List of Songs that inspire you or motivate you.

[Calculusaurus]

Originally Posted by Gavin

Piano Concerto No.2 in C minor - Sergei Rachmaninov


Aaaaggh, these three masterpieces are sheer bliss.

Indeed - one of the most romantic pieces ever written. Sends chills down my spine every time.

[Nova]

Audio bullys -- essential mix 11.09.2005
It's a 2 hour long masterpiece. It isn't high level inspirational or motivational music. It is just pure raw energy pounding in your body making you scream "oooooooh yeaaaaah"

[Light]

Originally Posted by Gavin

WOW, your musical diversity is amazing. Great stuff!

Thanks. I maintain a large collection of music. (Approximately 38.6 days worth )

[Mark Lapierre]

I agree with Gavin, great collection Light

Originally Posted by skinnyninja

If you've never heard any trance, then Paul Oakenfold's "Tranceport" is a good place to start. If you really don't like that album, then you can pretty much write off the entire genre.

I don't agree. Trance is much more varied than any one example of the genre could encompass.

Orbital's 'Halcyon + on + on' is a wonderfully uplifting piece of music. If I ever want to put myself in a good mood I'll play that, or one of:

Infected Mushroom - Dancing with Kadafi (song)
Denki Groove - Niji (song)
Delerium - Poem (album)
Delerium - Karma (album)
The Postal Service - Give up (album)
Explosions in the Sky - The Rescue (album)

Or finally, any of Ben Folds' music, not because it's particularly uplifting, but simply because I love it

Here's the lyrics to my favourite song from Delerium's Poem:

A Poem for Byzantium:
Unbidden shadows of you formed yesterday
I ran away to a room here on the bay
Interrupted life again, another new beginning
Where the silence echoes you're no longer with me

Here and now, i feel that i'm embracing freedom
Even though i may be alone, but that's ok

Through the darkness i would walk in the streets
Confessions never seemed to provide me with a release
Held me down and tried to cure me tried to give me reason
But nothing could separate this burdened mind from me

Here and now, i feel that i'm embracing freedom
Even though i may be alone, but that's ok
And looking out to a different sky will disengage me
Absence is never the answer, i know, but it serves as my shade

I do not seek and do not intend to find
A calmer ocean or a sun that never will rise
My world will never change and time will bring you to my thoughts
And i'll move on and then forget you all over again
Moving on, i can forgive you all over again

Here and now, i feel that i'm embracing freedom
Even though i may be alone, but that's ok
And looking out onto a different sky it seems so easy
Absence is never the answer, i know, but it serves as my shade

[ava]

Light, Gavin and Karma Police, you have good taste in music and have given me new songs to try

here's some of my favourites:

sigur ros - star alfur
bjork - all is full of love (guy sigsworth mix! or regular mix)
blur - the universal
bright eyes - pull my hair
bjork - it's in our hands
bonobo - terrapin
air - playground love
rogue wave - eyes
coldplay - see you soon
sigur ros - hoppipolla
bright eyes - take it easy
the postal service - clark gable
architecture in helsinki - maybe you can owe me
smashing pumpkins -1979
the flaming lips - do you realize?
van morrison - sweet thing
coldplay - yellow
nico - these days
bob dylan - buckets of rain
faces - ooh la la
the postal service - such great heights
bright eyes - first day of my life
bright eyes - bowl of oranges
stars - ageless beauty: the most serene republic mix
the strokes - what ever happened
feist - mushaboom (postal service mix)
daft punk - make love
the shins - when you notice the stripes
broken social scene - lovers spit
telepopmusik - breathe
obidiah parker - hey ya
the cure - close to me
new order - age of consent
m83 - teen angst
the arcade fire - rebellion (lies)
bright eyes - falling out of love at this volume
broken social scene -almost crimes
louis armstrong - what a wonderful world

these have a bit of a sad feel to them but are gorgeous:

bright eyes - amy in the white coat
elliot smith - angeles (good will hunting soundtrack)
aphex twin - avril 14th
weezer - butterfly
death cab for cutie - a lack of colour
the moldy peaches - nothing came out
imogen heap - hide and seek
broken social scene - I'm still your fag
iron and wine - such great heights
death cab for cutie - summer skin
bjork - unravel
sufjan stevens - the dress looks nice on you
david gray - please forgive me: live acoustic
kimya dawson - reminders of then
death cab for cutie - brothers on a hotel bed
van morrison - I'll be your lover too
jefferson airplane - comin back to me
counting crows - colorblind
ryan adams - halleluja
radio head - talk show host
unkle - lonely souls
radio head - blow out
radio head - exit music for a film
gary jules - mad world
sigur ros - njosnavelin (nothing song)

and so many more... ANYTHING by Sigur Ros. If you like any of these, let me know what else you like, I LOVE music like this!

