Friday Five – Uplifting or Inspirational Songs

Each week I help you get to know me a bit better though the oldest way possible: the Top 5 List. This weeks topic? Uplifting or inspirational songs.

So the other day I was watching the Olympic Trials. This year, there will be more coverage than ever before. Every event will be streamed live over the internet. This means more and more ‘airtime’ will have to be filled. Which in turn leads to more and more puff pieces about the real “human interest” stories behind the various events, and what good is a human interest sports story without some kind of sweeping grand score underneath it? These sweeping sports montages got me thinking about all my other favorite uplifting and inspirational songs.

You know, those songs that move you anytime you hear them. That just get you psyched and pumped up the second they start. Your personal anthems. Those songs that whenever you hear them, make you go “Yeah, yeah I can totally do this!”, not matter what “this” actually is, be it eating that whole pizza faster than anyone else, putting together that Silver Monkey, or just winning that race, you’re gonna get it done, and done better than anybody!

1. “Thunder In Your Heart” by John Farnham from Rad – It’s from quite possibly the best BMX bike themed movie the 1980’s ever brought us (which isn’t saying much), but every time I hear it, I just can’t help but get pumped up. To quote Cru Jones – “It’s so easy it’s a joke!”

 

2. “Chariots of Fire – Titles” by Vangelis from Chariots of Fire – The whole reason behind this list. It’s become the standard go to stock inspirational soundtrack, and it’s been used almost everywhere, but that doesn’t belittle its power in any way. Besides, you know you’ve caught yourself humming it on occasion, even if you don’t know this is where it’s from.

 

3. “Winner Takes It All” by Sammy Hagar from Over The Top – If this movie taught us anything (besides Robert Loggia is awesome, and Danny Witwicky is an annoying little shit), it’s that all it takes to win is to spin your cap around backwards, which I know I’ve actually done several times, though not to great success.

 

4. “Superman Theme” by John Williams from Superman – Another one you know you’ve hummed aloud while running around with your arms out and a towel tied around your neck. As soon as those cymbals crash, you know you’re hooked, and you’ve become invincible.

 

5. “Ultimate Warrior Theme” from WWF – This always makes me want to do some gorilla presses and shake the ropes something fierce. When I was on the Sunday evening under 35 rec softball team, this was my at bat music. I may be a fat old man, but this did inspire me to hit a homerun, my only legitimate sport accomplishment, besides being JV Chess captain and MVP. I nearly collapsed and died afterward, but that is not the important part of the story.

 
And being that InsufficientScotty is based just outside of Philadelphia, this list would be remiss without two of the most inspiring songs in all of movies.
 

JohnScott is the proud owner of a life size replica Captain Kirk Chair. He is a hoarder of Comic Books, Transformers, and Star Trek action figures. He attended Space Camp as an adult. He has taken vacations to the closing of the Star Trek Experience and the final night Shuttle launch. He has been known to yell at his television when the kids can't put together the damn statue in the Shrine of the Silver Monkey. When not writing for InsufficientScotty, he is a Software Engineer for a major healthcare communications company. You can Email or follow on Twitter @NotEnoughScotty or Facebook