What makes a great sales pump-up song? Is it the beat, hard-hitting and furious enough to wake you up with a jolt and a dose of adrenaline? Is it the melody, catchy and feel-good, shaking you out of your doldrums as you find yourself humming along? Is it the lyrics, resonant and inspirational, even when you’re feeling unmotivated?
We think it’s a combination of all three! The best pump-up songs have an indescribable quality, a timelessness, a way of getting you excited and feeling good at any time. That’s what we were looking for when we set out to compile The Ultimate Sales Pump-Up Playlist. This list also includes suggestions from the likes of Mark Roberge, Lee Salz, and Kyle Porter – sales veterans who have motivated their own sales teams with their favorite jams. Start your days off right and put on this playlist while researching, prospecting and getting ready to hit the phones.
Without further ado, we’re excited to present: The Ultimate Sales Pump-Up Playlist!
1) Blue Swede – Hooked on a Feeling
From the unorthodox beginning tribal-beats of the song, you know this isn’t just your same old playlist, with tired old tunes. This 1974 feel-good chart-topper has seen a recent resurgence as the theme song of the movie blockbuster Guardians of the Galaxy, and is a perfect way to ease into the day.
2) New Radicals – You Get What you Give
Throw it back to the 90s for this singalong ditty with lyrics that remind your reps that sales is a game where their (activity) inputs determine their (bookings) outputs, so they should give more to get more!
3) Norman Greenbaum – Spirit in the Sky
A simple rock song for cowboys and outlaws to ride off into the sunset to, this is another feel-good jam that will get sales reps’ minds right as they prepare for their day of calling and prospecting.
4) The Rolling Stones – Start Me Up
Who doesn’t love the Stones, especially when they have dance moves like (Mick) Jagger? It’s time to ratchet up the intensity as your reps wind the crank on their internal sales engines and get revved up.
5) Van Halen – Right Now
More classic rock to build up the early energy, this song has an over-minute long instrumental intro that crescendos to a resonant first lyric for your sales reps: “Don’t wanna wait, till tomorrowwwww…”
6) Parov Stelar – Chambermaid Swing
Our only all-instrumental song on the list, this song, clearly influenced by the go-go pace of the Roarin’ ‘20s will get your reps into the “swing” of things. Hold on to your seats; we’re about to take off.
7) Imagine Dragons – Radioactive
Ok ok, we know; you can’t escape this ubiquitous arena rock anthem. But there’s a reason everyone, from sneaker companies to movie trailers, uses it; it’s incredibly catchy and has a chilling way of rousing even the sleepiest listener, or sales rep.
8) Rage Against the Machine – Wake up
No more messing around; we’re cranking the dial up to 11 with this headbanger, a personal favorite of Kyle Porter’s. When this comes on, your reps will get the message loud and clear; it’s time to wake up and go to work.
9) AWOLNATION – Sail
Keep the early adrenaline going with this high-octane anthem. When a song rises to prominence on the strength of its use as the soundtrack of a heart-stopping skydiving highlight reel, you know it’s the real deal.
10) Beyonce – Run the World (Girls)
No pump-up playlist, for the gym or the sales pit, would be complete without a little Queen B. This club-banging beat and inspirational lyrics are also a good reminder to our female sales reps out there to go hit the phones with extreme confidence that they can indeed “run the world.”
11) Michael Jackson – Don’t Stop ‘Til you Get Enough
One of the most popular pump-up songs from a legendary artist who made his career by getting fans to get up on their feet and dance their hearts out, this song’s lyrics are also great motivation for reps.
12) Joe “Bean” Esposito – You’re The Best
If this song could inspire Daniel LaRusso, the Karate Kid, to conquer all obstacles and overcome the odds, it can surely do the same for sales reps. Calling with confidence is crucial for sales reps; instill their confidence by reminding them that they are the best around.
13) Nico & Vinz – Am I Wrong
This Norwegian pop song has an earnestness to it that is inspirational, with a message and lyrics about pursuing your dreams at all costs: “Am I wrong / For trying to reach the things that I can’t see?” Pump-up songs aren’t just about hard-hitting beats; inspirational lyrics can have a great subconscious effect too.
14) Calvin Harris – Feel so Close
A big part of success in sales is developing close relationships with prospects; this song’s lyrics are about that very same human connection we all try to make. It also helps that this is an insanely catchy song that makes us all want to get up and dance!
15) California Love – 2Pac
We haven’t had very much rap on this list, but as reps approach the end of the playlist and are about to hit the phones, it’s time to inject some adrenaline with this seminal rap classic. As a bonus, use this song to get into that California state of mind when researching and preparing to call West Coast prospects.
16) Eminem – ‘Till I Collapse
Most pump-up playlists will have another Eminem classic, “Lose Yourself.” While that is undoubtedly a great hype jam, we actually prefer this other one, with equally inspirational lyrics about going hard till the very end. A killer hook from Nate Dogg only adds to the anthemic nature of the song.
17) Kanye West – Stronger
Kanye’s public persona might come off a little crazy, but the man’s production talent and lyrical abilities are unquestioned. This song also conveniently doubles as our Daft Punk entry as well; what playlist would be complete without an appearance from those futuristic electronic song-robots?
18) X Ambassadors – Jungle
This song might not be well-known yet, but we promise your reps will love the thumping bass once they feel their adrenaline kicking in. It was first used to great effect this summer at the FIFA World Cup and is, to us, the perfect pump-up jam.
19) The White Stripes – Seven Nation Army
Rabid European soccer fans chant this song from the stands. It was the unofficial anthem for the four-year Miami Heat championship run with LeBron James. It is, in every sense of the word, a pump-up jam.
20) Survivor – Eye of the Tiger
It’s time. Time to put all the practice and preparation into play. Time to climb the stairs and hit the phones and, at the end of the day, raise your arms in the air triumphantly to signify a job well done. The Rocky theme song has been a seminal pump-up song for years, and we suspect it will continue to be for many decades in the future. Who can listen to this song and not develop the Eye of the Tiger themselves?