[StrangestTribe]

This song always puts things in perspective for me:

Pearl Jam - Present Tense

do you see the way that tree bends?
does it inspire?
leaning out to catch the sun's rays
a lesson to be applied
are you getting something out of this all encompassing trip?
you can spend your time alone, redigesting past regrets, oh
or you can come to terms and realize
you're the only one who can't forgive yourself, oh
makes much more sense to live in the present tense
have you ideas on how this life ends?
checked your hands and studied the lines
have you the belief that the road ahead ascends off into the light?
seems that needlessly it's getting harder
to find an approach and a way to live
are we getting something out of this all-encompassing trip?
you can spend your time alone redigesting past regrets, oh
or you can come to terms and realize
you're the only one who cannot forgive yourself, oh
makes much more sense to live in the present tense

[elainevdw]

Yatta! by Happa Tai.

Especially in the music video, where they dance around wearing nothing but "G! R! Double E! N! Leaves!"

[Light]

Originally Posted by Mark Lapierre

Explosions in the Sky - The Rescue (album)

The Rescue is good, but slightly different fron their other stuff since it was all written and recorded in a week or two. I saw them live with Adem and a local band, Mr. 1986.

Originally Posted by ava

Light, Gavin and Karma Police, you have good taste in music and have given me new songs to try

I see you like Bright Eyes. I live near Omaha, where they're from. In fact, I'm going to be seeing them in December (followed by two nights in a row seeing The Faint, who puts on an amazing show).

