A musical playlist when you need a good shot of self-esteem.
I. “Beautiful” by Carole King
Smile therapy works.
…You’ve got to get up every morning with a smile on your face
And show the world all the love in your heart
Then people gonna treat you better
You’re gonna find, yes, you will
That you’re beautiful as you feel…
II. “Beautiful” by Christina Aguilera
...I am beautiful no matter what they sayWords can’t bring me downI am beautiful in every single wayYes, words can’t bring me down, oh noSo don’t you bring me down today…
Of course, Aguilera’s version itself is beautiful. But this one from the TV series Glee, Season One, has an affecting context:
III. “Scars to Your Beautiful” by Alessia Cara
…There’s a hope that’s waiting for you in the darkYou should know you’re beautiful just the way you areAnd you don’t have to change a thing, the world could change its heartNo scars to your beautiful, we’re stars and we’re beautiful…
Cara’s original is great, but I’m choosing the cover by Peter Hollens and Nadia Khristean, created to benefit an organization called OUR Rescue. “Help rescue those in need from child sexual exploitation and human trafficking.”
IV. “This Is Me” by Keala Settle
…When the sharpest words wanna cut me downI’m gonna send a flood, gonna drown ’em outI am brave, I am bruisedI am who I’m meant to be, this is meLook out ’cause here I comeAnd I’m marching on to the beat I drumI’m not scared to be seenI make no apologies, this is me…
The highlight of writing this post was finding the clip below. It’s a depiction of the rehearsal by Settle, who portrayed the bearded lady in the 2017 film The Greatest Showman. Her own process of seemingly building her own confidence/self-esteem as she practices “This Is Me” mirrors the lyrics in an amazing way. It starts out so iffy, and then…
V. “Who You Are” by Jessie J
The original artist offers a pertinent spoken intro before singing this live:
VI. “Not Ready to Make Nice” by The Chicks
…I’m not ready to make nice
I’m not ready to back down
I’m still mad as hell and I don’t have time
To go ’round and ’round and ’round
It’s too late to make it right
I probably wouldn’t if I could
‘Cause I’m mad as hell, can’t bring myself
To do what it is you think I should…
One aspect of self-esteem is having the strength to withstand widespread criticism and ostracism. The story behind this song is told in the excellent documentary Shut Up and Sing (2006). Below, The Chicks are live:
VII. “The Joke” by Brandi Carlile
Let ’em laugh while they canLet ’em spin, let ’em scatter in the windI have been to the movies, I’ve seen how it endsAnd the joke’s on them…
Carlile’s stirring performance of the award-winning “The Joke” at the Grammys several years ago:
