Game: Musical Motivation
 

Hey gang! Felt like livening up the Alternachicks with a game! Remember: Everyone and anyone can be an Alternachick/Alternadude :yes: We're equal opportunity weirdos ;)

Silly experiment time! I see a lot of workout-specific music threads, as well as motivational sayings threads, etc. The aim of this game is a tad different. In fact, this is only a "game" in the very loosest sense of the word (so please forgive me), but who doesn't like games? :twirly:

Are you the type of person who gets lost in music? :love: The type of person whose emotions can be lifted by a good tune or the right lyric? :cloud9:

The point of this thread will be for those times when we need a little musical pick-me-up. We'll be able to scroll through the songs, click on the links and experience a quick rush that sometimes only music can provide. We may like the song, we may not, but we might be able to find some songs we'd never have thought to listen to before!

The Game: Easy rules, promise! :) Simply listen to the previous song linked, and give your thoughts on it. (Do try to find something good about it even if it's not your cup of tea or coffee... :coffee2:) Then, post a link to a song or tune that either makes you feel positive about losing weight or helps you feel determined to lose weight. Anything goes, no genre discouraged. :listen: As long as you give a little info explaining why that particular song of the moment is giving you good vibes :goodvibes Please no "playlist dumping" as that's not really a game that's just making a list. This is about a song of the moment that is particularly uplifting and/or motivational to you, as well as giving other songs a chance!

Anyone is welcome to come back at any time to reply and post another song! :D Whenever the mood strikes!

I'll start the game off in the first reply post...

Secret Garden - Elan

This song makes me think of twirling and running through a meadow on a warm day with the sun shining down over everything! It makes me imagine wearing a long flowing skirt and an airy top while dancing around at goal weight. ^-^

Lovely - Ah, the music reminds me a bit of something I'd hear in Game of Thrones :) Probably not something I'd throw on my iPod to listen to regularly (I like to be able to sing along :) ) but it did put me in a good mood.

Breaking Benjamin - Until The End

So my pick is pretty much the exact opposite in sound/tone than the peaceful tune posted above, but the reason I picked it is pretty obvious from the lyrics. The song is about a struggle to get to the end and I especially like the lines:

'Why give up? Why give in?
It's not enough, it never is
So I will go on until the end'

We all have those times where we think that we might not get to our goal, or that no matter how hard we try the weight's just not coming off, etc. I also like it because when I work out, I like rock songs because I feel like the music is kicking my butt with the screams and intensity of the song. Kind of weird, I know ^^'

Michi - I do like me some Breaking Benjamin. :yes: I, too, appreciated the lyrics. Especially the "I've lost my way, but I will go on until the end" and the repetition of "The final fight I'll win." I like that not-giving-up feel to it, regardless of what's going on. Thanks for posting it! :) I know I'll be listening to it, again.

Florence+The Machine - Drumming Song

Now, the lyrics probably are more relationship-based, but I absolutely love this tune. The beat on it is amazing, and it's great for making me want to get up and dance around. And even if the lyrics are more about another person, I can't help but sing along. ;)

I love Florence + The Machine. We saw them at Bonnaroo and they are just amazing. And, seriously, how tall is she? Her legs go on for days!

Great song!

Here's my pick. I am a huge fan of My Morning Jacket. They don't do traditional music videos, so here's the best live video I can find:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFyelklEanQ

This song speaks to me about being comfortable in your own skin, living in the moment, being alive and present. LOVE. :D

lol Spooky! I know what you mean about her legs. Holy moly, do they ever end?!

@bout - Wonderful (The way I feel) - Oh I love it! It's so sweet and easy to listen to. And the opening lyrics are completely spot on for me. I actually like that version, it seems so personal with the acoustics in the empty stadium.

My next pick is a little silly:

Mika - Big Girl (You Are Beautiful)

It's just a fun song, with a silly video and it always makes me laugh and picks me up.

OMG! Lovely, I love dancing to Big Girl You Are Beautiful on Just Dance 2 :) Hahaha it's just a lot of fun and reminds me of the song I'm gonna post below a little. I kind of like it too because even when I get to my goal weight, I want to have a little 'extra' because I love the voluptuous pin-up sort of look :D

Queen - Fat Bottomed Girls

I mean, how could I not follow up with this? This makes me feel good to be big and no matter what size you are, if you have confidence and are comfortable with yourself then you're gonna look and feel good!

