180 beats per minute.
The rapid tempo and upbeat melody make this song a perfect motivator, whether you are trying to work out or get inspired to clean the house.
Andre 3000’s smooth flow makes the energetic song feel as if it flies by even faster.
However, don’t listen too closely to the lyrics.
The fast beat of the record contrasts with the sad story of heartbreak hidden in the lyrics.
“HandClap” by Fitz and the Tantrums
US indie pop band Fitz and the Tantrums had a real hit on their hands when they released “HandClap” in 2016.
This fast-paced soul-inspired pop song has a beat of 140 BPM.
Not only is the beat nice and upbeat, getting your heart pumping, but it is strongly prevalent throughout the energetic song.
The distinctive handclaps at the beginning of the tune and the percussive playing throughout the song mean that you will never lose track of the beat.
“Pom Poms” by The Jonas Brothers
Nobody understands the importance of a good beat more than cheerleaders, which is why it is fitting that this ode to pom pom queens is on this list of fast-beat songs.
Plus, the nostalgic power of once-teenage heartthrobs The Jonas Brothers will get your heart rate up if the song doesn’t do its job.
Another benefit of “Pom Poms” is that it is a good boy band song.
The record includes elements of jazz rock and several sophisticated instruments to add complexity to what would once be a typical teenie bopper song.
That’s more than enough to get your feet tapping!
“Blinding Lights” by The Weeknd
The Weeknd might be more famous for his mellow, laid-back records, but “Blinding Lights” will certainly get your heart pumping.
This single comes from the album of the same name and according to some measurements has a heart-racing beat of 171 BPM.
“Blinding Lights” draws inspiration from 80s pop, which explains the rapid beat and bright synths.
It is a tune about excess and, according to the artist, was inspired at least partially by Las Vegas, so it’s fitting that it is so fast!
When my sister-in-law ran her first 13.3-mile race (half marathon), this was the energetic song she kicked off with.
Get all the experience of singing lessons at a fraction of the price (and at your own speed) with 30 Day Singer.
“In Da Club” by 50 Cent
50 Cent was one of the greatest hitmakers of the early 2000s hip-hop scene, and he certainly delivered with this melody.
The beat is percussive and shines through the song, even when 50 Cent starts rapping.
It’s also one of the fastest beats in rap, clocking in at 180 BPM.
The entire song spins your head with how fast it is, from the consistent beat to 50 Cent’s assured delivery.
It’s certainly composed to get bodies shaking and moving in the club!
“Don’t You Just Know It” by Captain Jack
“Don’t You Just Know It” is another song that clocks in at 180 BPM.
This fast, upbeat song was produced to get bodies moving in the club, which is why its upbeat melody and fast beat may make it impossible for you to sit still!
Captain Jack are certainly experts at making fast beats.
This group came from Germany and was a star of the Eurodance genre, a genre of electronic dance music that swept the Old Continent in the 1990s.
“White Light White Heat” by Julian Casablancas
Julian Casablancas from The Strokes may be more famous for his indie music that is great for feeling sophisticated or for crying in your room.
However, the fast-paced “White Light White Heat,” which has a BPM of 145, certainly bucks that trend.
“White Light White Heat” was originally recorded by the Velvet Underground on their album of the same name.
Although less famous than the previous album, The Velvet Underground & Nico, it has faster-paced charts such as this one.
“Mr. Brightside” by The Killers
There are many reasons why “Mr. Brightside” by The Killers makes people flock to the dance floor even decades after its release.
One of those reasons is the fabulous beat, which clocks in at 148 BPM (pretty fast for a rock song).
The thumping, consistent beat and simple, repetitive melody will get you on your feet and dancing, even if you can identify with the heartbreak in the lyrics a little bit too well.
“Mad Love” by Mabel
If you’re not a member of Gen Z, you can be forgiven for not knowing this song.
However, English singer Mabel’s single “Mad Love” was an Internet sensation in 2019, especially on TikTok, which was still new at the time.
The fast beat of the song helped it grow in popularity on TikTok and among young people, who are becoming more and more fond of the electropop genre.
At 198 BPM, “Mad Love” certainly has mad beats.
“Bye Bye Bye” by *NSYNC
If the fast beat doesn’t get you up and moving from this song, then the nostalgia definitely will.
*NSYNC was 90s heartthrobs that were one of the biggest bands of the era.
Their boy band song “Bye Bye Bye” is a fast-paced kiss-off about finally getting rid of that bad relationship that clocks in at 180 BPM.
“Bye Bye Bye” is also famous for its iconic music video, which showed the members dancing attached to puppet strings (even though many fans feel the video was unfairly robbed at the MTV Awards).
“Footloose” by Kenny Loggins
If you want your fast-paced song to come with a dose of retro nostalgia, you can’t go wrong with “Footloose” by Kenny Loggins.
