Empowering songs, for hard times.

[BeeOrchid]

This may sound trivial, but I don't think it is. Music can make a big difference to our mood.
There's so many victim songs in our culture "What can I do to make you love me?" Kind of thing. But what about the strong, I can do this songs?

I'll start: "I'm still standing" Elton John - bernie taupin knew what he was writing about.

[NeedALittleTime]

Primal Scream - Moving on up now

[PaisleySheets]

Another vote for Bob Dylan, Positively 4th Street.

[avocadogreen]

Another vote for U2 and Stuck in a Moment... it was my soundtrack 15 years ago when my mum died, and after exH left earlier this year I went right back to it.

Can I also mention Let It Go from Frozen?! we have the CD in the car for the school run, and the number of times I find myself screaming along at the top of my voice "it's funny how some distance makes everything seem small..."

[clairemarie5]

Hold On - Wilson Philips.
Always gives me a boost and hope that things will get better when they feel like crap.

[BeeOrchid]

Thought of another one ; Rearview Mirror by Pearl Jam, leaving the abuse behind. Love it.
Goats I also love that poem. I adopted it as an empowering read a few months ago, in attempt to strengthen myself.
weedinthepool I hope you are doing ok. I often think of you .

[Karmaone]

Katy Perry Firework. Love it

[themostinterestinglife]

The following songs by Imagine Dragons are brilliant:

On Top of the World
It's Time
Demons

[FixitTweak]

Was going to say Yes - McAlmont & Butler but see it already has a lot of votes.

One from the 80s, but great if you are the one doing the walking away: Motorcycle Boy - Big Rock Candy Mountain

[StillinShockAhhhhhhh]

Ooh and pink- 18 wheeler or numb both are amazing!!

[StillinShockAhhhhhhh]

Sunshine Anderson - heard it all before

[GoatsDoRoam]

I'm almost certain we've had threads like this before, and even clever MNers who put the entire playlist of suggested songs online somewhere.

Sorry am not feeling clever enough to search for said thread/playlist.

Anyway, my go-to poem for this is Maya Angelou's "Still I Rise",


Still I Rise

You may write me down in history
With your bitter, twisted lies,
You may tread me in the very dirt
But still, like dust, I'll rise.

Does my sassiness upset you?
Why are you beset with gloom?
'Cause I walk like I've got oil wells
Pumping in my living room.

Just like moons and like suns,
With the certainty of tides,
Just like hopes springing high,
Still I'll rise.

Did you want to see me broken?
Bowed head and lowered eyes?
Shoulders falling down like teardrops.
Weakened by my soulful cries.

Does my haughtiness offend you?
Don't you take it awful hard
'Cause I laugh like I've got gold mines
Diggin' in my own back yard.

You may shoot me with your words,
You may cut me with your eyes,
You may kill me with your hatefulness,
But still, like air, I'll rise.

Does my sexiness upset you?
Does it come as a surprise
That I dance like I've got diamonds
At the meeting of my thighs?

Out of the huts of history's shame
I rise
Up from a past that's rooted in pain
I rise
I'm a black ocean, leaping and wide,
Welling and swelling I bear in the tide.
Leaving behind nights of terror and fear
I rise
Into a daybreak that's wondrously clear
I rise
Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave,
I am the dream and the hope of the slave.
I rise
I rise
I rise.

[NetballHoop]

What a great thread! Here's a couple of oldies that work for me.

A New England sung by Kirsty MacColl

I Could be Happy - Altered Images (and I MUST hear Happy Birthday by them on my birthday).

[Grokette]

No-one has mentioned Let It Go yet!?!??

More seriously, You Can't Always Get What You Want by the Stones is my choice for woman-ing up.

Also After The Storm by Mumford and Sons:

and there will come a time, you'll see
with no more tears
and love will not break your heart
but dismiss your fears

[bloodystupidfriend]

Shitlist by L7

[lauranorder50]

springlamb - I agree re: U2 Stuck in the moment:

'I am not afraid of anything in this world, there is nothing you can throw at me that I haven't already heard'

Very empowering.

Crawl by Kings of Leon is very empowering. 'You cut my mouth, the bloody bits I'm spitting out....I'm gonna make you crawl before I walk away.'

Fantasy revenge anyone ?

[perfectlyincapable]

P!nk ~ The King is dead.

I listen to it about 20x a day when I start second guessing myself.

