A friend and I were talking about music this week, which has prompting some thought as to why I like some songs and musicians more than others. While I like a good nonsense pop song as much as anyone, much of my favorite music addresses existential questions and the inherent (but freeing) absurdity of existence: Why are we here? How should we live? How do we deal with regret? Shame? Loss? Memory? What does it all mean? These songs not only provide a needed break or background soundtrack; they also are food for the mind and soul.
Below are ten existentialist-themed songs that I love, in no particular order and the first ones that came to mind that I could easily share here:
- Paul McCartney: “Fool on the Hill”
- Talking Heads: “Once in a Lifetime”
- Elvis Costello: “Veronica”
- Annie Lennox: “Into the West”
- Queen: “Bohemian Rhapsody”
- Hamilton Soundtrack: “That Would Be Enough”
- Prince: “Sign O’ the Times”
- Tracy Chapman: “Change”
- Traveling Wilburys: “End of the Line”
- John Lennon: “Watching the Wheels”
This post is part of the April A to Z Blog Challenge. For more on my 2016 theme of Private Revolution, see A Is for Ambition. Click here to read all posts in the Private Revolution A to Z Challenge blog series.
I would like to add one to these that you have chosen: Simon and Garfunkel’s “Slip Slidin’ Away.” Great post!
Great choices. I’d also add Jim Croce’s “Time in a Bottle” and Harry Chapin’s “Cat’s in the Cradle”. Both songs also all the more poignant as they both died too young.