Inspirational Music, to Atheists

[Loffler]

Nina Simone's version of "Ain't Got No" and "I've Got Life."

[youtube:234ysx0q]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUcXI2BIUOQ[/youtube:234ysx0q]

[susangail]

That was exciting. Wow. "I've got my hair..." and what hair she has! Sweet!

Never heard that. Love it.

[afreethinker30]

I'm not sure why but this song has always made me feel so many things inspired,sad and like my heart is in my stomach.  [youtube:1u1o9l3v]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3c3OY3iDcaQ[/youtube:1u1o9l3v]

[Mister Joy]

Well the national anthem of course!

Just kidding... Lyrics can be interesting but if they try to be 'inspirational' they usually wind up annoying me, so when seeking inspiration I usually stick to either instrumental stuff, or music with lyrics in foreign languages that I don't understand. Here's a couple that I like (sorry, don't know how to embed):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=byhcdd6_eKk - Yoko Kanno
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AAPe_x1n_70&feature=related - Jean Michael Jarre
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1uHF1-8TcEk&feature=related - A lot of classical music
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dY99STTn07A - Tiny Bradshaw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gd4jgY8zipw - Miles Davis.

I enjoy writing, and I find music very useful for that. I'm a sort of plagiariser of atmospheres from music to story telling, I have to admit. The scenes I imagine in my head tend to be definable by the feeling of some musical score so if I limn them whilst listening to the right kind of music, it helps me to create the feeling I'm looking for on paper.

Other than that though, I find satirical music quite 'inspiring' as well. Bill Bailey is God

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bMl0YIeMj78
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tu6uMDfBN88&feature=related

[afreethinker30]

Modest Mouse The Ocean Breathes Salty not only do the words have meaning but the video is brilliant.
[youtube:2iai6kbt]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-n4Sd-USFkQ[/youtube:2iai6kbt]

[Tom62]

Normally I don't care much about the lyrics, it is the music that counts.

Here is some stuff that give me goosebumps

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JeIHZvZT ... re=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5mnAxTc ... re=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ax8JYmoRhy4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9TkG-dd ... re=related

[susangail]

So cliche but... John Lennon's "Imagine"

[youtube:31604i0q]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEOkxRLzBf0[/youtube:31604i0q]

[myleviathan]

The entire "At War with the Mystics" from the Flaming Lips. The album title says it all.

[afreethinker30]

[youtube:3orvjhor]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVRX8hgJPcU[/youtube:3orvjhor]  Bad Religion-God's Love

[youtube:3orvjhor]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kuS2jtaBD70[/youtube:3orvjhor]  Voltaire-God Thinks

[curiosityandthecat]

The Tiger Lilies - Terrible
[youtube:2olpn4k7]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rpefat6TgII[/youtube:2olpn4k7]

 

[Squid]

Sentenced - No One There

Not necessarily inspirational but a moving song nonetheless:

[youtube:3yha9dmm]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8ulTo4s3So[/youtube:3yha9dmm]

[Kyuuketsuki]

[youtube:u05g8ko5]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dys1_TuUmI4[/youtube:u05g8ko5]
Follow your common sense,
You cannot hide yourself,
behind a fairytale forever and ever,
Only by revealing the whole truth can we disclose,
The soul of this bulwark forever and ever,
Forever and ever,

Indoctrinated minds so very often,
Contain sick thoughts,
And commit most of the evil they preach against

[youtube:u05g8ko5]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvLPHY44jkQ[/youtube:u05g8ko5]
I don't fear what you are
because you're only dangerous to what is weak
clinging to the stories you create
you make a living off of souls that bleed

[youtube:u05g8ko5]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mz71p3pt2tI[/youtube:u05g8ko5]
Oh, Its a bad religion (Bad religion)
From a broken nation (A broken nation)
Its a contradiction,
And I cant take it any f***ing more
Its a bad religion (bad religion, bad religion, bad religion)
From a broken nation (Broken nation)
Its a contradiction.

[youtube:u05g8ko5]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_0Vzep9aoY[/youtube:u05g8ko5]
Bend me shape me misdirect me
It's all the same to me
Look at all this useless talk, Look at all this useless talk, Look at all this useless talk
Upon the cross

You look at me but you don't see
Understand I'm a sinner
Don't corner me
Don't lecture me
Raise your hands you're a sinner

Certainly inspires me  

Kyu

[Tanker]

The song Eulegy by Tool great song.