10 Songs To Listen To When Feeling Lost
Music is one of those things that I have always felt passionate about, I am very much a sing in the shower at the top of my lungs kind of person. I think sometimes when we are not able to show our feelings through talking, music/singing is a perfect way to display this.
For me personally, music has been one of those constant things that I have been able to rely on, and it has helped me through some really tough times. When I am going through something, I find belting one of my favourite songs really helps release all the energy I have pent up.
And so, for you here today, I have created a list of the top 10 songs I listen to when feeling lost that really help to process things. (Warning there will be a lot from the same artist)
10. HOPE – NF
I had not heard of NF until last year when a friend introduced me to him. They mentioned that this artist had really helped them through some tough times, and they could connect to a lot of what they were saying. Now, I have never been the biggest fan of rap, however, I started to listen to this style of more emotional rap and to be honest I fell in love with it. HOPE is a great song about how NF has battled with his internal self for years and now is coming out on top. I think it is a really great song to listen to if you are going through something yourself, as it helps you to know you are not alone and there is a light at the end of that tunnel.
9. Ordinary Day – Great Big Sea
Great Big Sea is one of my favourite artists ever. I absolutely love their music, they are a sea shanty/folk rock band, but a big chunk of their music is feel-good music, and that is what I like – you will see these pop up again as well as their lead singer, Alan Doyle. The thing I love about the song Ordinary Day is that it explores the idea of life isn’t that bad. It starts off with the lyrics I’ve got a smile on my face and I’ve got four walls around me as if that is all that is needed to be content in life, however, when you think about it, having four walls around you is one of those things we can take for granted but should be grateful for. This is why I love this song; it talks about the most simplistic pleasures in life and reminds you that things are okay.
8. Aim Higher – Dan Bull
This is another rapper that I very much admire. For anyone who doesn’t know, Dan Bull is an artist who raps about video games, in fact, he was one of the first. However, something that I love very much about Dan Bull’s music is that there is always a twist, he never just says, this is this game, and this is what it’s about. He makes it relatable to everyone. This rap, in particular, is about a game where you shoot at targets to improve your skills in First Person Shooting games (FPS games), however, the twist here is he has created an uplifting motivational song to aim higher and be better than the person you were before. Each lyric adds a layer of energy that makes you want to go further beyond what you have ever done before. One of my favourite lyrics is:
It's in your interest to impress the former you
And keep repeating until all the former yous can form a queue
I think it is a beautiful metaphor to keep on pushing and being better. Be better than the you of yesterday.
7. You Keep it all in – Beautiful South
Now, my love for this song is very much my dad’s fault. I can remember him taking me to school and him blasting out Beautiful South and the wonderous tones of Paul Heaton. Gosh, I wish I had his voice. Though I knew a good chunk of the words, I didn’t appreciate this song as much until I had a rough relationship where I wasn’t able to talk about how I felt. The song is a conversation between 3 people, 2 of them are asking why they never talk about their feelings, and Paul Heaton replies with, well if I did, these are the consequences. I think it is a very interesting song to break down and understand, especially, when it comes to things like Men’s mental health, and the toxic masculine idea of men should not express how they’re feeling as it shows a sign of weakness. I found that singing this really helped me to process it and made me feel like I wasn’t alone in this feeling.
6. We’re Gonna Love Tonight – Alan Doyle
This song is very much a feel-good song. The great thing about Alan Doyle is he knows how to tap into your inner thoughts and feelings and can really make you think and feel good. This song, in particular, is about how tomorrow might not be great, the future may be grim, but that doesn’t matter right now, let’s live in the moment and enjoy tonight. I have always tried to adopt a live-in-the-moment mentality, however, sometimes life gets on top of you, as it does with us all. Listening to this song really does help to remind me that I simply just need to love tonight, no matter how tough tomorrow is going to be.
5. Walk on the Moon – Great Big Sea
I love belting this one out in the shower, this is definitely one of my favourites to really go for when I am in that mood. This song is about chasing your dreams and just going for it. It’s told in a way that relates to the moon landing, it talks about how scared the astronauts must’ve been, but the feeling of it, in the end, would have been so worth it. The chorus seems to relate it to taking a chance on a romantic partnership, however, it can definitely be used to refer to chasing your dreams. It is just a nice little pick-me-up song, that when you relate it to your own life, really makes you feel you can achieve anything.
4. Lemonade – Phil Vassar
This is such a beautiful song about life changes, but we have to make the most of it. It takes the typical saying When life gives you lemons, make lemonade, and writes a beautiful message. It talks about how sometimes you are going to be on top, and sometimes you are not, but no matter what, you will get through it, and whatever life throws your way, adapt, and make lemonade. I absolutely love Phil Vassar, a couple of his songs hit me right, he is definitely one that is easy to listen to, and if you are a country fan, then he does have some very typical country songs as well.
3. Found/Tonight – Ben Platt, Lin-Manuel Miranda
If you have never seen Hamilton or Dear Evan Hansen, then you are truly missing out, as these are two great stories about very different things, but still explore the inner workings of a man. Evan Hansen in particular focuses on mental health and anxiety and has some amazing songs throughout. This mash up in particular is one of my favourites, both artists came together to fight against gun violence, and knowing that the song really does hit differently, it is such a beautiful mix of two amazing songs and really makes you think about mental health and not being alone through whatever you’re going through.
2. It’s Ok – Alan Doyle
That’s right we are back with another Alan Doyle song! Don’t worry it is the last… of his solo songs. This song really hits me differently. I had heard the song previously, but I had never really listened to it until earlier this year. The song simply is about how it is okay, no matter what you are going through, it is okay, things are going to be up and down but through it all, you will ultimately be okay. My favourite set of lyrics in this song are:
It's okay to break
To come undone
Pick up the pieces
One by one
Broken hearts are stronger when they mend
And it's alright to cry a thousand times
Then find yourself
Then lose your mind
For all in time will fall in line again
I think it is such an amazing message to send out, that you are going to break, sometimes it is inevitable, however, you will pick your pieces and be stronger for doing so. I would also recommend listening to the lockdown version of this song as well, it was such a great video to experience.
1. Let it Go - GBS
This has been my go-to song to pick me up for way over 10 years, it is always a good one to come back to whenever I am going through something and helps me realise that actually, things are not that bad. The main reason I listen to this song is for the chorus, which goes:
Let it Go Let it Go
This is smaller than you know
No bigger than a pebble lying on a gravel road
Let it Go Let it Go
Got to leave it all behind you
Give the sun a chance to find you
Let it Go
When I first heard the phrase No bigger than a pebble lying on a gravel road something clicked in my mind. Whatever I was going through was only small when I put it into perspective. If your life is a dirt road this one moment is so small and insignificant that it didn’t matter, and sure, that is not going to be the case for all problems we face, some are going to be bumps, but it just listening to this helps me realise that there is much more out there for me than just this problem.
So, there you have it, those are my top 10 songs to listen to when I am feeling lost or am going through something. These may not be for you, you may not feel the same way as I do listening to them, and you may have your own list of songs, and that is fine, music is so subjective, and no matter what, you will get what you need to get out of it.
If you have a top 10 list, please share in the comments, I would love to hear what you folks listen to!
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