This is my soundtrack when I'm climbing a figurative fourteener.
January 19, 2011 6:09 PM Subscribe
Help me create the ultimate "You Can Do This" soundtrack.
I'm in need of music that will inspire me to not give up.
Music that will inspire me to move. To do. To conquer. To say "yes, I can" when everything around me says "no, you can't".
I want to create a soundtrack that is a lyrical love letter of You Can Do This awesomeness.
Genre, language, and time period are not factors.
I'm in need of music that will inspire me to not give up.
Music that will inspire me to move. To do. To conquer. To say "yes, I can" when everything around me says "no, you can't".
I want to create a soundtrack that is a lyrical love letter of You Can Do This awesomeness.
Genre, language, and time period are not factors.
Am loath to post this because I will be stripped of any musical cred on the internet for ever more, but,
I think Garth Brooks' The River fits the bill, lyrically.
Melodically, it's more Southern-churchy pop-country... so don't expect "Eye of the Tiger"-style energy. (But anyway, if you get a ton of arena-rock, hard-edged anthem suggestions as I expect, this could add a nice foil to the mix)
posted by pineapple at 6:33 PM on January 19, 2011 [2 favorites]
I think Garth Brooks' The River fits the bill, lyrically.
Melodically, it's more Southern-churchy pop-country... so don't expect "Eye of the Tiger"-style energy. (But anyway, if you get a ton of arena-rock, hard-edged anthem suggestions as I expect, this could add a nice foil to the mix)
posted by pineapple at 6:33 PM on January 19, 2011 [2 favorites]
I'm trying to think of non-cliche answers, but this really does seem like a question begging for cliche, so:
The theme from Rocky
"Unbelieveable" - EMF
I always find that "Atlas" by Battles gets my blood pumping.
posted by It's Never Lurgi at 6:33 PM on January 19, 2011
The theme from Rocky
"Unbelieveable" - EMF
I always find that "Atlas" by Battles gets my blood pumping.
posted by It's Never Lurgi at 6:33 PM on January 19, 2011
Eminem "Lose Yourself." OWNSIT.
posted by sweetkid at 6:39 PM on January 19, 2011 [4 favorites]
posted by sweetkid at 6:39 PM on January 19, 2011 [4 favorites]
"Train In Vain" by The Clash
posted by sourwookie at 6:44 PM on January 19, 2011
posted by sourwookie at 6:44 PM on January 19, 2011
If I could be in Major League Baseball, my at-bat music would be Kanye West's "Stronger."
posted by princesspathos at 6:57 PM on January 19, 2011
posted by princesspathos at 6:57 PM on January 19, 2011
Seriously people. You need "Get Yourself Up" by KRS-One.
posted by chrchr at 7:00 PM on January 19, 2011
posted by chrchr at 7:00 PM on January 19, 2011
I made a cheesy 'power' mix a few years ago to get me to do the stuff that was a bit too easy for me to give up on. Here are some of the songs from that:
The Bitch is Back-- Elton John
Brass In Pocket-- Pretenders
Don't Stop --Fleetwood Mac
Don't stop till you get enough--Michael Jackson
Float On -- Modest Mouse 128 kbps
Forca -- Nelly Furtado
I Will Survive-- Gloria Gaynor
Let's Get It Started--Black Eyed Peas
Perfect Day--Hoku
Suddenly I See--KT Tunstall
I like the way you move --Bodyrockers
Pulled Up--Talking Heads
posted by sadtomato at 7:02 PM on January 19, 2011
The Bitch is Back-- Elton John
Brass In Pocket-- Pretenders
Don't Stop --Fleetwood Mac
Don't stop till you get enough--Michael Jackson
Float On -- Modest Mouse 128 kbps
Forca -- Nelly Furtado
I Will Survive-- Gloria Gaynor
Let's Get It Started--Black Eyed Peas
Perfect Day--Hoku
Suddenly I See--KT Tunstall
I like the way you move --Bodyrockers
Pulled Up--Talking Heads
posted by sadtomato at 7:02 PM on January 19, 2011
"Stand My Ground" by Within Temptation (symphonic metal)
"Go the Distance" by Roger Bart (Disney's Hercules)
"Faith of the Heart" by Russell Watson (Star Trek Enterprise)
"Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)" by Shakira (2010 FIFA World Cup)
"Anthem" by Superchick (for girls)
"It's On" by Superchick (for anyone)
"All Star" by Smash Mouth
posted by datarose at 7:07 PM on January 19, 2011 [1 favorite]
"Go the Distance" by Roger Bart (Disney's Hercules)
"Faith of the Heart" by Russell Watson (Star Trek Enterprise)
"Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)" by Shakira (2010 FIFA World Cup)
"Anthem" by Superchick (for girls)
"It's On" by Superchick (for anyone)
"All Star" by Smash Mouth
posted by datarose at 7:07 PM on January 19, 2011 [1 favorite]
Do Your Thing, Basement Jaxx
Move On Up, Curtis Mayfield
All These Things That I’ve Done, The Killers
Higher Ground, Stevie Wonder
The Dog Days Are Over, Florence + the Machine
Rock, Lexicon
Mr. Churchill Says, The Kinks
Break These Chains of Love, Erasure
Nobody Could Change Your Mind, Generationals
They Want EFX, Das EFX
Roll With It, Oasis
Faith, George Michael
Elevation, U2
Lisztomania, Phoenix
Beautiful Possibility, Parade (more for the chorus than the weird white lady rapping)
Silver Lining, Beulah
A Peak You Reach, Badly Drawn Boy
Life is a Highway, Tom Cochrane
Destiny Calling, James
Fighter, Christina Aguilera
Stronger, Kanye West (or Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger, Daft Punk)
I Got a Feeling, Black Eyed Peas
posted by HonoriaGlossop at 7:22 PM on January 19, 2011 [2 favorites]
Move On Up, Curtis Mayfield
All These Things That I’ve Done, The Killers
Higher Ground, Stevie Wonder
The Dog Days Are Over, Florence + the Machine
Rock, Lexicon
Mr. Churchill Says, The Kinks
Break These Chains of Love, Erasure
Nobody Could Change Your Mind, Generationals
They Want EFX, Das EFX
Roll With It, Oasis
Faith, George Michael
Elevation, U2
Lisztomania, Phoenix
Beautiful Possibility, Parade (more for the chorus than the weird white lady rapping)
Silver Lining, Beulah
A Peak You Reach, Badly Drawn Boy
Life is a Highway, Tom Cochrane
Destiny Calling, James
Fighter, Christina Aguilera
Stronger, Kanye West (or Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger, Daft Punk)
I Got a Feeling, Black Eyed Peas
posted by HonoriaGlossop at 7:22 PM on January 19, 2011 [2 favorites]
Runnin' Down a Dream - Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
posted by cmgonzalez at 7:32 PM on January 19, 2011
posted by cmgonzalez at 7:32 PM on January 19, 2011
Wounds by Masterplan is one of my personal "let's do this" songs.
posted by NMcCoy at 7:32 PM on January 19, 2011
posted by NMcCoy at 7:32 PM on January 19, 2011
For the "You can do this" A-side:
BARNABYS - 蜜
Cake - I Will Survive (IMO, better than the original)
The Hives - Tick Tick Boom
La Roux - Bulletproof
Mellowdrone - Oh My
The Mooney Suzuki - Alive & Amplified
Muse - Uprising
OK Go - Invincible
ストレイテナー - Berserker Tune
And for the "Hey, it's ok, at least you tried" B-side:
Always Look On the Bright Side of Life
Yakety Sax, just because everything becomes funny with Yakety Sax (caution: TV Tropes link).
posted by 0x88 at 7:40 PM on January 19, 2011
And for the "Hey, it's ok, at least you tried" B-side:
posted by 0x88 at 7:40 PM on January 19, 2011
Response by poster: These are amazing suggestions . . . thank you, thank you, thank you. I'm already putting together my new playlists.
posted by WaspEnterprises at 7:55 PM on January 19, 2011
posted by WaspEnterprises at 7:55 PM on January 19, 2011
The Middle by Jimmy Eat World, because some days it's nice to hear an upbeat, silly song that says 'just try your best...everything's gonna be all right, ALL RIGHT!"
posted by martianna at 7:59 PM on January 19, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by martianna at 7:59 PM on January 19, 2011 [1 favorite]
The theme song from Laverne and Shirley needs to be on there.
