Songs With 160 BPM: Song Examples & Tempo Analysis

Popular songs reported at 160 BPM include “Shake It Off” by Taylor Swift, “What I Like About You” by The Romantics, “Rich Flex” by Drake, and “Lane Boy” by Twenty One Pilots. At 160 beats per minute, the main pulse occurs about 2.67 times per second, although the same music may also be counted in half-time at 80 BPM.

That combination makes 160 BPM useful for running, workouts, DJ sets, and fast instrumental practice. Tempo databases may disagree because of alternate releases, rounding, tempo drift, or 80-versus-160 BPM interpretation. For a broader reference, compare these tracks with a curated list of famous song tempos.

What Popular Songs Have 160 BPM?

The following songs are commonly reported at 160 BPM across pop, rock, hip-hop, alternative, and electronic music.

Song	Artist	Genre or style	Reported tempo	Alternative count	Useful for
Shake It Off	Taylor Swift	Pop	160 BPM	80 BPM half-time	Running, cardio, dance
What I Like About You	The Romantics	Power pop/rock	160 BPM	80 BPM half-time	Running, energetic playlists
Rich Flex	Drake and 21 Savage	Hip-hop	160 BPM	80 BPM half-time	Half-time practice, DJ sets
Lane Boy	Twenty One Pilots	Alternative	160 BPM	80 BPM half-time	Workouts, tempo practice
Stick Talk	Future	Hip-hop	160 BPM	80 BPM half-time	Rap playlists, DJ transitions
DiE4u	Bring Me the Horizon	Alternative rock	160 BPM	80 BPM half-time	High-intensity workouts
Seance	HAARPER	Hip-hop	160 BPM	80 BPM half-time	Fast counted playlists
Stereo Madness	Forever Bound	Electronic	160 BPM	80 BPM half-time	Gaming, rhythm practice

Before using a track for precise mixing or practice, learn how BPM is identified and checked and confirm the specific recording.

Which 160 BPM Songs Fit Different Genres?

Songs at 160 BPM cross several genres, but each style uses the pulse differently.

Pop and dance songs

“Shake It Off” makes the fast pulse easy to follow through bright percussion and repeated accents. Arrangement, vocal phrasing, and subdivision still determine how energetic a song feels. The typical tempo patterns used in pop music explain why similar BPM values can produce different results.

Rock and alternative songs

“What I Like About You,” “Lane Boy,” and “DiE4u” bring different rhythmic characters to the same reported tempo. Strong snares, distorted guitars, and dense fills can feel more aggressive than polished pop. Live-band timing variation also makes a stable chorus more useful to measure than an expressive introduction.

Hip-hop and electronic songs

“Rich Flex,” “Stick Talk,” and “Seance” may organize the backbeat and vocal flow around an 80 BPM half-time feel while faster hi-hats divide that pulse. Electronic tracks often make all 160 beats more explicit. Compare these conventions with a genre-by-genre BPM guide.

Is 160 BPM Fast?

Yes, 160 BPM is generally considered fast. It sits above the tempo of much mainstream pop and rock, and it may approach a fast allegro or presto-like performance depending on the musical context and which note value receives the beat.

The number alone does not determine perceived speed. A sparse hip-hop groove may suggest 80 BPM, while a rock track with constant eighth notes feels urgent at the same reported tempo.

At 160 BPM, one beat lasts 0.375 seconds. In 4/4 time, one four-beat measure lasts 1.5 seconds, producing 40 complete measures per minute. Understanding what a BPM number actually measures makes those relationships easier to apply.

Can 160 BPM Also Be Counted as 80 BPM?

Yes. A 160 BPM song can often be counted at 80 BPM in half-time because the slower count treats every two fast beats as one larger pulse. The audio does not slow down; only the listener’s chosen beat level changes.

