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Warning: Explicit Lyrics May Cause Muscle Gains

Warning: Explicit Lyrics May Cause Muscle Gains

New research shows that listening to uncensored music in the gym can boost performance, motivation, and perceived effort — and it’s not just in your head.

Written By Jim Stoppani, PhD

Updated October 14, 2025

The lyrics in the music you listen to during your workouts can do more than just pump you up—they can actually enhance your performance.

Researchers at the University of Alabama recently tested how explicit versus censored lyrics impact strength training performance, and the results were clear: when lifters heard the raw, unedited versions of their favorite songs, they performed better.

Explicit Music Boosts Strength Training Performance

In the study , trained male lifters completed a bench press workout consisting of two heavy sets of two reps to measure bar speed, followed by three sets to failure using 60% of their one-rep max.

In one session, the participants listened to music with explicit lyrics. In another, they listened to the same songs—but with the explicit words censored.

The outcome? When lifters heard the explicit versions, they completed more reps to failure, reported higher motivation and arousal levels, and said the workout felt easier overall compared to when they heard the censored music.