Beautiful Day: Songs For A New Beginning

Author: Julianna Cooper, Challenge America Program Coordinator

I don’t know about you, but one of my favorite ways to spark my creativity and motivation is by listening to music that inspires me.

The New Year is a perfect time to use music for inspiration; perhaps by compiling a new playlist, learning a new song, or writing a piece of music that makes you feel hopeful.  Our theme this month is “New Year, New Possibilities,” and today we are honing in on music centered around new beginnings, working toward new goals, and feeling the hope of a fresh start.

Below are 15 songs we hope will inspire you to lean into new possibilities, try something you’ve never tried before, and spark creativity and hope.  

Click on each title to listen to the song! 🎶

1. “We’ve Only Just Begun” by The Carpenters

2. “Beautiful Day” by U2

3. “Unwritten”  by Natasha Bedingfield

4. “I Can See Clearly Now” by Johnny Nash

5. “New Morning’ by Bob Dylan

6. “Brand New” by Ben Rector

7. “High Hopes” by Panic! at the Disco

8. “Break My Stride” by Matthew Wilder

9. “I Won’t Back Down” by Tom Petty 

10. “Follow the Sun” by Xavier Rudd

11. “Starting Over” by Chris Stapleton

12. “Here Comes the Sun” by the Beatles

13. “I Can Change” by Lake Street Dive

14. “Feeling Good” by Nina Simone

15. “Up&Up” by Coldplay
    

These are a few of our favorites, but we want to hear from you!  What are your favorite songs to spark inspiration?