Pandemic Playlist: Top five inspirational rock anthems to brighten your day in lockdown
Life can get hard at times and we are all familiar with its challenges. When those moments come, we try to grasp for the nearest thing that gives comfort, even if that comfort comes from the attitude of picking yourself up out of the darkness. We are also adapted to the understanding that music plays a big part in perking up our emotions when we need it or gives a mentor's shove onto a straighter path.
Our Pandemic Playlist today includes such pick-me-ups from some the most-loved rock bands.
Incubus, 'Drive'
The topic of inspiration is an extensively wide one because everyone finds inspiration in different things, but there is something we can all agree on is that confidence is a mandatory function we all need in our lives to get through tasks or in dealing with society.
Incubus' 'Drive' comes as a solid boost: even with chord structures leaning on melancholia, the strength lies in its lyrics. Applying the theme of driving through life, frontman Brandon Boyd uses fear as the enemy of his confidence as he embarks on a journey of self-discovery and we get lyrics like "lately I am beginning to find that I should be the one behind the wheel" and "when I drive myself my light is found."
In the chorus he sings, "Whatever tomorrow brings I'll be there with open arms and open eyes" Incubus have just released their new EP 'Trust Fall (Side B)', an absolute must-listen if you're a fan of the band.
The Script, 'Hall of Fame' (ft. will.i.am)
'Hall of Fame', a sort of modern spiritual brother to your famous 'Eye Of The Tiger', by Survivor, the song is best listened to with the music video. Following scenes of a young boxer getting beaten by bullies and a ballet dancer practicing hard with criticizing glares from her peers, we see the two teenagers pursue their dreams with no yield to adversity and a passion to overcome while The Script frontman Danny O'Donoghue and will.i.am proclaim, "You can be a master (you can be a champion). Don't wait for luck (you can be a champion). Dedicate yourself and you can find yourself (you can be a champion). Standing in the hall of fame (you can be a champion)."
Queen, 'We Are The Champions'
Speaking of champions, what better reference is out there other than the 1977 smash 'We Are The Champions' by the mega musical force that is Queen. Vocalist Freddie Mercury and the British rock band need little to no introduction to many around the world, but the song certainly fits as the champion of our list.
Starting out as a humble ballad, the song bursts into sudden rock 'n' roll euphoria with lyrics, "We are the champions, my friends. And we'll keep on fighting 'til the end. We are the champions. We are the champions. No time for losers. 'Cause we are the champions of the world" in the lightning-charged chorus.
Queen is such a recognized musical titan that they even have their own coin. No need to state why this is inspirational. Freddie said it best in the chorus.
U2, 'I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For'
Now we know you've been springing onto your sofas and belting out the previous Queen number, but it's time to climb down the confidence ladder a little and perk your ears to something a little more spiritual. Ranked by many critics as one of the greatest tracks in music history, U2's 'I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For' presents a lingering question, rather than a statement, of what we individually seek to fill that void many of us are bound by.
Revealing what seems to be personal accounts of experience and existentialism, frontman Bono uses religious imagery in his storytelling, such as in lyrics "I have spoke with the tongue of angels. I have held the hand of a devil" and "I believe in the Kingdom come" and "carried the cross of my shame, of my shame." Along with one of the most endearingly dreamy melodic guitar riffs you would probably have heard in a substantial length of time, the emotive song provokes thought and sentimental charm as your form of inspiration today.
Imagine Dragons, 'Whatever It Takes'
A form of "sticks-and-stones-may break my bones", 'Whatever It Takes' comes as the perfect number to throw in the face of oppression with equally prominent music as well. "Falling too fast to prepare for this. Tripping in the world could be dangerous Everybody circling, it's vulturous. Negative, nepotist. Everybody waiting for the fall of man. Everybody praying for the end of times. Everybody hoping they could be the one," sings frontman Dan Reynolds with a high-speed near-rap vocal intro.
We get a glimpse at a third-person stance in the world before he ends it with "I was born to run, I was born for this." In the chorus, coupled with a gritty thumping beat, we hear lyrics such as "Whatever it takes. 'Cause I love the adrenaline in my veins. I do whatever it takes. 'Cause I love how it feels when I break the chains" and we see how both music and lyrics still stands as one of the best inspirational solutions to difficult times.