7 songs to get you productive [playlist]

Admittedly, I get a little lazy shortly after any holiday, especially after Thanksgiving as we head into the holiday season. It’s always tempting to want to laze off until the year ends, but we still have a few weeks left to push ourselves until then! So here’s a playlist of songs (with a Spotify player for those of you who have it) that always help boost my productivity:

1. “Strong as an Oak” in Cardboard Castles by Watsky

This song has a great melody that gently rouses me out of my sleepiness, and Watsky’s rapping is super impressive. The message is a bit sobering (it’s all about the financial struggles and just wanting to live a comfortable life), but Watsky gives a shoutout to his supporters (family, friends, fans, etc.) with the hope that they will continue to let him rely on them, something I’m sure many of us can relate to:

I be here and I’m living my dreamsAnd it’s ‘cause of the people I leaned on when I came apart at the seams

2. “Here I Am Alive” on Southern Air by Yellowcard

Now this is a song that lets you speak volumes about your own successes. No matter what everyone else said, no matter what they thought, you stayed true to your course and now here you are: alive. This is a great song that will get your blood pumping, but not in a headbanging, mosh pit kind of way. And Yellowcard is one of those bands that's, "an oldie, but a goodie", so expect future mentions of them (they've got songs that fit nearly every mood).

3. “Admit It Again!” on Anarchy, My Dear by Say Anything

Say Anything is one of those bands that, admittedly, has shaped my teenage years in a number of ways. Ultimately, this song is a sequel to an older song that had released eight years prior, both calling out the fakers to stop playing into the system and to think for themselves-- something I’ve become aware of and strive to live by. You'll see this playlist is all about staying true to yourself and not letting anyone compromise who you are. In any case, this song is pumping with so much energy and by this point, I’m ready to run a thousand sales reports.

4. “Lorde 2Pac Beck Mashup” in Season 2 by Pomplamoose

I love Pomplamoose. I watched them perform this song with my fiance at the Bowery Ballroom on their tour, and the energy they exuded was like no other. Seriously, these guys have totally recreated this mashup of cover songs into something of their own. Just let this caffeinated music pump life back into you, and you won’t need that second cup of coffee*.

* Replacement of actual caffeine with this song is not guaranteed.

5. “Can't Hold Us - feat. Ray Dalton” on The Heist by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis

When the going gets tough, you play this song to get you going. The percussion in the first few seconds before the piano starts up really sets the tone for the rest of the song. It’s upbeat and sends a really great message: stay real, stay humble. I always get inspired when this song comes up. I feel like I can rise up to the top, and no one’s going to stop me.

6. “Explode” on Soul Punk by Patrick Stump

During the Fall Out Boy hiatus, Patrick Stump really stepped out into his own music. “Explode” is the first song of Soul Punk, his debut album. He has a very unique and innovative way of mixing and filling in the listening space, something I don't think Patrick Stump would have been able to experiment with as freely with Fall Out Boy. This funky song has got some great energy and sounds as explosive as you think. I actually listened to this album on repeat for some time.

7. “Mad as Rabbits” on Pretty Odd by Panic! at the Disco

Personally, this was one of my favorite Panic! albums, and listening to this bombastic album ender gave me a newfound respect for them. The thumping bass, crisp strings, and brass horns build up in a lovely mixture that gets me plenty ready for the day’s work.

As a word of warning, the quality on Spotify may not do each song justice but don’t let that stop you from taking a listen!

Main image by Kaysha.