Arts Entertainments

Top 10 Inspirational Songs

Any such list has to be personal, so what I offer is a list of songs, some of which you can easily remember, some of which may be on the edge of your memory… but songs that have a lyrical that will promote reflection and possibly inspire action.

Of course, it would be easy to go for the obvious “You lift me up” in its various incarnations or “I think I can fly,” which is pretty obvious in its visuals, but I’ve decided to take this top ten list in a less obvious direction.

So without further ado

In the number…

10: The Living Years of Mike and the Mechanics

Written by Mike Rutherford and BA Robertson

This bittersweet song about a young man reflecting on the loss of his father and how he wishes he had said more is really about the way we take the people around us for granted; never saying what we want or mean when we could or should.

The refrain “I wish I could have told you, in the years of life” is a call to action for all of us who need to tell those we care about how much we care. It’s about doing it NOW. inspiring ACTION.

9: If Tomorrow Never Comes by Garth Brooks

Written by Garth Brooks and Kent Blazey

I wasn’t going to include this because it’s so similar in theme to the song at number 10. I actually think the Mike and The Mechanics song is a better song, but since it’s supposed to be about inspiration and not loss, the feeling of telling someone you love them when you want to tell them sits most comfortably on this list.

“If tomorrow never comes, she would know how much I love her”

Garth Brooks’ version is superior to Ronan Keeting’s version in my opinion.

8: You Are The Voice: John Farnham

Written by Andy Qunta, Keith Reid, Maggie Ryder and Chris Thompson

This anthem for self-actualization is not just about acknowledging your own power and responsibility, but also a call for a generation to get involved.

“We have the opportunity to turn the pages, to write what we want to write!

It is not simply a call to action, but a call to arms.

7: Being: Diamond Niel

Written by Neil Diamond

Packed with underlying spiritual themes, this song written for the film adaptation of Jonathan Livingston Seagull touches the heart. A call for us to BE…

“:Like a page that yearns for a word, that talks about a subject that is silent”

6: If Everyone Cared: Nickleback

Written by Danie Adair, Michael Kroeger, Chad Kroeger

A contemporary rock song that begins as a declaration of love for another person and then moves beyond the feelings you have for each other and considers what the world would be like if we left behind some of the petty jealousy and ego.

“If everyone cared and no one cried, if everyone loved and no one lied!

5: So Little: Carrie Underwood

Another country song, country artists can do these things very well. Here Carrie asks us to step back and gain perspective on our problems and challenges. Good advice.

Carrie Underwood, Luke Laird, Hillary Lindsey

“Because sometimes the mountain you’ve been climbing is just a grain of sand!

4: In the arms of an angel: Sarah McLachan

Written by Sarah McLachlan

Adopted by many New Age people as a hymn to ‘the angels’, this song is much more than that. It is a song of longing, of being able to trust, of letting go and moving away from the mundane. The angel can be a member of the heavenly treasury. it can be a lover or it can be the dream of someone who can be there for you.

“You are in the arms of an angel, may you find some comfort here”

3: Holy Land: Traffic

Written by Jim Capaldi, Steve Winwood, Davey Spillane

The sound of the Illean flutes opens this song with so much longing, so much heart. It is time that we start thinking about the land we stand on, the land we build on… the land that supports, what’s more, it’s about the relationship we have with the land and how it is a mirror of the way in that we consider and respect ourselves and others, we are our own sacred ground.

“What are we doing to this sacred heart, the heart that beats for all of us?”

2: Don’t Give Up: Peter Gabriel and Kate Bush

A song that is as relevant today as when it was written. A song of economic crisis, loss of dreams, aspirations and careers. This song would be about depression if it weren’t for the chorus that Kate Bush sings. We are reminded not to ‘give up’. For me this song is about hope, inner strength and the strength that we can give each other, help and support. The image in the video of Kate and Petter holding each other, singing this song is a simple but powerful image of ‘togetherness’ and perhaps, the kind of relationship that the romantic in me desires. Say and make sense of words of mutual support – from the heart.

“Don’t give up because somewhere there is a place where we belong”

1. Kualan Kawaihae: Israel Kamakawiwo’ole

Sometimes words are not important, it is the heart in music that transcends language. Israel Kamaakawiwo’ole (IZ) had that something that moves you inside. It would have been too easy to put his version of Somewhere Over the Rainbow and Beautiful World here, I just wanted to make you think beyond what you already know.

Songs so inspiring – songs that inspire feelings, provoke and promote positive affirmative action. That has been my focus for this list and I hope some of the options have sparked thoughts in you.

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