I'll list some good albums here:
Conduction. Convection. Radiation. - 1 Mile North, Colophon, The Wind-Up Bird (it's a split)
Bitter Hands Resign - A Northern Chorus
Spirit Flags - A Northern Chorus
"This is Our Punk Rock," Thee Rusted Satellites Gather+Sing - A Silver Mount Zion
Love and Other Planets - Adem
In a Safe Place - The Album Leaf (Sigur Rós actually collaborates on half of the album)
Sugar - Aloha
Here Comes Everyone - Aloha
American Football - American Football
Andrew Bird and the Mysterious Production of Eggs - Andrew Bird
81:03 - Antarctica
Low Level Owl: Volume I - The Appleseed Cast
Low Level Owl: Volume II - The Appleseed Cast
Funeral - The Arcade Fire
Relationship of Command - At the Drive-In
Sea Change - Beck
Business Casual - Beep Beep
Recording a Tape the Colour of the Light - Bell Orchestre
Vespertine - Björk
Silent Alarm - Bloc Party
Music by Cavelight - Blockhead
Burn Piano Island, Burn - The Blood Brothers
Music Has the Right to Children - Boards of Canada
Ambient 1: Music for Airports - Brian Eno
Fevers & Mirrors - Bright Eyes
Broken Social Scene - Broken Social Scene
You Forgot it in People - Broken Social Scene
Songs About Leaving - Carissa's Wierd (good music, but of a rather depressing nature)
Parachutes - Coldplay
En Garde - Criteria
The Storms Of Early Summer: Semantics Of Song - Cursive
Rehersals for Departure - Damien Jurado
O - Damien Rice
Something About Airplanes - Death Cab for Cutie
Push the Heart - Devics
Emergency & I - Dismemberment Plan
In Tune and On Time - DJ Shadow
& Yet & Yet - Do Make Say Think
Goodbye Enemy Airship the Landlord is Dead - Do Make Say Think
Violence in Snowy Fields - Dolorean
Talk Amongst the Trees - Eluvium
Accidental Memory in the Case of Death - Eluvium
...For and Acted Upon Through Diversions - Emery Reel
Demure - Engine Down
Infinite Keys - Ester Drang
The Earth is Not a Cold Dead Place - Explosions in the Sky
Those Who Tell the Truth Shall Die, Those Who Tell the Truth Shall Live Forever - Explosions in the Sky
Wet From Birth - The Faint
Blank Wave Arcade - The Faint
The View From This Tower - Faraquet
Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots - The Flaming Lips
The Colour and the Shape - Foo Fighters
Rounds - Four Tet
Eph - Fridge
A Lull in Traffic - The Gloria Record
Start Here - The Gloria Record
F#A#∞ - Godspeed You Black Emperor
Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennas to Heaven - Godspeed You Black Emperor
Slow Riot for New Zero Kanada EP - Godspeed You Black Emperor
Yanqui U.X.O. - Godspeed You Black Emperor
Turn the Bright Lights On - Interpol
The Creek Drank the Cradle - Iron and Wine
Our Endless Numbered Days - Iron and Wine
Woman King - Iron and Wine
Panopticon - Isis
I Will Return - J. Tillman
Cellar Door - John Vanderslice
Pixel Revolt - John Vanderslice
Veneer - José González
Lisbon - Keith Fullerton Whitman
Drum's Not Dead - Liars
The Great Destroyer - Low
Things We Lost in the Fire - Low
The Curtain Hits the Cast - Low
Transfiguration of Vincent - M. Ward
Before the Dawn Heals Us - M83
Dead Cities, Red Seas and Lost Ghosts - M83
Six Demon Bag - Man Man
The Language of Cities - Maserati
All Day EP - Mates of State
Team Boo - Mates of State
Our Constant Concern - Mates of State
Memory House - Max Richter
The Blue Notebooks - Max Richter
[A -> B] Life - Me Without You
Catch For Us the Foxes - Me Without You
A Data Learn the Language - The Mercury Program
All the Suits Begin to Fall Off - The Mercury Program
From the Vapor of Gasoline - The Mercurt Program
Time to Pretend - MGMT
Highly Refined Pirates - Minus the Bear
Good News for People Who Love Bad News - Modest Mouse
The Moon and Antarctica - Modest Mouse
Come On Die Young - Mogwai
Happy Songs for Happy People - Mogwai
Mr. Beast - Mogwai
Rock Action - Mogwai
One More Step and You Die - Mono
You Are There - Mono
Collective Efforts - Mr. 1986 and Tie These Hands (split)
Bring Me the Workhorse - My Brightest Diamond (lead singer does some back up for Sufjan Stevens)
Lichter - The Notwist
Neon Golden - The Notwist
Shrink - The Notwist
The EP - Owen
Hide the Kitchen Knives - The Paper Chase
Young Bodies Heal Quickly, You Know - The Paper Chase
Misanthropos - Paria
Control - Pedro the Lion
Winners Never Quit - Pedro the Lion
Australasia - Pelican
The Fire in Our Throats Will Beckon the Thaw - Pelican
Give Up - The Postal Service
Different Damage - Q and Not U
No Kill No Beep Beep - Q and Not U
Systems/Layers - Rachel's
Amnesiac - Radiohead
Hail to the Thief - Radiohead
Kid A - Radiohead
OK Computer - Radiohead
Classics - Ratatat
Ratatat - Ratatat
Only With Laughter Can You Win - Rosie Thomas
The Exquisite Death of Saxon Shore - Saxon Shore
Four Months of Darkness - Saxon Shore
One Bedroom - The Sea and Cake
Chutes Too Narrow - The Shins
Oh, Inverted World - The Shins
() - Sigur Rós
ÁgæTis Byrjun - Sigur Rós
Takk - Sigur Rós
Hotel Lives - Simon Joyner
Everywhere and Right Here - The Six Parts Seven
Things Shaped in Passing - The Six Parts Seven
Kill the Moonlight - Spoon
Set Yourself on Fire - Stars
The Tired Sounds of Stars of the Lid - Stars of the Lid
Come on feel the Illinoise - Sufjan Stevens
Greetings From Michigan: The Great Lakes State - Sufjan Stevens
Seven Swans - Sufjan Stevens
Diary - Sunny Day Real Estate
How it Feels to Be Something On - Sunny Day Real Estate
The Rising Tide - Sunny Day Real Estate
Young Mountain - This Will Destroy You
The Eraser - Thom Yorke
Wearing Red - Tie These Hands
TNT - Tortoise
Elephant - The White Stripes
Get Behind Me Satan - The White Stripes
Yankee Hotel Foxtrot - Wilco
Apologies to the Queen Mary - Wolf Parade

(Sorry, I went overboard )

[King Of All Cosmos]

For me, there is one song that gets me excited and pumped like no other. It's just so full of happiness and silliness that it... it... it just I don't know! You could describe it as big band jazz. It's called 'Katamari On The Swing'.

I found a link of it here
(hope that works)

The song isn't sung in english and is from a video game, but don't let that put you off. You might regret it forever.

[Light]

The soundtrack for that game is perfect for the game itself. Very entertaining.

[Calculusaurus]

Originally Posted by King Of All Cosmos

For me, there is one song that gets me excited and pumped like no other. It's just so full of happiness and silliness that it... it... it just I don't know! You could describe it as big band jazz. It's called 'Katamari On The Swing'.

I found a link of it here
(hope that works)

The song isn't sung in english and is from a video game, but don't let that put you off. You might regret it forever.

