11 Songs You Should Listen To Right Now

 1)  “The Cave” – Mumford & Sons on Sigh No More

Because: This is by far one of the most heroic, empowering songs I have ever heard.  Beautiful, thoughtful lyrics and soaring music crescendos to the point you think you really might be able to fly or move a mountain. That is the power of hope.

 2)  “Yellow Bellied Crops” (Parts I & II) – Kovacs & the Polar Bear on Lonesome Teeth

Because: Death comes to us all, and the hero has to learn not to be afraid. This song is particularly interesting because it is very upbeat and bright despite its bleak subject matter.

3)  “Us” – Regina Spektor on Soviet Kistch

Because: The hero gets blamed and betrayed. It just happens. Piano heavy and melodic, “Us” soothes the injured soul with truth and the voice of a siren.

4)  “Do Better” – Say Anything on Say Anything

Because: We can all do better – even the heroes. This band has a reputation for witty, bitingly sarcastic lyrics. This song, while still sarcastic and rough, feels more like a mama dog’s warning snap to an unruly pup than a mouthful of Coast soap. Catchy with driving beats and smirk inducing.

5)  “Slow Dancing in a Burning Room” – John Mayer on Continuum

Because: Ahhh, love. Ohhh, doomed love and the ability to see its end. This is my favorite Mayer song. Showcasing his often overlooked blues abilities, this song is lyrically driven, but the music so perfectly complements those lyrics, just hearing the lead line communicates the entire emotion and message. Brilliant.

6)  “Eskimo Friend” – Damien Rice on O

Because: Helpers come into the hero’s life – people that profoundly impact in ways that are not physical but leave marks even more visible than wound scars. The slow, mournful, final track of O is the experience of all those associated emotions. And there is opera in Finnish…breath-taking opera in Finnish.

7)  “One Line Wonder” – The Avett Brothers on Mignonette

Because: We are all heroes in our own minds. With frank truth and down-home melodies and instrumentation, the song is light, addictive, and sure to cause a smile – primarily because most everyone can relate.

8)  “Baby” – Dave Matthews on Some Devil

Because: At some point, we will all be reminded of how small we are and how powerful hope is. This song is a lullaby for grown ups.  Its strength is imagery vivid as the ocean at sunrise.

9)  “Now We Are Free” – Heitor Pereira, Lisa Gerrard, & Hans Zimmer on The Gladiator Soundtrack

Because: In the end, freedom is what the hero wants – and what everyone else wants as well. This song is a collaboration between many and is not in any known language. Lisa Gerrard does not tend to sing in a known language but rather whatever syllables she feels. Oddly enough, the syllables in this song communicate strength in a profound way.

10)  “How It Ends” – Devotchka on The Little Miss Sunshine Soundtrack

Because: All quests come to an end, and how it ends makes the quest complete.  Heavy with strings, the song captures that moment of clarity and certainty all heroes crave – that moment they know what to do.

11)  “Marvelous Things” – Eisley on Room Noises

Because: After all is said and done, tired heroes deserve to be sung to sleep by angels, and these voices will do just that.