Athletes of 2024 weigh in on the best warmup songs of the year
Isaiah Dada ‘25
Album and song covers for (Left - Right and Top-Bottom) Family Ties - Kendrick Lamar, Forever - Drake, Paper Planes - M.I.A., ZITTI E BUONI - MANESKIN, 24K Magic - Bruno Mars, Shut Up - Nettspend, Gladiator - Zayde Wølf, St. Chroma - Tyler, the Creator,
Butterfly Effect - Travis Scott, Watch Me - The Phantoms, Goosebumps - Travis Scott, GB - Iruka no Yumede Sayonara, Courtesy of Isaiah Dada
As the winter sports season kicks into full force, the soundtrack of our athletic pursuits and daily lives continues to play a crucial role in our performance and mood. For me as an athlete, the right playlist can be the difference between a lackluster warmup and an amazing game.
Research has shown that synchronizing music with repetitive exercise can increase work output and efficiency. One study found that cyclists who pedaled in time with music required 7% less oxygen to perform the same work as those cycling with asynchronous background music, meaning that the right tunes can boost our mood and enhance our physical performance.
The impact of music on athletic performance extends beyond synchronized exercise and music. Researchers have observed that listening to music during exercise can modulate physiological responses, including changes in heart rate, hormone levels, and muscle activation. These modifications can result in improved endurance, enhanced sprint performance, and increased strength during resistance training, at least in the short term.
Moreover, music can positively influence psychological factors crucial for athletic success. Studies indicate that music can enhance mood, increase motivation, and reduce perceived exertion during physical activities. The psychological boost can allow athletes to push harder and longer.
However, other scientific evidence reveals that the effectiveness of music in enhancing athletic performance varies among individuals. These researchers found that an individual’s personal music preference significantly impacts the potential performance benefits. With personalized music selection in training and competition settings, some can maximize their potential athletic abilities.
As we reflect on the musical preferences and athletic feats of the Catlin Gabel School (CGS) 2024 athletic season, it's time to explore the tracks that fueled our workouts, meets, and games. From chart-topping hits to underground gems, let's dive into what your peers have been warming up to and how it's shaped their athletic year.
It is important to note that this exploration of CGS athletes' musical preferences stems from a survey that received 32 responses from students across various sports. While the data provides intriguing insights into how athletes use music to prepare for competition, it is not a comprehensive representation of the entire student body's musical tastes. The survey results should be understood as a snapshot of individual experiences rather than a definitive statement about the school's athletic culture.
The choices for listening were Always, Sometimes, Barely Ever, and Never. The results are below:
Survey results of Music listening habits.
Courtesy of Isaiah Dada
Across all sports, athletes emphasized music's role in boosting energy, focus, and confidence before competitions. The majority reported listening to music "always" or "sometimes" before games or meets.
Fall Season:
Varsity Soccer 2024-2025
Song cover of “Family Ties” by Kendrick Lamar and Baby Keem.
Courtesy of Columbia Records and pgLang
According to the survey results, soccer players demonstrated the most diverse musical landscape, with genres ranging from rap and pop, to punk and alternative rock. The majority of athletes reported using music as a pre-game ritual, with nearly 80% indicating they listen to music “always” or “sometimes” before games.
“These songs get me in the zone, with blood pumping and ready to rock,” wrote one soccer player.
“It’s generally upbeat and hypes me up,” one soccer player responded.
Popular tracks like “Family Ties” by Kendrick Lamar and Taylor Swift’s “The Man” dominated playlists. Athletes consistently cited the songs’ energetic beats and memorable lyrics as key motivators.
Sophomore Alana Hill, a soccer player, explained her song selection strategy. “I choose upbeat tracks where I can understand the lyrics,” said Hill. “Songs like J. Cole's 'She Knows' help me feel energized without being overwhelming.”
Varsity Cross-country:
Song Cover of “gb” by iruka no yumede sayonara
Courtesy of iruka no yumede sayonara
The cross-country team also showed quite a nuanced musical taste. Roughly 70% of these athletes reported using music as a performance preparation tool.
Junior Callum Ellis represented a more unique musical preference, selecting extremely loud genres like Gabber and Dutch Hardcore. "Loud" was his succinct explanation for choosing such intense musical styles.
Gus Hobbs exemplified the traditional approach, preferring rock and metal tracks that provide a consistent, energizing backdrop to training and competition.
Varsity Volleyball:
Album cover of “Birds in the Trap Sing McKnight”.
Courtesy of Grand Hustle Records
The survey results for volleyball, while limited, offer a focused glimpse into how some athletes use music in competition preparation.
Sophomore Deniz Avci, a volleyball player, reported “always” listening to music before games. Avci prefers “Pop and Rap” genres, explaining, “They have good drum/beats and lyrics are energetic.”
Her go-to song was “Goosebumps” by Travis Scott. Avci noted, “This is a common song on my team's pregame playlists because it has a catchy beat and the verses are relatively repetitive.”
Winter Sports:
Varsity Basketball 2024-2025:
Album cover of Astroworld by Travis Scott.
Courtesy of Cactus Jack Records and Grand Hustle Records
Basketball athletes showed a more focused musical approach, predominantly selecting hip-hop and pop tracks designed to elevate energy and team spirit. Nearly 70% reported using music as a pregame ritual.