:rofl: I love that song, Michi. And who can't rock out to Queen, right? It definitely makes me wanna listen to so much more Queen ;)

My next choice is: La Roux - Bulletproof

For the obvious reasons, that it really does make me feel bulletproof about the choices I'm making. Once again, it's likely about relationship things, but I also take it to be just a little bit of a "**** you" to people who've dismissed me due to my size. It makes me lift my chin up, and walk just a little taller.

I'm at work, so I can't listen to the song above me yet, but I wanted to share:
Green Day's "Waiting":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a27BJGUmd7I&ob=av2e

Its not really about weight loss, but could be totally inspirational in that way if you think about it.
The lyrics:
"Waiting"

I've been waiting a long time/ For this moment to come I'm destined/ For anything...at all/ Downtown lights will be shining/ On me like a new diamond /Ring out under the midnight hour /No one can touch me now /And I can't turn my back /It's too late ready or not at all /Well, I'm so much closer than /I have ever known... /Wake up
/Dawning of a new era /Calling...don't let it catch you falling /Ready or not at all /So close enough to taste it /Almost...I can embrace this /Feeling....on the tip of my tongue
/Well, I'm so much closer than /I have ever known... /Wake up /Better thank your lucky stars.... /(Shey hey hey) /I've been waiting for a life time /For this moment to come /I'm destined for anything at all
/Dumbstruck /Colour me stupid /Good luck /You're gonna need it /Where I'm going if I get there... /At all....
/Wake up /Better thank your lucky stars....

Oh yay! Some Green Day :) I really loved the "I'm so much closer than I have ever known". For some reason it rang true with me. You're very right about the lyrics being pretty awesome on that one especially for weight loss/fitness stuff. It can definitely be seen that way.

Rilo Kiley - A Better Son/Daughter

The above is a little bittersweet, and does include a couple of naughty words :o So just a warning ahead of time in case you'd rather not hear it!

What I appreciate about it, is how the song builds to this point where it makes me want to truly scream out the lyrics. It's one of those songs that are much more cathartic.

The words that probably most apply are:

"... And sometimes when you're on you're really ****ing on
And your friends they sing along and they love you
But the lows are so extreme that the good seems ****ing cheap
And it teases you for weeks in its absence

But you'll fight and you'll make it through
You'll fake it if you have to..."

Rather than just be a song that starts out bubbly (which I still do enjoy), it takes me through the emotion, and I wind up on the other end relieved for having listened to it.

I really liked that, it's not my usual style but it was uplifting =)

this is a song that's really motivating me at the moment. Bit of a guilty pleasure, but I listen to it over and over again. The chorus makes me feel great. it's just one of those songs that makes me feel happy. It's Take That with 'Love Love'

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TxEVPe7XMcs&ob=av3e

That is a fun song! :lol: I really like the beat on it, and I could see myself sweating to it. I think one of my favorite things is that I can hear they're British while they're singing. So many times I hear bands and I have no idea they're from the UK until they start talking instead of singing. But that's just a silly little tidbit. I liked the pace of it a lot!

This next song is one that I've chosen mostly for the pace of it, as well:

I Blame Coco - Caesar

I really, really like the pace and how fast it moves. I have, in fact, worked out to this song and it's difficult for me to -not- sing along. It feels very powerful the whole way through.

Oooh... I like that one! Both the pace and the lyrics are great. I'm not familiar with the group, but I have a feeling I soon will be. Thank you for introducing me to something new. :)

My pick: "Move Your Body" by Eiffel65. Techno always gets me pumped up and the lyrics for this song fit really well when exercising.

Oh man. Eiffel65! I remember that damned Blue song that wouldn't end years ago! :lol:

Separately, yes! I like this song :D I do so love me some techno stuff, especially for my walks it gets me stepping to the beat and keeps me going during some rough patches. Especially when it's just catchy during the more chorus-y parts.

Daft Punk - Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger

An oldie, but a goodie, with an incredibly fun music video. This is the original Daft Punk version, and it has just about everything I want/need in a good pick-me-up workout song.

The music itself makes me step harder, and then the lyrics... I couldn't ask for more. And it's Daft Punk, so they never cease to amaze.

Oh man, I'd forgotten about Daft Punk! So good to be reminded again. :) I love the beat that this song has.

Here's Chae Yeon's Two of Us.

Several years ago I got really into Korean music. It lets me get my pop music fix without having to worry about how ridiculous the lyrics might be. (If only Brittney Spears could be in a language I don't understand, I'd probably listen to her a lot. :lol: Somehow I can put up with stupid lyrics in techno, but not pop, for whatever reason.) I love this song because of the catchiness of the beat and I love her voice. The rhythm has this great "up and down" aspect to it that feels perfect to me for doing things like squats, somehow. Go figure.

