Turn and face the strange Ch-ch-changes

If you are a regular newsletter and blog reader you’ve seen a version of this before but my change playlist and mailing list are always evolving so I share it every year. 

jazz fest

always a good day at the fest

I am so looking forward to the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival this weekend and next because it is a time of inspiration and renewal. For the jazzfest faithful, the fest is a spiritual cleansing and creative catalyst.

Music.Is.Powerful.

Are you re-inventing? Or, I guess the better question would be Who’s NOT re-inventing right now? That’s life in a world of rapid change.

You can harness the inspirational power of music to support and fuel transition. How so? Stop listening to anything that reminds you of the situation you are leaving – whatever you’re done with – and listen to something different. Does not have to be new music, just new to you. Don’t forget about Pandora and Spotify as low cost, no cost sources for new and different music.

NPR featured songs about change in a story last week.

Below is my always growing list of songs about change. Make yourself a change playlist and then listen to it a lot.

And, don’t stop thinking about tomorrow…

  • A Change Would Do You Good – Sheryl Crow
  • Roll the Bones – RUSH
  • Don’t Stop – Fleetwood Mac (especially the version on The Dance featuring the USC marching band)
  • I Won’t Back Down – Tom Petty
  • The Power of Goodbye – Madonna
  • Owner of a Lonely Heart – Yes
  • Uprising – Muse
  • Sing the Changes – The Fireman
  • Roll with the Changes – REO Speedwagon
  • I Will Not Be Broken – Bonnie Raitt
  • Fly One Time – Ben Harper and Relentless7
  • Above the Bones – Mishka
  • Brand New Day – Sting
  • Cool Change – Little River Band
  • Give Me Love (Give Me Peace on Earth) – George Harrison
  • Dog Days are Over – Florence + Machine
  • Changes – David Bowie
  • Hold On – Wilson Phillips
  • Big Girls Don’t Cry – Fergie
  • Burning Down the House – Talking Heads
  • Already Gone – Sugarland
  • You Get Knocked Down – Chumbawumba
  • Should I Stay or Should I Go? – The Clash
  • You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet – Lisa Marie Presley
  • Changes IV – Cat Stevens
  • Everybody’s Changing – Keane
  • Girl on Fire – Alicia Keys
  • Head Full of Doubt, Road Full of Promise – Avett Brothers
  • A Change is Gonna Come - Sam Cooke
  • What Doesn’t Kill You – Kelly Clarkson
  • Not Ready to Make Nice – Dixie Chicks
  • Move From the Hood – Luther Allison
  • The Climb – Miley Cyrus
  • Fly Away – Lenny Kravitz

Would love to know your favorite songs of change.

A Change Would Do You Good

We saw Sheryl Crow at the Hard Rock Casino Biloxi on Tuesday night (a very cool hotel and good time).  Some people discount her because she’s had so many pop hits and such commercial success but I think she’s a great rocker/blues singer/songwriter.  And, it seems change is one of her favorite topics.  Check out ‘A Change Would Do You Good’:

Also, here’s an updated Inspiring Change playlist.  Come on, help me out – would love some suggestions for what you would add…

  • A Change Would Do You Good – Sheryl Crow
  • Roll the Bones – RUSH
  • Don’t Stop – Fleetwood Mac (especially the version on The Dance featuring the USC marching band)
  • I Won’t Back Down – Tom Petty
  • The Power of Goodbye – Madonna
  • Owner of a Lonely Heart – Yes
  • Uprising – Muse
  • Sing the Changes – The Fireman
  • Roll with the Changes – REO Speedwagon
  • I Will Not Be Broken – Bonnie Raitt
  • Fly One Time – Ben Harper and Relentless7
  • Above the Bones – Mishka
  • Brand New Day – Sting
  • Cool Change – Little River Band
  • Hold On – Wilson Phillips
  • Big Girls Don’t Cry (Personal) – Fergie
  • Burning Down the House – Talking Heads
  • Already Gone – Sugarland (this song is a little relationshippy but Jennifer Nettles has such an incredible voice I had to include it)
  • You Get Knocked Down – Chumbawumba
  • Should I Stay or Should I Go? – The Clash

Here’s a reminder of my philosophy about the relationship between music and change:  First, you realize your current situation isn’t working so decide to create a new one. Think about the music you have been listening to, especially songs that remind you of the what’s been going on.  Next, stop listening to that stuff.  Just don’t do it anymore. Find something different to listen to.   It doesn’t necessarily have to be new music, just music you don’t know or don’t associate with your current situation.

More Music Power

As promised, here are more songs to add to that playlist for Inspiring Change:

  • A Change Would Do You Good – Sheryl Crow
  • Roll the Bones – RUSH
  • Don’t Stop – Fleetwood Mac (especially the version on The Dance featuring the USC marching band)
  • I Won’t Back Down – Tom Petty
  • The Power of Goodbye – Madonna
  • Owner of a Lonely Heart – Yes
  • Uprising – Muse

From the previous post:

  • Sing the Changes – The Fireman
  • Roll with the Changes – REO Speedwagon
  • I Will Not Be Broken – Bonnie Raitt
  • Fly One Time – Ben Harper and Relentless7
  • Above the Bones – Mishka
  • Brand New Day – Sting
  • Cool Change – Little River Band

 

Rock on everyone…

 

The Power of Music

I love music, pretty much all genres.  Seeing live music is one of my all time favorite things to do.

I listen to a lot of music too – am currently listening to the Psychedelic Furs (more on that in a different post) and the new Ben Harper.  Music really inspires and soothes and I believe it can also help as you navigate changes.  How so?

First, you realize your current situation isn’t working so decide to create a new one.  Think about the music you have been listening to, especially songs that remind you of the what’s been going on.  Next, stop listening to that stuff.  Just don’t do it anymore.  Find something different to listen to.   It doesn’t necessarily have to be new music, just music you don’t know or don’t associate with your current situation.

It is amazing how powerfully certain songs bring up memories and the associated feelings.  Not listening to those particular triggers frees you up to think about your future. Create a vision for your new life and link it to some different tunes. Then listen regularly to those as you change in that direction.

I’ve got some favorite songs about change as well.  Here’s a first stab at a list:

Sing the Changes – The Fireman

Roll with the Changes – REO Speedwagon

I Will Not Be Broken – Bonnie Raitt

Fly One Time – Ben Harper and Relentless7

Above the Bones – Mishka

Brand New Day – Sting

Cool Change – Little River Band

 

These are all I can think of right now but will be adding to this list over time.  Do you have any “change songs” to add?