Music is powerful and can make us feel a variety of emotions. It can be helpful during stressful times and happier times. The thirty songs below convey different feelings, help people feel good, and provide comfort.
1. Nothing Compares 2 U – Sinead O'Connor
This well-known classic explores recovery from losing someone you cared about. This song provides a sense of loss to the listener. The lyrics connect with many people who have been through similar situations where they have lost someone they love. This song is still popular after its release in the 90s.
2. Money Game Pt. 2 – REN
This song is loaded with a message about politics and encourages the listener to rethink essential matters. The lyrics strongly focus on money and how people see it. It highlights various questions about money and whether it is valuable in life.
3. Landslide – Fleetwood Mac
The introspective lyrics of Fleetwood Mac's Landslide encourage listeners to embrace change and reflect on the passage of time. 'Well, I've been afraid of changin' / 'Cause I built my life around you' speaks to the fear of losing control. The message in this song is to reflect on ourselves, and we need to grow and let go of the past to feel better.
4. Let It Be – The Beatles
"Let it be" is known for its strong lyrics that promote peace, which can be found when one cannot control a situation. Acceptance is also another element of this song. The power of letting things go enables people to heal.
5. Fast Car – Tracy Chapman
The lyrics of "Fast Car" depict a longing for a better life and the hope that change is possible. "You got a fast car / I want a ticket to anywhere" speaks to the universal desire for escape. Sometimes, life can be hard or seem like an impossible journey, although this song encourages wanting a better life and making changes.
6. Man in the Mirror – Michael Jackson
The lyrics in this song resonate with us all. After its release in the 1980s, it continued to be played on radio stations and reminded us to take responsibility for our actions. The song provides huge encouragement and evokes a sense of self-discovery.
7. The Times They Are A-Changin’ – Bob Dylan
This song explores how we can contribute to a brighter future through change. This iconic anthem encourages us to embrace change personally and socially. It has a powerful sound and encourages people to think about things differently.
8. Father and Son – Cat Stevens
This song emphasizes discovering who we are as individuals. It also explores how we can listen to others but should always listen to our thoughts. The theme throughout this song is the different opinions of different generations, as this is based on a father and son.
9. Cats in the Cradle – Harry Chapin
Life can be busy, and this song highlights how we should make time for the people that matter. It speaks about missed or lost connections with family and how things can change.
10. I Will Survive – Gloria Gaynor
This classic song speaks of empowerment and overcoming a difficult situation. It is known worldwide and is often heard at social gatherings and celebrations. The lyrics explore hard times and how a person can survive and come out the other side. It has been popular since its release in the 1970s and continues to be a song that many people sing when they need to feel inner strength.
11. Redemption Song – Bob Marley
This song strongly messages freedom and how we can achieve it in our minds. It focuses on seemingly impossible things and explains that positive results can be achieved by learning how to free yourself from negative thoughts or situations.
12. What’s Going On – Marvin Gaye
This song carries a powerful message and engages people in thinking about critical worldwide issues. It focuses on improving the world and stating that change starts with each of us. If we understand and have sympathy for others, together, we can create a world that is positive for everyone.
13. I Can’t Make You Love Me – Bonnie Raitt
This song discusses emotional honesty and acceptance and teaches us to let things go. It focussed on accepting situations and how sometimes things can't be changed, and it is best to move on. After recognizing this, people can grow and continue on their journey in life.
14. The Climb – Miley Cyrus
I love listening to The Climb by Miley Cyrus, as it provides us with a framework that we can use to achieve all of our goals. After all, achieving our goal is not a destination but a series of steps uphill. Sometimes, it's painful, but life is a climb. Our goals are waiting at the top, and we can get them one step at a time.
15. Born to Run – Bruce Springsteen
This song by Burce Springsteen conveys the importance of chasing dreams and making them come true. It has an uplifting feel and encourages people to keep pushing for what they want from life. As I said in a rap song I once wrote, you have to follow your dreams because they are not going to follow you!
16. What a Wonderful World – Louis Armstrong
A classic song celebrating life's beauty, "What a Wonderful World" reminds us to appreciate the simple things around us. This song shows the importance of enjoying the world around us. The world has many hardships, but we should focus on the nice aspects of life.
17. I Will Always Love You – Whitney Houston
This song discusses a relationship and the loss someone feels when it comes to an end. Love is a powerful thing, and walking away can be hard. That's why this is a classic anthem and known throughout the world.
18. Tears in Heaven – Eric Clapton
Written in the aftermath of loss, "Tears in Heaven" explores grief and healing.
19. Hallelujah" – Leonard Cohen
This song explores both the good and bad sides of difficult situations. It shows the complexities of love and how we accept things as we journey through life.
20. Let It Go – Idina Menzel (from Frozen)
Popular with both adults and children, this song is about acceptance and empowerment. It is a reflection on ourselves, and it suggests that we should all move forward, accept who we are, and be proud of it.
21. A Change Is Gonna Come – Sam Cooke
This songs main message is about navigating lifes challenges and reminds us that everything is worth it in the end. It explores racial discrimination and has powerful lyrics that resonates with people leading the way for emotional reflection.
22. Truly Madly Deeply – Savage Garden
Another love song explores how we can feel strong emotions for another and how we should embrace love. It focuses on early love and how you think you would do anything for that person. This song has a calming and warm feel and is played in a variety of settings.
23. Afterlife – Avenged Sevenfold
This song focuses on the choices we make throughout our lives. It promotes reflection and prompts us to consider other aspects. The lyrics inspire thoughts about how we are living our lives and help us understand ourselves.
24. Under the Bridge – Red Hot Chili Peppers
This 90s classic explores how people can feel disconnected from the world or the people around them. The lyrics evoke the raw emotion of not wanting to feel alone but wanting to feel like part of the world instead.
25. Bother – Stone Sour
This song is about dealing with emotional issues that people may be experiencing such as feeling like they are battling with themselves. It has a message of struggle but encourages us to stand up to our issues and carry on.
26. If You're Going Through Hell – Rodney Atkins
This song is about strength and finding hope in difficult situations. It is a country song that tries to get the listener to focus on the future and that it will be better.
27. Sunscreen – Baz Luhrmann
Unlike the other songs on this list, these are spoken words over music. They create a powerful message and advice for people, captivate the listener, and explore a variety of emotions and situations.
28. The Scientist – Coldplay
This song is all about learning from past mistakes, which empowers us to think of the experience so that we can grow from it. It reminds me that sometimes you win, and sometimes you learn. We have to fail faster to find the path to our goals.
29. Meat Is Murder – The Smiths
This song has a powerful message about animals and discusses whether we should be eating them whilst exploring the impact that meat has on the world. The track enocourages us to consider an ethical mindful lifestyle.
30. Imagine – John Lennon
This song has been played for generations due to its thought-provoking lyrics and message. It asks listeners to think about the world in a different way and imagine a better place. It is a truly inspirational song that encompasses compassion and standing together.
