What would your life be like without music?
My life without music would not be the same. Music heals, music saves. Music is what got me through the huge change in my life last year. When I decided to quit my toxic job and the trauma that made me ultimately leave, it was music that helped me process all of the emotions behind my decision. Songs with powerful lyrics about being my own hero (“Roar” by Katy Perry) and how everything is going to be fine, fine, fine (“Hand in My Pocket” by Alanis Morrisette) and that it’s safe to use my voice (“Fight Song” by Rachel Platten). As the year went on, I added more and more songs to the playlist. Some for just one lyric—“Who do you think you are? Ha, ha, ha, bless your soul. You think you’re in control.” “Crazy” by Gnarls Barkley.
These are all songs from my “inspirational” playlist, so named because all the songs on there have inspired me in one way or another at various times in my life. I think I’ve been compiling songs on it for at least ten years.
I have other playlists. My newest one is labeled “high school nostalgia”. Because while I wasn’t yet needing inspiration or healing when I was in high school, these are the songs that defined my high school experience. I plan to listen to it while I work on my book because it is heavily based on my younger days.
Music comforts and soothes, which is what many of the high school songs did. Some of them have lyrics that are words that I wish I could say. Or they’re words that express what I’m thinking and feeling in a way that I simply can’t. I’m thinking especially of some of those high school songs. I didn’t do a lot of speaking up and standing up for myself back then.
I have many different playlists for many different moods. Because again, music does good for the soul. Last Friday was a frustrating day at work so I came down from my big feelings about it by screaming along to songs on my “angry playlist”.
There’s so much that can be said about the impact of music. Life without music just wouldn’t be as rich, or meaningful, or connected, or as full of heart and emotion. What we listen to is literally the soundtrack of our lives. Without it, life is just bland and boring.
For fun, here are the songs on my “inspirational” playlist, in the order that they were added to the list. I’m not ashamed of the K-Pop Demon Hunters songs. Those songs are fire, just sayin’. Also, that Fall Out Boy song is my new anthem. It’s all about bringing to light what people do in the dark. Lately, I have very much wanted to share what was done to me in the “dark”.
With this playlist shared, what songs would you have on a similar playlist? What songs really motivate and inspire you?
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