Almost every morning, I listen to my “happy black woman” playlist, a series of songs with lyrics that motivate and inspire me to approach my life and work with optimism and self-love. I literally have all of them on a playlist on my iPod, all cued up for about an hour of good morning music to start my day off with. I share them with you now in the hopes that they might uplift you, too!
Closer by Goapele
A Beautiful Day by India Arie
Happy Being Me by Angie Stone
Higher Than This by Ledisi
No Regrets by Elisabeth Withers
You Gotta Be by Des’ree
Open My Heart by Yolanda Adams
Strength, Courage and Wisdom by India Arie
Black Gold by Esperanza Spalding featuring Algebra Blessett
Star People by Fertile Ground
Are any of these on your “happy black woman” playlist? What songs inspire YOU to be your best self?
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These are varied and in no particular order, but depending on what mood I am in and what is going on in my life any one of the following songs as well as some of the ones that have already been listed by some of the same artists can really take me to a good place. Sometimes a more humble place. Sometimes a more powerful place, but they always do my spirit good to hear.
Walking on Sunshine – Katrina and the Waves
New Attitude – Patty LaBelle
Man in the Mirror – Michael Jackson
Feeling Good – Michael Buble
I Gotta Sing My Song – Oletta Adams
Independent Woman – Destiny’s Child
Survivor – Destiny’s Child
Stomp – Kirk Franklin and God’s Property
True to Myself – Eric Bennett
Change – Heather Headley
I Am Not My Hair – India Arie
Hate on Me – Jill Scott
Imagine Me – Kirk Franklin
Hero – Mariah Carey
Roar – Katy Perry
Keep on Movin – Soul to Soul
Eye of the Tiger – Survivor
Greatest Love of All – Whitney Houston
Victory – Yolanda Adams
Since the Last Time I Saw You – Yolanda Adams
I found all if this info helpful and relaxing. I really listen to the words and found great understanding and tips on life
I’m definitely going to have to create me a playlist today! Forgot about these songs listed. Thank you so much
We must not forget Mary J Blige , The “My Life”!!! From front to back. Talk about some deep soul searching.
I’ve got most of these, plus Optimistic by Sounds of Blackness; Dream Big by Jazmine Sullivan; The Greatness by Raheem DeVaughn; and Focus by Nneka.
I have some of those along with:
Morning (Jaheim)
Run the World (Beyonce)
Souled OUt (Hezekiah Walker)
Wind me up Chuck (Chuck Brown)
Sunrise (Trombone Shorty)
Lovely Day (Bill Withers)
I am Blessed ( Mr. Vegas)
Happy (Pharrell)
Mercy Merch Me (Rare Essence)
God in Me (Mary Mary)
Got to Give it up (Marvin Gaye)
Something Beautiful (Trombone Shorty)
Hurricane Season (Trombone Shorty)
thought i’d come back and add a few songs that i’ve been listening to as of late. we can never have too many reminder songs, can we? ;)
1. calabash by georgia anne muldrow
2. my prayer by erik rico
3. break you down by georgia anne muldrow
4. equipoise by dwight tribble featuring sa-ra creative partners
5. sing your song by miles bonny
Jill Scott’s “When I Wake Up” is a good one for me. Let’s me know that everything will be alright in the end and it motivates me through the day.
I have an inspiration playlist that I listen to every morning and it definitely starts my day off right! India’s Beautiful Day and Strength, Courage and Wisdom, and Goapele’s Closer are definitely on there. I am huge reggae lover so Etana’s “I am not Afraid” and my theme song for this year, “Im coming out” by Diana Ross are on there as well. The big one for me though is Katy Perry’s Fireworks! LOL…its so fun and free, i have definitely been a few minutes late after the extra 5 minutes spent in the bathroom mirror with a hair brush listening to Ms. Perry lol
Yes! Etana has another one called “Beautiful Day” that I put on my ‘Morning Mix.’ Alison Hinds’ “Roll It Gal” (with Machel Montano) is another good one.
Love the list! Two of my inspire me to be my best would be Golden by Jill Scott and Go Get It by Mary Mary.
strength, courage and wisdom by india.arie is definitely on my list.
Great list. I would add “Unwritten” by Natasha Beddingfield and “I Can Be” by Taio Cruz :)
I love Mary J.Blige’s “Work That.”
Great list! I would add I Am by Lina: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aB0wTPjwRqI This song got me through grad school and I consider it my personal theme song ;-)
Sounds funny…But Jill Scott ” I Gotta Get Up” is almost fun on days when I just don’t feel I can do it! LOL
Nice list. Don’t laugh, but I recently changed my phone ringer to the theme from Chariots of Fire and it does something to me every time the phone rings! :D
Glamazini,
That is a great song. I have the Rocky soundtrack! We gotta do what works for us!
My songs are Raise up by Ledisi & Private Party by India Arie
Gotta get that list together….thanks for the inspiration.
I would add Jennifer Hudson “I Got This” and Jill Scott “Golden”
I got ‘Do My Thing’ by Estelle and Janelle Monae and my theme song for this year ‘I Choose’ by India Arie on heavy rotation. :)