[2026] Go for it! Popular Uplifting and Motivational Songs in Western Music

The BeginningSnow Patrol

Snow Patrol – The Beginning (Lyric Video)

A song by Snow Patrol included on the album The Forest Is The Path, released in May 2024.

It delves deeply into the themes of love and time, written by frontman Gary Lightbody as he confronts his own experiences.

The complex emotions of trying to overcome past failures and anxieties to build a new relationship, combined with the band’s characteristically expansive soundscape, resonate with listeners.

The lyrics, which portray the difficulty of self-acceptance and the subtleties of human relationships, are likely to strike a chord with many living in the modern era.

It’s a track that can give you courage when you’re feeling down or standing at a crossroads in life.

my futureBillie Eilish

Billie Eilish – my future

A young singer-songwriter who has rewritten various records and become a leading force in the contemporary music scene—and a Gen Z icon—Billie Eilish.

Her long-awaited second album, Happier Than Ever, released in July 2021, topped the charts in countries around the world.

Many of her songs tend to be dark and introspective—a key reason they resonate so deeply with people her age—but the 2020 track we’re looking at here, “my future,” is unusually suffused with a positive air and, for her, even features a straightforwardly pop melody.

According to Billie, she wrote the song when pandemic isolation first began; the lyrics, which express that she’s “in love” with her own future—no one else’s—while spending time alone facing herself, convey a gentle glimmer of hope.

For young people feeling anxiety and fear amid days with no clear end in sight, this message may offer far more encouragement than baseless pep talk ever could.

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KOH-1

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Open Up WideChase

Open Up Wide

This is a piece my trumpet teacher introduced to me.

I was astonished and filled with awe at the overwhelming trumpet performance.

Listening to something like this makes me feel as though existing notions of the trumpet collapse—it’s a piece I’m deeply attached to.

AFRAID TO DIEP.O.D. (featuring Tatiana Shmayluk)

P.O.D. (featuring Tatiana Shmayluk) – “AFRAID TO DIE” (Official Music Video) VERITAS

The nu metal band P.O.D.

invited singer Tatiana Shmailyuk to collaborate on “AFRAID TO DIE.” The song portrays the hardships of living while still conveying a message to keep on going.

Its powerful message is sure to give you strength.

The genre’s signature heavy low-end and shouted vocals are also likely to lift your spirits.

Give it a listen when you want to hype yourself up with something intense.

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Day By DayBelmont

Belmont “Day By Day” (Official Music Video)

This song sings of strength and hope to overcome everyday battles.

Its fast-paced sound, true to the core of pop punk, pairs perfectly with lyrics that resonate with young listeners.

Included on the album “Aftermath,” released in April 2023, it has also been featured in TV series and commercials.

Hailing from Chicago, Belmont delivers a track that captures fans’ hearts with a message inspiring courage and resilience in the face of daily life.

When you’re struggling with work or love, or need to fire yourself up, listening to it will surely spark the energy you need for tomorrow.

It’s a pep song from Belmont, meant for everyone striving toward an exciting future.

C’est si bonLouis Armstrong

Louis Armstrong – C’est si bon (1962)

I remember it being used in some commercial.

Louis Armstrong was also an exceptionally gifted trumpeter, and to me he is a top-tier figure whom I deeply respect.

That bellowing voice gives a profoundly rich feeling.

Wild HorsesThe Rolling Stones

Wild Horses – Rolling Stones

It’s fair to call this one of the greatest rock ballads of all time.

Countless people around the world have felt uplifted and inspired by this song—and I’m one of them.

That’s why I want to introduce it to someone else as an anthem of encouragement.