Sometimes you have those moments that you need a little push, something that makes you feel like you can take anything on. You may be laying in bed struggling to get up and believe in yourself, or many you are struggling to face the world. When I have those moments these are the songs I go to first. One of the biggest things you will notice is that diversity of genres, this is because of my interest in many different types of music. This list is something that hopefully will give you the push when you need it, since there is something here for almost everyone.
“Rise” by Katy Perry
After listening to this song a couple hundred times and also watching the video that is used to promote the 2016 Olympics, there is no question why they in fact use this song as an anthem. This song can make you feel like Michael Phelps even if you can’t butterfly or Simone Biles who can’t do a cartwheel. “Oh, ye of so little faith. Don't doubt it, don't doubt it. Victory is in my veins” makes you feel like you’re making your way to the podium. It pumps you up enough to dance in your underwear while you get ready for the day, making you think you’re off to Rio to win gold.
“Just Like Fire” by P!nk
P!nk write just the right lyrics yet again to make you feel like you could take anyone in a fight. P!nk knows exactly how to make a person ready to strut into situation with the word impossible lost in your tracks. “No one can be just like me anyway.” Now that is one statement that makes you feel like the most fabulous unique person screaming to the radio down the road.
“Ain’t No Rest For The Wicked” by Cage the Elephant
This song I use when I am getting a little tired of running from one job to another, not being able to do all the fun things I wish to be doing. But every time I feel this way all I can think is, “Ain’t no rest for the wicked, money don’t grow on trees” which is so very true.
“I Am The Fire” by Halestorm
This song is a lesser known and a little harder than many of the songs that are on this list. But I have been a fan of Halestorm since the beginning and this song really gives me some fire under me. “I promise to myself, me and no one else, I am more than this, I am the fire.” All I can think of is, heck yes I am. It really is about relying on yourself to start the fire instead of relying on others, that you can do it on your own.
“Rise Up” by Andra Day
This is a good song for when you really need a pick me up, I heard it for the first time while watching "America’s Got Talent." It is a very beautiful song from an artist I had not heard of before. It has a great message and also happens to be the song they played when someone got a golden buzzer, which I think fits perfectly! It really is a song about coming together and helping each other rise up, “When the silence isn't quiet/And it feels like it's getting hard to breathe/And I know you feel like dying/But I promise we'll take the world to it's feet.”
“Warrior” by Demi Lovato
This song is really an anthem for anyone that is getting away from a bad relationship, just left a relationship or just lost someone. This is seriously a huge, I don’t need you anymore statement made by Demi that at the time that I heard it, I really needed. She really puts picking yourself up and keeping your head up into words beautifully. “Now I've got thicker skin/I'm a warrior/I'm stronger than I've ever been/And my armor, is made of steel, you can't get in/I'm a warrior/And you can never hurt me again.” I love the ending of that chorus, that they can never hurt you again, it’s truly an anthem to build up with.
“Skin” by Sixx A.M.
This song got me through some of the roughest times in my life mostly due to the fact that I also had found Nikki Sixx’s new band at this time. This is helpful for anyone with some self doubt, or even as much as self hate. Although it is a lesser known song, the lyrics really cut deep into the feelings that society puts on a lot of people based on their looks. That there is so much more than your looks to show people, “Let them find the real you/Buried deep within/Let them know with all you've got/That you are not your skin.” This is my anthem for any morning that I am just not feeling how my make-up turned out or meeting new people, to let them know that I am not just my skin.
“Defying Gravity” from Wicked
This song I actually heard for the first time during a pageant when one of the girls danced to it. Today it is still a song I turn to when I need something to belt out in my room to get myself ready to try something new. A new class, new people, a new job -- no matter what this song will help you get ready to take the leap. Some of the most hard hitting lyrics that really get me to take chances are, “I'm through accepting limits 'cause someone says they're so/Some things I cannot change but 'til I try, I'll never know!” Idina Menzel is in fact right, until you try something new you’ll never know what could happen.
“Roar” by Katy Perry
This is a typical sing at the top of your lungs with the windows down pop song by Katy Perry. But it seems as though every time I do get the chance to sing it, it pumps me up to do anything. It’s like the musical version of bright red lipstick. It is a pop anthem that even those that are not pop fans can rock out to. Because anyone can say that, “I got the eye of the tiger, a fighter/Dancing through the fire/'Cause I am the champion, and you're gonna hear me roar.”
“Rise” by Sixx A.M.
Yet again this band makes their appearance on my list (much because of my obsession with Nikki Sixx) but it is also because of the meaning behind all of their lyrics. This song is from their new album and is probably the hardest song on this list, but it sure does rock hard. This song is really for when you are sitting in your room struggling to get your head up, struggling to believe in yourself, and struggling to face the world. It’s chorus goes, “Rise up, it's a dawn of a new day/Hands up, it's gonna be okay/Even when they strangle you, get yourselves together/Strike down all that oppose you/Look now, what have they sold you/Even if they anger you, get yourselves together.” This song is sure to get your up out of bed.
