Searching for music with a postive outlook.
April 28, 2011 11:38 AM   Subscribe

Help me think of songs/musical numbers that echo the sentiment of "Don't Stop Believing".

Other than the obvious Journey track, I am trying to come up with songs that relate to not giving up, persistence, or stick-to-it-tiveness. And I know that me mefites will not be as stumped as I am. I would be happy with any suggestions regardless of genre, form or age.
posted by royboy to Media & Arts (41 answers total) 21 users marked this as a favorite
 


Queen - We are the Champions
Gloria Gaynor - I Will Survive
posted by It's Never Lurgi at 11:42 AM on April 28, 2011


Man I'm old. First thing that popped into my head is:

High Hopes

Next time your found, with your chin on the ground
There a lot to be learned, so look around

Just what makes that little old ant
Think hell move that rubber tree plant
Anyone knows an ant, cant
Move a rubber tree plant

But he's got high hopes, he's got high hopes
Hes got high apple pie, in the sky hopes

So any time your gettin low
Stead of lettin go
Just remember that ant
Oops there goes another rubber tree plant

When troubles call, and your backs to the wall
There a lot to be learned, that wall could fall

Once there was a silly old ram
Thought he'd punch a hole in a dam
No one could make that ram, scram
He kept buttin that dam

Cause he had high hopes, he had high hopes
He had high apple pie, in the sky hopes

So any time your feelin bad
Stead of feelin sad
Just remember that ram
Oops there goes a billion kilowatt dam

All problems just a toy balloon
They'll be bursted soon
They're just bound to go pop
Oops there goes another problem kerplop
posted by vitabellosi at 11:52 AM on April 28, 2011 [1 favorite]


Obligatory. (Chumbawamba - Tubthumper)
posted by Lutoslawski at 11:55 AM on April 28, 2011


Keep on Keepin' On by the Redskins (or for that matter Curtis Mayfield).
posted by HandfulOfDust at 11:57 AM on April 28, 2011 [1 favorite]


Cake: Going the Distance
posted by jbickers at 12:01 PM on April 28, 2011


DB Boulevard - Believe
posted by itstheclamsname at 12:04 PM on April 28, 2011


Rome Wasn't Built in a Day by Morcheeba.
posted by Admiral Haddock at 12:05 PM on April 28, 2011


The Kinks - Better Things
posted by monospace at 12:14 PM on April 28, 2011


With Imagination, Harry Connick Jr.

(He's goofing around a bit with the band in that video, but the only other one I could find had the lyrics all wrong.)
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 12:16 PM on April 28, 2011


My choices are a bit old, but here goes:

"Swingin' on a Star" by Bing Crosby (maybe a bit preachy, but it puts me in a positive mood)
"That's Life" by Frank Sinatra
"The Impossible Dream"
"Tomorrow" from Annie (I'm not sure if this exactly fits your theme)
Although it's tongue-in-cheek there's "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life" from Life of Brian/Spamalot
posted by LaurenIpsum at 12:18 PM on April 28, 2011




Talking Heads, "The Good Thing"
posted by newmoistness at 12:21 PM on April 28, 2011


It's a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock 'n' Roll) - AC/DC
posted by jimmythefish at 12:26 PM on April 28, 2011






+1 more stairstep
posted by rube goldberg at 12:29 PM on April 28, 2011


I Won't Back Down, Tom Petty
posted by Glinn at 12:31 PM on April 28, 2011 [1 favorite]


Maybe This Time from Cabaret.
posted by hermitosis at 12:33 PM on April 28, 2011


Not exactly the same, but a somewhat similar sentiment, you may find some good suggestions in this question.
posted by HonoriaGlossop at 12:40 PM on April 28, 2011




Definitely The Four Stairsteps song!

