Me-against-the-world music.

[saxikath]

You know, when I need something to make me feel like I can take on the world, "Defying Gravity" from Wicked is pretty damn good.

It doesn't much motivate me to take on the badly written test I'm supposed to be editing, but at least it makes me feel better.

What songs do you out there in LJ land find motivating?

(Edit: Okay, I really need to make myself a "songs to kick ass to" mix, for when I need motivation/energy/desire to get out there and do something.)

Comments

[meranthi.livejournal.com]

La Vie Boheme - from Rent.
most of the stuff from _Fallen_ by Evanescence.
Why Does the Sun Shine? - They Might Be Giants (actually, lots of TMBG)

It frequently changes, but presently...

[stevie-stever.livejournal.com]

My Friend - Take 6 featuring Ray Charles
Ch'ella mi creda libero e lontano - Placido Domingo
Solitaire - The Commodores
Nightshift - The Commodores
Dust in the Wind - Kansas
Jupiter - The Bringer of Jollity, Holst
Saturn - The Bearer of Old Age, Holst
You and I - Stevie Wonder
Free - Stevie Wonder
Dark n' Lovely - Stevie Wonder
Il mio tesoro intanto - Anyone who IMO sings it well
Make them hear you, Wheels of a Dream, and Back to Before, all from Ragtime

[sanpaku.livejournal.com]

A number of things from Stereolab. If it's work while also feeling oppressed, Beck's Mutations always reminds me of working QC at DLI until 10 at night, since for some reason Adam kept it around the office. (You couldn't listen to it while having to listen to all 25 minutes of some French recording to make sure there were no sound glitches...)

[greenlily.livejournal.com]

"Ordinary Day" (Great Big Sea)
probably some other stuff...let me think about it. :)

[cazique.livejournal.com]

"Pretty Fly For a White Guy" gets me revved up, content notwithstanding. Same with "Comfort Eagle" by Cake.

[acroarcs.livejournal.com]

The big one for me is "Faint" by Linkin Park. If I'm just going for taking on the world and not being particularly nice about it, anyway.

The first ones that come to mind

[rikchik.livejournal.com]

Gimme The Prize by Queen (including Highlander clips)
St. Elmo's Fire by John Parr (yes, the movie theme)
Gakuen No Scarlet (instrumental - Utena's Theme from Shojo Kakumei Utena)

[tahnan.livejournal.com]

Kind of depends on the motivation. Tori Amos singing Leonard Cohen's "Famous Blue Raincoat" is extremely downbeat and depressing, but it's also so overflowing with creativity and power and beauty that it makes me feel like, if someone brought that into the world, I can manage a mere dissertation.

But I do have a 60-song "High Energy" playlist as well. A few samples:

"The Gates", Da Vinci's Notebook
"M.T.A.", the Kingston Trio
"Come On Eileen", Dexy's Midnight Runners
"I'm Still Standing", Elton John
"Heaven on Their Minds", Jesus Christ Superstar
"Break My Stride", Matthew Wilder

And of course "Postcards from Mexico" by Girlyman, by far my most-played song.

songs

[musicwliia.livejournal.com]

I'm totally addicted to Jason Robert Brown's music.

"Hear My Song" (from Songs for a New World and "Music of Heaven" (off his latest CD) are very encouraging songs that help pick me up when I'm blue and help me get back on track.

In terms of getting work done, I listen to the soundtrack to "Pirates of the Caribbean" all the time. It's less distracting since it's instrumental, but still very energizing.

[saxikath]

Ooh. "Postcards from Mexico." Must remember to buy that.

Re: songs

[ironrat.livejournal.com]

The Pirates of the Caribbean soundtrack is very energizing, I'll second that.

[gnomi.livejournal.com]

"Istanbul Not Constantinople"

It also features on my hypothetical "music to chop vegetables to" playlist.

[hahathor.livejournal.com]

"People Who Died" by Jim Carroll. If Jim can take that much tragedy and make it into an anthem of rage & power, then I can take anything that life throws at me.

Re: It frequently changes, but presently...

[meranthi.livejournal.com]

Ooh, the Planets is good. I didn't think of that!

[mlstrm.livejournal.com]

I have to ask about this...does this list include Dana Carvey's "Chopping Broccoli" song?

[elainetyger.livejournal.com]

"Bring Your Whole Crew" - DMX
"Wish You Were Here" - Pink Floyd
"22,000 Days" - Moody Blues
"F You" - a Howard Stern parody of "Hey Jude"

[ennienyc.livejournal.com]

There's too much music that inspires me to list it all.

I was feeling at odds today, and had to smile when "Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now" came on in the store.

[tmcay.livejournal.com]

"Make Your Own Kind of Music" by Mama Cass comes to mind -- though that may be due to its recent prominence on ABC's "Lost."