A Sunday night can feel daunting, especially when you know you have a stressful or important week at work ahead of you. But even if you don’t, even if it’s just a normal work week, everyone needs an extra push sometimes. And what better than some energizing rock songs to get you in the right mood? These three songs are perfect for three specific moments of the week when our confidence and motivation tend to wane. The Foo Fighters, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Pearl Jam have crafted the perfect songs to not only survive but power through anything that can come up this week.
“Learn to Fly” (1999)
Artist: Foo Fighters
“Learn to Fly” is the kind of song that never fails to cheer people up. It’s not just the uplifting and hopeful lyrics or the energetic guitar strums that could wake the dead. This song was a turning point for the Foo Fighters, as it was recorded during a special time for the band when they were rediscovering themselves and solidifying their friendship and musical bond. The lead single from their third album, There Is Nothing Left to Lose, from 1999, this track was their first to enter the Billboard Hot 100 and won a Grammy Award in 2001.
The album was the first to feature Taylor Hawkins on drums, who had joined the year before after the departure of original drummer William Goldsmith. The recording process was very special for the band, who were, at the time, a trio, as guitarist Pat Smear had left the band, and his replacement hadn’t worked out. Dave Grohl and Hawkins, along with bassist Nate Mendel, decided to move into Grohl’s house in Virginia and build a recording studio where they could work on their own time and strengthen their bond. They all greatly enjoyed the recording experience and the freedom it provided them, and Grohl still holds that album as one of his favorites.
Anyone who’s feeling down about the imminent work week should start their Monday with “Learn to Fly.” Bonus points if you watch the video as well as listen to the song, as it won’t fail to make you smile. In typical Foo Fighters fashion, the video strikes the perfect balance between being artistic and absurd. It features the three members boarding a plane, playing different characters such as the flight attendant, the pilot, and several disgruntled passengers. In the end, the band, playing themselves, have to save the day by averting an accident. It’s truly the key to starting your week right.
“Can’t Stop” (2002)
Artist: Red Hot Chili Peppers
There’s a reason why the Red Hot Chili Peppers have been opening their shows with this song for decades. When the midweek slump hits, this song is guaranteed to set you back on the right track. “Can’t Stop” was a single from their 2002 album By the Way, one of their most successful, and this song topped the charts for weeks. It’s a quintessential Chili Peppers song, showcasing their signature mix of rhythmic rap and complex melodies and backing vocals. John Frusciante starts the song with a simple but hypnotic guitar riff that repeats throughout the song and provides the perfect backdrop for Anthony Kiedis‘ confusing yet compelling rapping.
When played live, this song never fails to engage the crowd, who might not be able to follow along with the lyrics, but certainly match the band’s energy. The video that accompanies the track is perfect for it. The band is shown playing their instruments and singing in truly chaotic situations, such as coming out of trash cans, carrying around water jugs, or coming out of yellow plastic tubs. While most of the lyrics seem to be there for the purpose of following the rhythm, the song title and the repeated line “can’t stop” send a clear message: keep moving forward, the wave can’t stop. It’s the perfect pick-me-up after a tough Wednesday, and it will give you the energy needed to make it to the next weekend.
“Alive” (1991)
Artist: Pearl Jam
Making it to Friday definitely deserves a celebration, and this song is perfect for that. “Alive” is the prime example of a song that the audience has changed the meaning of. Its chorus chants “I’m still alive,” which fans took as a celebration in the ’90s and carry to this day, but the inception of this anthem is much darker. The song was Pearl Jam’s debut single, released only months after Eddie Vedder joined the band in 1990.
Vedder wrote the lyrics to an instrumental version of the song that guitarist Stone Gossard and bassist Jeff Ament mailed him to see if he would be interested in joining their band, and while the story in the song was heavily fictionalized, it was, at its core, autobiographical. The first verse tells the story of a mother telling a son that the man he grew up thinking was his father was actually his stepfather, and his real father was actually dead. This is Vedder’s actual family history, and the chorus, in which the singer claims “I’m still alive,” is actually a lament. According to Vedder, “I’m still alive” referred to having to live with the knowledge he felt he was cursed with. He didn’t know how to deal with that, and other songs on Pearl Jam’s debut album, Ten, reflect that grief.
“In the original story, a teenager is being made aware of a shocking truth that leaves him plenty confused,” Vedder explained in 2006 in an episode of the VH1 series Storytellers. “It was a curse — ‘I’m still alive.’” But while the origin of the song was depressing, “Alive” brought joy to thousands of fans, who chose to interpret the chorus as a triumphant celebration of life. And, in time, Vedder came to see it the same way. Seeing people enjoy the song during Pearl Jam shows made him enjoy it, too.
“They lifted the curse. The audience changed the meaning for me.”
This song will be the perfect end to your week of hard work, especially combined with the other two tracks. These three rock songs will put a smile on your face at crucial points of your week, and will get you through anything your boss can throw at you.
