But first a little picture.
I'm not sure where I got this picture from. I assume I found it when I google image searched something to do with music at some point. Now it lives on my hard drive. I think it's super cute. I would love a music outfit like that. Although I don't know where I'd wear it. Anyway, onwards with the music...
Maria by Blondie
This is one of my all-time favourite songs. I find the opening lyrics absolutely liberating and inspiring. They are:
She moves like she don't care,
Smooth as silk,cool as air.
Love, love, love it. Obviously the girl in question does care deeply about things, but she moves like she doesn't care about what other people think of her. Genius. That's how every girl wants to be I think. The rest of the song is catchy and talks about how awesome Maria is and how you wanna take her home and make her yours. At one point the lyrics are: "Don't you wanna break her?" which obviously isn't as uplifting, but I tend to just ignore that bit and instead loudly sing along with the next chorus... "Mariiiiiiiiiiiiaaaaaaaaaaaa..." :D Incidentally I'm not really sure what the lyrics of the chorus are as it is one bit I never quite understand when I listen to it. PS: I have an ex boyfriend who used to call me Maria (it's my middle name). I loved the song before I met him, but it just made it extra special. :)
Rooftop by Sasha
Another oldie but a goodie. This one's from 2002 I think. I'd forgotten that his song existed when it came up on my mp3 player which was on shuffle. I'm not entire sure what it is I'm meant to shout from the rooftops. Possibly "Here I go". I don't think it matters when the song contains lines such as:
Doesn't matter what they
You do your own thing anyway.
and:
To spend a little ain't no crime,
Please yourself from time to time.
We all get caught out in the pouring rain
We get we the same doesn't matter, no, no.
and of course the two variants of the chorus:
Ain’t nothing better
Than a heartbeat over mind.
So shout it from the rooftop, here I go.
Beat it on the backdoor of your soul.
Walking on a tightrope, don’t you know
Takes you higher, takes you higher.
Dancing on the sidewalk, let it go.
Jumping on a fast train, nice and slow.
Surfing on the backbeat, no control.
Takes you higher, takes you higher.
It's just such an up-beat song. It reminds me to by myself and that it doesn't matter what other people think of what I do, "it's only someone's point of view." :P
PS: I was especially delighted to hear this song on my mp3 player because previously my mp3's shuffle mode seemed to have an unhealthy (and slightly depressing) obsession with playing Sasha's Lonely. You know, the song that goes: "I feel lonely, lone-, lone-, lone-, lone-, lone-ly, You're the one and only that makes me feel so blue. Definitely not Radical Self Love Month material that one.
Suddenly I See by KT Tunstall
This song is on a "Chickflick Soundtrack" compilation CD I got from one of my movie-obsessed (male) friends for my last birthday. It is full of awesome, inspirational, love or otherwise, fabulous, strong, delicious, funny, old, new songs. :D This song in particular I had heard before. Everybody has. However when it came up on my mp3 player I really started listening to the lyrics:
Her face is a map of the world, is a map of the world.
You can see she's a beautiful girl, she's a beautiful girl.
Everything around her is a silver pool of light
The people who surround her feel the benefit of it
It makes you calm
She holds you captivated in her palm.
Such a strong opener. Who doesn't want to be like that girl? I think the chorus:
Suddenly I see (Suddenly I see)
This is what I wanna be etc.
really says it all. The lyrics go on to describe this amazing girl. I love listening to this song as I'm walking home from the bus or on the way to uni and imagining that I am the girl that this song describes. It's such a boost. Of course I am beautiful. Everything around me is a siler pool of light and the people who surround me do feel the benefit of it. It makes me wanna be the best me I can be. Caring, beautiful in all possible ways, full of love for myself and others.
Honourable mentions:
There are worse things I could do from Grease
This is Rizzo's song from Grease. She is one of my favourite characters in the musical (although I kinda love them all...). I am very different from Rizzo. I tend to be overly cautious and not take chances and I am actually a lot like one of the girls she describes that she's not like, so I listen to this song to remind me to come out of my shell and live a little.
