I have been going to the gym pretty consistently around 6:15 in the morning for the almost two years I have been a student here at Fairfield. This early-morning endeavor helps with my sense of routine and discipline, and I’m also a fan of getting in my workout at a non-ridiculously crowded time. I know the familiar faces I’ll see every day, my 6:00 a.m. gym crowd, and I can expect pretty much the same kind of atmosphere every day.

However, this year specifically, I have a huge issue with one small detail of my gym experience: the music. For my entire stretch at the gym, I am met with the most excruciating, yee-haw country tunes known to man. 

I listen to a lot of music. I feel as if I can find common ground with almost anyone, as I enjoy a wide span of genres and artists. But I’ve always said there is one kind I simply cannot stand, and that would be this heavily commercialized country that seems to be required to mention a truck within the first verse.

It’s not even 100% of country music that I find irritating. I can appreciate some country classics blasting by the pool on a hot day while your family barbecues, and I am also a fan of passionate country-pop girl ballads on occasion. But there is only so much “truck-driving”, “whiskey-drinking” and “small-town roads” I can take – especially at the crack of dawn.

I bring my own headphones in attempts to blast my own favorite tunes, but the volume of the Rec’s music is overwhelmingly loud, and I can usually hear right through it. 

What is even more interesting to me is that the music has not always been on this station at 6:00 a.m. I have distinct memories of working out to classic pop hits, party favorites and throwback jams – music that may be somewhat basic, sure, but appeals to a wider number of students and other gym-goers.

The gym is a shared space, and the music playing should reflect that. Sure, a good portion of the early gym crew might love this kind of country, but there are also plenty who don’t – and they should be considered, too. 

Furthermore, I feel like music directly impacts a lot of people’s performance during a workout. The tempo of a song can correlate with motivation and energy, and I’m not convinced that formulaic storytelling country is the ideal pick. Especially when it comes to slower, modern country, it just doesn’t match the gym atmosphere or support workouts.

Now, I’m aware that the RecPlex does have guidelines when it comes to the music they play. They only have access to certain stations, and the music they play needs to be clean to promote a welcoming environment for all ages. 

Luckily, there is a simple solution here: shuffle the music stations! I’m not anti-country, but I do think the RecPlex needs a better balance in their early morning tunes. Focusing on not playing the exact same songs at the same times of the day would make the gym experience at Fairfield so much better. 

Fairfield U Recreation will occasionally send out surveys to gauge how they can improve the RecPlex, and adding a question about preferred music can help the university better understand which stations to consider adding to their rotation.

Hopefully, the RecPlex can stray away from strictly the boots and booze country and play songs everyone can enjoy.