If you’re lucky enough to have found someone whom you consider to be your soul sister, their friendship can become something invaluable – going beyond sharing interests or bands they like.
Their friendship is marked by an understanding of each other and acceptance of any imperfections they might share. Together they support one another in all they do and celebrate when things go well for one or the other.
1. Train – Hey Soul Sister
If you have ever experienced having a soul sister, Train’s song, “Hey Soul Sister,” will undoubtedly ring true for you. It speaks about unbreakable bonds while simultaneously celebrating commitment and love.
San Francisco band Imagine Dragons have sold more than 10 million albums and 30 million tracks worldwide, earning multiple platinum/gold citations. Renowned for their upbeat songs, this group has garnered three GRAMMYs, two Billboard Music Awards, as well as multiple other honors.
Columbia Records signed them to its roster in 1998, and since then their songs have reached 14 of the Billboard Hot 100 chart, most notably with singles such as “Meet Virginia,” “Drops of Jupiter (Tell Me),” and “Hey, Soul Sister.”
Although successful, the band has been through many difficulties including Pat Monahan’s divorce. But they were able to overcome these hurdles with assistance from top producers and songwriters like Espen Lind and Amund Bjorklund.
In 2010, the band released “Hey Soul Sister,” their first hit in four years and which has been certified diamond by RIAA due to its 10 million downloads and streams. This song has also been featured on several movies and soundtracks.
This song was co-written by lead vocalist Patrick Monahan along with Amund Bjorklund and Espen Lind of Norway and produced there by them.
It is an energetic song about love and the importance of connection, popular on various radio stations across the nation and an excellent choice when you need a boost of energy or to simply feel upbeat again.
2. The Beatles – You Can’t Always Get What You Want
Classic rocker The Who wrote an iconic tune about hope being crushed: This ballad serves as both religious hymn and sobering reminder that reaching one’s goals may be tough; nevertheless, its message provides strength to keep trying.
The Beatles left an indelible mark on popular music worldwide through their sound, experimentation with expectations with albums like The White Album and their timeless pop culture relevance – unlike The Rolling Stones who only released 12 studio albums during their time together.
Lennon and McCartney were an unusual band at the time; writing their own music was highly unusual at that point in history. Once their group found success, only a handful of these early Lennon-McCartney numbers were recorded for posterity.
This was one of those songs, and that’s why we included it here. The Beatles cut 15 tracks at Decca’s audition on New Year’s Day 1962; children in the 1960s would often play this tune for their parents as evidence that rock-and-roll was more than noise.
Song was recorded alongside other tracks for The Beatles’ Let It Bleed album at around the same time, making this track very significant to them and their legacy. This track helped establish The Beatles as one of the premier rock groups worldwide.
3. Bob Marley & The Wailers – Is This Love?
Bob Marley & The Wailers’ 1978 song Is This Love is an emotive yet powerful declaration of love between two individuals who may or may not find each other suitable partners. Marley recorded it shortly before his death in 1981.
Marley first emerged into public view through his formation of the Wailing Wailers band with Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer in Trench Town, Jamaica – drawing influence from their native sounds as well as American artists like Ray Charles, Elvis Presley and Fats Domino – whom the Wailers took their inspiration from.
Bob Marley learned to play guitar and sing while attending school in St Ann Parish, Jamaica at age nine. Later when he moved to Kingston in the late 1950s, he met Joe Higgs as his tutor; this veteran musician helped develop Bob’s singing ability as well as encourage him to take up guitar playing.
While studying music, Marley met fellow student Neville Livingston. Together they became fast friends and dedicated themselves fully to music; inspired by Joe Higgs as their teacher.
In 1972, The Wailers secured a recording contract with Island Records and became globally popular. Moving away from teenage ska to more roots-inspired music with classics like Catch a Fire and Burnin’, two original members Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer left to change its musical direction even further.
After Marley’s passing, various offshoots of the Wailers were established by his surviving members as a way of continuing the group’s legacy – among these was I-Threes which featured Judy Mowatt, Marcia Griffiths and Rita Marley who collectively released seven more albums under their banner.
4. The Dixie Chicks – I Will Always Love You
Nearly 15 years ago, The Dixie Chicks became the topic of intense discussion when Natalie Maine made an offhand comment about President George W. Bush, criticizing his Texas heritage. Reaction was swift and intense.
At that point, they had difficulty with radio stations across the nation, finding promoters to book them and were denied paid ads for tours. Sony Nashville took a hit as well with their biggest hit (“I Can Love You Better”) being pulled from charts.
But they prevailed, ultimately selling millions of records with Home, garnering three CMA awards and one Grammy. Home was an indictment on country music as an industry while providing an avenue for them to raise issues such as feminism, gay rights and racial injustice through song.
No secret exists of their recent departure from country music; working with Rick Rubin on their album Taking The Long Way and then Jack Antonoff for their latest. Although this trend is not unprecedented within this genre, it nevertheless poses some concern.
In their case, this trend reflects an overall shift within the music industry that sees artists and labels move away from any sort of cultural identity or tradition adherence. And this problem continues to worsen.
But this could be an opportunity for the Dixie Chicks to return on track with a record that recognizes and honors women’s power in society and helps heal divisions by celebrating women and their role. With an album designed to bridge gaps and bring people together again, the Chicks could find new success among country fans once again.
5. The Rolling Stones – You Can’t Always Get What You Want
Let It Bleed was a challenging album for The Rolling Stones to produce in 1969, yet its songs all shared one common thread of turmoil and unrest. Gimme Shelter and Live With Me both convey this sense of unrest while Midnight Rambler and Monkey Man continue the theme of tension-filled tracks from previous Rolling Stones releases.
You Can’t Always Get What You Want was one of the more nuanced tracks on the album, taking an almost classical feel with its ballad sound and melancholic undertones that harked back to music of its time period. However, this song proved an anthemic piece nonetheless.
Recorded November 16 & 17, 1968 at London’s Olympic Sound Studios, The Rolling Stones invited in London Bach Choir for an emotional opening verse, marking their first use of choir on an album and it worked quite nicely.
Jagger and Richards’ vocals are joined by Keith Richards on both acoustic and electric guitars, Rocky Dijon on congas and maracas, Al Kooper on piano organ and horn as well as Jimmy Miller on drums – an ensemble performance which originally released as a B-side of Honky Tonk Women but has since been included on several compilations.
You Can’t Always Get What You Need is an inspirational song for anyone experiencing difficulty with their goals, with its poignant chorus suggesting it may not always be necessary to settle for what’s available to them. Even with its melancholic tone, You Can’t Always Get What You Need remains an impactful and meaningful tune that has stood the test of time.