What song(s) are life-affirming or helped you along your journey?
There are moments when a certain song will come on, and I will have to stop whatever I'm doing to really listen to the lyrics ... replay the song a few times ...
Sometimes it's a song that speaks to who I am as a human ... or as a woman ... or I'm going through some type of emotional or mental issue and a certain song will "speak" to me (for a lack of a better phrase).
I Am Here by Pink -- I was on the elliptical at the gym ... the whole song made me stop and go to the restroom, I had tears running down my face... it's personal for me, but this song is extremely life-affirming for me as a human.
Woman by Kesha -- this has become a feminist anthem for me of sorts. So bad-ass ...
Dao of St Paul by Third Eye Blind -- Years ago I was running a 6-miler, this song came on, and I realized at that moment I was "divorcing" Jesus (that was my emotional process at that time in becoming an atheist)... This song has a lot of impact for me to this day.
How about you? Any song/s that are life-affirming, or have helped you along your life journey?
Gads... far too many to mention.
For me it's more like albums:
Meatloaf: Bat out of Hell and Back into Hell (if you listen to the progression of the songs, it's about the growth of a relationship, the highs, the lows, and sticking it out, faithfully, to the end).
Alan Parsons Project: Tails of Mystery and Imagination (the visuals I get out of Poe's work being set to music are just amazing to me), Pyramid, I Robot, etc.
Supertramp: Crime of the Century (though The Logical Song is a strong front runner for me)
T'Pau: Bridge of Spies (an homage to the works of Shelley, among others).
Berlin: ALL of it, affirmation of sexuality and life.
Terri Nunn: from Berlin and again, her joi de vivre is amazing.
DiVinyls: again, her joy of life that she weaves to well into her voice.
The Bangles: too much fun, and again, that voice.
Caro Emerald: another amazing voice
Basia: A Voice to die for, music that gets you tapping your toes and, to top it off, lyrics that, if you really listen, get you thinking.
Dire Straits: just for fun but also for the story telling
Sting: if you haven't heard his works, go, and dive in! Especially the last ship and the tales he tells on that album, brining us into the life of a small town in England.
And I could go on and on... hard for me to pick ONE go to song... save possibely XTC: Dear God. But, that's not so much life affirming, as it helps me to sink into, and delve the depths of my despair so that I can bungee back. A thing I have done with all but one of the deaths in my life as... well, I wasn't sure how strong the bungee was for that last one. Wasn't sure I'd bounce back.
Oh, I missed on, but again this is more on the sad side: Sara Watkins. I found her on an NPR show, and researched songs by her (again, another artist that, despite being country, which I generally don't like, I can listen to any of her works and enjoy) and was bawling, after one note of "Where Will You Be." That song hits emotional chords that kill me still.
As long as we are pondering country: Roseanne Cash is another "Tennessee Flat Top Box" is so much fun and evocative.
Dixie Chicks - Earl
Harmony: The Good Lovelies - Kiss Me in the Kitchen is so life affirming (and puts me in tears... I'm a mess)
Devil Doll: Bourbon in Your Eyes
Ok, stopping now... though, there is more.
Butterflies and Hurricanes by Muse is one of the most inspirational songs one could hope to hear in their lifetime
This is maybe my favorite song of all time. I do play it loud in the car when I need a boost, but the lyrics aren't of the personal encouragement kind, it's a love song to the moon. A lot of songs have deep meaning or heavy emotion, and I think that's one of the reasons I love this song. The lyrics are a really lovely poem, and it's just a simple, sweet, ode to the moon. And I love the music too. (lyrics below)
How can I presume to sing about the moon
Oh how can I presume to sing about the moon
Shall I say it is enchanted
Shall I say it is romantic nonsense
Now that I've assumed the adolescent swoon
Oh how can I presume to sing about the moon
Shall I say I love her dearly
Shall I say I need her ever near me
This elation evades description
So how can I convey my conviction
Oh satellite
Your majesty makes my heart rise
Oh concubine
Your radiance swells up my eyes
All the multitude that's faced you
Who can say they never once embraced the moon?
The album Mind Crime. Queensryche. The narrative includes the church manipulating a man to his demise.