With the new year swiftly underway and January almost over, the start of a new year and month often brings the opportunity for new beginnings. The power of music can certainly influence the feelings and mindset of new opportunities with powerful and uplifting lyrics and a beat that incites hope.
On that note, here are 11 songs about new beginnings to get you off on the right foot for 2021.
“New Beginning,” by Tracy Chapman
Released in 1995 from the album with the same title, “New Beginning” by Tracy Chapman is a heartfelt acoustic folk-rock song about starting over and creating peace and harmony.
“I Can See Clearly Now,” by Johnny Nash
Originally released in 1972, “I Can See Clearly Now” from the album of the same name is one of those songs that has certainly stood the test of time with its upbeat reggae rhythm and lyrics that croon “It’s gonna be a bright, bright, bright, sun-shiny day.” An interesting tidbit: the song was the first reggae song to hit #1 on the Hot 100 in 1972 where it stayed for four weeks.
“Here Comes the Sun,” by the Beatles
The infamous Beatles song, “Here Comes the Sun” was written and sung by the late George Harrison and is perhaps his most well known song for the Beatles. Released on the album Abbey Road, which came out in 1969, the lyrics are a partial reflection that spring is coming.
“Start Over,” by Beyonce
New beginnings can apply to anything, including new beginnings in relationships and that’s what Beyonce’s “Start Over” is exactly about. Hailing from her fourth album, “4,” which was released in 2011, “Start Over” is about the female protagonist professing her love for a man she wants to start a relationship with again while also affirming her own individuality.
“The Future’s So Bright (I Gotta Wear Shades),” by Timbuk 3
Coming from the album Greetings from Timbuk3 released in 1986 , “The Future’s So Bright (I Gotta Wear Shades)” was inspired by band member Pat MacDonald’s wife, Barbara MacDonald saying to him, “the future is looking so bright, we’ll have to wear sunglasses!”
That being said, while the song was initially perceived as a song about a positive outlook, Pat MacDonald once clarified that it was, in fact, the opposite — but music is subject to interpretation, so we’ll consider it a song about new beginnings.
“Everybody’s Changing,” by Keane
Originally released on the band’s debut studio album, Hopes and Fears in 2004, “Everybody’s Changing,” by Keane is about trying to figure out one’s place in the world while everything else around you is changing. Because of this, it can certainly be interpreted as a song about new beginnings and figuring out where one fits in in the world.
“Positive Vibration,” by Bob Marley and the Wailers
It’s no secret that Bob Marley was notoriously well known for his upbeat reggae songs about life and achieving world peace. The song “Positive Vibration” comes from the album Rastaman Vibration, released in 1976, and is full of positive vibes with lyrics like “live if you want to live” and “got to have a good vibe.”
“Feelin’ Good,” by Nina Simone
You’ve probably heard this one before in one way or another — because it has been covered by so many other artists — but Nina Simone’s version is perhaps the most well known, having been arranged and produced for her 1965 album “I Put a Spell on You.”
“Ready to Start,” by The Arcade Fire
With lyrics like “and I guess I’ll just begin again” and “now I’m ready to start,” it’s hard not to get amped up for new beginnings. The Arcade Fire’s hit song hails from the band’s third album, The Suburbs, which was released in 2010.
“You Only Live Once,” by the Strokes
The intro to “You Only Live Once” is, if anything, upbeat and catchy that will surely put you in a good mood and perhaps want to even replay the song one or two more times after that first listen. The song is also the first song to the band’s third album, First Impressions of Earth, which came out in 2006 and has lyrics like “I can't see the sunshine, oh, I'll be waiting for you, baby,” which can certainly be interpreted as changing one’s mentality on life into something more positive.
“I Wanna Get Better,” by the Bleachers
Hailing from the band’s debut album Strange Desire from 2014, “I Wanna Get Better” by the Bleachers is nothing if not catchy. With lyrics like “I didn't know I was lonely 'til i saw your face, I wanna get better, better, better, better, I wanna get better,” it certainly is a song indicative of change and new beginnings.
As soon as BC provincial pandemic restrictions allow, come on down to Underground Music right here in Kelowna to find these albums in store; until now, you can browse our online catalogue and place an order for in-store pick up.
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