Music has always been a staple in my life. Growing up, I was constantly involved in singing and instrument playing (neither of which I was particularly good at), but my obsession nowadays revolves primarily around listening to music. My music taste is pretty broad, ranging from classic rock to modern pop, and I never go anywhere without earbuds. In addition to being entertaining, music has the ability to be life-changing, as cheesy as it sounds. It triggers emotions and memories which can mean something even years after hearing the song for the first time. Music, for me, also has the ability to remind me of how special life is and how lucky I am to be living it.
- “Older” by Ben Platt
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Ben Platt, as a singer, is massively underrated. Yes, he’s known for his incredible performances on Broadway, but I don’t think he’s gotten enough recognition for his first album: Sing to Me Instead. The eleventh track on the album, “Older”, makes me think about life every single time I listen to it. When I was little, I was so excited to grow up. I wanted to drive a car and to have my own money and be able to leave my house without talking to my parents about it first. Now, at eighteen, I remember how uncomplicated life used to be and occasionally wish I could go back. Homework was nonexistent, friendships were easy, and life, in general, was fairly simple. This song focuses entirely on this mentality. Each time I listen, I remember that I’m never going to be eighteen again and I have to focus on living in the present, no matter how hard it can be sometimes.
- “ICU (Madison’s Lullaby)” by Demi Lovato
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If you haven’t listened to Demi Lovato’s new album yet, I seriously advise you to stop reading this until you’ve listened to the whole thing. While all of the songs are phenomenal, the one that really resonated with me is “ICU (Madison’s Lullaby)”. Written for Demi Lovato’s younger sister, this song is a promise that Demi will always be there for her. This song is beautiful as it is, but as someone with two younger sisters, this song meant even more. As much as it pains me to cope with the negative parts of the world, I would much rather do it myself if my sisters didn’t have to do the same. It’s so crazy to see how much my sisters have grown and accomplished, and while they can be frustrating sometimes, I am so lucky to have them and can’t imagine living without them.
- “Little League” by Conan Gray
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“Little League”, like the previously mentioned “Older”, focuses on the idea of how we want so badly to go back to the way life was when we were younger. This song, however, targets the nostalgia of it all, and how free we were because of life’s simplicity. Even if it’s not Little League, I’m sure we can all remember that one activity we used to do as a kid that we wish so desperately we could go back to. At that age, we never expected how insane life would be now, but I’ve learned to see life just as freeing now as it was then and I’ve found my own “Little League” in my life today.
- “Til I Forget About You” by Big Time Rush
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You may be wondering how a song by Big Time Rush reminds me of how special life is, but if you watched that show when it was airing on Nickelodeon, you know how surprisingly incredible each song is. When this show was added on Netflix, I had no choice but to rewatch it. Scarily enough, I still remember every word to “Til I Forget About You”. While the lyrics aren’t super profound, I included this song on this list because it is impossible to hear it and NOT start dancing. If I’m having a bad day, or just want an excuse to dance, this is my go-to song. Even in the darkest time, I can set aside my troubles and just dance, which I think makes life pretty special.
- “Carry On Wayward Son” by Kansas
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Like the previous song, “Carry On Wayward Son” instantly throws me back to my childhood. Growing up, I wasn’t really allowed to listen to pop songs on the radio, so my music exposure was limited to the Catholic station and classic rock. While there are so many classic rock songs that I could recommend, when I hear this song, I am immediately shot back to being 12 years old and singing along to this song in the car. It’s another great “dance party” song and gives me the energy I need to tackle the day.
I could go on and on about music that has changed my life or kept me inspired, but these 5 songs are some of many that let me see life in a way that reminds me of how great it is, and sometimes that’s all we need.