Songs to pick yourself up
June 29, 2018 12:42 PM   Subscribe

I am looking to build a playlist that will give me some encouragement when the times are tough. Know anything of the sort?

I have been feeling really down lately. And tonight I was listening to Alabama Shake's Hold On and I found my spirits lifting a little. Any songs you can recommend that personally got you through a hard time?

*No religious/gospel songs though (perhaps Mumform & Sons' Lover of the Light can come closest to that).

*I listen to a lot of jazz but indie songs are good, too.

*Not exactly looking for a 'fight' song—just something that will let you know the world's shit but you're going to be okay again.

*Other songs I found that I liked and have included in my list:
— Float On by Modest Mouse
— Six Weeks by Monsters and Men
— Elation by Isbells
— Only the Young by Brandon Flowers
— Gonna Get Over You by Sarah Bareilles (okay this sounds like a break-up song but I liked the bit about being alright)

Thanks, all.
posted by pleasebekind to Media & Arts (24 answers total) 20 users marked this as a favorite
 
O-o-h Child the official anthem of "everything is terrible but it's going to be okay," and it's been covered in a ton of styles so you will probably like one.
posted by nebulawindphone at 12:54 PM on June 29, 2018 [1 favorite]


Plea from a cat named Virtue by The Weakerthans.
posted by backwards guitar at 1:04 PM on June 29, 2018 [2 favorites]


Tubthumping by Chumbawamba
posted by crocomancer at 1:08 PM on June 29, 2018


Never Break by Langhorne Slim
posted by cnc at 1:41 PM on June 29, 2018


I'm sure I've posted this before, You Are Not Alone is clutch.

A Hiccup In Your Happiness. Is that too sugary? No? Give This Is Not Your Year a try.

Rap ok? Coconut Oil, a slowish life-affirming jam with a flute solo. Sadie Hawkins, a flamenco banger in which an existential crisis has some hope of momentary consolation.
posted by clavicle at 1:45 PM on June 29, 2018


It’s pretty much a fight song but I love Lizzo’s Good As Hell for this.
posted by charmedimsure at 1:57 PM on June 29, 2018 [3 favorites]


Hang On Little Tomato by Pink Martini
posted by Carouselle at 3:29 PM on June 29, 2018 [1 favorite]


Three Little Birds by Bob Marley
posted by Carouselle at 3:31 PM on June 29, 2018


Hard Candy Christmas
posted by clawsoon at 3:43 PM on June 29, 2018


"Get Up" - Sweaters Together (lo fi riot grrl summer pop fun with lyrics suitable for the lethargic and/or depressed: baby it's too hard to get up/but i'm gonna do it anyway!)
posted by ifjuly at 4:26 PM on June 29, 2018


and, it's not available except from just enjoying it as the opening credits of the show, but the theme song for Chewing Gum does this for me (if ever you're in doubt, just get your wings out).
posted by ifjuly at 4:29 PM on June 29, 2018


Feeling Stronger Every Day - Chicago
posted by carmicha at 5:15 PM on June 29, 2018 [1 favorite]


It's Gonna Get Better by Genesis is my go to.
posted by sundrop at 5:39 PM on June 29, 2018 [1 favorite]


Live Like a Warrior - Matisyahu
Move in the Right Direction - Gossip
Move on Up - Curtis Mayfield
Fight the Power - The Isley Brothers
Sing a Song - Earth, Wind, and Fire
Feeling Good - Nina Simone
Couldn't Be Done - Tim Finn
Troubled Times - Fountains of Wayne
Good as Hell - Lizzo
posted by brookeb at 7:16 PM on June 29, 2018 [1 favorite]


Keep Banging on Your Drum as popularized by Craig Ferguson, or the original version by Dead Man Fall.
posted by Calvin and the Duplicators at 8:12 PM on June 29, 2018 [1 favorite]


I also like, for relentless positivity and forward-thinkingness, Suddenly I See (KT Tunstall).
posted by charmedimsure at 9:26 PM on June 29, 2018


Come Together - Primal Scream
Lean on Me - The Housemartins
Good Life - Getaway People - Uptempo
Zero Friction - POTUS - Way Uptempo :-)

And a great idea for a mix!
posted by drinkmaildave at 10:29 PM on June 29, 2018


All the Way - New Order
Steady On - Shawn Colvin
posted by bertran at 12:11 AM on June 30, 2018


Hey!
Spotify Playlist of all songs so far

Ill add as the thread grows... I also added:

Everything by City of the sun
There's always someone cooler that you by Ben Folds
The Greatest by Sia
One Foot by Walk the Moon
Fade by Alan Walker
posted by maya at 8:16 PM on June 30, 2018


Skyscraper by Demi Lovato
Love is Alive or Believer by Lea Michele
posted by LoonyLovegood at 10:43 PM on June 30, 2018


Ain't Got No/I Got Life - Nina Simone
posted by moons in june at 11:59 AM on July 1, 2018


Wallflower by Peter Gabriel
Don’t Give Up by Peter Gabriel and Kate Bush
posted by Eikonaut at 10:57 PM on July 1, 2018 [1 favorite]


Oh no, I jacked up some links, thanks WCityMike for alerting me. Correct ones:

The Lucksmiths - A Hiccup In Your Happiness
The Weepies - Not Your Year
Lizzo - Coconut Oil
posted by clavicle at 11:25 AM on July 4, 2018


My go-to is Noah and the Whale's Blue Skies
posted by poppunkcat at 12:49 PM on July 5, 2018


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