New Year/Fresh Start Songs

November 3, 2010 9:50 AM

[Music recommendation filter] - Songs that convey a fresh start, a new beginning or a clean slate.

I'm in a mix tape club and have the month of January. This seems like a good theme, but aside from Harlem Shakes - It Will Be a Better Year, I'm coming up empty. A single song does not a mix tape make. Inspire me, mefites!

posted by Kurichina to Media & Arts (35 answers total)

This Will Be Our Year -- The Zombies.
posted by smirkyfodder at 9:52 AM on November 3, 2010 [3 favorites]

I See Clearly Now (Johnny Nash)
Since U Been Gone (Kelly Clarkson)
posted by mkultra at 9:52 AM on November 3, 2010

"This Is The Day" - The The
posted by Help, I can't stop talking! at 9:57 AM on November 3, 2010 [1 favorite]

Bill Withers - Lovely Day
posted by Ted Maul at 10:03 AM on November 3, 2010

Feeling Better from Sugar's Beaster EP. Sadly, I cannot find a full-length clip of it anywhere online.
posted by usonian at 10:03 AM on November 3, 2010

Wide Open Spaces - Dixie Chicks

PS. What a cool theme for a club!
posted by HeyAllie at 10:06 AM on November 3, 2010

Universal Dawn by Eric's Trip (more of a Spring song though)
Sea Anemone by Jets To Brazil
I Was Right by Smoking Popes
posted by burnmp3s at 10:07 AM on November 3, 2010

Happy New Year - ABBA
This New Year Will Be For You and Me - Lacrosse
Get Right Back Where We Started From - Maxine Nightingale
Scratch - Morphine
& perhaps Our Time - Yeah Yeah Yeahs
posted by misteraitch at 10:10 AM on November 3, 2010

Good Riddance (hope you had the time of your life) - Green Day
Movin' Out (?) - Billy Joel
Walkin' on Sunshine - Katrina and the Waves. (Not so much new beginning but sure does make you feel alive, feel the love...)

(Seconding what a fun idea for a club.)
posted by evilmomlady at 10:11 AM on November 3, 2010

The Beatles' Getting Better.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 10:11 AM on November 3, 2010 [1 favorite]

Nina Simone - Feeling Good - there are a number of remixes/covers available that may fit the vibe of the mix tape.
posted by azlondon at 10:22 AM on November 3, 2010 [2 favorites]

Eels - P.S. You Rock My World
The Mountain Goats - Up the Wolves
posted by Kafkaesque at 10:43 AM on November 3, 2010 [2 favorites]

Daniel Johnston - My Life is Starting Over Again
posted by hydrophonic at 10:55 AM on November 3, 2010

Everybody's Talkin' - Harry Nilsson
posted by Conductor71 at 11:03 AM on November 3, 2010

There's also a salting-the-earth dynamic you could explore, as in Tom Waits' Frank's Wild Years. The song is on Swordfishtrombones, and spawned the character chronicled in the album Frank's Wild Years (and the concert film Big Time). Probably not exactly what you're looking for, but a mix starting out with the song would give it a narrative.

Never could stand that dog.
posted by Kafkaesque at 11:20 AM on November 3, 2010

Better Day by Saving Jane
posted by Aleen at 11:27 AM on November 3, 2010

John Lennon Just Like Starting Over
posted by wabbittwax at 11:31 AM on November 3, 2010 [1 favorite]

Go West by Liz Phair
posted by spinto at 11:32 AM on November 3, 2010

Kinks - Better Things

It starts with those jangly guitars; my go to restart song.
posted by readery at 11:59 AM on November 3, 2010 [1 favorite]

Boston - by Augustana
posted by smokingmonkey at 12:08 PM on November 3, 2010

- Tracy Chapman - Start All Over
Bob Dylan "New Morning" (cover)
posted by mrmarley at 12:16 PM on November 3, 2010

Howard Jones - "Things Can Only Get Better"
posted by rhiannonstone at 12:18 PM on November 3, 2010

Orba Squara - Brand New Day
Eddie From Ohio - Great Day (contains mention of an unspecified deity, YMMV)
Joshua Radin - Brand New Day
Five Stairsteps - O-o-h Child
Bob Marley - Three Little Birds
K'Naan - Wavin' Flag (more about improvement than a clean slate)
posted by knile at 12:25 PM on November 3, 2010 [1 favorite]

The Mountain Goats were mentioned, but not "This Year".
posted by ymendel at 12:37 PM on November 3, 2010

Eels - Fresh Feeling
posted by charmcityblues at 1:17 PM on November 3, 2010

The New Year - Death Cab For Cutie
posted by Sara C. at 2:07 PM on November 3, 2010

Yes - McAlmont & Butler. Apologies for no YouTube link, on ze iPhone in nosignalsville.
posted by Biru at 2:20 PM on November 3, 2010

Beautiful Day - U2
posted by Biru at 2:21 PM on November 3, 2010

Talib Kweli - Get By
Curtis Mayfield - Move On Up
posted by bookish at 3:54 PM on November 3, 2010

Florence + The Machine - The Dog Days Are Over
posted by anthropoid at 6:27 PM on November 3, 2010 [1 favorite]

Don't Stop (thinking about tomorrow) - Fleetwood Mac
Future Soon - Jonathan Coulton (creepy, though!)
Tomorrow People - Ziggy Marley (love this video)
posted by evilmomlady at 5:04 AM on November 4, 2010

As mentioned, This Year by the Mountain Goats is essential.

The Stone Roses - This is the One
The Walker Brothers - My Ship is Coming In
The Beatles - Here Comes the Sun
Primal Scream - Movin' On Up ("I was blind/but now I see")
The Pogues - Fairytale of New York ("I've got a feeling/this year's for me and you")
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds - New Morning
The Hold Steady - Constructive Summer
Oasis - Whatever (even people who hate Oasis might like this one)
Soup Dragons - I'm Free
The Who - I'm Free
posted by Infinite Jest at 7:07 AM on November 4, 2010

How did I forget Better Days - The Goo Goo Dolls
posted by evilmomlady at 7:51 AM on November 4, 2010

Ani DiFranco - Red Letter Year
Kelis - Young Fresh N New
posted by girlmightlive at 10:35 AM on November 4, 2010

The Walkmen - In the New Year
posted by saul wright at 12:53 PM on November 5, 2010