Sing It, Sister!

We all have those days—you didn’t get that job you wanted, or that boy never phoned you back. Whatever your reason, you’re feeling down, as if someone just stole your bicycle, or you just dropped your ice-cream in a puddle. And in the wintertime, the sloshy weather does nothing but add a dingy backdrop to your woe-is-me narrative.

Stop. Stop feeling sorry for yourself right now. I’m not saying you shouldn’t cry—by all means, let it out. Use a whole box of tissue if you have to. But the more you think about how poor life has treated you, the more life will treat you poorly.

I’m not one of those “The Secret” fanatics or anything, but I do believe that your frame of mind sets the tone for your day and, well, your life. If you go around thinking the world is a negative place, then it will be so; If you go around thinking that good things come frequently and in abundance, then—I promise you—they will.

I’m not superwoman. Like every one else, I fall into pits of depression and self-pity, but generally, people compliment me on my happy-go-lucky attitude. “How do you stay so positive?” people ask. And I tell them: music.

If you can choose your music, you can choose your mood. Though we’d like to think our emotions are more complicated than this, scientific studies have proven that emotions can be altered with sound, and listening to music that makes us feel good can have a lasting effect.

A study released last month’s Nature Neuroscience found that listening to up-beat songs triggers the release of feel-good chemicals in the brain, increasing dopamine levels by up to nine per cent. We’ve made a list of the top five feel good songs for women. In addition to having a happy tone, all of these songs also carry an
empowering message for women. Enjoy!

1. Artist: Beyonce
Song: “Why Don’t you Love me?”
Why we love it:
Don’t get this lady wrong: This isn’t a feel sorry for yourself tune about a girl pining over a boy; Beyonce isn’t asking “What’s wrong with me?” she’s asking “What’s wrong with you?” addressing the song to her lover, who she claims in the opening lines must have “bumped his head,” which would be the only logical explanation as to why any man wouldn’t love Beyonce.

So many women (including myself) get hung up on guys—why didn’t he call, what’s wrong with me? Why doesn’t he love me? Beyonce refuses to play the victim of Cupid’s arrow. Instead, she teaches women to be confident and proud with men, turning the tables on traditional courtship.

2. Artist: Ida Maria
Song: “Oh My God”
Why we love it:
This butt-kicking song can prepare you for anything. Whether you’re revving up for that job interview or recovering from a long day at work, Ida Maria’s no-nonsense attitude will teach you to keep your chin up and your game face on. If you sing along, you just might find yourself shouting and rocking the air-guitar. Not to worry, a good shouting session always leaves you feeling better.

3. Artist: Florence + the Machine:
Song: Dog Days Are Over
Why we love it:
After being featured as the theme song for the motion picture “Eat Pray Love,” Florence + the Machine’s “Dog Days Are Over” has become the official “feel good” anthem for a generation of modern women. The build-up of instrumentals in this song is designed to make you move, and Florence Welch’s beautifully off-beat voice reminds you that better days are coming.

4. Artist: Marina and the Diamonds
Song: “Obsessions”
Why we love it:
The official recovery song for a party girl (“Sunday wake up / Give me a cigarette / Last night’s love affair is looking vulnerable in my bed”) this playful song will guide you from that Saturday morning headache to a feel-good afternoon, leaving you charged and ready to go for another night of excitement.

5.Artist: Regina Spektor:
Song: “Hero”
Why we love it: Regina Spektor’s poetic and fragmented lyrics always leave room for interpretation, making her songs easy to relate to. “Hero” is an all-purpose song, which can be used to cure bad moods or heal heartaches. My favorite line (“I’m the hero of this story / I don’t need to be saved”) reminds women to take an active role in their narratives rather than waiting around for Prince Charming.

Image from MorgueFile

Amanda Cosco
		About the author:
		Amanda Cosco is a freelance writer. The city is her muse.  After completing a master’s degree in English Literature at Ryerson University in Toronto, Amanda packed up her life and moved to the city in pursuit of jazz, sex, and soup. Amanda completed her bachelor of arts at York University, where she had one foot in literary studies and one foot in journalism, earning her a double-major in English and professional writing. Amanda has presented her scholarly work at academic at conferences across Toronto, and her research on the metaphor of hunger in women’s fiction has received over $30,000 in grants and prizes. With her pen name, Lady Medusa, Amanda has left her digital footprints all over the internet. Currently, she’s blogging for several social media websites, and composing her first book of poetry, entitled "Autobiography of Skin. Follow her on Twitter @ladymspeaks
	Read More >>