Lyrics To Live By

In true Gen Y fashion,  I stumble across most of my new musical finds on the internet and/or through word of mouth. The no tv thing lessens the possibility of being exposed to the latest top 40 music news and I don't have cause to listen to the radio unless I happen to be in someone's  car or  in a restaurant or store where it's playing. And aside from dragging my baby sis to concerts (jingle shoes!), I'm not really one for foisting my tastes off on others. To each his/her own.

But from a life advice perspective, I would be utterly negligent if I didn't tell you, nay insist, that there are only two songs that hold the key to happiness. Two songs that should encapsulate the entirety your approach to life and love. Two and no arguments. Ready?

Photo by Thrift Store Addict

If You Want to Sing Out – Cat Stevens

This gem is from the Harold and Maude soundtrack. I'm not a fan of the movie (which I only saw for the first time about a year ago) for a multitude of reasons, not the least of which is that Harold looks weirdly like Clay Aiken and Maude is some sort of octogenarian harbinger of the modern manic pixie dream girl. But this song? Man, it just sums it all up. Forget about expectations. Have the guts to live the life you want. There's no one set path to “success” or happiness. You can make it all true and you can make it undo. Yeah, you, dude. You. What I soapbox about endlessly, Mr Stevens sums up in under three minutes. Well played.

Shower the People – James Taylor

This might just be the single most astute song about love ever written. Not even kidding. How much relationship ambiguity and needless angst would be resolved if we collectively had the courage to sack up and tell the people in our lives exactly what they mean to us, consequences be damned? And the relief that this brings? What do you plan to do with your foolish pride when you're all by yourself, alone? Screw Oprah and Dr. Phil, does it get more prescient (and melodic) than that? It doesn't, people. It does not.

Honorable Mentions go to:

Flashdance (What a Feeling) -Irena Cara

Take your passion and make it happen. Enough said.

The Gambler – Kenny Rogers

Do you know how many people don't have a sweet clue when to hold 'em, when to fold 'em, when to walk away and when to run? It's called intuition, folks. If you don't have it, develop it. And if you do, start learning how to trust it.