Music is like my daily dose of coffee: I couldn’t live without it.

Or maybe I could, but I definitely don’t want to. Ever.

Music has made the toughest, scariest and loneliest times of my life bearable and it’s elevated every happy moment I’ve experienced. Music has always been there: to hold me, to create space for me, to save me.

Now that I’m a mom, I dance a lot with my son. Every night, I turn the music on for a few minutes and we have a dance party. Just the two of us. He loves it, but I know I love it more. It helps me relax, let the tensions of the day float away and get ready to have a blissful evening and a dreamy night.

When I work out, I choose to empower myself by listening to music that doesn’t just create a fun workout, but that always raises my self-esteem and my mood.

Yes, music has a lot of power and it often speaks directly to my soul.

But it’s not just the music that feels like chocolate on my skin, it’s also the lyrics that feel, taste and sound so yum. Lyrics, for me, are often even more powerful than to hear a beat in my ear.

Lyrics – just like words – can tear you down or lift you up and you get to choose which way you’ll want to go.

Throughout difference phases of my life, I’ve listened to songs that either mirrored my sadness or my bliss and it always served a purpose: to elevate whatever it was that I was feeling and to hear words that confirmed that I was not alone.

Whatever it is, you’re going through, there are songs that will resonate on a deep, soulful level and today, I thought I’d share some with you. So, here’s a little glimpse into my soul with the lyrics than ran and still run my life.

Depression

I don’t wanna die
But I ain’t keen on living either

Robbie Williams: Feel

Tell me how I’m supposed to breathe with no air
Can’t live, can’t breathe with no air
It’s how I feel whenever you ain’t there
It’s no air, no air
Got me out here in the water so deep
Tell me how you gonna be without me
If you ain’t here, I just can’t breathe
It’s no air, no air

Jordin Sparks: No Air

You’re angry
I know this
The world couldn’t care less
You’re lonely
I feel this
And you wish you were the best
No teachers
Or guidance
And you always walk alone
You’re crying
At night when
Nobody else is home

Come over here and let me hold your hand and hug you darling
I promise you that it won’t always feel this bad
There are so many things I want to say to you
You’re the girl I used to be
You little heartbroken thirteen year old me

P!nk: Conversations with my 13 year old self

Recovery

Thought I couldn’t breathe without
I’m inhaling
You thought I couldn’t see without you
Perfect vision
You thought I couldn’t last without you
But I’m lastin’
You thought that I would die without you
But I’m livin’
Thought that I would fail without you
But I’m on top
Thought it would be over by now
But it won’t stop
Thought that I would self destruct
But I’m still here
Even in my years to come
I’m still gon be here

Destiny’s Child: Survivor

Don’t stop believin’
Hold on to that feelin’
Streetlights people

Don’t stop believin’
Hold on to that feelin’
Streetlights people

Don’t stop believin’
Hold on to that feelin’
Streetlights people
Don’t stop!

Journey: Don’t Stop Believing

Something has changed within me
Something is not the same
I’m through with playing by the rules
Of someone else’s game
Too late for second-guessing
Too late to go back to sleep
It’s time to trust my instincts
Close my eyes and leap!

It’s time to try
Defying gravity
I think I’ll try
Defying gravity
And you can’t pull me down!

Wicked: Defying Gravity

I try all the time, in this institution
And I pray, oh my god do I pray
I pray every single day
For a revolution
And so I cry sometimes
When I’m lying in bed
Just to get it all out
What’s in my head
And I am feeling a little peculiar
And so I wake in the morning
And I step outside
And I take a deep breath and I get real high
And I scream at the top of my lungs
What’s going on?

4 Non Blondes: What’s Up

Self-Love

I am beautiful no matter what they say.
Words can’t bring me down.
I am beautiful in every single way.
Yes, words can’t bring me down… Oh no.
So don’t you bring me down today.

