[2026] Motivation Boost! A Collection of Classic Western Songs to Listen to Before a Match
In sports and martial arts, boosting your motivation before a match is more important than anything else.
Especially in intense competitions, you need to have your adrenaline pumping even before the match begins.
This time, we’ve picked out a selection of classic Western songs you’ll want to listen to before a match to raise your voltage!
From the latest tracks to timeless classics—even some super obscure ones—we’re introducing a wide range of songs that can help boost your motivation.
Even if you’re well-versed in Western music, be sure to check it out!
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[2026] Motivation Boost! A Collection of Classic Western Songs to Hear Before a Match (41–50)
The Final CountdownEurope
Everyone must have heard this song at least once: The Final Countdown by Europe, the hard rock band from Sweden in Northern Europe.
It’s often used as an entrance theme by boxers and fighters, and most famously as the entrance music for professional wrestler Keiji Mutoh.
Europe, which started performing in 1979, scored a massive hit with this song in 1986 and is said to have established the Nordic style of hard rock.
Indeed, within the hard, heavy sound, there’s a blend of dreamy melodies and chord progressions, creating a distinctive kind of hard rock that hadn’t existed before.
True to the “countdown” in the title, the intro gives a feeling of advancing step by step, which I think matches the mindset of athletes heading into a match.
[2026] Motivation Boost! A Compilation of Classic Western Songs to Hear Before a Match (51–60)
When Thugs CryBizzy Bone
Bone Thugs-n-Harmony is a hip-hop crew that earned respect from heads around the world with their thugged-out style.
“When Thugs Cry” is a classic by Bizzy Bone, one of the group’s key members.
Bizzy Bone grew up in a harsh home environment as a child, and that past is deeply reflected in this track as well.
With its rapid-fire rapping and sophisticated flow, it’s a perfect pick for English-language music to listen to before a game.
EndorphinmachinePrince
Speaking of K-1’s theme song, this is the track.
During the late 1990s, when K-1 reached the peak of its boom, Fuji TV— which broadcast the events— used this Prince song as its theme.
The guitar riff in the intro is striking, and even now, just hearing it brings back memories of the K-1 fighters’ matches from that era.
Don’t Start NowDua Lipa
Many people probably remember it as one of the Western pop hits of 2019: Dua Lipa’s “Don’t Start Now.” It’s a hit song by an artist to watch, who also won two Grammy Awards including Best New Artist.
With its upbeat dance groove, it’s a track that can hype you up before a game or during practice.
The lyrics portray the strength of a woman who has moved on from heartbreak, which helps fire you up with a winning mindset.
Shape of YouEd Sheeran
This is Ed Sheeran’s song “Shape of You.” Perhaps because its quietly burning, determined vibe suits high-stakes moments, it’s often used as walk-up music by baseball players like Hideoto Asamura of the Seibu Lions and Akira Nakamura of the SoftBank Hawks.
In the lyrics, he repeatedly says he’s fallen for your body, so “Shape of You” could be taken to mean your body.
Looking at the lyrics, there’s something that stirs a man’s fighting spirit, which explains why it’s chosen as entrance music.
Body BackGryffin
The beautiful melody has been getting a lot of buzz for being especially emo! This is “Body Back,” released in 2019 by Gryffin, a DJ whose popularity is skyrocketing in the EDM scene, featuring the hugely sought-after singer Maia Wright.
The tight, punchy kick boosts your fighting spirit for the match.
Just listening to it makes you feel like you’ve stepped into the future.
It really draws you into its world, making it perfect for getting focused before a game!
PapercutLinkin Park
Linkin Park, an American rock band said to be the best-selling rock act of the 21st century with total worldwide sales exceeding 100 million, delivered “Papercut” as the opening track of their debut album Hybrid Theory, the record that made their name known around the world.
With an intro featuring a memorable guitar riff and DJ scratching that sticks in your ears, rapid-fire rapping over heavy riffs, and a melodious section in the latter half, the song is packed with the band’s distinctive character and appeal in a single track.
Thanks to its build-up toward the end, it’s a rock number guaranteed to raise your energy and voltage before any game.
