5 Inspiring Songs with Motivating Music to Help You on the Track to Success

An inspiring song for one person many not necessarily be an inspiring song for another person. Some people feel that inspiring songs should be upbeat, while others feel that they should be motivating, angry or sad. Others may feel that a song needs a standout music quote in the lyrics that is moving or inspirational. The following five songs are motivational or inspirational in various ways for various reasons, and they are not often located on the "Inspirational" rack of your local record store.

Artist: Cloud Cult
Song: The Will of A Volcano

Cloud Cult is a Minnesota-based band that was started by Craig Minowa in the mid-nineties. Their song, "The Will of a Volcano," has a driving, smart, indie rock feel with several lesser-used musical instruments giving it a surreal kind of vibe. This song is perfect for someone looking for a bit of a strange, stressed, mildly angry song that will motivate them to move forward and right wrongs they have made in their lives.

Artist: Mariah Carey
Song: Hero

Mariah Carey likely needs little introduction, since she has been a ridiculously famous and well-regarded singing talent for just about two decades. Her inspirational song, "Hero," is a slow vocal backed by a piano, and features highly inspirational lyrics about finding your own strength to see your way through your problems.

Artist: Hot Chip
Song: Shake a Fist

Often, what is motivating in a song is not the lyrics alone. Hot Chip is an electronic pop band from England; their motivating song "Shake a Fist" certainly does have lyrics that make the listener want to get up and do something, and the lyrics are right alongside a driving beat that practically impels you to get your stuff done.

Artist: Arch Enemy
Song: We Will Rise

Arch Enemy is a Swedish death metal band that in addition to former members of Carnage and Carcass, also have a girl for a singer. Her name is Angela Gossow, and her legendary screams blow the femme-shrieks of other female metal singers way out of the water. "We Will Rise" features moving lyrics compelling the listener to gain confidence and clearly see that it is easy to achieve and excel when you stand up and show your talent.

Artist: Aphex Twin
Song: Digeridoo

Aphex Twin is an electronic project operated by a man named Richard David James. They are probably best known for their 90s hit song and weird video, "Come to Daddy." A piece that is inspirational without motivating lyrics, "Digeridoo" is an all-instrumental electronic drum beat based on the sounds of a digeridoo, an instrument made of a hollowed-out branch that produces a low, slow buzz. This song is good for artists trying to get inspired to work, and is especially good for working listeners who think lyrics are a distraction.

If there is any sure way of finding a song that is not inspirational, it is listening to an album marketed as inspirational music. The dead-feeling, electronic whale and ocean feel duplicated in song after song pumped out by record labels that focus on inspirational music is usually more depressing and snooze-inspiring than motivating. Choosing songs that move you instead of focusing on the music genre will yield more personal inspiration and motivation from the music.