Sophomore Sydney Perlewitz noted the communal aspect of musical selection. Songs like Travis Scott's 'Butterfly Effect' are great because “everyone knows the lyrics to it so we [the team] can all sing along."
The genre’s fast tempo and motivational lyrics serve a dual purpose: psychological preparation and team bonding. Freshman Maya Igarashi described music as a way to “get ready to play” and create a competitive mindset. Unfortunately, there were no responses from the Boys Varsity team.
Varsity Swimming 2024-2025
Album cover for Zitti e Buoni.
Courtesy of Sony RCA
Swimmers presented the most eclectic musical preferences incorporating genres from rap and alternative rock, to European pop and reggaeton. Approximately 60% of swimmers reported consistent pre-competition musical routines.
Sophomore Tia Chakrapani, another swimmer, emphasized the tempo-matching aspect. “[Rap helps because] it's fast-paced, and it gets you ready to go fast,” said Chakrapani.
Junior Alina Gungor highlighted the performance elevating aspects of her music. “It’s kinda just to get you in the right headspace,” Gungor said. “You can get your adrenaline up as opposed to just stepping out when adrenaline pops up.”
The impact of music on her performance is tangible. Gungor noted that when she doesn’t listen to music beforehand, she feels noticeably different. “actually like I feel a little bit more drowsy,” she said. “I feel like the music kinda wakes me up a little.”
Her genre preferences leaned toward indie or alt-rock and global pop.
Spring Sports:
Varsity and JV Track & Field 2023-2024
Track athletes demonstrated a strong preference for high-energy musical genres designed to maximize mental and physical preparation. Approximately 65% of track athletes reported using music as a critical pre-competition ritual.
"Loud, aggressive tracks help me lock into my competitive mindset," said one track athlete.
Varsity Tennis 2023-2024
Song cover of “Flex Up” by Lil Yachty, Future, and Playboi Carti.
Courtesy of Quality Control Music
Tennis players at CGS had quite a varied selection of musical genre preferences. They had a good deal of variety from those who wanted to listen to music before matches, to those who never did.
Junior Aston Selley, a Boy’s Varsity tennis player, reported listening to music "sometimes" before competitions. Selley favors rap, explaining that it "hypes me up." His go-to song is "Flex Up" by Lil Yachty, Future, and Playboi Carti, chosen specifically "because it gives me energy."
In contrast, junior Ishaan Goel, another Varsity tennis player, showed a more eclectic taste. Goel listens to music "sometimes" before matches, preferring a mix of "jazz, old pop, rap, fusion." Unlike some athletes who have a specific hype song, Ishaan said, "I just put on a good album."
Varsity Golf 2023-2024:
Due to the limited response from the golf team, there aren’t a lot of recommendations. From the survey responses though, golfers seemed to lean towards pop music. One player mentioned Meghan Trainor’s “Better When I’m Dancin’” as a mood lifter.
Varsity Baseball 2023-2024
Courtesy of Columbia Records
For CGS baseball player Junior Cole Zanfardino, the pre-game playlist is less about pumping up and more about finding focus.
“It honestly sets the tone for the match,” Zanfardino explained. “Having a good warm-up is essential for a good match; the music helps create the right mood and a good mindset.”
Zanfardino’s musical preparation begins as soon as he’s on the team bus. “Sometimes I'm just trying to calm my nerves,” he said. “It's easier to concentrate. It's time to think about the music I'm listening to... It clears out any other emotions before the game, anything unrelated to the game.”
Interestingly though, things change once the team reaches their field. “Basically after exiting the bus, no headphones in during warmups, as soon as they're in the field headphones are coming out,” he said. The routine allows him to transition mentally from travel to competition.
Zanfardino doesn’t perceive a direct link between his music listening and on-field performance. “Not really, a lot of times it's just about warmups specifically rather than the music,” he noted. “Music mainly comes into play during running or in the gym.”
When asked to narrow down his ideal pregame playlist to just three songs Zanfardino’s taste shone through choosing any track by Kendrick Lamar, “Dancing in the Dark” by Bruce Springsteen, and “London Calling” by The Clash.
Photo of (Left to right) Album “Astroworld by Travis Scott”, “Birds in the Trap Sing Mcknight”, “St. Chroma” by Tyler the Creator, and song cover Eye of the Tiger by Survivor, Courtesy of Spotify
When it comes to CGS athletes’ musical preferences, it's clear that the soundtrack to success is as diverse as the sports themselves. From the pulsing beats that energize soccer players to the calming melodies that help swimmers focus, music plays a crucial role in athletic preparation across the board.
To capture the variety of this musical journey there is a playlist with compiled song recommendations:https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4tLUzpTqUaLBv6uK3ngFyo?si=cla37bmKTS-hZ-OE6kSIhw
Next time you're warming up for a big game or facing a long drive to a competition, consider giving this playlist a spin. You might discover a new pre-game anthem or find inspiration in the musical choices of your fellow athletes. The right song at the right moment could be the extra boost you need to elevate your performance.
For more information on the 2024 athletic seasons see [Theo Butler’s article]
For more information on 2024’s music trends see [Violet Daly’s article]