posted by Metroid Baby at 7:59 PM on January 19, 2011
posted by Metroid Baby at 7:59 PM on January 19, 2011
Tim Finn - Couldn't Be Done
Sound of Music Soundtrack - I Have Confidence
posted by cecic at 8:03 PM on January 19, 2011
Sound of Music Soundtrack - I Have Confidence
posted by cecic at 8:03 PM on January 19, 2011
Every Goliath Has Its David by The Boy Least Likely To is another one in the "cheerful, you-can-do-anything" category.
posted by hatta at 8:37 PM on January 19, 2011
posted by hatta at 8:37 PM on January 19, 2011
Willy Mason -- We Can Be Strong
Tom Petty -- I Won't Back Down
Sufjan Stevens -- Chicago
The Joy Formidable -- Cradle
Les Savy Fav -- Pots & Pans
New Radicals -- You Get What You Give
Patty Griffin -- Up To The Mountain
posted by threeants at 9:00 PM on January 19, 2011
Tom Petty -- I Won't Back Down
Sufjan Stevens -- Chicago
The Joy Formidable -- Cradle
Les Savy Fav -- Pots & Pans
New Radicals -- You Get What You Give
Patty Griffin -- Up To The Mountain
posted by threeants at 9:00 PM on January 19, 2011
I'm SO using these suggestions! What a great question.
My cheeseball ideas:
The Cup of Life/La Copa de la Vida by Ricky Martin
and
Ready to Go by Republica
posted by lvanshima at 9:28 PM on January 19, 2011
My cheeseball ideas:
The Cup of Life/La Copa de la Vida by Ricky Martin
and
Ready to Go by Republica
posted by lvanshima at 9:28 PM on January 19, 2011
These aren't really cheerful 'you can do it' songs, but they always make me want to go out and kick ass.
LL Cool J - Mama Said Knock You Out
Prodigy - Firestarter
posted by emeiji at 9:37 PM on January 19, 2011
LL Cool J - Mama Said Knock You Out
Prodigy - Firestarter
posted by emeiji at 9:37 PM on January 19, 2011
Rush - The Enemy Within
Daft Punk - Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger
posted by Tknophobia at 9:45 PM on January 19, 2011
Daft Punk - Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger
posted by Tknophobia at 9:45 PM on January 19, 2011
From my personal "let's get pumped up" playlist:
"Race For The Prize" by the Flaming Lips (no video for this, sorry)
"First We Take Manhattan" by Leonard Cohen (nice friends you got there, Leonard)
"Who Do You Love?" as recorded by Townes Van Zandt
"Born On The Floor" by the Make Up
"Legal Man" by Belle and Sebastian (sorry about the intro on this video)
"I Like Fucking" by Bikini Kill
posted by milk white peacock at 9:47 PM on January 19, 2011
"Race For The Prize" by the Flaming Lips (no video for this, sorry)
"First We Take Manhattan" by Leonard Cohen (nice friends you got there, Leonard)
"Who Do You Love?" as recorded by Townes Van Zandt
"Born On The Floor" by the Make Up
"Legal Man" by Belle and Sebastian (sorry about the intro on this video)
"I Like Fucking" by Bikini Kill
posted by milk white peacock at 9:47 PM on January 19, 2011
Cliiiiiiimb Evvvvvvery Mountaaaaaain...!
Vangelis - Chariots of Fire This one does it for me when running. Can't not keep going.
Theme From Rocky!
Theme from Raiders of the Lost Ark!
Theme from Superman!
Theme from Star Wars! Ohhhhhhhhhhhhh YES! I opened this mp3 in Audacity and cut out the Dark Side parts and just looped the awesome first 1:15 about 12 times. I am unbeatable.
And here are some from my general "get charged up" playlist, ranging from fun to inspirational to grrr
Van Halen - Jump & Dreams
Pixies - Debaser
Twisted Sister - We're Not Gonna Take It
Slade - Run Runaway
Prince - Let's Go Crazy
Flo Rida - Club Cant Handle Me
Ollie & Jerry - There's No Stopping Us (Theme from Breakin')
Katrina & The Waves - Walking On Sunshine
Billy Idol - Dancing With Myself
U2 - Pride
Public Enemy - Show Em Whatcha Got
NWA - 100 Miles and Runnin'
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Higher Ground
Cranberries - Forever Yellow Skies
posted by Askr at 9:56 PM on January 19, 2011 [2 favorites]
Vangelis - Chariots of Fire This one does it for me when running. Can't not keep going.
Theme From Rocky!
Theme from Raiders of the Lost Ark!
Theme from Superman!
