I’ve always loved listening to music; even though my taste range has developed over the years I still appear to lean towards pop. It’s always been a part of my identity and due to that I really like Richard K. Yu’s argument that 'the choices in music that we make embody aspects of our identity. In this sense, music captures pieces of our identity and our identity is in turn constituted and represented by music'.
As I noted in my post on what I learnt about branding, my definition of it was when powerful meanings or associations are attached to products and includes work on the reputation and imagery of the company. What I didn’t think about at the time is the inclusion of audio. Whilst I hate the sound of my own voice so cannot see myself becoming a radio DJ or podcaster any time soon (even though I have been on the radio and sort of quite liked it so who knows!), I knew that certain music could definitely relate to my career development and brand.
This post lists the twenty songs that I have chosen to represent ofbeth and the continuing development of my career with reasons for why they were selected and particular lyrics that I find inspiring. If you’d like to listen to them all, I’ve created a Spotify playlist with them all on which you can find here.
Be More Kind by Frank Turner
‘So before you go out searching, don’t decide what you will find, be more kind, my friends, try to be more kind.’
I saw Frank at Greenbelt last year and fell in love with this song. It’s so relatable in terms of the times we are currently living through and how we all need to ‘be more kind’ to one another both in real life and online. To me, it makes me remember that no work or job or my future career is going to fall into my lap straight away and that I need to be kind to both myself and other people in a professional sense. I need to search but within a broad niche rather than a pigeonholed niche, if you get what I mean.
Believer by Imagine Dragons
‘I’m fired up and tired of the way that things have been, oh ooh, the way that things have been, oh ooh.’
For me, this relates to how I want to make marketing more neurodiverse. As I stated in my post on neurodiversity, only 0.6 per cent of advertisements represent disabled people and my belief that the media still stereotype neurodiversity according to each form’s better known characteristics and do not appear to recognise that the effects of the difference within an individual can change over time. This is something that I am beginning to get tired of personally and am therefore am passionate about wanting to create change within this industry. However, what I don’t want but is likely to happen is that I become a voice or spokesperson for all neurodiverse or disabled people if I’m the only one in a company or making any changes.
Bring It All Back by S Club 7
‘Don’t you know it’s true what they say, that life, it ain’t easy, but your time’s coming around so don’t you stop trying.’
One of the two bands that I was in love with when I was a wee lass (Steps being the other), I wanted to include a song that was part of my childhood to show the fullness of my identity. Whilst this track wasn’t on repeat as much as ‘Reach’ was, the lyrics to this one feel more in line with my current status and how I’m now trying to be as authentically myself as possible but in a professional manner. I’m definitely in a more confident and experienced position than I was seven or eight months ago, but there is still a way to go and I know that I will get there eventually as I ‘let the world see what’ I ‘have got’.
This Is Me by Keala Settle from The Greatest Showman
‘I am brave, I am bruised, I am who I’m meant to be, this is me.’
I watched The Greatest Showman for the first time last year and, although I have a mixed view on musical films, quite liked the songs. This song in particular won a Golden Globe for Best Original Song and was nominated for Best original Song at the 90thAcademy Awards (Oscars)! In the case of the film, the character singing the song is a bearded lady, one of a collection of ‘freaks’ collected by P.T. Barnum for his museum come circus. For me, it again relates to how authentic I am trying to be both within my inner self and to outer society and that being truly me is not a bad thing.
The Man by Taylor Swift
‘I’m so sick of running as fast as I can, wondering if I’d get there quicker if I was a man.’
I’m a massive Taylor Swift fan (have been since I was twelve/thirteen), and although she might not be a feminist in many people’s eyes, this is definitely a feminist anthem. Though the creative industries are very mixed in terms of gender balance, employment, leadership and stereotypes of gender, race, ability and age are sometimes still in their old hegemonic mindsets. Whilst they are only parts of one’s identity as one subject position cannot be the sole element of a person, the issue that my identity is and may be in the future a hinderance to my career should not be an issue.
