Atonal Attitudes
A dad reflects on how he taught his song to prioritize family in this 1974 classic: “My boy was just like me, and the cat’s in the cradle and the silver spoon, Little boy blue and the man in the moon”
What is “Cats in the Cradle” by Harry Chapin?
Among her many other endeavors, this singer-songwriter provides college tuition for Dollywood employees.
Who is Dolly Parton?
This 2022 Alternative/ Indie hit deals with confusing emotions from the album ‘Egg in the Basket’: “Like you’re not really happy, but you don’t want to die”
What is “Numb Little Bug” by Em Beihold?
This quintessential song for not knowing what to do in a relationship was released in 1982: “So if you want me off your back, well, come on and let me know, should I stay or should I go?”
What is ‘Should I Stay or Should I Go’ from The Clash?
In 2008 this song was everywhere: “You’re hot ‘n you’re cold, you’re yes then you’re no, you’re in then you’re out, you’re up and you’re down”.
What is ‘Hot N Cold’ by Katy Perry?
In the musical ‘Into The Woods’, this song encapsulates the difficulty of making a decision: “Better stop and take stock while you’re standing here stuck on the steps of the palace”
What is “On The Steps of the Palace” from Into The Woods?
Immediately upon being thrust into stardom, Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr. became a philanthropist. Among many others, he gave $10,000 to a 93-year-old South Carolina woman fighting to keep her property.
Who is Snoop Dogg?
In 2012, P!nk released this hit with Nate Ruess where a loving couple works to get on the same page and find the spark again: “Just give me a reason, just a little bit’s enough, just a second, we’re not broken, just bent, and we can learn to love again”
What is ‘Just Give Me A Reason’ by P!nk feat. Nate Ruess?
This 1968 hit shows a person who doesn’t know what to do next: “I’m just sitting on the dock of the bay, watching the tide roll away, sitting on the dock of the bay, wasting time”
What is ‘Sitting on the Dock of the Bay’ by Ottis Redding?
This song from the album ‘Meteroa’ expresses the confusing desire to heal from past pain: “I wanna heal, I wanna feel like I’m close to something real, I wanna find something I’ve wanted all along, somewhere I belong”.
What is ‘Somewhere I Belong’ by Linkin Park?
In 2018 this YouTuber’s song prompted changing your perspective: “You don’t have to be a hero to save the world, It doesn’t make you a narcissist to love yourself, It feels like nothing is easy, it’ll never be, That’s alright, let it out, talk to me.”
What is ‘Talk to Me’ by Cavetown?
This rock star and his wife, Dorothea, started the JBJ Soul Foundation in 2006 to alleviate hunger, poverty, and homelessness in Red Bank, New Jersey; this artist’s hometown.
Who is Jon Bon Jovi?
This 2025 global hit is a love letter to the singer-songwriter’s wife, Kouvr Annon: “You’re taking me out, of the ordinary”
What is ‘Ordinary’ by Alex Warren?
Justin Bieber’s 2015 hit shows confusion when in a relationship with someone whose actions don’t match their wants: “When you nod your head yes, but you wanna say no, what do you mean?”
What is ‘What Do You Mean’ by Justin Bieber?
This 2002 hit from the album, ‘Stripped’, is from a singer who was an original coach on The Voice: “I am beautiful no matter what they say, words can’t bring me down, I am beautiful in every single way, yes words can’t bring me down”
What is ‘Beautiful’ from Christina Aguilera?
An instrumental version of this reflective song was used in Love Actually: “I’ve looked at clouds from both sides now, from up and down and still somehow, it’s love’s illusions, I recall, I really don’t know love at all.”
What is ‘Both Sides Now’ by Joni Mitchell?
This 90’s rock band operates the Vitalogy Foundation, funding humanitarian and environmental aid.
Who is Pearl Jam?
The Barbie movie showcased this hit song about an identity crisis: “I don’t know how to feel, but I wanna try, I don’t know how to feel, but someday I might”
What is ‘What Was I Made For?’ by Billie Eilish?
In 1973, Dobie Gray wrote this classic in which he copes with music to distract from confusion, stating, ‘I don’t understand the things I do’: “Give me the beat boys and free my soul, I wanna get lost in the rock ‘n roll and drift away”.
What is ‘Drift Away’ by Dobie Gray?
In the musical ‘Avenue Q’, Kate Monster has to come to terms with her lover’s decision to NOT want a committed relationship: “There’s a fine, fine line between a lover and a friend”
What is ‘There’s a Fine, Fine Line’ from Avenue Q?
This 2007 Lleona Lewis hit was featured on So You Think You Can Dance and shows someone changing their ideas about love: “Closed off from love, I didn’t need the pain, once or twice was enough and it was all in vain.”
What is ‘Bleeding Love’ by Leona Lewis?
This jazz musician gives back through the Herb Alpert Foundation, where he gives massive grants to jazz programs, music education, and young artists.
Who is Herb Alpert?
This R&B song from 2007 attributes their conflicting feelings as someone else’s fault: “This got me stuck between fantasy and what is real, I need it, I want it when I don’t”.
What is ‘Because of You’ by Ne-Yo?
This soulful 2002 song is technically a one-hit-wonder: “I waited ‘til I saw the sun, I don’t know why I didn’t come, I left you by the house of fun.”
What is ‘Don’t Know Why’ by Norah Jones?
When mixed with both love, hate, grief, and regret because of someone else’s choice, this 2019 hit is perfect to listen to: “Well, time can heal, but this won’t. So, before you go was there something I could’ve said to make your heart beat better? If only I’d have known you had a storm to weather.”
What is ‘Before You Go’ by Lewis Capaldi?