Sometimes, you have a bad day. Or a bad week, or a bad month—last month of the semester, anyone? When I’m feeling down, stressed or having one of those “what am I doing with my life?” moments, it always helps to listen to encouraging music. If you’re in need of some cheering up, here’s ten songs to remind you that it’s all going to be okay.
1. Punch Brothers: "Forgotten"
“Hey there, it’s all gonna be fine. You ain’t gonna die alone, you ain’t gonna be forgotten.” For when everyone has a girlfriend/boyfriend but you. It’s all gonna be fine, just listen to this banjo playing…
2. Brooke Fraser: "Kings and Queens"
“We’ve got a long way to go, but we got the energy.” Studying until 3 a.m. for your upcoming final? You got this. You got the energy. You’re a king, you’re a queen!
3. Ellie Goulding: "Don’t Panic"
“When love’s not playing out like the movies, [that] doesn’t mean it’s falling apart.” Let’s face it, if we all had lives like the movies, everything would turn out pretty great. But that’s not life. That’s a movie. Take a deep breath. You don’t have to be perfect.
4. Johnnyswim: "Don’t Let it Get You Down"
“Oh, this could be the part, the part of you, you wanna be.” If someone’s criticizing you for following your dreams, don’t let it get you down. Shout out to all the art, theater, history and English majors. You’ll find a job. Don’t fret.
5. The Mowgli’s: "I’m Good"
“I’m good. I’m good, I’m good, I’m good. Living life just like I should…” Just forcing yourself to sing along to this chorus is an instant pick me up.
6. Gungor: "Let it Go"
“If there’s anything that holds you down, just forget it. Keeping your feet on the ground, don’t you let it.” Let go of that dark cloud that won’t leave you alone. Don’t let negativity ruin your day-to-day life!
7. We The Kings: "Just Keep Breathing"
“When you watch the world just turn away, and break the promises it made. When love is all too hard to hold, just take a breath and let it go…” When stressed, repeat this to yourself like Dory’s mantra in "Finding Nemo"—just keep breathing, just keep breathing, just keep breathing.
8. Shawn McDonald: "We Are Brave"
“We’re not defined by the fall, we get back up—keep pressing through these walls… ‘Cause we are brave.” Solidarity with all of humankind. We are resilient, so get back up after your last failure and succeed.
9. Karmin: "Along the Road"
“Although this is the end, broken hearts are meant to mend, and I know we’ll meet again – along the road.” The ultimate song for after a breakup to get you back on your feet.
10. Louis Armstrong: "What a Wonderful World"
“And I think to myself, what a wonderful world.” The pinnacle of cheering-up songs. Take a page from the book of Louis Armstrong—I mean, look at that face, he looks exceedingly joyous in almost every photograph I could find—and appreciate the beauty in the little things.
If you need some musical reassurance that things will work out, you can listen to my "It's Gonna Be Okay" Spotify playlist.