I always get the dumb theme song to that game in my head.

xkcd - A webcomic of romance, sarcasm, math, and language - By Randall Munroe

[ava]

Originally Posted by Light

I see you like Bright Eyes. I live near Omaha, where they're from. In fact, I'm going to be seeing them in December (followed by two nights in a row seeing The Faint, who puts on an amazing show).

Cool, I saw him in the summer at the outdoor show in Stanley Park here in Vancouver. I loved it but he played a pretty short set, even with encores!

Thanks for all the album suggestions! I have a lot of them so that makes me think I'll like the ones I haven't heard of. (now I know why I like the Album Leaf so much). What's your biggest source for new music?

[Light]

Originally Posted by ava

Cool, I saw him in the summer at the outdoor show in Stanley Park here in Vancouver. I loved it but he played a pretty short set, even with encores!

He played a large outdoor concert in Omaha. The shows that Bright Eyes and The Faint put on around here have a different atmosphere since this is their home town.

Originally Posted by ava

Thanks for all the album suggestions! I have a lot of them so that makes me think I'll like the ones I haven't heard of. (now I know why I like the Album Leaf so much). What's your biggest source for new music?

Biggest source? Whatever I randomly find (via DC++) and Pitchfork isn't bad either.

[Jm4362]

Here's an obscure one. I don't even know who it's by, but it's called "The Happy Song". It's so fun and bubbly.

"I'm so happy,
Feelin' snappy
My life is rosy
I'm feelin' comfy cozy..."

Just a song about waking up in a really good mood--it put me in a great mood when I heard it.

[polk]

Why does the sun shine? - They Might Be Giants

It's just exceptionally wacky, plus informative!, and especially some of the upbeat live versions are just very contagious.

[SuperStar]

just a couple off the top of my head that inspire me:

"Lose Yourself" by Eminem,
"Bring me to life" by evanescence

[fballer11]

electric light orchesta anyone?

[Isis Kali]

Originally Posted by SuperStar

just a couple off the top of my head that inspire me:

"Lose Yourself" by Eminem,
"Bring me to life" by evanescence

Oh, yes. Those are terrific!

I also like:

Seal, "Prayer for the Dying"...actually, practically all of his albums except for Human Beings (he wrote that after being dumped by Tyra Banks)
Bjork, "Army of Me"
Collective Soul, "Run"
Annie Lennox, "The Gift"
VNV Nation, "Fearless"
Des'ree, "You Gotta Be"
Bill Withers, "Lovely Day"
Al Jarreau, "Morning"
Duran Duran, "Breath After Breath"

I'll probably think of more...

[dorothy hanna]

I'm all over the map when it comes to music, but I really, really love Victor Hugo's, SWEET MYSTERY OF LIFE.

Ah! Sweet mystery of life, at last I found thee.
Ah! At last I know the secret of it all,
All the longing, seeking, striving, waiting yearning,
The idle hopes, the joys, and burning tears that fall!

For tis love and love alone, the world is seeking,
And it's love, and love alone, I've waited for;
My heart has heard the answer to it's calling,
For it is love that rules forevermore!

[Abdullah]

Hmm...too many songs but heres a few:

Alberto Balsalm - Aphex Twin
Don't Falter - Mint Royale
Pagan poetry - bjork
On and on - longpigs
Cemetery gates - the smiths
Roots bloody roots - sepultura
Life on mars - david bowie
Accidently on kelly st - frente
The Luckiest Guy on the Lower East Side - Magnetic Fields
High - the cure
Nothing Better - Postal Service
But Not Tonight - Depeche Mode
Secret Heart - Ron Sexsmith
Verses from the abstract - A tribe called quest
Why are you being so reasonable now? - Wedding Present
Fight Test - Flaming Lips

Most classical music (with no vocals)

[Julio]

dont have any huge list but some song that realy inspire me are:

Lessons Learn by carrie Underwood
My destiny by Katherine Mcphee
Prince of the Universe by Queen
It's my life by Bon Jovi
I believe I can fly by R.kelly

[Conan Stevens]

What about the :

Wagner - Ride Of The Valkeries
Carmina Burana - O Fortuna


Both very powerful musical pieces.

[Perseus]

Excellent thread, thanks to everyone who posted music, they'll keep me busy for a while! heres a couple from me...

