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I know. Not everyone is moved by music. But like it or not, music connects with and moves people in ways little else does. For those folks…I’ve often used a tune or two that might help validate and normalize their experience as they plug into common themes, might give them a tool to use outside of sessions to remind them of specific things or to alter their mood or remember why they want to make different choices, and for those folks the music does something they or I couldn’t manage ourselves.

With some assistance I’ve been building a practice playlist with the idea of some shared musical experiences for our team and access to the widest variety of magical/musical styles, emotions, lyrics, etc., for those days when just that one song will do. So if you are one of those folks who enjoys the tunes and is on the lookout for new beats or if you have clients that could use a hummable reminder…you should be able to find something new here.

*standard disclaimer…some of these songs are brutally aggressive or ugly (kinda like life sometimes ([that’s why they’re on here]) and some use words even I find offensive and I’ll try to warn you with some kinda symbol when that’s going to be the case.

**less standard disclaimer…if you are certain there is not a style of music you don’t care for, I take that as a personal challenge and have a fairly good start so don’t expect to love or connect with everything…but you might be surprised here and there and find yourself going back to something that didn’t sit well at first aural glance. Happens to me all the time.

Selections by Category

Monday Motivator: Kinda Like A Workout Song For Your Noggin.

Brilliant – Shinedown

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“Let me clear my throat, let me catch my breathLet my heart bleed out ’til there’s nothing leftIt’s my day to be brilliant”

Heart Wrencher: Songs Embracing Good Reasons For Sadness, The Kind You Listen To In The Midst Of A Break Up While Eating A Tub Of Ice Cream Kinda Thing Or Finding Out Someone/Thing You Love Is Temporary.

Train Wreck – James Arthur

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“Unbreak the brokenUnsay these spoken wordsFind hope in the hopelessPull me out of the train wreck”

Soul Satisfier: A Little Blast Of Positive Energy. I’m Always Opposed To Ignoring The Negative Or Unpleasant But No One Should Live There.

Show Up Choose Love – Toby Mac & Jon Reddick

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“Show upAnd we’ve got toChoose loveWe’ve come a long wayWe’ve got a long way to go (yeah)Let’s do the next right thing”

Caustic Cathartisizer: Angry And Aggressive…But Only For Catharsis I.e., Meant To Process Anger Not To Build On It.

Rumbrave – Murder by Death

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The name of the band does not fit the music very well, but the lyrics, better fit by far.

A Team: Love The Care And Skills Some of My Colleagues Have Put Into Their Work, This Is One Of The Ways I Like To Brag About Them. Maybe There’s Someone You’d Like To Champion.

What I Do – MGK, Bun B, Dub-O

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“And I’m higher then a hat on a giraffe sitting in the slizzab sitting on thirties”

Cool Groove: Just On The List Cause It’s Something To Which You Can Mentally Recline And Tap Your Feets.

Mardi Gras Morning – Saint Brass, Trombone Shorty, Samuel Cyrus

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Crescent City Vibe

Terrific Technicians: Be It Classical Composing Or Shredding Their Instrument(S) With Amazing Precisions, A Fair Reminder That Combining Your Gifts And Ongoing, Non-Stop, And Intense Efforts Can Result In Incredible Skill That Touches People.

Blues Deluxe – Joe Bonnamassa

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I think I got it bad.

Cultural Compositions: A Chance To Experience The Music Of Peoples Different From My Own Peoples, Even Though We Are All The Same Peoples.

Baba Yetu – Christopher Tin, Soweto Gospel Choir

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Swahili singing.

Squeeze Me?!?: Sometimes There Are Songs Or Groups That Represent Confusion Or Discomfort In Some Way By Being…Well, Their Own Particular Brand Of Weird. Helps Me Remember People Don’t Hear Or Interpret Anything The Same Way And This Tune Strikes Me That Way.

Every Superhero’s Scared of Something – The Mighty Magic Pants

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Stupid Dark.

Lovin’ My Relationship: If you’re lucky enough to have someone in your life who makes it so much better, these songs are meant to  give you a fun way to celebrate and remind you how lucky you are.

There She Is – Frank Turner

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“Isn’t she everything”

Leavin’ My Relationship: If you’re un-lucky enough to have had someone in your life who makes it so much worse, these songs are meant to  give you a fun (not really) way to suffer and remind you how lucky you are to be free.

Love Stinks – J. Geils Band

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“And so it goes til the day you die”

You can always find these tunes on Spotify as well. Just look for Ohio Balance. I hope you found something you at least enjoy if not something that will serve some purpose for you. Be back soon, there is so much great tunage!

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