Living a simple life is easier said than done, daily stress, deadlines and emotional strain can make life darn complicated at times. Not that we are experts on the matter, there is no set rulebook to making life easier. But we know music and music can hold some of life’s most important lessons and mantras. Here is short selection of songs, which remind us that sometimes it’s important, if not vital to sit back, take a deep breath and look at life from a different angle.
PLAYLIST: http://www.deezer.com/playlist/1377986975
1-Télépop Musik – Stop Running Away
To live a simple or simpler life, you have to face those little problems which parasite daily life. Breathe in and handle them one step at a time. But whatever you do, “stop running away”.
2- Roudoudou – Peace and Tranquility to Earth
Get up extra early to walk in the country or through the empty streets of your city. The sunrise is free, amazing and everyone can enjoy it.
3- Crystal Fighters – Xtatic Truth
Worry and anxiety are natural human reactions, they stop us from making brash or stupid decisions and they prevent us from danger or hurting ourselves. But like any emotion linked to fear, too much of it can cripple you. Learn to let go, take a few risks and stand-alone in the world or up above the clouds. Cut yourself some slack.
4- Harper Simon – Wishes and Stars
When you stop expecting to get everything you desire, when you drop the mindset of needing more and more to fulfill your dreams, you’ll feel an inner peace about your well-being. All your wishes won’t come true and objects won’t grant you eternal satisfaction. When you accept that there are more “wishes than stars”, you’ll realize “you’re as simple as a bee, as a melody in c”.
5- Roberta Flack – The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face
“The first time I ever saw your face, I thought the sun rose in your eyes.”
The best feeling in the world, no matter how misanthropic you are, no matter the cynicism you bear… and money can’t buy it.
6- Songs Of Green Pheasant – I Am Daylights
You can’t radiate every single day of your life, but when you do make sure the whole world knows, spread those positive vibes like wildfire.
7- Blur – The Universal
Modern life can be dreary and stressful. Disconnect from the mundane modern life to find 10 minutes of happiness, something benign or simple that makes you smile: your cat sleeping in the sun, your kid’s smile when you get home, a stroll with a friend after work. Escape the social pressure from time to time, it feels liberating.
8- Keren Ann – Lay Your Head Down
A great Sunday song for dreamers who just want to keep it simple. Life has become so accelerated that people have become allergic and even afraid of boredom. They fill their days with thousands of activities: Instagram pics, shopping, brunches, work, the list is endless and everyone is always “busy”. Keren Ann reminds us of the power of doing nothing, laying your head down and how overwhelmingly pleasant it can be.
9- Elbow – Scattered Black And Whites
“She scruffs my hair in the kitchen steam
She’s listening to the dream I weaved today
Crosswords through the bathroom door
While someone sings the theme tune to the news
And my sister buzzes through the room leaving perfume in the air”
You just need to look at the Youtube comments to understand how this song triggers people’s happy memories. Sometimes living a simple life is remembering the small comforting things from the past, the safe haven of the family home. When sh*t hits the fan, surround yourselves with the ones you love and find time for them even if you think there aren’t enough hours in the day. They will always love you for who you are.
10- Kindness – Swinging Party
“If bein’ wrong’s a crime, I’m serving forever… If being strong is what you want, then I need help here with this feather”
Sometimes accepting failure and accepting help is the best and only way to move forwards. A failure will only make your next success sweeter. Amen Kindness.
11- Andrew Bird – Lull
Being alone like “Captain Cousteau underneath the Atlantic”, learning to respect your own rhythm can be cathartic. It’s not all about social expectations, get to know yourself again, focus on the things you love, and learn to sail alone on the sea of life whilst marching to the beat of your own drum. Fly your own masts, who cares about what others think.
12- Maddi Simmons – I Love A Simple Life
The simple life in a nutshell.
13- Louis Armstrong – What A Wonderful World
The news would often like to convince us of the contrary. Every new year bears hope and is often met by deception, shrinking our faith in humanity a little more each time. But hang in there; although it’s important to look at the bigger picture, you occasionally have to look at the smaller picture, and appreciate the tiny daily things that add sunshine to your day.
14- Alicia Keys – If I Ain’t Got You
It’s pointless having 100, 000 followers on Twitter, a Bugatti and a fat diamond hanging off your pinkie, if you don’t have real friends or people who care about you. So take your damn phone off the restaurant table, stop online shopping in bed when you should be sharing hugs, stop putting off your friends until next week… take the time to make the most of the people you love.
15- Sixpence None The Richer – Kiss Me
Go on say it, pluck up the courage to tell them how you feel. Better to regret the things you have than what you haven’t. You’ll be proud of yourself for going out there and trying even if you fail.
16- Phil Harris – The Bare Necessities (Disney)
Ain’t no place for cynicism here, you can’t beat an old Disney classic especially about a bear teaching you the art of a simple, yet hedonist lifestyle.
17- Bing Crosby – I’ve Got A Pocketful of Dreams
What would you dream about if you got everything you always desired? Life would get rather boring after a while. The biggest luxury in life is to be a content daydreamer, and create your own magic.
18- Corinne Bailey Rae – Put Your Records On
Get home, leave your work troubles where they belong… at the office. Don’t check your emails whilst cooking, let your hair down and put your favorite record on.
19- The Avalanches – Since I Left you
When you’re younger you want everyone to love you, you want to please and be pleased and you will often find yourself bending over backwards to satisfy or impress people who clearly aren’t worth it. As you get older, you realize that your true friends or soul mates are the ones who stick it through, even when you hit rock bottom. Get rid of the parasites, the fake friends and the people who rain on your parade, you’re worth so much more than that. Funnily enough once you’ve blocked out the meanies “you’ll find the world something new”.
20- Feist – Mushaboom
“We’ll make a home from a rented house and collect the moments one by one”. City dwellers if you’re reading, forget the semi detached house and outdated expectations of being a house owner by 35. Make the most of “your second floor living without a yard” it doesn’t matter.
