11 Powerful Songs That Will Make You See The World Differently

There are some songs that just get into your head, seep into your bones and refuse to leave you alone.

They’re your go-to tracks when you need to feel inspired, when you need comfort and when you want to feel that life – however crappy – is more beautiful than you can ever imagine.

We’ve rounded up the top songs that are so powerful they’ll give you chills.

Beyoncé – ‘Run the World (Girls)’

Arcade Fire – ‘Wake Up’

Taken from their debut 2004 album, Funeral, ‘Wake Up’ is a powerful rallying cry against slipping into apathy. Are you listening, world?

Elliott Smith – ‘Between The Bars’

Tragic singer Elliott Smith, who committed suicide at the age of 34, left behind a strong legacy. None more so than the quietly devastating track ‘Between The Bars’.

Whitney Houston – ‘I Will Always Love You’

Whitney Houston covered Dolly Parton’s song for her hit 1992 movie The Bodyguard. From the haunting a cappella opening to the dramatic crescendo, this is guaranteed to give you goosebumps.

Nirvana – ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’

Grunge anthem ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’ struck a chord with disaffected youths and became Nirvana’s biggest hit.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vt1Pwfnh5pc

Johnny Cash – ‘Hurt’

Impossible to listen to Johnny Cash’s Nine Inch Nails cover and not become a blubbering mess. That rich, gravelly voice so full of regret and yearning as he sings: ‘I will let you down. I will make you hurt.’

John Lennon – ‘Imagine’

The late Beatles star’s most famous solo song is a moving and idealistic meditation on hope and the possibility of achieving world peace.

Adele – ‘Hello’

Adele, queen of the break-up songs, crafted the perfect maelstrom of sadness, regret and longing in her hit single ‘Hello’. We’re still feeling emotionally bereft.

The Jimi Hendrix Experience – ‘Purple Haze’

Jimi Hendrix took guitar playing to a whole new level with his revolutionary track ‘Purple Haze’. It became linked to the psychedelic drug scene in the ’60s, but he claimed it was actually inspired by a dream he had.

Public Enemy – ‘Fight The Power’

Featured on the soundtrack to director Spike Lee’s 1989 film Do The Right Thing, Public Enemy’s ‘Fight The Power’ was a ferocious call to arms about the importance of equality and standing up for what you believe in.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BeAZ9DQZFz8

Bjork – ‘Army of Me’

The Icelandic singer turns into a fearless warrior on ‘Army of Me’, a savage and menacing song that advocates the power of independence, self-sufficiency and basically not f**king around with Bjork.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.