Songs of autonomy?
October 28, 2010 5:03 PM Subscribe
What are some anthems and songs of celebration for personal independence and freedom?
Off the top of my head, I've got "My Life" by Billy Joel, Sinatra's "My Way", and "Your Own Kind of Music" sung by Mama Cass.
Me, Myself, I by Joan Armatrading.
posted by joseph conrad is fully awesome at 5:07 PM on October 28, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by joseph conrad is fully awesome at 5:07 PM on October 28, 2010 [1 favorite]
Nina Simone - Ain't Got No/I Got Life:
This version is my favorite.
posted by mai at 5:11 PM on October 28, 2010 [2 favorites]
This version is my favorite.
posted by mai at 5:11 PM on October 28, 2010 [2 favorites]
Gloria Gaynor, "I Am What I Am." Somewhat gay-specific, but anyone can relate to it.
posted by drjimmy11 at 5:18 PM on October 28, 2010
posted by drjimmy11 at 5:18 PM on October 28, 2010
Also, Jimi Hendrix Experience, "If 6 was 9":
I'm the one who's gonna have to die when it's time for me to die
so let me live my life the way I want to
posted by drjimmy11 at 5:21 PM on October 28, 2010
I'm the one who's gonna have to die when it's time for me to die
so let me live my life the way I want to
posted by drjimmy11 at 5:21 PM on October 28, 2010
"I love myself today" by Biff Naked
posted by gwenlister at 5:23 PM on October 28, 2010
posted by gwenlister at 5:23 PM on October 28, 2010
Free Falling by Tom Petty
posted by questionsandanchors at 5:24 PM on October 28, 2010
posted by questionsandanchors at 5:24 PM on October 28, 2010
I Will Survive
posted by plinth at 5:24 PM on October 28, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by plinth at 5:24 PM on October 28, 2010 [1 favorite]
The Hard Way Every Time by Jim Croce.
posted by headnsouth at 5:29 PM on October 28, 2010 [2 favorites]
posted by headnsouth at 5:29 PM on October 28, 2010 [2 favorites]
"Sing" and "Bein' Green". Both from Sesame Street, of course.
posted by Green Eyed Monster at 5:38 PM on October 28, 2010
posted by Green Eyed Monster at 5:38 PM on October 28, 2010
"I'm Free" by Violent Femmes
posted by lhude sing cuccu at 5:40 PM on October 28, 2010
posted by lhude sing cuccu at 5:40 PM on October 28, 2010
Orange Ball of Peace - The Mountain Goats
posted by joe lisboa at 5:43 PM on October 28, 2010
posted by joe lisboa at 5:43 PM on October 28, 2010
I think Pantera had a song with the lyrics "Fuck you I won't do what you told me"
posted by dfriedman at 5:46 PM on October 28, 2010
posted by dfriedman at 5:46 PM on October 28, 2010
The Who - Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere
The Beatles - Think for Yourself
Cream - I Feel Free
Stevie Wonder - Bird of Beauty
posted by John Cohen at 5:48 PM on October 28, 2010
The Beatles - Think for Yourself
Cream - I Feel Free
Stevie Wonder - Bird of Beauty
posted by John Cohen at 5:48 PM on October 28, 2010
Australians nearly voted for Waltzing Matilda as the national anthem, which is about an itinerant who chooses suicide over prison.
Also the busker's staple Wild Colonial Boy:
"Surrender now, Jack Doolan, you see there's three to one.
Surrender now, Jack Doolan, you're a daring highwayman."
He drew a pistol from his belt, and shook the little toy,
"I'll fight, but not surrender," said the wild Colonial Boy...
posted by Fiasco da Gama at 5:49 PM on October 28, 2010
Also the busker's staple Wild Colonial Boy:
"Surrender now, Jack Doolan, you see there's three to one.
Surrender now, Jack Doolan, you're a daring highwayman."
He drew a pistol from his belt, and shook the little toy,
"I'll fight, but not surrender," said the wild Colonial Boy...
posted by Fiasco da Gama at 5:49 PM on October 28, 2010
I'm Free by the Soup Dragons. I don't like the Stones original at all.
posted by blaneyphoto at 5:51 PM on October 28, 2010
posted by blaneyphoto at 5:51 PM on October 28, 2010
Let's get a couple of the obvious ones out of the way:
I Will Survive
Eye of the Tiger
posted by ardgedee at 5:55 PM on October 28, 2010
I Will Survive
Eye of the Tiger
posted by ardgedee at 5:55 PM on October 28, 2010
Rather Be Dead by Refused
"Rather be dead,
Than alive by your oppression,
Rather be dead,
Than alive by your design."
