Listening to Eminem while exercising can boost athletic performance by up to 10 per cent, British scientists have discovered.
The US rapper’s tracks – including his lyrics ‘won’t the real Slim Shady please stand up’ – were shown to ‘significantly’ increase both power and endurance during periods of prolonged and intense exercise.
Their tempo, rhythm and confrontational lyrics were found to have a ‘highly motivational edge’ that are particularly effective over long distances.
Songs by The Script and by Swedish House Mafia also had a ‘surprisingly beneficial’ effect on perceived levels of fatigue and endurance, a pioneering study at Hartpury College and University Centre in Gloucestershire revealed.
Researchers spent three months monitoring the physiological effects of different music types on the British swimmer Ben Hooper who is due to swim 2,000 miles across the Atlantic Ocean in December.
The team then narrowed down each genre to specific artists and tracks in a bid to identify a ‘Soundtrack of Success’ – a list of songs that athletes should play or avoid for optimum results.
After monitoring his output over nearly 25,000 lengths at Leisure At indoor swimming pool in Cheltenham, and sea training in Key West, Florida, the scientists were able to highlight the most stimulating tracks from an original playlist of almost 100 artists.