16/52 Rock Therapy: "You Are Not Alone" by Mavis Staples
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"Every tear on every face tastes the same."
Suffering is the human common denominator. We are all in this together. So let's, please, be there for one another.
Music reaches us in ways that nothing else can. Some great rock songs often have great messages that are quite deep and therapeutic. Here a just a few...
"I don't need a doctor.
I don't need a pill.
Any other treatment
Babe, would only make me ill.
I need rock therapy! I need rock therapy! I need rock therapy!
Oh give it to me! Oh give it to me! Oh give it to me!"
—"Rock Therapy" by The Johnny Burnette Rock and Roll Trio, 1956
*Bonus* Rock Therapy: 151+ Groovy VW Songs
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Why VW songs for Rock Therapy? Okay, that's pretty obvious: Vintage VW's are super chill. The VW Bug and Bus are cultural icons of the ideal of "peace, love and happiness, baby!" And the wonderful irony is that the Volkswagen was started by the polar opposite of that ideal, Adolf Hitler. He wanted an affordable people's car. Fortunately, he's gone and this car for the people was co-opted by the hippie movement (a group of people that he would have despised! Ha!). These songs all capture what the Bugs and Buses have come to represent to so many: "Peace, love and happiness.' They are vehicles you drive because you are in no hurry, have minimal ego, don't mind getting dirty fixing it up, and aren't afraid to figure out how to wrench on it a little... because for a long time it was poorer people (the people's car) who couldn't afford a "nicer" car. Funny thing is that these cheap little cars, weren't cheap in quality, and their design (in both form and function) was simple, elegant and brilliant. That's why they are still around, sought after, and universally enjoyed by owners and fans alike.
Read More15/52 Rock Therapy: Lessons from 15 "Rock Royalty"
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Greatness is earned, not given
AC/DC sang, "It's a long way to the top if you want to rock and roll." The great lesson we learn from Rock royalty is simply that: In music, as in life, greatness isn't handed out just because you want it. Examine the rock royalty below and think of the long road each took to rise to the top of an often impossible industry. They worked hard, sacrificed and practiced long, long, long hours, usually for years before they "made it" and became "overnight sensations." They will all tell you that none of it happened "overnight."
14/52 Rock Therapy: "Amazing" by Aerosmith
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I first heard this song when I was a new substance abuse counselor working in rehab. A client shared it with me and we discussed its significance in her life. It really touched me, for her sake, as well as for my own as it resonated with my own struggles. The song, while tied to addiction, clearly is applicable to the human condition and the change process, addicted or not: we are all weak and screwed up at one time or another. We all get caught in "stinkin' thinkin'". We all get short-sighted or think we are stronger than we are. All too often our pride and ego must be stripped from us before we can see clearly, and that usually involves hitting bottom.
Read More13/52 Rock Therapy: 3 Ball & Chain Blues
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The following are gritty, raw and powerful blues. No gentle rolling here. No deep meaningful lyrics this time that I'll pull out and expound on their therapeutic message as I do in the rest of my Rock Therapy blog. Just raw bluesy goodness. Sometimes we just need to hear music that speaks to the most raw, primal hard-rocking parts of ourselves. And that in and of itself is all the Rock Therapy that we need.
Read More12/52 Rock Therapy: Two Fantastic Feminist Rap Songs by 2Pac and Queen Latifah
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Too many rap songs about women are unfortunately misogynistic. Here are two fantastic counterpoints to that trend by 2Pac and Queen Latifah, both from 1993. Feminism is not just about women—it's about all of us. Men and women must both stand up for the rights of women. Standing up for women is standing up for us all: Men, women, children, families and communities.
Read More11/52 Rock Therapy: Boogie Down to Bring Your Mood Up
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We know it's fun to dance. Here's the science behind why it not only feels good neurologically, but also the practical benefits of dance (aka boogie-ing down) on one's mood and self-esteem.
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