posted by blaneyphoto at 5:58 PM on October 28, 2010
"Rather be dead,
Than alive by your oppression,
Rather be dead,
Than alive by your design."
posted by blaneyphoto at 5:58 PM on October 28, 2010
I cannot believe nobody mentioned "Born to Run."
posted by dzaz at 6:10 PM on October 28, 2010 [2 favorites]
posted by dzaz at 6:10 PM on October 28, 2010 [2 favorites]
"Wildest Dreams" (2003) by Iron Maiden: "I'm gonna organize some changes in my life / I'm gonna exorcise the demons of my past / I'm going to take the car and hit the open road / I'm feeling ready to just open up and go." It's also the only Iron Maiden song to use the word "visualize."
posted by wdenton at 6:27 PM on October 28, 2010
posted by wdenton at 6:27 PM on October 28, 2010
The Theme to Laverne and Shirley
Aka Love is all around. Done here by Joan Jett.
posted by blaneyphoto at 6:58 PM on October 28, 2010
Aka Love is all around. Done here by Joan Jett.
posted by blaneyphoto at 6:58 PM on October 28, 2010
The Long Way Around by the Dixie Chicks.
My friends from high school
Married their high school boyfriends
Moved into houses in the same ZIP codes
Where their parents live
But I, I could never follow
No I, I could never follow
...I've been a long time gone now
Maybe someday, someday I'm gonna settle down
But I've always found my way somehow
By taking the long way
Taking the long way around
posted by purlgurly at 7:02 PM on October 28, 2010
My friends from high school
Married their high school boyfriends
Moved into houses in the same ZIP codes
Where their parents live
But I, I could never follow
No I, I could never follow
...I've been a long time gone now
Maybe someday, someday I'm gonna settle down
But I've always found my way somehow
By taking the long way
Taking the long way around
posted by purlgurly at 7:02 PM on October 28, 2010
Also...umm...Defying Gravity from Wicked.
/answer that I am somehow ashamed of.
posted by purlgurly at 7:08 PM on October 28, 2010 [2 favorites]
/answer that I am somehow ashamed of.
posted by purlgurly at 7:08 PM on October 28, 2010 [2 favorites]
Also maybe Have a Nice Day by Bon Jovi
If there's one thing I hang onto,
That gets me through the night.
I ain't gonna do what I don't want to,
I'm gonna live my life.
posted by blaneyphoto at 7:19 PM on October 28, 2010
If there's one thing I hang onto,
That gets me through the night.
I ain't gonna do what I don't want to,
I'm gonna live my life.
posted by blaneyphoto at 7:19 PM on October 28, 2010
Somewhat loosely interpreted...
Bad Religion, "Along The Way"
I suppose this is overly obvious, but the Buzzcocks, Autonomy.
Digital Underground, Do Whatcha Like
The Distillers, Idoless
posted by Aversion Therapy at 7:21 PM on October 28, 2010
Bad Religion, "Along The Way"
I suppose this is overly obvious, but the Buzzcocks, Autonomy.
Digital Underground, Do Whatcha Like
The Distillers, Idoless
posted by Aversion Therapy at 7:21 PM on October 28, 2010
Non, je ne regrette rien by Edith Piaf.
posted by fiercekitten at 7:29 PM on October 28, 2010 [2 favorites]
posted by fiercekitten at 7:29 PM on October 28, 2010 [2 favorites]
Morrissey - Alma Matters ('So, the choice I have made may seem strange to you, but who asked you anyway? It's my life to wreck my own way..' and 'So, the life I have made may seem wrong to you, but I've never been surer: it's my life to ruin my own way.' AND 'Lookin' After No. 1' by the Boomtown Rats ('I don't want to be like you, I don't want to live like you, I don't want to talk like you .. I'm gonna be like ME!'
That, along with 'Bad Reputation' by Joan Jett and 'I'm Not Like Everyone Else' by the Kinks (and, possibly not thematically appropriate, but 'Falling In Love With Myself Again' by Sparks and 'I Am A Rock' by Simon & Garfunkel) rounds out my Garboesque 'I Want To Be Alone' playlist.
I'm a pretty bitter person, though.
posted by Mael Oui at 8:00 PM on October 28, 2010
That, along with 'Bad Reputation' by Joan Jett and 'I'm Not Like Everyone Else' by the Kinks (and, possibly not thematically appropriate, but 'Falling In Love With Myself Again' by Sparks and 'I Am A Rock' by Simon & Garfunkel) rounds out my Garboesque 'I Want To Be Alone' playlist.
I'm a pretty bitter person, though.
posted by Mael Oui at 8:00 PM on October 28, 2010
How about Rebel Yell?
