My younger brother and I started making Spotify playlists for each other when I had knee surgery, and after he had to go and one-up me and have two. We exchanged tunes like “Bleeding Out” by Imagine Dragons, “Nobody’s Perfect” from Hannah Montanta, and some more sweet ones as well. The point of the exercise was to make each other smile even though we weren't feeling so great. Here are some jams to listen to when you or your friend is hyped up on painkillers or tired of using crutches. Listen to it here on Spotify.

Break a leg? Listen to:

Footloose – Kenny Loggins, Footloose

Most of the songs here have titles—as you can tell—intended to cheer you up with bad humor.

Dance, Dance – Fall Out Boy

…Especially if you’ve ever broken a bone…

Bend and Snap – Legally Blonde, The Musical Original Cast

…Or had to explain to an ER doctor how you got your injury in the first place...

"o Dance Again – Starkid Cast, A Very Potter Musical

…Or had a hospital visit, in general. (Hehe, a General Hospital visit)

Born to Run – Bruce Springsteen

I, personally, was not born to run. I was born to walk quickly sometimes and trip.

Learning to Fall – Boys Like Girls

The skill comes more naturally to some than others.

Twist and Shout – The Beatles

This was one of my personal favorites. Everything about this song works: the context of injuring something, the actual song, the Beatles, it’s feature in Ferris Bueler’s Day Off, everything.

General injury? Listen to:

Broken Hearted Hoover Fixer Sucker Guy – Steve Kazee, Once: A New Musical

I actually went to see this with my brother when I was on crutches. He nudged me a lot during this song saying “that’s you.”

Body Parts – Plain White Tees

In my brother’s case where he injured his opposite leg the day after the doctor gave him the clean bill of health, there were, indeed, multiple bones involved.

Who Wants to Live Forever – Queen

Since my brother had the same surgery after I did, I also sent him “Another One Bites the Dust” and “We are the Champions.”

I’m Just a Kid – Simple Plan

“I’m just a kid and life is a nightmare” is pretty relatable. So is “Wide awake, I’m bored, and I can’t fall asleep” when you can’t get a comfortable sleeping position.

It Hurts – Bad Bad Hats

Nothing like a kazoo solo to make the pain go away.

Give Me Novacaine – Green Day

This is a classic injury song. I made a point to sing this a lot during my past few surgeries. It’s always funnier with anesthesia.

All My Own Stunts – Arctic Monkeys

Take it from me, *gestures to cast* use a stunt double.

Dammit – Blink 182

“Same” – The go-to-reaction when you see anyone with a brace or crutches after your injury.

Ready to Go Home from the Hospital:

Homesick – A Day to Remember

I like the acoustic version a bit better. In fact, the whole acoustic album is pretty great.

Let It Go – Idina Menzel, Frozen

Fight me, I love this song and I love this movie above nearly everything. I love it almost above bagels, which is a lot.

We’re Not Going to Take It – Twisted Sister

Thanks, Twisted Sister, for having a name that fit my injury story so well, and for having a song that is generally applicable to any situation.

You Gotta Move – The Rolling Stones

Me: Why? Doctors: you gotta.

Move Over – Janis Joplin

Famous words by me when my brother took up all the space on the sofa with his 6’3" frame.

Everything is in Its Right Place – Radiohead

…you just can’t move anything to ensure that it stays in its right place.

When You’re Home from the Hospital:

The Man Who Can’t Be Moved – The Script

For when you take up residence in a specific part on the sofa for such a long time that you have to pay taxes on it.

Move (If You Wanna) – MiMS

Another move song. I’m starting to think that they’re intended more for people who want to move as in dance, not to encourage people who don’t want to move.

I’m a Mess – Ed Sheeran

—Famous words by me, all the time.

Love & Drugs – The Maine

An alternative title could have been “Hugs & Vicodin,” but I guess that works too.

Time to Dance – Panic! At the Disco

“I chime in with a haven’t you people ever heard of”—Wait, wrong song.

Therapy – All Time Low

Pro tip: make friends with your physical therapists They will be your comrades for the next 3-6 months.

I Lived – OneRepublic

Take it one day at a time. Sometimes you just have to celebrate because you got through the day.

When You Genuinely Want Your Friend to Heal Up:

Next to You (feat. Justin Bieber) – Chris Brown

I’m not a fan of Chris Brown or Justin Bieber for a variety of reasons, but the song itself is sweet.

Carry On – Fun.

“When you’re lost and alone, and you’re sinking like a stone, carry on.” Sad lyrics, but the song is actually fairly upbeat. Both Fun. and Fall Out Boy certainly have a knack for making sad music quite danceable.

Trainwreck – Demi Lovato

“You’re a trainwreck, but I wouldn’t love you if you changed”—for your fellow clumsy person

Gold – Owl City

“What you got is gold.” Actually these are titanium plates.

Never Gonna Give You Up – Rick Astley

What if I set a link to the actual playlist and it was just this song? Is this the first time since the song came out that someone has used this song literally?

I’ll Stand by You – The Pretenders

Or just sit quietly but still offer the same amount of support, whatever works.

Lean on Me – Bill Withers

My brother and I swapped places with this one. I lean on him because I tend to fall over, he leans on my just to remind me that he's taller.

My Life Would Suck Without You – Kelly Clarkson

This was the last song on the first playlist he sent me, and it made me tear up a little. He's a trooper, and my life (and my recovery) would certainly have sucked if I didn't have someone standing (or crutching) by me all the way.