It’s been a crazy month for me, and I’m trying to stay focused on the good stuff (great new job, REALLY great) that’s been going on in my life, rather than the bad (got my heart broken. Bastard.).
I’d like to compile a list of songs along the lines of:
Chumbawamba’s - Tubthumping
Folk Implosion - Natural One
Eminem - Lose Yourself
Tears for Fears - Shout
Scorpions - The Zoo
Icicle Works - Whisper to a Scream
I’ll listen to most any kind of music, Rap is my new favorite, though. Thanks in advance to you all.
Survivor - Eye of the Tiger
Stan Bush - You Got the Touch
Stan Bush - Dare
Europe - The Final Countdown
Patti Smith (Smyth?) - The Warrior
DVDA - Now You’re A Man
Gloria Gaynor - I Will Survive (although the song has been reduced to a cliche and a tired karaoke standard; I greatly prefer the cover version by Cake.)
I agree with you on the Gloria Gaynor version, and you’re right, the Cake version is much better(and the song reminded me that the ex still has the keys to my place, dammit).
The others were good, but I’d like songs more bass-y and less keyboard-y.
OK then, how about Queen’s “Another One Bites the Dust” or Queen and David Bowie’s collaboration, “Under Pressure” for “bass-y”? Both have the rousing musical qualities and uplifting “I can do this!” lyrical content you want, plus legendary basslines courtesy of Mr. John Deacon.
My favorite survival/“against the odds” song is “Mary Ellen Carter”. It’s a traditional tune–I prefer Amberhawke’s performance, but there are other good renditions out there.
Not to mention that there’s a pretty cool faithful-yet-edgier cover out right now by (I think) My Chemical Romance and The Used.
And somebody actually used the phrase “against all odds,” but didn’t actually point out the Phill Collins song of that name. Maybe not your style cup of tea, but pretty decent for your theme.
When I was a teenager I made a mix tape of such songs for a friend who was going through tough times. I only remember a couple of them now:
“Mind Over Matter.” I forget the name of the chick who sang it, but it was featured in the movie “Summer School.”
“Invincible” by Pat Benatar.
I can’t think of many recent examples, as I don’t listen to much popular music these days. There is a song called, IIRC, “Finest Hour” on the latest Duran Duran. Also “I Ain’t Going Down” or something like that by Shania Twain.