Audioslave - I am a highway
Blur - the universal
Bruce Springsteen - born to run
Bush - Glycerine
cat stevens - the wind
cream - badge
deep purple - highway star
dire straits - sultans of swing
dire straits - brothers in arms
embrace - come back to what you know
feeder - buck rogers
fleetwood mac - dont stop
greenday - good riddance(time of your life)
iggy pop - lust for life
iron maiden - running free
iron maiden - wasted years
jimmy hendrix - little wing
jimmy eat world - a praise chorus
john lennon - instant karma
kiss - crazy crazy nights
led zepplin - Stairway to heaven
lenny kravitz - are you gonna go my way
lynyrd skynyrd - freebird
manic street preachers - motorcycle emptiness
meatloaf - bat out of hell
My chemical romance - the black parade
my chemical romance - cancer
nat king cole - route 66
oasis - whatever
ocean colour scene - the day we caught the train
ocean colour scene - the circle
ozzy osbourne - road to nowhere
queen - we are the champions
Red Hot Chili Peppers - breaking the girl
Rem - at my most beautiful
semisonic - closing time
snow patrol - Run
status quo - rocking all over the world
stereophionics - just looking
supergrass - we are young
allman brothers band - ain't wasting time no more
the beach boys - i get around
the eagles - take it easy
the kooks - she moves in her own way
the rolling stones - jumping jack flash
the undertones - teenage kicks
thin lizzy - whiskey in the jar
thin lizzy - the boys are back in town
travis - happy
the pogues - a rainy night in soho
the pogues - the irish rover
the pogues - fiesta
paul weller - black is the colour

[neoutah]

Check out the sunscreen song. I can't remember who it is by, but it always gives me chills. It's on youtube if you want to see the video. I also always get pumped with Andrew W.K.'s "you will remember tonight".

[Leandro Leme]

I´ve been listening the Quiet Letters cd from Bliss...chill out with great vocals and orchestration.

[PMcDonald]

The two that come to mind right off the bat that I listen to quite often are:

Van Halen - Right Now
Tom Petty - I Won't Back Down

[JAlvy]

This is my "WAKE UP!!!" mix:
1. Be - Common
2. Youth - Matisyahu
3. Galvanize - The Chemical Brothers ft. Q-Tip
4. Changes - 2pac
5. Bittersweet Symphony - Verve

These are songs I like to do cardio to:
1. Jane’s Addiction – Superhero
2. Ok Go – Here It Goes Again
3. The Clash – London Calling
4. Eminem – Encore
5. Fort Minor – Remember the Name
6. Jimmy Eat World – Sweetness
7. Matisyahu – Chop ‘Em Down (live)
8. Radiohead – Electioneering
9. Lemon Jelly - '79 aka The Shouty Track
10. Red Hot Chili Peppers – Tell Me Baby

[Shaden]

The Epilogue of the Halo 2 Soundtrack Volume 2 is a beautiful example of modern classical music.

Good to see so many Sigur Ros fans. I expected nothing less from a forum like this .

[danas]

here are (some of) mine:

Hackensack Fountains Of Wayne
Hot Spot Foxy Brown
Like A Pen -The Knife
Feeling Good- Nina Simone
Madonna- Isaac
Wild Horses- Rolling Stones
By Your Side- Sade
Nancy Ajram - Enta Eih
Cry -Seal
Sinead O'Conner - Emma's Song
Wild Wood- Paul Weller
Irreplaceble- Beyonce
So Solid Party- Lisa Maffia
There is a light that never goes out- The Smiths
The Power Of Good-Bye Madonna
Madonna - Causing A Commotion
Hate It Or Love- It 50 Cent
Angel -Massive Attack
Jewel of Love- Shahram Nazeri
Your Loving Arms -Billy Ray Martin
Heroes -Bowie
Fire In Cairo -The Cure

[pjgat09]

For you metal fans out there,
I believe one of the most influencial songs I have listened to is: Carry on - Angra

I love the guitar and all, but the lyrics are really what caught me, they are (in my opinion) about PD!

Simple minded brain
For now you succumb
Nothing changes your way
This world insists to be the same
Based on our mistakes
The flowers fade along the road
Don't blindfold your eyes,
So loneliness becomes the law
Of a senseless life

Follow your steps and you will find
The unknown ways are on your mind
Need nothing else than just your pride
To get there... Go!

I listen to nearly every genre, from blues to metal to trance, and I have heard a lot of great music that gets me in the mood, or fits with the mood I am in at that time. Some of the songs I have become hooked on lately:

Dance Dance - Fall Out Boy
How to Save a Life - The Fray
How You Remind Me - Nickelback
You and Me - Lifehouse
Harder to Breathe - Maroon 5
Under the Bridge - Red Hot Chili Peppers
Wasting My Time - Default

Of course, theres literally hundreds that I could have listed, those are just a few.