"Oak Tree" Songs/Empowering Music

[Eidolon]

Some music makes me feel strong like a big oak tree. Do you have any songs that make you feel the same?

Mine at the moment is probably 100 Years by Florence and the Machine! I really like these lyrics:

"My heart bends and breaks so many, many times
And is born again with each sunrise."

https://youtu.be/E6GX0Zf4FMI

[BJeanGrey]

Listening to this right now. Enjoying it - very much. Thanks kindly for sharing!

I don't have any music that I find empowering. But, I really like Mogwai - I find their music immensely comforting and calming.

Mogwai - BBC 6 Music Live - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AAVvqWeqgx8

Mogwai - "Friend of the Night" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5mrVYi751SU
The piano at approx. 2:43 and then with the drums added in later, pure bliss.

Mogwai - "No Medicine for Regret" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMOCZobSBcA
I don't know what the instrument is (a synthesizer?) that is used for the melody beginning at approx. 0:34, but it's the acoustic equivalent of a hug for the soul.

Mogwai - "Auto Rock" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hMw9AavXqU
Return of the blissful piano.

Mogwai - "Every Country's Sun" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ubqJl36KFU
The electric guitar and drums just seem to say, "It's okay. You're okay. You can sleep."

Mogwai - Les Revenants album - https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=mogwai+les+revenants

I've never seen Mogwai live. They never played in SLC when I was living there, but played a show there after I moved to ATL - hurt my heart. I very much want to see and hear them live at least once in my life.

[Eidolon]

I'm glad you like it!

Mogwai reminds me a little bit of math rock and shoegaze, I really like that. Like an audio version of a nice summer night sky, I think! I hope you get to see Mogwai, too! I'm gonna add them to my playlist. Thank you for sharing!

[BJeanGrey]

Hey Eidolon - I listened to Florence and the Machine for several hours today, while cleaning and cooking, and I'm a fan. Thanks kindly again for sharing this song - I was looking for some new (to me) music to get absorbed in and your recommendation was just what I needed. I'm glad you're enjoying listening to Mogwai. Wishing you peace. 

[Eidolon]

That's awesome, BJeanGrey!  I'm so glad you like her music! I've found it incredibly therapeutic and I'm thrilled that you enjoy it! I'd also recommend the Crane Wives but their songs aren't as hopeful as Florence's- more angry and confused. Caladh Nua has a good Irish song about being yourself, too.

https://youtu.be/PjPkbIjV6GQ

"If I go to the thick woods plucking berries or nuts
taking apples from the branches or herding the cows
If I stretch out under a tree for a while in repose
Oh what does it matter to those it doesn't concern?"

[BJeanGrey]

You have really good music recommendations, Eidolon!

The Crane Wives, "The Moon Will Sing" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pwhec-xnWfY - beautiful.

Do you know The Oh Hellos?

The Oh Hellos, "Glowing," https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RubfUSCC6Yw

[Eidolon]

I'm so glad you like them!! I never really have anyone to share my music with, so this is new and exciting!! It's like a big warm emotional hug to know you like them. Thank you so much!

I never really listened to The Oh Hellos, only saw them in my recommended. I can't believe I didn't listen to them until now! It's a wonderful song, like I get to wave a big victory flag now. Like maybe I really do get to live now, not just survive. Thank you for sharing! It was just what I needed this morning!

One of my old favorites is by The Mountain Goats, called "This Year"! The singer's voice is a bit different but the words are really what make it for me.
https://youtu.be/eetIgGXH6DA

"My broken house behind me and good things ahead" is really what gets me, I think.

[BJeanGrey]

"broken house behind me and good things ahead" - you're right, that's a really great line, speaks to me of persistent hope. What do you think? And, "I am going to make it through this year if it kills me." - I can feel that, for sure.

I really kinda like his voice - reminds me of the singer from Death Cab for Cutie...

This is fun sharing music with you! I'm glad you're having fun, too!

Okay, here's another shoegaze band...this one's a little more obscure and older, from the 90's. I saw them play once at a small club in SLC.

Faith and Disease, "Healing Anne" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tt7UYmUga6I

[Eidolon]

Absolutely! It's the kind of music that makes me wanna do well just because I can. Not out of spite, but sort of an "I told you so" to mean people, if that makes sense? That's what I like most about it! The air of "well, I'm here now, and I'm not going away!"

He has a unique voice! You might also like Cosmo Sheldrake- his music is kind of fantastical, but it's sweet and fun. "Come Along" reminded me of you.

https://youtu.be/bIyl9bCp6W4
"Come come come come come along now,
Run away from the hum-drum,
We'll go to a place that is safe from,
Greed anger and boredom.

We'll dance and sing till sundown,
And feast with abandon,
We'll sleep when the morning comes,
And we'll rise by the sound of the birdsongs."

"Healing Anne" is gorgeous! It reminds me a little bit of Requiem in White. The instruments tell an entire story by themselves and that's amazing to me. I drew something to the music you've been sending, actually! I'll put it in the art section, but your recommendations have been helping me a whole lot, and I figured you should know.

[Pioneer]

This song has lots of meaning to me. Whenever we were in the process of setting boundaries of protection from my abusers, we listened to this song quite a bit. And it played on the radio a lot while we were travelling across the country to a safe place.

It is called "Burn the Ships" by King and Country. The singers are brothers and a Christian group, so I will put a TW, just in case, though I will also add that there is not very much specific religious content in it.  One of the singers' wife had recovered from an addiction to medication at one point and this song was written as an encouragement to her.

[TW if Christian lyrics are a trigger]
https://m.youtube.com/watch?index=4&list=RD7I8Wd09nlKc&v=pOVrOuKVBuY