I’m still flabbergasted on how fast the summer is going – yes, that’s right, the kids still have a couple of weeks of summer left before school starts. For those that have already started – neener neener.

Seeing as how it’s Monday (in spite of the days blurring together with kids and hubby on summer break), it’s time for some music! This week our Spotlight Dancer, Ramona from Create with Joy, has chosen the theme: “Songs That Inspire Us!” Let’s get inspired, shall we?

Let’s start with a single that features bluegrass-inspired guitar riffs coupled with this artist’s trademark sweeping house music chords. When the Swedish DJ first introduced the tune at the Ultra Music Festival in Miami, some dance music fans raised their eyebrows at its blend of country, folk and EDM.

The song’s crossover appeal was demonstrated when it became just the third tune to top both Billboard’s Dance/Mix Show Airplay and Triple A charts, and was the first ever song to reach 200 million streams on the Spotify music streaming service.

Avicii

Let’s get inspired by Avicii with “Wake Me Up”:

Next up on the inspiration wagon is a swooping ballad that finds this artist defiantly affirming her resilience. She confidently asserts:

“I’m unstoppable, I’m a Porsche with no brakes / I’m invincible, I win every single day / I’m so powerful I don’t need batteries today / I’m so confident that I’m unstoppable today

The notoriously camera-shy songstress is an overcomer and she feels ready to face the world.

Sia

Give a listen to the awesome and inspirational Sia with “Unstoppable”:

Next up is one of my favorite Canadian singers who rocks out on this track, where she implores us to “clappa your hands” and “stompa your feet.” It was the first single from her fifth studio album, and it got her in heavy rotation on Canadian Rock radio for the first time.

After spending three years touring her sophomore album, this artist was exhausted and depressed, and felt she needed to get away from music, so she returned to Canada and spent weeks in bed. This song is about her attempt to overcome her depression by recalling what music meant to her when she started playing guitar at the age of 13. She was quoted as saying:

“It’s the best medicine in the world, and I wrote the song to remind myself that.”

The song was this artist’s first platinum selling single in Canada peaking at #8 on her home country’s singles chart. How’s that for inspirational?

Fun Fact: This song was used in the Season 9 episode of the TV show Grey’s Anatomy, “The End is the Beginning is the End.”

Get ready to clappa your hands and stompa your feet to Serena Ryder with “Stompa”:

Last, but definitely not least, is a song that was recently released (and shared, but totally worth a repeat again… and again… and again) where this artist put on his dancing shoes to pen this feel-good tune. It was the first time this artist teamed up with Swedish hit maker Max Martin since his NSYNC days in the early 2000s, and was the first new solo song in almost three years for this artist.

The song was written for the animated movie Trolls. The artist also provides the voice of a grumpy-looking grey-blue troll called Branch in the Dreamworks film and is the executive producer of its soundtrack.The artist said that writing songs for a soundtrack is more regimented than his solo work, and working on this soundtrack inspired even more songs from him.

Which means we have even more to look forward to.

JustinTimberlake

Be inspired to get up and dance to Justin Timberlake with “Can’t Stop The Feeling”:

That’s a wrap for this week – have a great Monday!

Now on to the particulars of Monday’s Music Move’s Me:   PhotobucketI have the supreme honor and privilege of being a co-host with the inimitable Xmas Dolly and our musical cohorts, Callie from JAmericanSpice, and Naila Moon from Just the Stuff Ya Know.

Want to join in the fun? It’s easy – just find a tune that rocks your boat, post it and link up – don’t forget to grab Xmas Dolly…er, um, I mean her button…over at her place here. Check out Xmas Dolly’s sidebar for the random themes we sport each week – and you can always ask for a specific theme of music you like, too. Check out the other music lovahs and let’s jam!

INTRODUCING OUR “SPOTLIGHT DANCER”:

Ramona from Create with Joy



4 Comments

  1. Totally awesome! I played Justin’s song at least four times… you tired yet? Thanks for the boogie my friend and “cling” HAPPY ANNIVERSARY! HUGS & SMOOCHES!!! Thanks for stickin’ it out with me my good, good friend! HUGS HUGS AND MORE HUGS!!! THANKS FOR THE BOOGIE!!!! WOO HOO CHAMPAGNE FOR EVERYBODY… WOO HOO! YOU’RE DUH BEST!!!

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