And didn't Simon & Garfunkel have a song called "I am an Island?"
posted by dfriedman at 8:36 PM on October 28, 2010
And didn't Simon & Garfunkel have a song called "I am an Island?"
posted by dfriedman at 8:36 PM on October 28, 2010
Like a Rock, Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band
Roam, The B-52s
Waiting, Green Day
Learning to Fly, Pink Floyd
Unwritten, Natasha Bedingfield
Hakuna Matata, The Lion King Soundtrack
posted by DevilsAdvocate at 8:41 PM on October 28, 2010
Roam, The B-52s
Waiting, Green Day
Learning to Fly, Pink Floyd
Unwritten, Natasha Bedingfield
Hakuna Matata, The Lion King Soundtrack
posted by DevilsAdvocate at 8:41 PM on October 28, 2010
The Animals - It's My Life
Odetta - Hit or Miss. Also, Bo Diddley.
The Isley Brothers - It's Your Thing. Also, Marva Whitney - It's My Thing
posted by hydrophonic at 9:45 PM on October 28, 2010
Odetta - Hit or Miss. Also, Bo Diddley.
The Isley Brothers - It's Your Thing. Also, Marva Whitney - It's My Thing
posted by hydrophonic at 9:45 PM on October 28, 2010
I Made it Through the Rain - Barry Manilow
posted by bardophile at 11:56 PM on October 28, 2010
posted by bardophile at 11:56 PM on October 28, 2010
Martina McBride's Independence Day was my theme for graduating high school. The chorus applied but not really the verses.
posted by IndigoRain at 1:20 AM on October 29, 2010
posted by IndigoRain at 1:20 AM on October 29, 2010
The Clash - I'm Not Down
Shawn Colvin - Nothin' on Me
Sheryl Crow - Every Day is a Winding Road
Sheryl Crow - Can't Cry Anymore
Aretha Franklin - Respect
Rickie Lee Jones - Living it Up
Rickie Lee Jones - Satellites
Janis Joplin - Get it While You Can
Joni Mitchell - Black Crow
Joni Mitchell - Free Man in Paris
Joni Mitchell - All I Want
Alanis Morissette - Hand in My Pocket
Lou Reed - Walk on the Wild Side
posted by Paris Elk at 3:33 AM on October 29, 2010
Shawn Colvin - Nothin' on Me
Sheryl Crow - Every Day is a Winding Road
Sheryl Crow - Can't Cry Anymore
Aretha Franklin - Respect
Rickie Lee Jones - Living it Up
Rickie Lee Jones - Satellites
Janis Joplin - Get it While You Can
Joni Mitchell - Black Crow
Joni Mitchell - Free Man in Paris
Joni Mitchell - All I Want
Alanis Morissette - Hand in My Pocket
Lou Reed - Walk on the Wild Side
posted by Paris Elk at 3:33 AM on October 29, 2010
Della Reese's version of Sinatra's It Was A Very Good Year.
Many riot grrl bands are a good place to look - Le Tigre's Hot Topic celebrates awesome female and queer artists, musicians and icons and always makes me feel ace.
posted by mippy at 4:43 AM on October 29, 2010
Many riot grrl bands are a good place to look - Le Tigre's Hot Topic celebrates awesome female and queer artists, musicians and icons and always makes me feel ace.
posted by mippy at 4:43 AM on October 29, 2010
"Carefree Highway" - Gordon Lightfoot
"Already Gone" - The Eagles
posted by sundrop at 6:21 AM on October 29, 2010
"Already Gone" - The Eagles
posted by sundrop at 6:21 AM on October 29, 2010
"Proud" - Heather Small (Queer as Folk Soundtrack)
posted by pointystick at 6:50 AM on October 29, 2010
posted by pointystick at 6:50 AM on October 29, 2010
Phil Ochs did not write a lot of cheerful songs, but he did manage one which fits into the category you describe, which is entitled "That's The Way It's Gonna Be". It's worth hearing.
posted by grizzled at 7:00 AM on October 29, 2010
posted by grizzled at 7:00 AM on October 29, 2010
Don't forget I've Gotta Be Me by Sammy Davis Jr.!
posted by mefireader at 11:49 AM on October 29, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by mefireader at 11:49 AM on October 29, 2010 [1 favorite]
Higher Ground by John Denver
posted by bardophile at 2:39 PM on October 29, 2010
posted by bardophile at 2:39 PM on October 29, 2010
Response by poster: Thanks everybody for helping me make the most unapologetic mix list ever!
posted by lhall at 9:05 PM on November 3, 2010
posted by lhall at 9:05 PM on November 3, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by dfriedman at 5:06 PM on October 28, 2010 [2 favorites]