What's Your Theme Song?

There’s a scene from Ally McBeal where she’s in session with her unconventional psychotherapist, played by Tracey Ullman, and she asks Ally if she had a theme song.  Ullman tells her that she needs an uplifting theme song with some bounce and pep to help her feel more confident.  An anthem.

I used to listen to a lot of angry metal music.  But I found it generated more rage and made me feel destructive towards myself and others.  I still listen to it now and then to reminisce, but my exposure to it is really limited.

Now, I gravitate towards rap/hip hop to feel empowered.  Sure the artists might have intended their music for a different audience.  The lyrics even suggest a different kind of struggle.  But the common denominator here is that we’re all struggling to survive.  And we will win.

I’m a fighter.

Previously, my anthem was “X Gonna Give It To Ya” by DMX.  I listened to it repeatedly after one of my psychotic episodes.  The lyrics gave me strength:

“X gon give it to ya
Fuck wait for you to get it on your own
X gon deliver to ya
…Go hard gettin busy wit it
But I got such a good heart
I’ll make a motherfucker wonder if he did it
Damn right and I’ll do it again
Cuz I am right so I gots to win…
…I’m a wolf in sheep clothing
Only nigga that you know that can chill
Come back and get the streets open
I’ve been doing this for nineteen years
Niggas wanna fight me? Fight these tears…
…Talk too much for too long
Don’t give up you’re too strong…”

My new anthem is “Don’t Believe ‘Em” by Busta Rhymes:

“…Now, there’s, nothin you can do to stop a nigga from within
With the hunger of a lion I secure another win (hey!)
So passionate, you might even misinterpret it as arrogant…
…I’ma make the world feel my pain
while I’m showin you my muscle and I hustle through the game…
…We ain’t got nothin but EVERYTHING to gain…
…I’m so BLESSED – do anything that you could do to stop me (STOP ME)
Now I’m climbin up the ladder and I’m jumpin at the top
You might wanna call me – ROCKY
See there’s more of us – UGLY
You don’t really wanna war with us – TRUST ME
So glorious, that we from the bottom
Still we victorious – HUG ME…
…Any situation where you might get FED UP
Gotta stay focused, homie keep your head up
It don’t really matter what the next one is doin
Homie gotta handle your business and then you better STEP UP
Live to the fullest for the dream you’re pursuin
Ain’t nothin in the work gon’ really stop what you’re doin (OHH!)
Go hard no matter what they be sayin
Nigga don’t quit cause you know we gotta keep it movin (OHH!)
Take a look and see yourself in me
Cause it’s all about we (WE)
Me and you securin a win together
So we could be the best that we could ever be (OHH!)
Stay up on your grind, be the first one to – SET IT
People try to shut me down, I won’t – LET IT
I’m so stubborn for the success
You know my motto – don’t stop, get it, get it!…”

I feel like Busta Rhymes is rapping to me.  Encouraging me to work hard and fight for my dreams.  Don’t worry about what other people say and do–it’s all just noise.  Ignore them.  Stay focused.  Never give up.

What’s your theme song?

---