I'll be OK by McFly
This song is the on that first got me into listening to McFly I heard it on a flight from Europe back to Perth, via Singapore. The guys looked cute on the video clip, the melody is pretty and catchy and the message is very comforting when I'm having an off day. I listen to this song and I know that I will indeed be OK. :)
I Look Up by Shameem Taheri-Lee
With lyrics such as "I feel like I could have the universe for afternoon tea" (I paraphrased it here) and "My mama told me we were created to show love for one another" plus the opening lines of he chorus:
When I look up, look much higher,
When I look down I see the sky.
this song had to be on my Radical Self Love month playlist. Shameem Taheri-Lee recently graduated from the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) and this song is from her debut album. I'll write more about her in a later blog entry. For now just know that she is awesome and go check out her website and Myspace page.
Here to Stay by Christina Aguilera
There's no doubt Christina Aguilera can sing, has bunches of talent and is absolutely gorgeous. Plus she shares a first name with me. :P So of course she's great. The lyrics for this song are so so perfect for Radical Self Love month! Another song that is also on my playlist for this month is Beautiful, also by Christina Aguiera, of course.
Some Disney Songs
No playlist of mine would be complete without at least one Disney song. Here are some that made it into my Radical Self Love playlist:
Circle of Life from the Lion King, When You Wish Upon a Star from Pinocchio, You'll Be In My Heart from Tarzan, I'll Make A Man Out Of You from Mulan (hey, it's the ultimate in motivational songs), Go the Distance from Hercules (ditto), A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes from Cinderella, Just Beyond the Riverbend from Pocahontas (to remind me to keep looking ahead), and occasionally Out There from the Hunchback of Notre Dame to remind me how lucky I am and how amazing this world we live in is and how easily it is to get complacent and stop being in awe of the things that seem everday and common and boring to us.
Take It Easy, Take It To The Limit and New Kid In Town by the Eagles
The Eagles have of course written many classic rock songs. These three made it onto my RSL playlist for their good advice. The first two are also quite optimistic while the third one is a little melancholy. Take it easy in particular makes me giggle with the opening line of:
Well, I'm a runnin' down the road tryin' to loosen my load
I got seven women on my mind;
Four that wanna own me,
Two that wanna stone me,
One says she's a friend of mine.
The reason this makes me giggle is that I suspect I just had a close escape from being one of the first two and have landed safely back in the saying I'm a friend of a guy who no doubt has me on my mind along with a couple of other women. :P
Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien by Edith Piaf
My mum used to sometimes sing it when I was little, so I knew the lyrics even before I knew what they meant, but I think this is a great song to live by.
Leb Deinen Traum from the Digimon Soundtrack
Don't laugh, this song is really inspirational. I've never heard the English version, but the German title literally means: Live your dream.
Take her to Sea Mr Murdoch from the Titanic Soundtrack
This one's an instrumental. It's very rousing and for me personally it brings back happy memories of playing it in an orchestra a few years ago. We played a Titanic medly and it contained all the major themes from the movie. It finished with a really cheesy version of My Heart will go On complete with drumkit. Such fun! :D
I Can Wait from the Hairspray Soundtrack
This song didn't end up making it into the movie but I absolutely love it. The message is to do all you can to achieve your dreams but that you can't rush fate.
It's My Life by Bon Jovi
Of course. This staple of mass singalongs in the clubs is also great to belt out in the bedroom or car or any place really... It's guaranteed to make you feel awesome.
Soak Up the Sun by Cheryl Crow
I'm gonna soak up the sun, I'm gonna tell everyone to lighten up...
It's Funny by Junia
It's funny, so funny, come on keep smiling honey, we wanna show that we got style!
Keep on Movin' by 5ive
Get on up when you're down...
Bitch by Meredith Brooks
Girls Just Wanna Hav Fun by Cindy Lauper
Life is What you Make it by Mishelle Branch
(You Just) Believe in You by Princessa
You just believe in you and after time you'll see you underestimate your capability...
Stand up (for the Champions) by Right Said Fred and Ready For the Victory by Modern Talking
These two are just good for some hyping up of oneself. Stand up for me COS I AM THE CHAMPION and of course I'm totally ready for the victory in whatever form it may come...
These are just a few of the songs on my Radical Self Love Playlist. Of course I have many many more songs in my playlist and I also listen to a lot of classical music which is fabulous. I know this blog goes on forever, so congratulations if you made it to the end. :D Don't forget to make your own Radical Self Love Playlist if you haven't done so already.
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