Life hits hard, but this playlist hits back. From heartbreak to triumph, these tracks will keep you moving, grooving, and bouncing back stronger!
| Title | Artist | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| I’m Still Standing | Elton John | Written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin, this defiant anthem of resilience became iconic with its colorful Cannes-shot music video. |
| A Little Less Conversation (ft. JXL) | Elvis Presley | Written by Mac Davis and Billy Strange, originally for an Elvis movie. The 2002 JXL remix became a global hit thanks to its use in Nike ads. Junkie XL (a.k.a. JXL), born Tom Holkenborg (on 8 December 1967) is a Dutch composer, multi-instrumentalist, DJ, producer, and engineer. |
| Never Gonna Give You Up | Rick Astley | Written by Stock, Aitken, and Waterman, this dance-pop classic became a meme phenomenon as the ultimate Rickrolling anthem. |
| Believe | Cher | Written by Brian Higgins, Paul Barry, and Matt Gray, this Auto-Tune pioneer is a powerful anthem about moving on after heartbreak. |
| Young Hearts Run Free | Candi Staton | Written by David Crawford, this disco classic explores escaping toxic relationships, inspired by Candi Staton’s real struggles. |
| Never My Love | The Association | Written by Don and Dick Addrisi, “Never My Love” is a perfect wedding song, as it is about unrelenting devotion. |
| Marlene on the Wall | Suzanne Vega | Written by Suzanne Vega, this folk-pop song uses Marlene Dietrich as a symbolic figure in a tale of loneliness and self-reflection. Vega really did have a poster of Dietrich on her wall. Marlene Dietrich was a German actress who became an international film star in the 1930s. During World War II, she put her movie career on hold in order to entertain US troops, a move that won her the Medal of Freedom, the highest military award a civilian can receive. Dietrich was 90 years old when she died in 1992. |
| Alone Again Or | Love | Written by Bryan MacLean, this baroque pop/folk masterpiece captures longing and love with intricate orchestration. Love guitarist Bryan MacLean wrote this as a tribute to his mother, who was a flamenco dancer. The group was led by Arthur Lee who was sentenced to 12 years in jail in 1995 for shooting at a neighbour who’d protested at the noise from Lee’s stereo. Writer MacLean left the band to join a Christian ministry. |
| The son of Hickory Holler’s tramp | O.C. Smith | Written by Dallas Frazier, this poignant story-song highlights a woman’s strength in raising her family despite societal judgment. |
| Somebody To Love | Queen | Written by Freddie Mercury, this gospel-inspired rock anthem explores the longing for companionship and emotional connection. |
| Something Got Me Started | Simply Red | Written by Mick Hucknall and Fritz McIntyre, this soulful dance hit depicts the struggle of letting go after a breakup. |
| Can’t Stop | Red Hot Chili Peppers | Written by the Red Hot Chili Peppers, this funky rock anthem celebrates creativity and perseverance with poetic lyrics. |
| Another Way to Die | Jack White & Alicia Keys | Written by Jack White, this Bond theme for Quantum of Solace is gritty and dramatic, mirroring the movie’s intense tone. |
| Cold Little Heart | Michael Kiwanuka | Written by Michael Kiwanuka, this atmospheric track explores love, betrayal, and regret, featured in Big Little Lies. |
| Wild Horses | The Rolling Stones | Written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, this tender ballad captures love, regret, and yearning, a classic Rolling Stones hit. |
| Stand on the Word | Joubert Singers | Written by Phyliss McKoy Joubert, while she was working as the Minister of Music at the First Baptist Church in Crown Heights, New York. The original version was recorded in 1982, credited to The Celestial Choir. In 1985, Joubert and George Rodriguez of the Garden State Record Pool approached Eddie O’Loughlin, the owner of Next Plateau Records, and the pair, along with Humphries, mixed new versions of “Stand On The Word” under the name the Joubert Singers. |
| In the Winter | Janis Ian | Written by Janis Ian, this melancholic ballad about loneliness and heartbreak showcases Ian’s introspective songwriting. |
| White Winter Hymnal | Fleet Foxes | Written by Robin Pecknold, this poetic indie-folk track features vivid imagery and rich harmonies, adding to its mysterious allure. |
| Wrecking Ball | Miley Cyrus | Written by Maureen McDonald, Lukasz Gottwald, et al., this pop ballad delves into heartbreak and vulnerability with an iconic video. Miley Ray Cyrus, born Destiny Hope Cyrus on November 23, 1992, is an American singer, songwriter, actress and daughter of singer Billy Ray Cyrus. Her parents nicknamed her “Smiley”, which they later shortened to “Miley”, |
| Solsbury Hill | Peter Gabriel | Written by Peter Gabriel, this metaphorical tale of life-changing decisions was inspired by Gabriel’s departure from Genesis. |
| Buddy Holly | Weezer | The song, written by lead singer Rivers Cuomo, is about defending a platonic female friend The single was released to radio on September 7, 1994, which would have been Buddy Holly’s 58th birthday. |
| Let’s Stay Together | Al Green | Written by Al Green, Willie Mitchell, and Al Jackson Jr., this soulful anthem celebrates devotion and enduring love. |
Sources
The information sources of the song facts include, but are not limited to, Wikipedia, songfacts.com, discogs.com, secondhandsongs.com, YouTube and artists’ related websites.