[PoppyField]

weedinthepool I'm with you with Neil Young. Everything except 'A Man Needs a Maid' - where did he get that one?! Hope things get better for you. x

[PoppyField]

I second McAlmont and Butler for triumphant positivity...

But for pure, unadulterated, cathartic contempt...nothing beats Positively Fourth Street. Dylan is a master. Read this...and it is searingly better when you hear him sing it:


You got a lotta nerve to say you are my friend
When I was down, you just stood there grinning
You got a lotta nerve to say you gotta helping hand to lend
You just want to be on the side that's winning

You say I let you down, you know it's not like that
If you're so hurt why then don't you show it?
You say you lost your faith, but that's not where it's at
You have no faith to lose and you know it

I know the reason that you talk behind my back
I used to be among the crowd you're in with
Do you take me for such a fool to think I'd make contact
With the one who tries to hide what he don't know to begin with?

You see me on the street, you always act surprised
You say, "How are you? Good luck," but you don't mean it
When you know as well as me you'd rather see me paralyzed
Why don't you just come out once and scream it?

No, I do not feel that good when I see the heartbreaks you embrace
If I was a master thief perhaps I'd rob them
And now I know you're dissatisfied with your position and your place
Don't you understand, it's not my problem

I wish that for just one time you could stand inside my shoes
And just for that one moment, I could be you
Yes, I wish that for just one time, you could stand inside my shoes
You'd know what a drag it is to see you

[puds11isNAUGHTYnotNAICE]

All woman- Lisa Stansfield

Send me on my way- Rusted Roots. Never fails to make me smile.

[BeeOrchid]

weedinthepool sorry to hear things are so hard for you at the moment. I hope this will be the beginning of a new happy life for you and your children

[weedinthepool]

patronisingbitch I'm living off Neil Young at the moment. Old Man, Harvest, Heart of Gold etc.

I'm in a refuge at the moment. Have to share a bed with the youngest DC, other 2 dc's on mattresses on the floor. If I didn't have my music to listen too my world would be even darker.

[forumdonkey]

I love this song and it is amazing full blast especially when it kicks in :-) Its on my ipod in the car and I'm loving it at the moment

It's raining, it's pouring
My lovelife is boring me to tears,
After all these years

No sunshine, no moonlight,
No stardust, no sign of romance
We don't stand a chance

I've always dreamed I found the perfect lover
But he turned out to be like every other man
Our love, our love

Raining (raining)
Pouring (pouring)
There's nothing left for us here
And we won't waist another tear

If you've had enough,
Don't put up with his stuff,
Don't you do it
If you've had your fill,
Get the check pay the bill,
You can do it

Tell him to just get out
Nothing left to talk about
Pack his raincoat show him out
Just look him in the eyes and simple shout

Enough is enough is enough
I can't go on, I can't go on, no more no
Enough is enough, is enough
I want him out, I want him out that door now

Enough is enough

If you've reached the end,
Don't pretend that is right
When it's over (It's over)
If the feeling is gone
Don't think twice just move on
Get it over (over, over)
Tell him to just get out, say it clearly, spell it out

Enough is enough is enough
I can't go on, I can't go on, no more no
Enough is enough is enough
I want him out, I want him out that door now

Enough is enough

I've always dreamed to find the perfect lover,
But he turns out to be like every other man
Our love (I had no choice from the start)
Our love (I've gotta listen to my heart)
Our love (tearing us apart)

Enough, is enough, is enough
I can't go on, I can't go on no more no
Enough, is enough, is enough
I want him out, I want him out that door now

Enough is enough

No more tears (no more tears)
No more tears (no more tears)
No more tears (no more tears)
No more tears (no more tears)
Enough is enough is enough is enough is enough is enough
I've had it, you've had it, he's had it, we've had it
Enough is enough is enough is enough is enough is enough
I've hat it, you've had it, he's had it, we've had it

I always dreamed I find the perfect lover
But he turned out to be like every other man

I had no choice from the start
I've gotta listen to my heart
Tearing us apart

Enough is enough is enough
I can't go on, I can't go on, no more no
Enough is enough is enough
I want him out, I want him out that door now

Goodbye mister, goodbye, goodbye mister, goodbye sugar

It's raining, it's pouring
There's nothing left for us here
And we won't waist another tear

No more tears
Is enough is enough is enough is enough
Is enough is enough is enough is ENOUGH!!!

[simontowers2]

Agadoo - black lace