People sometimes ask me how I stay optimistic, even in the “dark times” we’re constantly told exist today.  I usually credit my spiritual practices and exercise, but something I don’t mention as often is the music I listen to.  It’s about time I broke the silence and ended the nail-biting suspense.

The music I listen to falls into two categories:  (1) positive, upbeat rock, and (2) new age/primitive/ambient/“dark ambient”/electronica (“NAPADE”).  In this post I’ll stick to category (1), because NAPADE would require a lot of explanation, and this is meant to be a super-SEO’d list post targeting the Web 3.0-attention-span-having Gen-Z demographic.  So don’t touch that mouse button, Gen Z’ers—here comes the list.

1.  Burning Heart (Survivor).  On the heels of Eye of the Tiger’s breakthrough success, Sylvester Stallone personally commissioned Survivor to write another mega-hit for Rocky IV, and they did not disappoint.  The song lyrics are basically a summary of the movie, so if you are on the fence about seeing it, and would like a sort of musical preview, this song is for you.

Fun Fact:  The explosion sound in, and the repetition of “in the burning heart” at the end of, the chorus were Sly’s ideas.

2. Dare (Stan Bush).  I suspect most people who saw the original Transformers movie will agree that one of its highlights (and, to some, its only redeeming quality) was the music.  Stan Bush was at the vanguard of this epic soundtrack, contributing two songs, “Dare,” and the better-known “The Touch” (featured in Boogie Nights).  Bush was the quintessential ‘80s action-movie singer/songwriter, having contributed tracks to Bloodsport, Kickboxer, Sailor Moon, and the Olympic Games. (!)

3. You’re The Best Around (Joe “Bean” Esposito).  How he got the nickname “Bean” has apparently been lost in the mists of time, but thankfully Joe Esposito’s song from the Karate Kid soundtrack was not.  The fact that I’m the best around, while true, is something I can lose sight of on a rough day, and this song serves as a helpful reminder.

Fun Fact:  For variety’s sake, I didn’t want to list two Survivor songs in this post, but it’s worth noting that they also cranked out another adrenaline-pumping number for The Karate Kid soundtrack called “The Moment of Truth.”  Check it out!

4. The Sweetest Victory (Touch).  An underrated gem from Rocky IV.  Listening to only about a minute of the song will make this band’s love of victory readily apparent.  In fact, they “love it more than life itself.”  I don’t know if I’d personally go that far, but when I need to reconnect with my own love of and desire for victory, this is the go-to song.

5. Peace of Mind (Boston).  Again, I will fearlessly buck trends by declining to list Boston’s larger mega-hit, “More Than a Feeling,” in favor of this not-as-large-but-still-megahit.  The reason I do so is the lyrics, which, as the title suggests, are about the importance of maintaining peace of mind, in the face of a competitive, complex and stressed-out world.

6. Jukebox Hero (Foreigner).  I have blown out my voice more than once singing this while playing Rock Band at my friend’s house.  As painful as that has been, I still love this song and Foreigner generally speaking.  (With the exception of songs with sax in them, such as “Urgent.”)

7. Carry On (Manowar).  Another thing I’ve never revealed here is my love of heavy metal.  This is a mere oversight, having nothing whatsoever to do with any self-consciousness on my part.

Anyway, the title of this classic is self-explanatory—it’s about carrying on.  Forever carrying on, in fact, despite overwhelming odds!  And no one is more qualified to talk about carrying on than Manowar, who have remained unapologetically true to their battle-axe-and-flail-wielding approach throughout decades of shifting musical trends.

8. You Got Another Thing Comin’ (Judas Priest).  This is what I’ve always said to people who tell me I can’t accomplish something, and veteran rockers Judas Priest have perfectly captured that attitude in this song.  I was about five years old when this song came out, and it stirred my spirits even then (although it’s also true that Duran Duran had the same effect on me at that age).

9. Primo Victoria (Sabaton).  A song about D-Day, featuring lyrics with painstakingly researched descriptions of the battle’s events.  The style is typical of Sabaton, a Swedish heavy metal band who wear matching camouflage outfits and body armor on stage, in keeping with the “famous battles” theme of their songwriting.

10. I Wanna Rock (Twisted Sister).  This song resonates with, well, my desire to rock.  Sorry, I have nothing devastatingly witty or profound to say in my writeup of this song—much like the lyrics of the song itself, which are charmingly unpretentious.

You’ll probably notice that a lot of these songs are from the ‘80s.  This is not because I have any particular nostalgia for the ‘80s, but because it seems to me that, around 1990, it became chic in rock music to be snide, blasé or morose, and this trend continues today.  The songs I’ve listed here, I think you’ll find, are refreshingly irony-free.  Enjoy!

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3. Yes, This Is Actually Me Singing
4. Switching Off The “Mental Radio”
5. A Holiday Musical Gift And Vulnerable Share