The arts are important for many reasons. There are some forms of art that I find rather silly and useless but others play an important role in my life. Music is one of those that affects me on a daily basis. Songs I can’t relate to or have a bad composition will grate on my nerves. However, songs written about life and that are truly heartfelt and well composed can help me make it through a day. A young lady once said to me that music is highly personal. If you ever ask someone to share their music with a group and watch the emotions play across their face, you might agree. People are often embarrassed, I believe, by their highly personal music choices. I’m learning to own my choices and not worry about what others may think of them.
As I struggle with continuing to learn about myself and my emotional growth, I have found songs can help me make it through a day. So I thought I’d share some of my favorites for anyone who also has those days when they just need to get through a few hours.
This list contains some that are softer or more melancholy:
- Deep Water by American Authors
- Peace by O.A.R.
- Fix You by Coldplay
- Head Above Water by Avril Lavigne
- Glitter In The Air by Pink
- Down by Jason Walker
- Better Boat by Kenny Chesney
- Boxes by The Goo Goo Dolls
- Fine by Kacey Musgraves
- Rainbow by Kacey Musgraves
- It Ain’t Yours To Throw Away by Nashville Cast Season 2
- Say Something by A Great Big World featuring Christina Aguilera
- Dream by Priscilla Ahn
- I Took A Pill In Ibiza by Mike Posner (the original version)
- Hide And Seek by Imogene Heap
- Unsteady by X Ambassadors
This group of songs are more upbeat and have a little bit of attitude to them. I also like them for days when I’m down but when my emotions are a bit more angry than sad.
- Good Life by One Republic
- Connection by One Republic
- Stop And Stare by One Republic
- Shine by Anna Nalick
- The Fighter by Gym Class Heroes
- Ordinary by Train
- Made For This by Carollton
- State of My Head by Shinedown
- Get Up by Shinedown
- Everybody’s Lonely by Jukebox The Ghost
- I Wanna Get Better by Bleachers
- I’m Alright by Kenny Loggins
- Thunder by Imagine Dragons
- So Alive by The Goo Goo Dolls
- May We All by Florida Georgia Line feat. Tim McGraw
- Some Of It by Eric Church
- Living by Dierks Bently
- Hope For The Hopeless by A Fine Frenzy
I recently bought a CD (yes I still buy those!) that speaks to my life perfectly at the moment. It’s Rob Thomas’ Chip Tooth Smile album. The songs describe some of the challenges of life perfectly and I think this is one of the best albums I’ve heard in a long time, I highly recommend it. My three favorite songs are:
- One Less Day
- Can’t Help Me Now
- Breathe Out
I think everyone can relate to Breathe Out, but this portion of the lyrics I find incredibly powerful:
“That weight on your shoulder
Is worse when you’re older
The lines that you’ve drawn will wear thin
When all that’s inside you
Is screaming for rescue
Breathe out again.”
by Rob Thomas