Christina Aguilera: Beautiful

There’s nothin’ wrong with lovin’ who you are
She said, ’cause He made you perfect, babe
So hold your head up,
girl and you’ll go far
Listen to me when I say

I’m beautiful in my way
‘Cause God makes no mistakes
I’m on the right track, baby
I was born this way

Don’t hide yourself in regret
Just love yourself and you’re set
I’m on the right track, baby
I was born this way, born this way

Lady Gaga: Born This Way

Shine bright like a diamond
Shine bright like a diamond

Find light in the beautiful sea
I choose to be happy
You and I, you and I
We’re like diamonds in the sky

You’re a shooting star I see
A vision of ecstasy
When you hold me, I’m alive
We’re like diamonds in the sky

Rihanna: Diamonds

Divorce/Break up

Now that you’re out of my life
I’m so much better
You thought that I’d be weak without you
But I’m stronger
You thought that I’d be broke without you
But I’m richer
You thought that I’d be sad without you
I laugh harder
You thought I wouldn’t grow without you
Now I’m wiser
Though that I’d be helpless without you
But I’m smarter
You thought that I’d be stressed without you
But I’m chillin’
You thought I wouldn’t sell without you
Sold 9 million

I’m a survivor (What?)
I’m not gon give up (What?)
I’m not gon stop (What?)
I’m gon work harder (What?)
I’m a survivor (What?)
I’m gonna make it (What?)
I will survive (What?)

Destiny’s Child: Survivor (different verse)

I’m wide awake
Yeah, I was in the dark
I was falling hard
With an open heart
I’m wide awake
How did I read the stars so wrong?
I’m wide awake
And now it’s clear to me
That everything you see
Ain’t always what it seems
I’m wide awake
Yeah, I was dreaming for so long

I wish I knew then
What I know now
Wouldn’t dive in
Wouldn’t bow down
Gravity hurts
You made it so sweet
‘Til I woke up on
On the concrete

Katy Perry: Wide Awake

I used to bite my tongue and hold my breath
Scared to rock the boat and make a mess
So I sat quietly, agreed politely
I guess that I forgot I had a choice
I let you push me past the breaking point
I stood for nothing, so I fell for everything

You held me down, but I got up (HEY!)
Already brushing off the dust
You hear my voice, you hear that sound
Like thunder gonna shake the ground
You held me down, but I got up (HEY!)
Get ready ’cause I’ve had enough
I see it all, I see it now

I got the eye of the tiger, a fighter, dancing through the fire
‘Cause I am a champion and you’re gonna hear me roar
Louder, louder than a lion
‘Cause I am a champion and you’re gonna hear me roar

Katy Perry: Roar

Business & Life

I came to win, to fight, to conquer, to thrive
I came to win, to survive, to prosper, to rise
To fly, to fly

Everybody wanna try to box me in
Suffocating every time it locks me in
Paint they own pictures, then they crop me in
But I will remain where the top begins

‘Cause I am not a word, I am not a line
I am not a girl that can ever be defined
I am not fly, I am levitation
I represent an entire generation

I hear the criticism loud and clear
That is how I know that the time is near
See we become alive in a time of fear
And I ain’t got no motherfucking time to spare

Nicki Minaj: Fly

She’s just a girl and she’s on fire
Hotter than a fantasy, lonely like a highway
She’s living in a world and it’s on fire
Filled with catastrophe, but she knows she can fly away

Ohhhh oh oh oh oh
She got both feet on the ground
And she’s burning it down
Ohhhh oh oh oh oh
She got her head in the clouds
And she’s not backing down

This girl is on fire…

Alicia Keys: Girl on Fire

But girls they want to have fun
Oh girls just want to have

That’s all they really want
Some fun
When the working day is done
Girls – they want to have fun
Oh girls just want to have fun

Cyndi Lauper: Girls Just Want to Have Fun

I remember when,
I remember, I remember when I lost my mind
There was something so special about that place
Even your emotions have an echo in so much space

And when you’re out there without care
Yeah, I was out of touch
But it wasn’t because I didn’t know enough
I just knew too much

Does that make me crazy?
Does that make me crazy?
Does that make me crazy?
Possibly

And I hope that you are
Having the time of your life
But think twice
That’s my only advice

Come on now, who do you
Who do you, who do you, who do you think you are?
Ha ha ha, bless your soul
You really think you’re in control?