A Little Bit Longer by The Jonas Brothers
‘But you don’t know what you got until it’s gone, and you don’t know what it’s like to feel so low.’
This song has been in my life since I was thirteen/fourteen; a decade ago. The song is about Nick Jonas’ diagnosis of Type 1 Diabetes, but at the time the song was released and I heard it live it related to my mental health. At the time I felt so helpless, like no one understood and that I was on my own in feeling certain ways. After ten years of ups and downs, I now know that I will never be alone in feeling a certain way and that life is a constant journey – as one of my favourite quotes points out, ‘if life was easy, where would all the adventures be?’
Let It Be by The Beatles
‘Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be. Whisper words of wisdom, let it be.’
A playlist that doesn’t include a song by either The Beatles, Queen, David Bowie or George Michael is not a proper playlist (unless it’s a specific genre or soundtrack one). The one I’ve chosen links heavily to my faith as a Christian, but also relates to how I am currently using connecting, networking and questions to further my career with the wisdom of those who are further on in experience than I am. I will continue to do these things for the rest of my working life, even when I am further down the line.
Brave by Sara Bareilles
‘Say what you wanna say and let the words fall out. Honestly, I wanna see you be brave.’
Although I’m getting better at talking to new people, asking questions at panel discussions and putting myself out there, it can still be tough. This is even more true when I think of how I always like to think about what I say before I say it rather than just being blunt and acting on instinct. This song lifts me up and reminds me to be more brave whenever I speak and to remind myself that, as Viv Groskop says in her book How to Own the Room, ‘to be the speaker you want to be is much more important than the actual speech.’ When I know what I want to say, sometimes I need to actually say it and not just keep it in my head.
Keep Your Head Up by Ben Howard
‘All I was searching for was me, all I was searching for was me.’
This is such a calming song to listen to. In term of developing my career, this track reminds me to be consistent, upbeat and not to always take things personally in relation to my working life and career development. Things can be terrifying but I know that, with plenty of persistence and integrity, I can get to where and who I want to be and do. Things happen for a reason and what will be will be – hopefully I can keep that mentality.
Skyscraper by Demi Lovato
‘Go on and try to tear me down, I will be rising from the ground like a skyscraper.’
I’ve loved Demi when she was a part of the Disney gang, but always knew she was better as a singer than an actress. This track, and her newest song Anyonewhich she sang at the Grammy’s last weekend, showcase her grace, authenticity and determination throughout her issues with alcohol and drug addiction as well as having depression, an eating disorder and other health situations. For myself right now, I know that there will be knockbacks and constructive criticism. Yet, as I’ve said already, being authentically me and being persistant will get me further towards what I want to do career wise.
Grow Up by Paramore
‘Some of us have to grow up sometimes and so, if I have to I’m going to leave you behind.’
This lyric, sung twice as the chorus, has a double meaning for me when I think about how it relates to both my professional and personal self. Although I’ve grown up a lot in the last decade, I am still growing – both up and as a human being. I’ve also had to leave people behind and know that I need to get better at maintaining contact as well as creating the new connections if I want to keep growing. People, places and jobs will always come and go but I would like more stability.
Feline by Delta Goodrum
‘I feel alive, I broke the bars that kept me caged inside. Yeah it’s my time to be the fearless queen out in the wild.’
For one of the modules that I did during my MA course on Gender, Sexuality and Media, I had to create a portfolio of presentation slides based on each week’s lecture topic. One week was on music and this song was the one I chose to analyse for it. I noted at the time how the above lyric related to me in terms of my own identity - my gender as a female, my heterosexual sexuality, my Christian religion and my disabilities – and that I connect to the song in terms of its empowerment as it made me realise that I can be fearless. This fearlessness is the mindset that I am trying to lean on in relation to my career development as well as the want to make marketing more diverse.
Human by Rag’n’Bone Man
‘I’m only human after all, I’m only human after all. Don’t put your blame on me, don’t put your blame on me.’
