As a writer and creative soul, I’ve hit a lot of blocks. Writer’s blocks, artist’s blocks, verbal blocks, Lego blocks – I’ve experienced them all.
One thing I’ve found that always helps is music. But not just any music. When times are tough and you need do something epic, you need to turn to the big guns. When you’ve got blocks, you need to blast them. And blast you shall – with decibels.
So here it is. The official Wild Earth Integration Top 10 List of Songs for when you Need to Kick Arse. Please note that these songs are geared to help beat the blocks, so you can do anything fantastic and difficult. Like write a paper, paint a picture, fight a ninja or solve world hunger. They are in random order, because, well, I am a commitment phobe when it comes to lists.
1. Queen – I Want To Break Free — For Pete’s sake, Freddy Mercury is wearing a mini-skirt and tights. You have to at least give him your attention for that. In all honesty though, this song can break down barriers in your mind, get you revved up and commit you to your task at hand. Wig optional.
2. Hans Zimmer - Chevaliers de Sangreal — You probably don’t even realize how many of Zimmer’s songs you have etched into your neurons. Seriously. Google him and you’ll see just how much of your brain he owns. This one in particular works its way up into an incredible crescendo that is worthy of the masterpiece you are creating. If I ever met Elvis, Einstein, Da Vinci – I’d want this song to be playing in the background.
3. Metallica – One –It is paramount here that you listen to the Metallica and Symphony version of this song. Not only is it an astounding piece of integration, mixing the Metal of the Ica with brass, strings and sophistication, ‘One’ is just one of those songs that gets inside your blood and makes it run just a little bit faster. Perfect for getting your butt in gear.
4. Moulin Rouge - Come What May — Yes, yes, I hear you. Moulin Rouge is a musical and the actors aren’t even ‘real singers’. But hear me out. Ewan McGregor has a voice. Not just “oh, yeah, he can kinda sing, maybe at parties and stuff.” He has a voice. The sheer ‘beltiness’ of this scene is enough to get through any block, and you’ll be on your way to success before you can say ‘Why is John Lequizamo so short?’
5. Lynyrd Skynyrd – Free Bird — ‘Nuff said.
6. The Who – Love Reign O’er Me — Like Metallica’s ‘One’, this song gets inside you and makes you forget about what you were thinking about (which is how much you want to be a rockstar/artist/writer/non-loser) and takes you to a whole different arena. That arena is the one wherein You. Just. Rock.
7. u2 - Beautiful Day — Ironically enough, I’ve heard at least 5 people say that if they were to set a song everyday to wake them up, this would be it. Maybe it’s the trembling guitar riffs, maybe it’s Bono’s glasses… but this song makes you feel like you can run a Marathon, shoes optional.
8. Elton John & George Michael — Don’t Let the Sun Go Down On Me — Of course, pretty much any Elton song could be on this list, the man could cough into a can and it would become a hit record overnight. But I digress. This is one that is close to my heart because it has gotten me through many a 4am-why-can’t-I-finish-this-sentence-already writing dip. It’s passion, and that is exactly what you need when you want to kick some serious … well, you know.
9. Great Big Sea – Ordinary Day — This list wouldn’t be complete without some Canadian content – (Represent!) Great Big Sea is one of those bands that appeals to all ages. Even my own father, who is prone to listen to ‘Easy Sunday Country’ on the AM radio, gets the appeal of GBS. The beating rhythms and raspy front man work wonders on a mind that is heavy with (as yet) unattained goals.
10. Michael Jackson – Thriller — I debated long and hard before including this song on the list, mainly because it has been so hyped up in the past couple of decades. Then I realized – that’s part of its charm. You just can’t listen to this song without getting up and trying your best to do the moves (if you can get more than three people doing this in a mall with you, send me footage). In the very least, this song will elicit you to chair-dance while doing the zombie head jolts. There is no such thing as a block when MJ is in the house.
So what have we learned tonight, folks? The key to getting rid of blocks and kicking absolute arse does not lie in rational thinking about goals, or drowning one’s sorrows in root brusky. It lies in passion. Passion for what you are doing and passion for why you are doing it. Whether these songs are from your favorite genres of music or not, the one thing they all share is passion. And that, my friends, is quite contagious.
Now it’s your turn. What music helps get out of a rut?
Note: Songs that are better left for non-productive days = anything by James Blunt.
