Songs are powerful. We all have songs that we listen to before games to get us pumped up or a song that we look forward to dancing to at parties. If you’re like me, then songs can change your life and your perspective on things. If you have never listened to these songs before, I would suggest doing so. Maybe you will take something away from these songs like I have.

5. The Rolling Stones “Paint it, Black”

If you know me, then you know that I wear a lot of black. No, I’m not Goth or depressed or in mourning. I simply enjoy how black looks on me and how it literally matches everything. No lie. It’s great. I feel confident and strong in black, which is uncommon for me because I am so insecure about myself and my appearance. Now instead of just clothing, I view myself as wearing war paint. I’m invincible to the world’s harms and ready to take on the day with this classic as my theme song.

4. The Struts "Could Have Been Me"

As a person who has anxiety and trepidation about pretty much everything, I think I understand this song on a level most people don’t. This song talks about living life and wanting to experience everything in it, including the good and bad. This is easier said than done for someone like me. I went to my first college dance earlier this year and I ended up leaving after five minutes of being there. I panicked. The next morning, I heard about all the fun that everyone had and I couldn’t stop thinking that that could have been me. I could have been the one having a good time and enjoying myself, but I was too afraid to. Now, whenever I feel the need to run away from fun I remember this song and my fear fades. It’s a constant reminder for me to live life to the fullest, feel “love and pain” along with “pride and shame” and to never be afraid of what life may hit me with next.

3. Halestorm “Amen”

“Amen” holds a special place in my heart because it helped me put in words something that I had been struggling to come to grips with for a long time. I had always identified as being some form of Christian since that was how I raised, but as I grew older, I realized that I didn’t believe in half of the things found in The Bible. I couldn’t comprehend how The Bible denied the existence of dinosaurs or some of the social laws, like stoning people, and many other instances along those lines. I appreciate how many people can believe in something like that out of sheer faith and I will never look down on those people, but I just can’t bring myself to buy into it. They have their beliefs just as I do. I believe in simply being a good person and doing good deeds for others. That’s how I try to live my life, so I suppose that that is my new religion. “Amen” helped me understand that it was OK for me to believe this and that I shouldn’t be ashamed that I don’t follow a specific religion.

2. Green Day "Jesus of Suburbia"

This is the song. The song of songs, in my opinion. Green Day is my absolute, hands down, all-time favorite band since I was, what, 15? Yeah, that sounds about right. The first song I ever heard by them was “Holiday” but this nine minute song was what made me a true believer. “Jesus of Suburbia” was more than a song for me, it was an anthem. It was a transition in my life. Before I knew this song existed, I followed the crowd, only liked the music on the top of the charts, wore strictly expensive name brands, all in hope of trying to impress those who surrounded me. This song was an awakening for me. All I could think was holy shit, there’s a whole different genre out here that I haven’t explored yet. This is epic. My relationship with this song is somewhat ironic because “Jesus of Suburbia” tells the story of a young man doing drugs, partying, and his life spiraling out of control, and it ended up doing the opposite for me. This song gave me a new life that felt meaningful and fulfilled compared to my life before. I have never done drugs or been a partier, but once you get past those parts of the song then you end up with actually incredibly insightful lyrics.

1.Green Day "Last of the American Girls"

Uh oh, another Green Day song! I refuse to apologize since this is the most influential song in my life at the moment. “Last of the American Girls” is found on the album "21st Century Breakdown" and don’t fret if you’ve never heard of it because I have personally never heard it on the radio or being advertised like “21 Guns” or “Know Your Enemy” were for this album. As soon as I listened to this song I thought this is who I want to be. The song is about a girl who isn’t like other girls, and how she doesn’t see this as an issue. She’s a “one of a kind.” I found the contrast of the thought of being a “hurricane in the heart of the devastation” and “a hero for the lost cause” to be incredibly beautiful and poetic. Ever since I first heard this song many years ago, I’ve yearned to be different while still maintaining my own sense of self. It taught me that it is alright to not worship Pop culture and being yourself is better than imitating someone that you’re not. “Last of the American Girls” gave me my identity, which is something that I am extremely proud of.