This song is ALL about authenticity and how failure can be a good thing when we come to think about. As Elizabeth Day notes in the introduction to her book ‘How to Fail’ based on her brilliant podcast, ‘failures don’t have to be notable to be meaningful’ and that ‘we live in an age of curated perfection’. Everything - life, media, identity to name a few - is a journey and making mistakes is part of that. Everyone is human and giving constructive criticism is much better than being horrible.
A Place in This World by Taylor Swift
‘I’ll be strong, I’ll be wrong, oh but life goes on. Oh, I’m just a girl trying to find a place in this world.’
From Swift’s very first album, that was self-titled, the first section of the above line fits with the mindset I want to work on as I move forward – that of failing or doing things incorrectly but not stressing out too much about it when it happens. Although I know what I want, even though there are still moments where I question myself or think I don’t know, this song keeps me in check. As long as I keep believing in an authentic, growth mindset, I’ll get there in the end (even though it won’t be an ending but another part of an ongoing journey).
Don’t Be So Hard on Yourself by Jess Glynne
‘I’m standing on top of the world right where I wanna be, so how can this dark cloud be raining over me.’
I wanted to include two more dance/club style tracks in this playlist to remind me of my time at university and this is one of them. As with Keep Your Head Up earlier on in this playlist, being consistent, upbeat and not always taking things too personally will help me so I must not ‘be so hard on’ myself whenever things go wrong or things happen that are out of my control.
Kill ‘Em With Kindness by Selena Gomez
‘Your mouth’s a gun, no war in anger was ever won. Put out the fire before igniting next time you’re fighting.’
The second of my two chosen dance songs is by another of my favourite ex-Disney singers, Selena Gomez and is all about being kind in the face of nastiness, cruelty and jealousy. Even though criticism when constructive can be a good thing in the professional world, being just plain cold mean is still wrong.
High Hopes by Panic! At the Disco
‘Had to have high, high hopes for a living, didn't know how but I always had a feeling. I was gonna be that one in a million. Always had high, high hopes.’
The catchiest of songs and, lyrically, it really resonates with me at the moment. I want to be realistic but also have dreams and this is a difficult balance. I know I can go further if I keep being persistent and proactive but it can be hard. I need to keep believing in myself, be braver, speak up more whilst I keep being authentically me. With a growth mindset, I’m in a better position than if I was still in a fixed mindset.
Working Man by Imagine Dragons
‘Every little bit goes a little of a long way.’
Although I’m not a working man but a working woman, I quite like this song. I only listened to it when I was doing some research for this post but it’s catchy and is definitely about the working world. The lyrics of this track definitely resonate with me, particularly both the line quoted above and the line ‘everything is made with the same old labels’. I’m excited to be continuing my career development journey and being authentically me.
Change Your Life by Little Mix
‘You're not the only one so let them criticize. You're untouchable when you realize.’
I’ve always loved a good girl band (The Spice Girls, Girls Aloud, The Saturdays), but Little Mix’s vocal range is just incredible and what band member Jesy Nelson has gone through is inspiring. This song comes from their first album that came out after the won X Factor and is all about being able to Change Your Life, whether that is professionally or personally. The changes are part of the journey and, even though I would like some more stability, I know that change can be good.
ME! by Taylor Swift featuring Brendan Urie of Panic! At the Disco
‘I promise that you'll never find another like me.’
This song is about finding the perfect relationship. Even though this is in the sense of a connection that is romantic, I like to see this line which I quoted above as a sales pitch to employers. Though I, and I know others, struggle with being salesy, no business can exist without sales and it can be negotiated by being authentic. I feel a blog post on authenticity might be in the pipeline...
If you work for a specific company, what would the playlist for their brand be? Or, if not, what music do you think represents your favourite brand or company? What songs characterise your own career development? Hope you’ve enjoyed reading this rather long post and keep your eyes on the blog for a post on what I listen to when I work!
Beth x