Pump Up the Jam! What Music Motivates You?
Music has an unbelievable power to inspire and motivate us. We have all had moments in our life when a song has picked us up off the ground and got us back into the game or at times has taken us from good to great in business, family or personal lives.
Music has the power to help us focus, relax, laugh & even allow us to cry. Music has the ability to change our emotional state and move us in ways that the spoken word cannot. Sometimes it is just the feeling it gives us or the words within the song get us thinking and challenge us to be better. Many of us have that one song that whenever the “chips are down” we pop it in our iPods and suddenly all is clearer, better, sweeter, happier, livelier, calmer etc…
I would like to know, what is that one song for you? What song gets you going, inspires or has inspired you to “be all you can be”? In addition, we all have a story tied to the song so, what is your story? Or, to put it another way, why is that particular song so moving for you?
Post your answers below.
Be Free!
David Shoup
Instructor
I have too many to pick only a few favorites! On my playlist now:
“Pig on My Head” (Laurie Berkner) A silly kid song, if you feel like you are being too serious, this a good reminder not to.
“Let’s Forget About Tomorrow” and “That’s Life” Sinatra both good to remind me to stay in the moment and to let things go
“You Make Me So Very Happy” Blood Sweat and Tears-Our wedding song, reminds me how thankful I am to have the best husband and marvel at the family we created
“Friends in Low Places” Garth Brooks Just good memories
And for general get moving: Gwen Stefani, Beastie Boys (What’cha Want and Brass Monkey), Fun Lovin Criminals, Will Smith (Gettin Jiggy With It), Tone Loc, Paula Abdul, and Vanilla Ice (did I just admit that??
Comment by Loren Barrows — September 29, 2008 @ 8:16 am
There is no shame in jamming our to Vanilla Ice – I would even go as far as to say there is no shame in doing the hammer to “Can’t Touch This”
Comment by Katie — September 29, 2008 @ 8:18 am
Songs that make me dance:
Gold Digger – Kanye West
Switch – Will Smith
This is the Way I Live – Baby Boy
First song I play when I want to run:
Crash (Techno Remix) – DMB
Songs that just pump me up:
Space Lord – Monster Magnet (Go Ricky Bobby!!!)
Seven Nation Army – White Stripes
And lots of Linkin Park
Songs I like to sing & yell to:
Love Reign Over Me – The Who
Live For That Look – Dinosaur Jr.
Karma Police – Radiohead
And one that always makes me smile:
The theme from Animaniacs
Comment by Nickole Koker — September 29, 2008 @ 8:58 am
‘Born to Run’ by The Boss – no real story behind it – it’s just such an epic well written song that it makes me feel great every time I listen to it.
Comment by Jeff Caissie — September 29, 2008 @ 9:42 am
Yikes! How do I narrow this down even a little????
Anything by Cake, but esp “Rock-n-Roll Lifestyle”
“Mystify” and “New Sensation” by INXS
“Rise Today” & “Metallingus” by Alter Bridge
“Let’s Get it On” by Marvin
“Voodoo Child” by Jimi
“Canned Heat” by Jamiriquoi
“Monkey Wrench” by Foo Fighters
“Alive” and “BOOM” by POD
“Vertigo” and “Walk On” by U2
“Walk Away” by Kelly Clarkson
Comment by Blaine Halverson — September 29, 2008 @ 10:38 am
Wow!!! This is awesome. Keep the hits coming, literally. I guess since many have written more than one I will add my top 5 to the list: (In no particular order)
Back on the Train – Phish
- Good times at UNC Grad School w/friend Peter
Hey Ya! – OutKast
- Such a great song to dance to. Totally pumps me up.
Songbird – Eva Cassidy
- The most beautiful song I have ever heard
The Great Adventure – Steven Curtis Chapman
- Gets me excited about life and the goodness that God has planned for me (us).
Firecracker – Josh Turner
Burn – Jodie Messina
- Both remind me of the kind of woman I want to spend my life with & marry. Someone who has passion for life & me.
I have about 20 honorable mentions but, I guess so does most everyone else.
Comment by David Shoup — September 29, 2008 @ 10:40 am
So many songs…
“Seasons” by the Cunninlynquists has helped me out in many a situation.
Lately though, it’s been a lot of Metal
The sheer power and energy of early Iron Maiden “Remember Tomorrow,” “Children of the Damned” “Hallowed be thy Name” this stuff gets me moving.
Comment by Nick Wodka — September 29, 2008 @ 10:41 am
Big Time By Peter Gabriel…Is my “I HAVE ARRIVED MUSIC”!!
Really any song by Hillsong United…An awesome Worship band from Australia. If I start my day snuggling up to God I won’t be chasing him all day! There is really so much awesome Christian music I love..
Everything by Life House…Really puts me in such a place of total surrender and peace. this really tells “the story” cut and paste it’s a great video!!
http://www.godtube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=ee73e63418003b47d7d5
Honky Tonk Badonkadonk…Trace Adkins.. Gets me up and dancing all around the office!!
Thanks for the reminder…..your really awesome I’m blasting the tunes as we speak..my Great Dane thinks I’m crazy!!
Comment by Kelly Avila — September 29, 2008 @ 12:54 pm
Believe by Karen Karsh
“Think of the rivers you already crossed and traveled so far .
Believe you got to know your dreams . Your dreams can happen for you. Work, try don’t give up your dreams can come true. Baby Baby I’m promis’n you….”
Comment by dale rose — September 29, 2008 @ 1:33 pm
P.O.D. Alive – I have so many perfect memories with Alive in my ipod, breathing the thin air, getting ready to rip into a fresh bowl with several feet of new powder. Almost anytime i hear it, it takes me there.
btw.. Loose Yourself by Eminem is my honorable mention for pump up songs…
Comment by Eric Plantenberg — September 30, 2008 @ 8:11 am
My song is I’m Moving on By Rascall Flats. It is about having a hard life, making mistakes, and moving on. It is a very powerful song!
Comment by Rebecca Carr — October 2, 2008 @ 8:47 am
“Walk” by Pantera, really gets me going.
The song is really motivational to me.
It is really heavy and empowering.
To me it holds a powerful message also.
It is about being yourself. Don’t be a tool. Just be real.
Some people are not going to like you, just walk away.
“Be yourself by yourself”
I believe that more people will respect you in the long run for just being yourself and you will make more friends than just trying to be someone your not because in reality; people can see through that.
This song is significant to me because I can tell that when I am completely being real and myself, life becomes a lot easier and I get more posotive feedback from others. Sometimes I feel I need to change myself to be liked or viewed differently but I just end up feeling stupid for doing that and I can tell that people see through that.
Also I get very annoyed by people who are trying too hard to be liked, who are fake, and who are pests.
The song itself is really AWESOME also.
Comment by Ben Bisset — September 12, 2009 @ 1:20 am
I have so many, but to name one I will have to go with Whitney Houston’s “One Moment in Time”…I feel like I can accomplish anything after listening to that song. It’s even better if you watch it on youtube live at the Grammy’s…nothing like it!! The video/song is a great inspiration AND I think you’ll like it David because at the end of the song she says “I will be FREE!!”
Comment by Renique Webster — October 28, 2011 @ 11:19 pm