Counting level	Pulse rate	Time between pulses	Practical interpretation
Half-time	80 BPM	0.75 seconds	One larger pulse for every two 160 BPM beats
Full-time	160 BPM	0.375 seconds	The standard fast beat count
Double-time subdivision	320 BPM	0.1875 seconds	Two subdivisions for every 160 BPM beat

Count “1, 2, 3, 4” with the slower backbeat, then say “1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and,” treating every number and “and” as a 160 BPM pulse. This explains why services may list the same song at 80 or 160 BPM; the best value depends on the task.

Why Can Songs at 160 BPM Feel So Different?

Songs at 160 BPM feel different because BPM measures pulse rate, not groove or intensity. Key variables include:

• Rhythmic density: frequent notes create more activity than sustained sounds.
• Accents: strong offbeats or syncopation can make the pulse feel less predictable.
• Drum pattern: a half-time snare creates more space than a full-time rock backbeat.
• Instrumentation and phrasing: sounds and vocals may emphasize either the fast beat or half-time pulse.

“Shake It Off” presents a buoyant pop pulse, “Rich Flex” leans into a spacious hip-hop feel, and “Lane Boy” changes texture and rhythmic activity. BPM should guide playlist building, not serve as the only rule.

Are 160 BPM Songs Good for Running and Workouts?

Songs at 160 BPM can work well for running if 160 steps per minute is close to your comfortable cadence. Matching one footfall to each beat creates a direct relationship between the music and your movement, while an 80 BPM track can support the same step rate when you take two steps per beat.

There is no universal cadence every runner must force. Speed, experience, terrain, fatigue, and natural mechanics affect step rate. Choose music that supports comfortable movement rather than changing your stride abruptly.

For cardio circuits or repeated exercises, the fast pulse can organize work intervals. A guide to matching BPM with workouts can help you select tempo by activity and intensity.

How Can DJs and Musicians Use 160 BPM Tracks?

DJs can mix 160 BPM tracks when phrasing, groove, and energy are compatible. They can also transition between 80 and 160 BPM material through half-time or double-time interpretation. Bar structure, downbeats, percussion, and key still matter.

For more detailed preparation, the practical BPM workflow for DJs explains why tempo grids and beat matching should be checked against the recording rather than trusted blindly.

Musicians can use 160 BPM as a goal for scales, drum rudiments, or difficult passages. Start slowly, raise the metronome in small increments, and reduce it when accuracy breaks down.

How Can You Check Whether a Song Is Really 160 BPM?

Check a steady verse or chorus, tap the main beat, and count the pulses for 15 seconds. A true 160 BPM pulse produces 40 beats in 15 seconds because 40 × 4 = 160.

1. Choose a section with stable drums and no free-time introduction.
2. Tap along until the pulse feels consistent.
3. Count beats for exactly 15 seconds.
4. Multiply the result by four.
5. If you count about 20 beats, test whether the song is 80 BPM with a usable 160 BPM double-time subdivision.

For greater precision, count for 30 seconds and multiply by two, or compare sections for tempo drift. The step-by-step metronome practice method also helps train a stable 160 BPM pulse.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 160 BPM considered fast?

Yes. A tempo of 160 BPM is fast in most pop, rock, and general practice contexts, although it is common in some punk, electronic, and other high-energy styles. The perceived speed can be lower when the groove emphasizes an 80 BPM half-time pulse.

What famous songs are exactly 160 BPM?

Common examples include “Shake It Off,” “What I Like About You,” “Rich Flex,” and “Lane Boy.” Verify the specific recording because live versions, remasters, and database interpretation can change the result.

Can an 80 BPM song be used in a 160 BPM playlist?

Yes. An 80 BPM song can fit when its subdivisions support a 160 BPM double-time count and the tracks have compatible phrasing and energy.

Is 160 BPM suitable for running?

It can be suitable for runners whose comfortable cadence is near 160 steps per minute. It is not a mandatory target, so use the tempo only when it supports natural, controlled movement.

Are songs between 158 and 162 BPM close enough?

For casual listening and many workouts, a range of 158–162 BPM will usually feel consistent. DJs and musicians who need exact synchronization may need to adjust playback tempo or choose a track measured at precisely 160 BPM.