This 1980s superhit clocks in at a BPM of 174.
“Footloose” is a hit song from the movie, Footloose.
In this 1980s classic, a teenager played by Kevin Bacon moves to a small town in Iowa and fights against the conservative culture, including the ban on dancing.
With a soundtrack like this, it’s no wonder that the teens of Bomont couldn’t keep their feet still!
“Livin’ La Vida Loca” by Ricky Martin
Puerto Rican pop sensation Ricky Martin brought Latin pop into the United States mainstream with this monster hit that defined the early 2000s.
At 178 BPM, “Livin’ La Vida Loca” is a fast-paced song that is guaranteed to get you up and dance, no matter how bad your mood was before.
The fast beat of “Livin’ La Vida Loca” makes it a great song to have on your workout playlist as well.
Get your heart rate pumping without even needing to go through the tumultuous love affair Ricky Martin describes in the song.
“Every Time We Touch” by Cascada
If you like melodies that put a lot of emphasis on the beat, then dance and electronica tunes should be your go-to genres.
One powerhouse artist of the genre is Cascada, who dominated the 2000s with their upbeat danceable electronic music.
“Every Time We Touch” is “only” 142 BPM, but the bright electronic synths and melody will get your heart racing even faster.
If you’re having trouble motivating yourself through your workout or chores, putting on this song and feeling the rush of nostalgia will get you through it!
“Last Resort” by Papa Roach
If you’re looking for tunes with a fast beat, then turning to rock songs, especially metal, is a good idea.
“Last Resort” by Papa Roach is another song that clocks in at 180 BPM.
Papa Roach was one of the powerhouses of the 1990s rock scene, especially in pioneering the controversial nu metal subgenre, which divided people due to its combination of rap and rock music.
However you feel about nu-metal, you’ll find it hard to resist the fast beat of “Last Resort,” which is perfect for angsty screaming your heart out!
Further Reading: Tips For Singing Grunge and with a Raspy Voice
“Bing Bang Boom” by Highway 101
Just because a song is from a good old country artist, someone who is used to a slower pace of life than city slickers doesn’t mean that it will be slower!
1980s country powerhouses Highway 101 proved that with their hit, “Bing Bang Boom,” which measures 180 BPM.
“Bing Bang Boom” is a fast, upbeat song that even the most experienced Texas two-steppers have trouble keeping up with when it comes time to line dance, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t fun to try and keep up!
“All I Do Is Win” by DJ Khaled, feat. Ludacris, Rick Ross, T-Pain & Snoop Dogg
This song functions as a who’s who gallery of every influential hip-hop artist in the past few decades.
DJ Khaled is always great at assembling an all-star cast of features, and he delivers on this hit.
What often gets overshadowed by the star-studded line-up is the fact that “All I Do Is Win” has a thumping beat, clocking in at 150 BPM.
As the energetic song says, “and the hands go up,” but your heart rate will also go up once you add this fast-paced song to your exercise playlist!
If you stop to listen closely, too, this makes a great motivational song.
“Here I Go Again” by Whitesnake
When you’re looking for tunes that have a fun, fast-paced beat, turning to classic rock is always a good choice.
The drummer from Whitesnake certainly had to put in a lot of effort during their monster hit, “Here I Go Again,” because this energetic song has an incredibly fast 181 BPM, according to some measurements.
“Here I Go Again” is one of the most famous power ballads of the 1980s, but the fast beat makes sure there is plenty of ballads to go around, even with the soulful lyrics.
“I Want It All” by Queen
When it comes to songs that make you feel powerful, there is no rock artist better than Queen.
Although “We Will Rock You” is more of a hype-up classic, “I Want It All” is actually the faster song with a thumping 180 BPM.
“I Want It All” was written by Brian May initially about personal heartbreak, but its steady beat meant that people resonated with it, and it became a popular protest anthem.
“I’m So Excited” by The Pointer Sisters
“I’m So Excited” by The Pointer Sisters certainly lives up to its name.
With a 182 BPM, the fast beat is sure to get your heart pumping. If that doesn’t work, then the bright melody will do it.
The Pointer Sisters were actually three sisters that were a powerhouse R&B group in the early days of the genre.
Many of their songs are still popular, thanks to nostalgia.
Related: Popular songs with a strong steady beat
“Modern Love” by David Bowie
There really is a David Bowie song for all occasions, including one when you need a faster beat.
“Modern Love” is from his 1983 album Let’s Dance, and its fast beat certainly encourages listeners to put on their dancing shoes.
It clocks in at 180 BPM, and its upbeat melody and positive lyrics will also help motivate you.
Get all the experience of singing lessons at a fraction of the price (and at your own speed) with 30 Day Singer.
