Pumped-up vs. slow workout playlists

I usually work out to the tunes of Ciara, Timbaland, Britney Spears, MIKA, Rihanna, Chris Brown, and Hannah Montana (I'll admit it). But I must admit that the same old hip-hop and R&B songs can get kind of tiring---which should not be happening at the gym, of all places.

My roommate told me that she actually listens to slow music while working out, which, at first, sounded ridiculous to me. But then she explained it to me: "When I listen to the lyrics, I don't pay as much attention to the work that I'm doing."

And THAT made it sound like an amazing idea! So I made the following "slow workout playlist":

Sleeping Lessons, The Shins
Closer, Joshua Radin
Paperweight, Joshua Radin
Winter, Joshua Radin
Whatever It Is, Ben Lee
Those Dancing Days Are Gone, Carla Bruni
At Last the Secret Is Out, Carla Bruni
Please Forgive Me, David Gray
Lightning Rod, Guster
Empire State, Guster
Bird Stealing Bread, Iron & Wine
John Wayne Gacy, Jr., Sufjan
Casimir Pulaski Day, Sufjan
Holland, Sufjan
(Hospital Vespers), The Weakerthans
Fever, Peggy Lee
Cowboy Take Me Away, Dixie Chicks
Turn Me On, Norah Jones
Gold Dust Woman, Fleetwood Mac
Swans, Unkle Bob
Sleep Don't Weep, Damien Rice

Looks pretty sleepworthy, but I'm excited to hit the gym tomorrow and see what happens.

The following is my default workout playlist, which looks lame, boring, and whatever-the-opposite-of-eclectic is, in comparison!

Kiss Kiss (feat. T-Pain), Chris Brown
With You, Chris Brown
Wall to Wall, Chris Brown
Gimme More, Britney
Piece of Me, Britney
Break the Ice, Britney
Radar, Britney
Release (feat. Justin Timberlake), Timbaland
Boardmeeting (feat. Magoo), Timbaland
Miscommunication (feat. Keri Hilson), Timbaland
Time (feat. She Wants Revenge), Timbaland
See You Again, Miley Cyrus
Start All Over , Miley Cyrus
Stronger, Kanye West
Don't Stop the Music, Rihanna
Breakin' Dishes, Rihanna
Grace Kelly, MIKA

Picture credit: Teambath.com