Theme from Star Wars! Ohhhhhhhhhhhhh YES! I opened this mp3 in Audacity and cut out the Dark Side parts and just looped the awesome first 1:15 about 12 times. I am unbeatable.
And here are some from my general "get charged up" playlist, ranging from fun to inspirational to grrr
Van Halen - Jump & Dreams
Pixies - Debaser
Twisted Sister - We're Not Gonna Take It
Slade - Run Runaway
Prince - Let's Go Crazy
Flo Rida - Club Cant Handle Me
Ollie & Jerry - There's No Stopping Us (Theme from Breakin')
Katrina & The Waves - Walking On Sunshine
Billy Idol - Dancing With Myself
U2 - Pride
Public Enemy - Show Em Whatcha Got
NWA - 100 Miles and Runnin'
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Higher Ground
Cranberries - Forever Yellow Skies
posted by Askr at 9:56 PM on January 19, 2011 [2 favorites]
"Let the River Run" by Carly Simon (theme from the movie "Working Girl") played very, very loud.
posted by Logophiliac at 12:08 AM on January 20, 2011
posted by Logophiliac at 12:08 AM on January 20, 2011
It's difficult to get more quintessential for this than The Aquabats - Look At Me (I'm a Winner!)
posted by namewithoutwords at 7:20 AM on January 20, 2011
posted by namewithoutwords at 7:20 AM on January 20, 2011
My personal sunny day, windows down, personal empowerment number is "When I Am King" by Great Big Sea.
A quick sampling from some of my personal upbeat mixes:
Guster - Happy Frappy
Carbon Leaf - Life Less Ordinary
Stroke 9 - Kick Some Ass
Entrain - Dancin' In The Light
Green Day - JAR
Ozomatli - Can't Stop
Michael Franti and Spearhead - Yes I Will
Gabriel Mann - Slumber
Groovelily - Live Through This
Groovelily - No Room In Your Bag
Robert Randolph and the Family Band - Ain't Nothing Wrong With That
Dolly Parton - Travellin' Thru (though a bit more religious than I usually do)
Warren Haynes - Soulshine
Everybody Rejoice (from The Wiz)
Various songs from the Go! Team's album Thunder. Lightning. Strike., particularly Huddle Formation and The Power Is On
For me, at least:
The Proclaimers - 500 Miles
Man of La Mancha (from the musical of the same name)
And while I've never owned it myself, there's always:
Starship - Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now
posted by rhymeswithaj at 8:53 AM on January 20, 2011
A quick sampling from some of my personal upbeat mixes:
Guster - Happy Frappy
Carbon Leaf - Life Less Ordinary
Stroke 9 - Kick Some Ass
Entrain - Dancin' In The Light
Green Day - JAR
Ozomatli - Can't Stop
Michael Franti and Spearhead - Yes I Will
Gabriel Mann - Slumber
Groovelily - Live Through This
Groovelily - No Room In Your Bag
Robert Randolph and the Family Band - Ain't Nothing Wrong With That
Dolly Parton - Travellin' Thru (though a bit more religious than I usually do)
Warren Haynes - Soulshine
Everybody Rejoice (from The Wiz)
Various songs from the Go! Team's album Thunder. Lightning. Strike., particularly Huddle Formation and The Power Is On
For me, at least:
The Proclaimers - 500 Miles
Man of La Mancha (from the musical of the same name)
And while I've never owned it myself, there's always:
Starship - Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now
posted by rhymeswithaj at 8:53 AM on January 20, 2011
Blood Brothers - First Blood mixtape.
"...a DJ duo creating mixtapes of the best of 80s action movie soundtracks"
Kinda corny, but I guess that's sorta the point.
posted by banwa at 8:54 AM on January 20, 2011 [1 favorite]
"...a DJ duo creating mixtapes of the best of 80s action movie soundtracks"
Kinda corny, but I guess that's sorta the point.
posted by banwa at 8:54 AM on January 20, 2011 [1 favorite]
No Fear - Terri Clark
Kind of a country-folkish ballad, but very powerful in terms of "HELL YEAH!"
posted by SuperSquirrel at 9:26 AM on January 20, 2011
Kind of a country-folkish ballad, but very powerful in terms of "HELL YEAH!"
posted by SuperSquirrel at 9:26 AM on January 20, 2011
Unless my quick scan missed it, there's no "It's My Life" by Bon Jovi in this list. I'd add that one.
