Comments on: Songs to lift me up

Question: Songs to lift me up

Solomon — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 14:32:17 -0800

I'm looking for recommendations for music that might make me feel better about myself.

I want a mix CD that I can play in my car with the volume up high on the way to work to give me some energy and gee me up for the day, and make me feel like a better human being. Maybe something to boost my self esteem or help me feel empowered about my life. I'm not looking for physical energy, more the musical equivalent of a hug and a motivational speech.

I'm having a hard time explaining what I'm looking for, but here are some examples:

P!nk - F*cking Perfect.
Fun. - Carry On.
David Guetta - Titanium.
Queen - Don't Stop Me Now.
La Roux - Bulletproof.

By: kingfishers catch fire

kingfishers catch fire — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 14:34:44 -0800

Hoppipolla - Sigur Ros

I have no idea what the words are but it's ridiculously uplifting.

By: lhude sing cuccu

lhude sing cuccu — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 14:38:00 -0800

Lunchbox: Marilyn Manson will empower you.

By: bennett being thrown

bennett being thrown — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 14:45:25 -0800

This Year by The Mountain Goats.

By: K.P.

K.P. — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 14:47:07 -0800

Feeling Good, by Nina Simone

By: sarastro

sarastro — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 14:49:08 -0800

Plea from a Cat named Virtute by the Weakerthans

By: guybrush_threepwood

guybrush_threepwood — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 14:55:53 -0800

Finally Moving (remix) - Pretty Lights

By: dysh

dysh — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 14:59:44 -0800

I'm Not Down, by the Clash

Oooh Child, by the Five Stairsteps

Dog Days are Over, by Florence and the Machine

I'm the Best, by Nicki Minaj

By: j_curiouser

j_curiouser — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 15:08:26 -0800

A departure - genre wise - but this is like a cool drink of water for me...it always makes me smile.

By: scody

scody — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 15:15:28 -0800

Move On Up, Curtis Mayfield (link is to the extended version, but there's also a shorter version without the long instrumental portion available on Amazon, I believe)
Shout to the Top, The Style Council

By: any major dude

any major dude — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 15:16:22 -0800

Mr Blue Sky - ELO

The World Aint Slowing Down - Paul Ellis

By: sweetkid

sweetkid — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 15:16:43 -0800

Float On, Modest Mouse.

By: Oriole Adams

Oriole Adams — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 15:20:05 -0800

I Wish I Looked A Little Better by Sparks

By: dlugoczaj

dlugoczaj — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 15:21:16 -0800

Previously (my cheer-up list is in there).

By: sweetkid

sweetkid — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 15:27:17 -0800

Braggadaccio, MC Frontalot.

By: bleep

bleep — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 15:46:18 -0800

I don't know about you, but "Plea from a cat named virtue" always makes me tear up. Maybe just me.

I like listening to Nicki Minaj songs on the way to work, she has a lot of that "I'm the best" hip-hop sentiment. "I'm the best now/any body with some money should invest now/soccer moms need to organize a pep rall/" etc. The Beastie Boys do that a lot also.

By: immlass

immlass — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 16:05:51 -0800

Prince Charming, Adam Ant.

By: milk white peacock

milk white peacock — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 16:12:53 -0800

"Make You Feel That Way" by Blackalicious.

In the dark it's more likely that you notice light
In the light more likely that you notice night
Hungry, more appreciation for that meal
Dead broke, more appreciation for that scrill
A bad day'll make you really notice ones that's good
And that'll make things a little better understood
Times I feel I wanna shout, man it's real that way
When I think of things that make you feel that way

By: worldswalker

worldswalker — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 16:25:58 -0800

Ok, here are some from my list:

Dolly Parton, Light of a Clear Blue Morning
Reba McEntire, Is There Life Out There?
Des'ree, You Gotta Be
Carly Simon, Let the River Run
Kay Weaver, One Fine Day

Folks could probably guess my age based on these.

By: fiercecupcake

fiercecupcake — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 16:37:02 -0800

I really like Mika's Grace Kelly for this.

By: BitterOldPunk

BitterOldPunk — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 16:42:28 -0800

Van Halen, "I'm The One" (Shooby-doo-wah!)
Hüsker Dü, "New Day Rising"
Bo Diddley, "Who Do You Love"

But the best song ever for this sort of personal cheerleading:

Uncle Tupelo's cover of the Soft Boys classic, "I Wanna Destroy You"

By: zardoz

zardoz — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 16:46:37 -0800

You're So Cool by Hans Zimmer.

By: udon

udon — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 16:50:10 -0800

l always feel like a Boss after listening to Slim Thug's "like a boss"

By: Lettuce_Leaves

Lettuce_Leaves — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 17:16:30 -0800

Nina Simone's Ain't Got No - I Got Life

By: Fig

Fig — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 17:19:04 -0800

Little Bit of Feel Good - Jamie Lidell

By: diabolik

diabolik — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 18:51:12 -0800

I'm the Sh*t (remix), by DJ Class (with Kanye West)

NSFW and over-the-top silly, but I still find it a ridiculously fun listen that makes me laugh and pumps me up on a Friday or Saturday night on my way out the door....

"I got them diamonds on my neck, got Patron in my cup; if you want it come and get it, shorty, I don't give a f*ck."

By: PussKillian

PussKillian — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 20:11:45 -0800

Control by Poe

Super Bon Bon by Soul Coughing

The Distance by Cake

You Can Call Me Al by Paul Simon

Open Road Song by Eve 6

By: entropyiswinning

entropyiswinning — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 23:28:58 -0800

Tightrope by Janelle Monae

By: yaymukund

yaymukund — Sat, 01 Sep 2012 00:46:29 -0800

I am also going to mention Cake, except I was gonna link to their cover of I Will Survive.

By: carolinecrane

carolinecrane — Sat, 01 Sep 2012 06:42:48 -0800

I Love Myself Today by Bif Naked

It's my go-to song for...a lot of things, actually.

By: lunasol

lunasol — Sat, 01 Sep 2012 09:30:12 -0800

Kelly Clarkson's Stronger has a similar feel to the Pink song you listed (I actually thought it was a Pink song at first!)

Starships by Nikki Minaj (really such a dumb song but it makes me dance in the driver's seat on the way to work!)

Touch the Sky by Kanye West with Lupe Fiasco (samples the aforementioned "Move On Up" which is indeed an awesomely uplifting song)

Lupe Fiasco's cover/version of the earlier-mentioned Float On, Show Goes On, always puts me in a good mood.

And for something a little less Top-40: Better Things by Dar Williams (has been done by a lot of people, but I like the version from her live album)

By: anderjen

anderjen — Sat, 01 Sep 2012 09:50:34 -0800

The Legally Blonde soundtrack was made for this. Specifically, songs 6, 8, and 10.

By: protorp

protorp — Sat, 01 Sep 2012 12:36:36 -0800

When I want music to make me feel empowered about my life and the good I can do with it, I reach for reggae and roots. These were a few of my inroads:

Jimmy Cliff - The Harder they Come (the whole soundtrack album is also amazing)
Sebastian Sturm - Get Going
Groundation - Weak Heart

By: randomnity

randomnity — Sat, 01 Sep 2012 14:11:42 -0800

It's really fluffy, but Mika's entire Life in Cartoon Motion album is pretty great for this.

sample song: Big Girl (you are beautiful)

By: needs more cowbell

needs more cowbell — Sat, 01 Sep 2012 21:12:17 -0800

I like James - Are You Ready