Well, I think you’re crazy
I think you’re crazy
I think you’re crazy
Just like me

Gnarls Barkley: Crazy

Say, “Oh, got this feeling that you can’t fight”
Like this city is on fire tonight
This could really be a good life, a good, good life

To my friends in New York, I say hello
My friends in L.A. they don’t know
Where I’ve been for the past few years or so
Paris to China to Colorado

Sometimes there’s airplanes I can’ t jump out
Sometimes there’s bullshit that don’t work now
We all got our stories, but please tell me
What there is to complain about?

When you’re happy like a fool, let it take you over
When everything is out you gotta take it in

OneRepublic: Good Life

One hand in the air for the big city
Street lights, big dreams, all looking pretty
No place in the world that can compare
Put your lighters in the air, everybody say
Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!

In New York!
Concrete jungle where dreams are made of
There’s nothing you can’t do
Now you’re in New York!
These streets will make you feel brand new
Big lights will inspire you
Let’s hear it for New York, New York, New Yooork!

Alicia Keys: Empire State of Mind

Bring me down
Can’t nothing
Bring me down
My level’s too high
Bring me down
Can’t nothing
Bring me down
I said (let me tell you now)
Bring me down
Can’t nothing
Bring me down
My level’s too high
Bring me down
Can’t nothing
Bring me down
I said

Because I’m happy
Clap along if you feel like a room without a roof
Because I’m happy
Clap along if you feel like happiness is the truth
Because I’m happy
Clap along if you know what happiness is to you
Because I’m happy
Clap along if you feel like that’s what you wanna do

Pharell Williams: Happy

I’m a bitch, I’m a lover
I’m a child, I’m a mother
I’m a sinner, I’m a saint
I do not feel ashamed
I’m your hell, I’m your dream
I’m nothing in between
You know you wouldn’t want it any other way

So take me as I am
This may mean
You’ll have to be a stronger man
Rest assured that
When I start to make you nervous
And I’m going to extremes
Tomorrow I will change
And today won’t mean a thing

Meredith Brooks: Bitch

Motherhood

‘Cause I don’t wanna lose you now
I’m lookin’ right at the other half of me
The vacancy that sat in my heart
Is a space that now you hold
Show me how to fight for now
And I’ll tell you, baby, it was easy
Comin’ back here to you once I figured it out
You were right here all along

It’s like you’re my mirror
My mirror staring back at me
I couldn’t get any bigger
With anyone else beside of me
And now it’s clear as this promise
That we’re making two reflections into one
‘Cause it’s like you’re my mirror
My mirror staring back at me, staring back at me

Aren’t you somethin’, an original
‘Cause it doesn’t seem merely a sample
And I can’t help but stare, ’cause
I see truth somewhere in your eyes
I can’t ever change without you
You reflect me, I love that about you
And if I could, I would look at us all the time

‘Cause with your hand in my hand and a pocket full of soul
I can tell you there’s no place we couldn’t go
Just put your hand on the glass
I’ll be tryin’ to pull you through
You just gotta be strong

Justin Timberlake: Mirrors

I belong with you, you belong with me, you’re my sweetheart
I belong with you, you belong with me, you’re my sweet

The Lumineers: Ho Hey

Ein Hoch auf das, was vor uns liegt
Dass es das Beste für uns gibt
Ein Hoch auf das, was uns vereint
Auf diese Zeit (Auf diese Zeit)
Ein Hoch auf uns (uns)
Auf dieses Leben
Auf den Moment
Der immer bleibt
Ein Hoch auf uns (uns)
Auf jetzt und ewig
Auf einen Tag
Unendlichkeit
Ein Hoch auf uns
Ein Feuerwerk aus Endorphinen
Ein Hoch auf uns
Ein Feuerwerk zieht durch die Welt
Ein Hoch auf uns
So viele Lichter sind geblieben
Auf uns

Andreas Bourani: Auf Uns

Listen to all songs here.

Now I’d love to hear from you: What’s your soundtrack of your life? What are some songs you cannot live without that have helped you throughout your best and worst times? Share your faves with me.