Also, "The Touch" by Stan Bush. You may remember Mark Wahlberg singing a cover of it at the end of "Boogie Nights". Lyrics here:
You got the touch
You got the power
After all is said and done
You've never walked, you've never run,
You're a winner
You got the moves, you know the streets
Break the rules, take the heat
You're nobody's fool
You're at your best when when the goin' gets rough
You've been put to the test, but it's never enough
You got the touch
You got the power
When all hell's breakin' loose
You'll be riding the eye of the storm
You got the heart
You got the motion
You know that when things get too tough
You got the touch
You never bend, you never break
You seem to know just what it takes
You're a fighter
It's in the blood, it's in the will
It's in the mighty hands of steel
When you're standin' your ground
And you never get hit when your back's to the wall
Gonna fight to the end and you're takin' it all
You got the touch
You got the power
When all hell's breakin' loose
You'll be riding the eye of the storm
You got the heart
You got the motion
You know that when things get too tough
You got the touch
You're fightin' fire with fire
You know you got the touch
You're at your best when when the road gets rough
You've been put to the test, but it's never enough
You got the touch
You got the power
You got the touch
You got the power
posted by Spyder's Game at 11:09 AM on January 20, 2011
Also, "The Touch" by Stan Bush. You may remember Mark Wahlberg singing a cover of it at the end of "Boogie Nights". Lyrics here:
You got the touch
You got the power
After all is said and done
You've never walked, you've never run,
You're a winner
You got the moves, you know the streets
Break the rules, take the heat
You're nobody's fool
You're at your best when when the goin' gets rough
You've been put to the test, but it's never enough
You got the touch
You got the power
When all hell's breakin' loose
You'll be riding the eye of the storm
You got the heart
You got the motion
You know that when things get too tough
You got the touch
You never bend, you never break
You seem to know just what it takes
You're a fighter
It's in the blood, it's in the will
It's in the mighty hands of steel
When you're standin' your ground
And you never get hit when your back's to the wall
Gonna fight to the end and you're takin' it all
You got the touch
You got the power
When all hell's breakin' loose
You'll be riding the eye of the storm
You got the heart
You got the motion
You know that when things get too tough
You got the touch
You're fightin' fire with fire
You know you got the touch
You're at your best when when the road gets rough
You've been put to the test, but it's never enough
You got the touch
You got the power
You got the touch
You got the power
posted by Spyder's Game at 11:09 AM on January 20, 2011
what I remember that is on my mix:
Joan jett and the black hearts - love is all around [this is a cover of the mary tyler moore theme song]
R.E.M. - the great beyond
LL Cool J - Shut em down
posted by fizzix at 12:56 PM on January 20, 2011 [1 favorite]
Joan jett and the black hearts - love is all around [this is a cover of the mary tyler moore theme song]
R.E.M. - the great beyond
LL Cool J - Shut em down
posted by fizzix at 12:56 PM on January 20, 2011 [1 favorite]
Also, "The Touch" by Stan Bush. You may remember Mark Wahlberg singing a cover of it at the end of "Boogie Nights"
And its the theme from the Transformers animated movie!
posted by His thoughts were red thoughts at 2:26 PM on January 20, 2011
And its the theme from the Transformers animated movie!
posted by His thoughts were red thoughts at 2:26 PM on January 20, 2011
"Let's do it" from the Tank Girl soundtrack. Joan Jett + Paul Westerberg + Cole Porter == awesome.
posted by rmd1023 at 5:41 PM on January 20, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by rmd1023 at 5:41 PM on January 20, 2011 [1 favorite]
The Impossible Dream as performed by Carter USM.
posted by The Dutchman at 6:08 PM on January 20, 2011
posted by The Dutchman at 6:08 PM on January 20, 2011
and how could I have forgot the theme song to Reading Rainbow !
[it's also for sale on amazon as an mp3].
posted by fizzix at 5:18 AM on January 22, 2011
[it's also for sale on amazon as an mp3].
posted by fizzix at 5:18 AM on January 22, 2011
Under the category "songs I hope that don't show up on my iPod while shuffling with anyone else in the car," Reach, by Gloria Estefan.
Also, Matisyahu - One Day.
posted by tenaciousd at 8:04 PM on January 24, 2011
Also, Matisyahu - One Day.
posted by tenaciousd at 8:04 PM on January 24, 2011
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