I think we can all acknowledge this has been a very rough week. We have been once again reminded we live in a generation defined by terror, fear, and hatred. We all have our ways of coping and with me, the method is music. For those of you who need a little emotional pick-me-up, here is my top 11 songs to remind your heart and soul that there is happiness in this world.
1. "What a Wonderful World" - Louis Armstrong
The smooth jazz vocals of this great man is the perfect platform for this simple song that says so much. From the sky above to the magic of love, there are things that make this a wonderful world.
2. "Let It Be" - The Beatles
This song especially speaks to me after this most recent round of terrorist attacks. Again, a simple message ("Let It Be") can be the only thing you can cling to in these dark times.
3. "No One Is Alone" - Into the Woods
This dark take on the Grimms fairy tales ends up delivering some incredible truths in the form of this song. People do not fit into certain categories and life is not black/white. In a world full of grey areas, the important thing is that someone is always on your side.
4. "Always/Goodnight" - Scott Alan
One of the things that we can all relate to is the beauty of romantic love. This song pares down the high expectations and ideas about it to the pure simplicity. It doesn't need to be that complicated when it comes down to it.
5. "Through Heaven's Eyes" - 'The Prince of Egypt' Soundtrack
"The Prince of Egypt" is one of the most underrated movies of all time and one of the reasons is this song. Sung to Joseph after he runs away from Egypt, it is a reminder we cannot truly see what our life is worth. Instead, we must look through heaven's eyes to find it.
6. "Send Me On My Way" - Rusted Root
Don't let the early 90s album cover fool you. This song is infectious, fun, and oh so relevant. We are young, we are alive, and we have so many choices to make. Let's have a good time while we still can.
7. "If You Want to Sing Out, Sing Out" - Cat Stevens
We often think so much about how our choices will effect the rest of our lives. Cat Stevens counters this anxiety with the adage "If you want to sing out, sing out." Stop limiting yourself to one track when there are millions of ways to do something.
8. "Here Comes the Sun" - The Beatles
No matter how bad things get, the sun is still going to rise and another day is going to come. This classic Beatles tune is a beautiful reminder of that sentiment. After the bad times come, there will still be light and smiling faces.
9. "Let the Sun Shine" - Hair
Probably one of the most famous closing numbers in musical theatre, "Let the Sun Shine" is both heartbreaking to watch and listen to. Written during the Vietnam Era, it implores us to appreciate the life around us and just let the sun shine. If the world paid more heed to that, there might be a little more peace in it.
10. "Singin' in the Rain" - Gene Kelly
I dare you not to smile while listening to this adorable song. It speaks to the dizzying power of happiness and how uninhibited we can become when we have it. Sometimes, you just need to flout convention and do something unexpected.
11. "Mr. Brightside" - The Killers
This song isn't necessarily poignant in the way that the rest are, but sometimes we all just need to whip our hair and get crazy.
Living in the world today is often a struggle both on the global, national, and personal level. We all need our little escapes to remind us of the good things in life. The important thing is that in these tough times, we do not give in to despair. The world is still moving and we are still alive. That alone should be enough to keep us moving forward.