And since I always suggest Bright Eyes...this time I'd go with Bowl of Oranges!
posted by troublewithwolves at 12:57 PM on April 28, 2011


Accentuate the Positive
posted by Greenie at 12:57 PM on April 28, 2011


Hold Your Head Up
posted by Greenie at 1:02 PM on April 28, 2011


Never Surrender
posted by Greenie at 1:05 PM on April 28, 2011


Tom Waits' 'You Can Never Hold Back Spring' uses the exact line of 'you can believe I will never stop believing...'

Great song too.
posted by slimepuppy at 1:22 PM on April 28, 2011


Scratch Your Name (Noisettes)

Now That I'm Free (Outlines feat. RZA)

You've Got Another Thing Coming (Judas Priest)

Defying Gravity (from Wicked)

Don't Rain On My Parade (from Funny Girl)

Also, the Perfect Strangers theme song :)
posted by Madamina at 1:25 PM on April 28, 2011 [1 favorite]


Tom Waits and Keith Richards - That Feel
posted by otolith at 1:39 PM on April 28, 2011


Heh. I just made a playlist based on a similar theme/feel the other day (I called it "Defiance", so you can maybe see how it is both similar and not-so-similar to what you're looking for-- it's a lot about perseverance through and defiance of the shitty things in life, but maybe not as overtly "positive" as what you're looking for).

Anyway, here are a few of the tracks I came up with that I think might fit what you're looking for to a greater or lesser extent (some greater, some lesser, of course-- but you DEFINITELY want the ones that I've starred):

***Mountain Goats "This Year"
***Dictators "I Stand Tall"
**Sham 69 "If the Kids Are United"
**Superchunk "Slack Motherfucker"
Pretty Girls Make Graves "Something Bigger Something Brighter"
*Billy Bragg "To Have and Have Not"
*Replacements "I Will Dare"
Jesus and Mary Chain "Happy When it Rains"
*Chemistry Set "Underground"
Oneida "Turn it: Up (Loud)" (Not available on the youtubes, but if you go here and play track #7 you can hear it)
Oneida "Up With People"
Steppenwolf "Magic Carpet Ride"
Minor Threat "Good guys (Don't wear white)"
Arcade Fire "Wake Up"
Stiff Little Fingers "Nobody's Hero"
Funkadelic "Can You Get to That"
Justin Timberlake "What Goes Around" -- (Yeah, what of it? It's a fucking great song)
posted by dersins at 1:39 PM on April 28, 2011 [3 favorites]


Todd Rundgren, Just One Victory
posted by dfan at 1:43 PM on April 28, 2011


Response by poster: Thanks to all for excellent feedback. Once again the hive has saved me!
posted by royboy at 3:32 PM on April 28, 2011


Survivor - Destiny's Child
I'm Gonna Be Alright - Jennifer Lopez
Far From Over - Frank Stallone
posted by SisterHavana at 7:17 PM on April 28, 2011


The Impressions - Keep on Pushing, We're a Winner
posted by hydrophonic at 10:58 PM on April 28, 2011


Jimmy Eat World "The Middle"
Edgewater "Lifter"
Hoobastank "Moving Forward"
posted by a humble nudibranch at 11:34 PM on April 28, 2011


Aftermath by Adam Lambert. There's also a remix version that's pretty neat.
posted by katyggls at 11:38 PM on April 28, 2011


When You're Smiling
posted by wsg at 2:02 AM on April 29, 2011


Don't Stop by Fleetwood Mac.
posted by XhaustedProphet at 2:37 AM on April 29, 2011


You Can Make It If You Try by Sly and the Family Stone
posted by Greenie at 9:30 AM on April 30, 2011


"Fooling Yourself" by Styx.

But the classic is Pick Yourself Up from the Rogers-Astaire movie Swing Time:

Nothing's impossible I have found,
For when my chin is on the ground,
I pick myself up,
Dust myself off,
Start all over again.
posted by kristi at 11:43 AM on April 30, 2011




Don't Give Up by Peter Gabriel

A Little Bit o' Soul by Music Explosion
posted by Greenie at 9:12 AM on May 1, 2011


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