Music keeps me motivated! What about you?

[Sean Chappell]

Hi all,

I'm fairly new to the forum but I've been reading Steve's blog for a year now and I really like the ideas he puts forth. I've found some ways to take his teachings and apply them to my life and I've discovered a few things that work well for me on my own.

One thing I've found inspirational is music. I listen to a lot of progressive rock. So much of it is about the mind and about using it to improve your life. One gem that I just stumbled across is a song by the band 'Yes'. It's off their 'Union' album from 1991. It's called 'The More We Live (Let Go)' and I found the lyrics to be really pertinent to my life and the teachings that Steve is putting forth. I'd like to share it with you. Here are the lyrics:

You and I can change the world;
The more we live, the more we learn, the more we know.
From this moment on we share the world;
The more we give, the more we love, the more we grow.
The spirit of imagination can lead us through the dark;
The more we see, the more we try, the more we show.
The evidence of our confusion, life has left it's mark;
The more we fear, the more we lie, the more we hide.

As we walk into tomorrow
(Turning away from the path we know)
Holding the future with our hands
(We carry the weight of the world we go)
It's up to you and I -- We hold the key; we hold the answers

All our thoughts of doubt and fear are leaving one by one
The more we live, the more we learn, the more we know.
For each of us the road is clear and life has just begun;
The more we give, the more we love, the more we grow.
It's time to reach the goals we've set for ourselves;
The more we fear, the more we lie, the more we hide.
All we need is just to believe in ourselves;
We face the truth, we see it clear, with no disguise.

Cast away our doubt and sorrow
(Turning away from the past we know)
The Universe at our command
(Conserving the fate of the world we grow)
Together you and I, we hold the key to all the answers

I think this song says it all. Live, love, grow. Fantastic! Here's a link to the song on Youtube if you'd like to hear it for yourself YouTube - Yes - The More We Live (Let Go)

There are a lot of songs that I find have beautiful motivational messages in them. I've found them in really soft ballads, hard rockin' metal anthems and of course crazy progressive rock arias.

I'm curious about what songs help to motivate you. Is there a band with a message that you'd like to share or a particular tune? Don't be afraid to share

[bluelighth]

Currently these are the things I find most inspiring in music:
Transatlantic - Bridge Across Forever(album): Duel with the Devil and Stranger in your Soul, SMPT:e : We All Need Some Light, In Held (twas) In I(a cover of procol harum)
Spock's Beard - the album "Snow"(a concept album), Gibberish from "Day for Night", and in general this band has alot of good stuff...
Marillion - "Beautiful" from the album Afraid of Sunlight
Queen - "The Show Must Go On"

Those are the best examples I could find. Thanks for mentioning "Yes" - I always seem to forget to put them on my "Things I should listen to" list....

Enjoy!

Lee-Orr

[Sean Chappell]

That sounds excellent. I'll have to check out some of the bands you listed. Thanks for sharing

[ohTen]

i'm a musician, so my answer is a bit different.

listening to music is absolutely crucial to staying motivated, no question. when i made the decision to pursue music, the way i listened to music changed. it came to be less of a leisure activity than one of function (i had a lot of apprehensions about this initially, but i actually enjoy listening to music a lot more with this new perspective).

i listen to artists i admire (especially those that I think are "better than" me) and dissect their work until i understand why it is that i admire them. it's an act of setting aside my jealousy of their talent (which in almost all cases is actually the result of a lot of focused energy and effort) and choosing to learn from them instead of trying to be "better than" them. Once I dissect something and understand what makes it good, I find that the elements behind its goodness are really simple. More importantly, it's not so difficult to incorporate those elements into your own playing - if you want to. You can basically do anything with the right amount of time and energy.

So for me, listening to any good music is motivating because it not only makes me a better artist, but makes me more confident in my abilities as an artist. At least half of being a good musician stems from listening - really listening - to a TON of music.

That said, listen to The Mountain Goats. The guy has a way with lyrics, and a lot of his songs are just brimming with Teenage Chutzpah. They kept me sane during some of my most difficult, angsty years and kept my hopeful eye on the future when the present was pretty bleak.

[hugofortin]

Hi,

For me, the song that inspire me is: Die Krupp -I'm alive, here the lyrics:

Where's the hand that guided me
my cry within me is let me be
crossing the endless seas of pain
fighting against torrential rain
it seems pain is the experience in life
I'm sorely
tried by affliction in my life
I have to master this impossible situation
this driving force is my salvation

The world in my arms - I'm alive
Love is pain, pain is strife
In my world - I'm alive
and I can't see danger - anymore

This driving force sets me in strife
that driving force that's in my life
Whatever the pain is - I must survive
determination keeps me alive
this extreme situation makes me realize - I'm alive
it makes me realize it changed my life
Hope is the hand that guided me
secured by the hand that set me free.

YouTube - Die Krupps - "Alive" Live@Paris

Hugo

[Yunapjua]

I love this song. It keeps me focused, and in tune with my goals.

Dream theater - learning to live

There was no time for pain
No energy for anger
Sightlessness of hatred slips away
Walking through winter streets alone
He stops and takes a breath
With confidence and self-control

I look at the world and see no understanding
I'm waiting to find some sense of strength
I'm begging you from the bottom of my heart
To show me understanding

I need to live life
Like some people never will
So find me kindness, find me beauty, find me truth
When temptation brings me to my knees
And I lay here drained of strength
Show me kindness, show me beauty, show me truth

The way your heart sounds
Makes all the difference
It's what decides if you'll endure the pain that we all feel
The way your heart beats
Makes all the difference
In learning to live
Here before me is my soul
I'm learning to live
I won't give up till I've no more to give
No more to give

Listening to the city
Whispering its violence
I set out watching from above
The 90's bring new questions
New solutions to be found
I fell in love to be let down

Once again we dance in the crowd
At times a step away
From a common fear that's all spread out
It won't listen to what you say
Once you're touched you stand alone
To face the bitter fight
Once I reached for love
And now I reach for life

Another chance to lift my life
Free the sensation in my heart
To ride the wings of dreams
Into changing horizons
It brings inner peace within my mind
As I'm lifted from where I've split my life
I hear an innocent voice
I hear kindness, beauty and truth

The way your heart sounds
Makes all the difference
It's what decides if you'll endure the pain that we all feel
The way your heart beats
Makes all the difference
In learning to live
Spread before you is your soul
So forever hold the dreams within our hearts
Through nature's inflexible grace
I'm learning to live

YouTube - Dream Theater - Learning To Live - Live Bucharest, Romania

(My first post...)

[cacheborn]

I find upbeat music gets me going. Sometimes I even dance to it.
I also find Bach(Brandenburg Concerti in particular) and Vivaldi very uplifting.

Hey Yunapjua
welcome to the forum. Good to have you with us.

[AdamA]

Hi, great thread.

One of my favorite songs:

An' he said: "I went sky diving, I went rocky mountain climbing,
"I went two point seven seconds on a bull named Fu Man Chu.
"And I loved deeper and I spoke sweeter,
"And I gave forgiveness I'd been denying."
An' he said: "Some day, I hope you get the chance,
"To live like you were dyin'."

--chorus to Live Like You Were Dying, sung by Tim McGraw

I also like listening to upbeat tunes when I run that keep me motivated - like Eye of the Tiger from the Rocky movie!

[izorline]

Hello. Tha nks for that post sean. I was looking for somewhere to write something on the forums for the first time and you gave me this.

I was looking at the top box above this that keeps telling me to post a message because I haven t yet and I just wanted to tell all of you guys here on the forums thanks for your imspiration.

I downloaded that video too.

Love,
Danny