Katy Perry unleashed
If you’ve ever had one of those days or weeks when you feel blah or a shadow of your more energetic, productive self, consider the power of music to speak to your inner core.
Not only can it wake you up and change your outlook, it might even get your inspiration flowing again.
If you’re like me, you know that just telling yourself to get with it or be excited about a project rarely makes a difference. Sometimes reasoning with yourself isn’t enough. If you’re not feeling “into” a project yet, maybe you need a little push.
I turn to music for that. It can make you feel like you can tackle anything. Music can change how you feel about the world or your own prospects. It can, by its very beat, pull you along to a better place.
Here are some recent new favorites I discovered in spin class. If you’re a late bloomer or someone who thinks your best work is ahead of you, consider listening to Katy Perry’s “Roar,” an anthem that speaks of power unleashed. “You’re gonna hear me roar. . . louder, louder than a lion,” she sings. The song is punctuated with Tarzana howls, which are fun to try in the car (with the windows up). And later she sings, “I went from zero to my own hero. You held me down, but I got up.” This music offers the promise of arrival.
If you’re making a significant break from something you did in the past that’s no longer as interesting as it used to be–or failed to live up to its promise, you might like Ingrid’s “You promised me,” or “Tu es foutu,” in the original French. The music video is fun, because the protagonist doesn’t show she’s in a slow burn mode below that placid surface. Not for a while, anyway. As you’ll see, in some ways, it resembles “Roar,” but with a dose of revenge.
Need help moving on? When I realized life at a job at a daily newspaper wasn’t the best fit for me, this song, “I move on,” from the movie version of “Chicago” gave me the kick in the pants I needed to start planning my exit strategy.