Music is like magic... They say music can alter moods and talk to you (Eminem said.) In those tough times when you get tired or even hopeless about your goals as they seem so far/unreachable, music is definitely one of the weapons at your disposal (beyond the fact that loud music helps stay awake when you write code work at night) ; Motivational music helps you to keep going and to pick yourself up when you are at your lowest.

Well, I just thought I would share some songs that I find particulary helpful and motivating. I hope you would find among these some that would help you too. I am not claiming that they are the best motivational songs ever or anything like that, these are just what I listen to.

So without further ado, here is my top 10:

 

10. Internet Dream (by Tay Zonday)

Mostly because it reminds me of my own internet dream.

Capping the flag in a virtual dash
Skipping your wedding to play in a match

Shut all the blinds you mighta been seen
Sittin' alone with your internet dream

Winning the race for your digital fix
Living your life with a clickity-click

 

9. He Lives In You (from The Lion King 2)

Yes, you can. Believe in yourself.

Wait! there's no mountain too great
Hear these words and have faith

He lives in you, he lives in me
He watches over everything we see
Into the waters, into the truth
In your reflection, he lives in you

 

8. You Are Going Down (by Sick Puppies)

Some motivation to crush face your competitors.

Define your meaning of war (to me it's what we do when we're bored)
I feel the heat coming off of the blacktop (And it makes me want it more)

Because I'm hyped up, outta control; if it's a fight I'm ready to go
I wouldn't put my money on the other guy if you know what I know that I know

Define your meaning of fun (To me it's when we're getting done)
I feel the heat coming off of the blacktop (So get ready for another one)

Let's take a trip down memory lane
The words circulate in my brain
You can treat this like another "all I'm saying"
But don't cry like a bitch when you feel the pain

It's been a long time coming and the tables' turned around
Cause one of us is goin' down
I'm not running, it's a little different now
Cause one of us is goin' down

This is hardly worth fighting for
But it's the little petty shit that I can't ignore
With my fist in your face and your face on the floor
It'll be a long time coming, but you got the message now
Cause I was never going, yeah, you're the one that's going down !

 

7. New Dork (by Pantless Knights)

A funny and positive view about the entrepreneur state of mind.

Now Im in the blogosphere, now I'm in the twitterverse
Fans get so immersed, but I'm a nerd forever

Used to be the basement, back at my mom's place
Buildin web traffic so that we could sell an ad space

New sega genesis, entrepreneur time
Makin big plans, to dominate the online

Science is the new art, databases day to day
Geeks spreadin' sheet smarts, hustle, make the data pay
I could be in Valleywag plus Geekologie
Tell from my avatar, that I'm most definitely:

The New Dork,
Social networks - what dreams are made of, There's nothing you can't do
Now you're the New Dork
This V.C. money is brand new, the geek is now damn cool

 

6. Geek (by Mr Washable)

That one is not on Youtube anymore but here is a FREE MP3

My favorite show is DBZ, I play World of Warcraft and Halo 3
I love Call of Duty World at War, and you know that I play it a lot
I like Photoshop And the movie Robocop
Because I am a nerd and I am a geek, geek, geek

I never ever leave my room
I love blogging, math is my hobbie
Everybody says I’m a geek geek geek
Cause they think I’m cool when I use 1337, l33t, leet

I’m obsessed with watchin Naruto
Never gonna miss an episode
I collect Magic and Yu-Gi-Oh!

I still play my Nintendo, I get really good grades
I rock at Programming, there’s nothin I can’t do
IM me whenever I get online, Nobody got skills like mine

Even though I don’t play baseball, I’m always runnin home

 

5. Lose Yourself (by Eminem)

 

Go ahead and totally commit yourself to your art. That nerd version is a nice parody :

 

You better lose yourself in the music (whatever your art is), the moment
You own it, you better never let it go
You only get one shot, do not miss your chance to blow
This opportunity comes once in a lifetime yo

No more games, I'ma change what you call rage
I was playing in the beginning, the mood all changed

You can do anything you set your mind to, man

 

4. Rock'n'Roll Nerd (by Tim Minchin)

This sounds to me like a strong message of hope and persistence, especially if you replace the concept of music with the context of this crazy world of technology:

He knows that he will always be a "start-up" nerd
He'll keep writing "apps" the world doesn't care about
And though it sounds absurd
He'll just keep writing

But you see the problem is
He always dreamt of being a star
But he learned "C Sharp" instead of "Java"
Which in the "Start-up World" doesn't get you very far
...
But he was convinced one day
He'd rock their f...king @sses
Be an icon for the disenfranchised masses
Grow his hair long and rebel against the state
But just for now that would have to wait
Cause he's running late for his morning classes
...
While his mates all go out late
Popping pills and having fun
He goes home and showers
and gets a good eight hours
He gets his thrills from his morning run
And while his mates all go on dates
Taking speed and drinking cans of Jim Bean
He stays home and "codes"
Curls up with a book
With the girl he's had since he was seventeen

Cause he's never really been part of the scene
Give him "champaign", he'll take "caffeine"

And though he wants to be all grungy and cool
He spent fifteen years in "catholic" school

You can criticise him, but he won't care
Cause he wants to rock, and he will never be deterred
But he'll always be a f...d up little, try-hard, wannabe "start-up" nerd

 

3. Explode (by Tay Zonday)

Hey kid, you're gonna get old
You're not gonna be a centerfold
Better blow up, better get rich
Better be makin' that beat explode

Hey kid, the college degree
It ain't gonna beat back poverty
Tough kid, it's a rough world
Better be makin' that beat explode

 

2. Till I Collapse (by Eminem)

Do not give up.

Sometimes you just feel tired and when you feel weak, you feel like you wanna just give up.
But you gotta search within you, you gotta find that inner strength
And just pull that shit out of you and get that motivation to not give up
And not be a quitter, no matter how bad you wanna just fall flat on your face and collapse.

Till the roof comes off, till the lights go out
Till my legs give out, can’t shut my mouth.
Till the smoke clears out - am I high? Perhaps
I'ma rip this shit till my bone collapse.

I will not fall,
I will stand tall,
Feels like no one could beat me.

 

1. Remember The Name (by Fort Minor)

This reminds you what it takes to succeed and leave a legacy.

This is 10% luck, 20% skill
15% concentrated power of will
5% pleasure, 50% pain
and a 100% reason to remember the name...

Nobody really knows how or why he works so hard
It seems like he's never got time
Because he writes every "code" and he writes every line
And I've seen him at work when that light goes on in his mind
It's like a design is written in his head every time
Before he even touches a "keyboard" or speaks of "work time"