Hello, Monday peeps! Well, here we are, just about two weeks into the new year – how’s 2025 treating you so far? Since it is Monday, that, of course, means music! This week’s theme is “Songs to start 2025 or songs to motivate you for the new year.” Let’s get this motivational party started!
Let’s start with a song from 1986 that tells the story of Tommy and Gina, two kids working to make it on their own despite constant hardships. It struck a chord with America’s youth, especially the ones from New Jersey. The characters in the song relate to the working-class fans this group played to: Tommy works on the docks, while Gina works in a diner (of which there are many in Jersey).
The characters Tommy and Gina were based on a real life situation the songwriter encountered in the late ’70s with his then-girlfriend, Maria Vidal, whom he was living with. According to his notes, he was a New York taxi cab driver and Maria was a singing waitress in a diner. Maria was nicknamed Gina by her fellow employees due to a physical resemblance to Italian actress Gina Lollobrigida.
On VH1’s The Greatest Songs of the ’80s special, this was voted the best song of the decade.
Here’s Bon Jovi with “Livin’ on a Prayer”:
Next up is a song that has inspirational lyrics about chasing your dreams and seeing the possibilities of getting there despite your doubts. This is this artist’s first single to be taken from the soundtrack of the 2009 film Hannah Montana: The Movie. This was the first solo song from this artist to be marketed directly to Country radio as well as Pop radio.
This debuted on the Hot Country Songs chart dated March 14, 2009 at #48. The same week her father Billy Ray Cyrus also had a new entry on the same listing. They thus became the first father and daughter to have new songs debuting on this chart in the same week since March 3, 1990, when Johnny Cash with Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson and Kris Kristofferson had a new entry with “Silver Stallion,” and his daughter Rosanne Cash simultaneously debuted as a guest artist on the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band’s “One Step Over the Line.”
Give a listen to Miley Cyrus with “The Climb”:
Next is a song that definitely motivates—the song goes, “Like a small boat, on the ocean, sending big waves, into motion, like how a single word, can make a heart open.” This powerful song is all about continuing to fight, even when nobody else thinks you can do it.
More than a decade after releasing her first album, this artist made her Hot 100 debut with this empowerment anthem. This song is the fruit of 12 years of hard graft – after all those years of working hard for so long, she didn’t think it would ever happen. She thought maybe she’d have to revert to Plan B and figure something else out – that moment bred this particular song.
This song came because she had to make a decision—and because of this song, she finally got some amazing opportunities. The song gained early exposure thanks to its placement on December 9, 2014 (my birthday) in a Christmas-themed ABC Family’s Pretty Little Liars episode. It was also featured in a trailer for the TV series Supergirl and an ad campaign for Ford.
Obviously, it’s good that she didn’t opt for Plan B and hang up her guitar. She was quoted as saying:
“I just needed it at the time, you know, I needed that reminder that I believed in myself no matter what.”
Get ready for inspiration, here’s Rachel Platten with “Fight Song”:
Last but certainly not least is a song you can sing when you’re gleefully excited about the dreams you have achieved! This Indie Rock band first got together in 2006 while attending Berklee College of Music. The quartet spent their first years in Boston recording and performing music under a different name before relocating to New York in 2010.
They released two albums under their former name but decided it wasn’t working for them, so they came up with their current name and landed a record deal with Mercury Records. This is their second single after signing to the label.
They said this was a really fun song to write, that it’s actually pieces from five different songs that they combined. They shelved it for a while, but when they returned to it, they realized they had something special.
They wanted to tell this story of how no matter what’s going on – whether you’re stuck at your job or having a bad day – there’s always an escape from that, and there’s always a way to make any day the best day of your life. It’s about escaping reality and entering into that dream world.
Get ready to dance, here’s American Authors with “Best Day Of My Life”:
That’s a wrap for this week – have a great Monday! See you on the dance floor!
Now, onto the particulars of Monday’s Music Move’s Me:
I have the supreme honor and privilege of being a co-host with the inimitable Xmas Dolly and our musical cohort, the awesome Cathy from Curious as a CAThy, and Alana of Ramblin’ with AM!
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!
Bon Jovi was the very definition of “Hair Band” in the 80’s but they made some beautiful music. Today I really liked “Fight Song”. I think maybe we all need a fight song to help us through the tough times. Have a blessed day.
These were fun. I enjoyed all 9f them even 8f I would nor buy their CDs:).
Great selections for today!
Excellent choice with Bon Jovi! Have a boogietastic week, Stacy!! xo
Nice songs
We both chose Fight Song and I almost chose The Climb. A great playlist.
The 1980’s produced so many great songs, and yes, Livin’ on a Prayer is one of the greats. It was so nice listening to it while getting ready for a slushy outdoor exercise walk. And yes, I even sang some of it aloud! The Climb was new to me but I enjoyed it, along with the American Author song. Have a great rest of the week.