Chae Yeon, new to me. Kind of Pop-py for my taste, but I totally see where you're coming from with how catchy the beat is. It wouldn't be bad running music, either. Step in between the 'clap' beats, it'd set a good pace. I like it. Not knowing a word of what she's saying totally helps.

Florence + the Machine - "Dog Days Are Over"

Absolutely nothing gets me running faster than this song. I always kick it up during the chorus.

"Run fast for your mother, run fast for your father, run for your children, for your sisters and brothers. Leave all your love and your longing behind you can't carry it with you if you want to survive."

Thanks for posting, Chaoserenity =)

Mmm. Florence + The Machine... this woman is just wonderful. I completely agree with you about the chorus. That really upbeat "Run fast" part actually does make me want to run :D

OceanLab - On a Good Day

This is a trifecta of awesome for me. Trance-y, but with enough of a beat that it can be walked to, and the lyrics are perfection for motivational reasons.

But I hold on
And I
Feel strong
And I
Know that I can

Getting used to it
Lit the fuse to it
Like to know who I am

Been talking to myself forever, yeah
And how I wish I knew me better, yeah
Still sitting on a shelf and never
Never seen the sun shine brighter
And it feels like me
On a good day

The lyrics pretty much say it all. I know that I can. :)

Florence has another song that I LOVE to get me going.

It's called Drum Song.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TpLXQorSQe8

It's sexy motivation, fo sho.

-Kiki

Thanks, Kiki! That song is so good, that it was posted on the first page here!

Drum Song

First off that is seriously addicting to listen to! It's so original and refreshing to listen to. And the singer is SO stunningly gorgeous! The song makes me want to sing it out loud and dance with friends in it. Like say it to the world louder than sirens ;)!

Stand in the Rain- Superchic (I'm a newbie so I can't post a link...I'm sorry :'( )

It's a song that really touches your heart. It's so sad yet so beautiful. Alot of things happen in life that hurt but by holding your ground pulling through... one day things will change. Haha I won't rant on about it too much and let everyone take their own thing from it. I hope you like it.

Loved the drum song, my favorite motivational song is Unbreakable by Fireflight, actually that entire album is motivational to me!

(I guess with only one post you can't post a link yet, but in case anyone else wants to listen to it easily, Unbreakable) I like the guitars on that one...

As for my contribution, I love me some Breaking Benjamin... I think we all have days where nothing's going right and you just have to look the world in the face and say "screw you, I'm doing it my way."

I love everything Breaking Benjamin, and that is a great song. (:

This band right here got me through a lot. It has remained my go to music for the last several years.

Well, I lucked out! I really like that. I wouldn't say I'm a Tool FAN as such, but I do like a lot of their stuff, that one I haven't heard either at all or at least in a very long time! Sounds like brilliant workout music, I do like songs that make me want to kick walls over ;)

Which brings me to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8dmgn...e_gdata_player

To me that song just sounds like a shot of hypomania... Wonderful stuff, makes me exercise like a demon :D

Well, this isn't really my usual kind of music, I am not really a hip hop kinda girl. But I do have thing for Sage Francis. And this is my new favorite song. Its not really a workout song, but its just... great. It makes me sad and happy all at the same time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VA8hzUDXvtk

Enjoy. If you like this track, check out my other fav, sea lion.

Totally not my style of music, but it is very much a "spoken word" type of performance which, as a poetry lover, I can completely appreciate.

My song is from Imagine Dragons. I'm completely addicted to their Continued Silence album at the moment, and I adore this song: On Top of the World. Fun beat, great lyrics.

‘Cause I’m on top of the world, ‘ay
I’m on top of the world, ‘ay
Waiting on this for a while now
Paying my dues to the dirt
I’ve been waiting to smile, ‘ay
Been holding it in for a while, ‘ay
Take it with me if I can
Been dreaming of this since a child

Oh this is fun, I like it. Makes me happy!! Never heard of these guys, I will have to check out more.

I am really digging the new Bad Religion album "true north" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OKflTc_RT6U
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYgR6JMDoaU

Good old political punk rock to get you moving!

Reminds me of my college days. :)

I'm totally rockin' the new tune from Fall Out Boy: My Songs Know What You Did in the Dark. When the weather warms up and I can start running again, this is TOTALLY going to be on the playlist!