Are these the greatest songs ever?
Everyone knows the absolute banger that is “Stayin’ Alive” by the Bee Gees. The 1977 disco classic is famous for being in a John Travolta movie – but did you know the perfectly named song is also famous for its lifesaving potential?
Early CPR and early AED use – as well as calling for help early – will increase a person’s survival if they experience a cardiac arrest outside of a hospital.
If you ever need to apply CPR, simply sing “Stayin’ Alive” in your mind as you go, and you’ll get the rhythm just right – a 2018 study found it provides an ideal beat for performing CPR. Chest compressions should be given at a rate of 100-120 per minute, and “Stayin’ Alive” comes in at bang-on 103 beats per minute.
If “Stayin’ Alive” isn’t your jam, there are plenty of other songs with a similar tempo. The list below features other songs that are apparently 100 BPM as well, so you can just pick your favourite tune. A word of warning though: we recommend you give Queen’s “Another One Bites the Dust” a miss – it has the right beat, but definitely not the right name!
The Bee Gees’ disco classic “Stayin’ Alive” can be an incredible help to people administering CPR.
Just Dance – Lady Gaga
Rumour Has It – Adele
What's Going On – Marvin Gaye
Walk Like an Egyptian – The Bangles
Dancing Queen – ABBA
Work It – Missy Elliott
Crazy – Gnarls Barkley
Somebody to Love – Queen
Girls Just Want to Have Fun – Cyndi Lauper
Sorry – Justin Bieber
Say You'll Be There – Spice Girls
I Will Survive – Gloria Gaynor
Rock Your Body – Justin Timberlake
Cecilia – Simon & Garfunkel
Hard To Handle – The Black Crowes
Sweet Home Alabama – Lynyrd Skynyrd
MMMBop – Hanson
Heartbreaker – Mariah Carey (feat. Jay-Z)
(Sittin' On) the Dock of the Bay – Otis Redding
Man in the Mirror – Michael Jackson
Crazy In Love – Beyoncé feat. JAY-Z
One Week – Barenaked Ladies
Everybody (Backstreet's Back) – Backstreet Boys
Livin' On A Prayer – Bon Jovi
Better Together – Jack Johnson
Whenever, Wherever – Shakira
and, um, Baby Shark – Pinkfong