13 Songs That’ll Lift 🏋 You Up (Some of ‘Em) | Playlist 🎧

1. Beyoncé, “Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing”

💿 Homecoming: The Live Album • 🏷 Sony • 📅 2020

First things first boys and girls! 💿 Homecoming: The Live Album, the 2020 live album by 🎙 Beyoncé is everything, period! Featuring live performances from her historic Coachella performance, Yoncé outdoes herself.  While the brief ‘lift’ song at hand, 🎵 “Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing” isn’t the ‘crowning achievement,’ it definitely marks a worthwhile moment, nonetheless.

“Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing,” of course, is known as The Black National Anthem.  It’s only fitting that Beyoncé incorporated it into her historic Coachella performance which included HBCU marching bands as a key part of the instrumentation.  “Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing” gets such treatment, characterized by the accompaniment by drumline.  Yoncé sounds stunning, singing powerfully as she promotes black excellence – pride for her culture.

2. Ty Dolla $ign, “Lift Me Up”

Ft. Future & Young Thug

💿 Featuring Ty Dolla $ign • 🏷 Atlantic • 📅 2020

🎵 “Lift Me Up” appears as the 17^th track on 💿 Featuring Ty Dolla $ign, the 2020 studio album by ubiquitous collaborator extraordinaire, 🎙 Ty Dolla $ign.  The album as a whole in quite intriguing – incredibly colorful with a number of different sounds, styles, and of course, collaborators.  On “Lift Me Up,” Ty enlists the services of 🎙 Young Thug and 🎙 Future. Woo!

Young Thug drops the hella memorable, melodic chorus, which appears at the jump. It definitely sets the tone of the record, indicating that this is definitely a certified B-O-P.  Ty Dolla $ign then follows, providing a marvelous ‘timbrel contrast’ with his own distinct, melodic approach.  Ty is definitely very much a hip-hop artist given his penchant for sung rhythmic bars.  Last but not least, Future arrives for a ‘lift’ on the second verse, in all his autotuned glory.  All three melodic forces unite superbly on “Lift Me Up,” further ‘lifted’ by production courtesy of 🎛 Cicero, 🎛 DY, 🎛 Gabe Shaddow, 🎛 damn james!, and Mr. $ign himself.

3. Ezra Furman, “God Lifts Up the Lowly”

💿 Transangelic Exodus • 🏷 Bella Union • 📅 2018

Spirituality is a prominent theme throughout the course of 💿 Transangelic Exodus, among the best albums of 2018.  Given numerous references to angels, that’s not totally surprising.  “My angel’s got eyes like a housing project,” 🎙Ezra Furman sings, continuing, “He was born inside a guitar.”

On the expressive ballad 🎵 “God Lifts Up the Lowly,” he paints pictures of the downtrodden, forgotten, and misfortunate, as evidenced by the aforementioned lyrical excerpt.  Ultimately, he provides some sense of encouragement, and Biblical for that matter, as he sings the titular lyric, “I know God lifts up the lowly.”

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4. John Legend, “Get Lifted”

💿 Get Lifted • 🏷 Getting Out Our Dreams / Sony • 📅 2004

“Let’s get lifted / Oh, I’m gonna get you high / I’m really gonna blow your mind.” If you thought that 🏆 Grammy-winning R&B artist extraordinaire 🎙 John Legend was getting himself and an unnamed lover high off of cannabis, well, you’ll be disappointed by 🎵 “Let’s Get Lifted” if you’ve never heard it.  There’s no weed here, only the soulful musician lifting his lover by means of love (and a neo-soul sound, to be fair).

“Let’s Get Lifted” serves as the title track from his 2004 debut album, 💿 Get Lifted.  This is the album that really catapulted Legend to success, particularly after he contributed so many soulful vocals to co-producer 🎛 Kanye West, who also broke through in the early aughts. “Let’s Get Lifted” is undoubtedly one of Legend’s best records, providing some throwback vibes to the old-school crowd while also bringing that soul to a new crop of listeners.

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5. Ricky Dillard “You’re the Lifter”

💿 Choirmaster • 🏷 Motown Gospel • 📅 2020

“My strength comes from You / Jesus, see me through / For you’re the lifter / Of my head.” 🎵 “You’re the Lifter” serves as the incredible penultimate cut from 💿 Choirmaster, the 2020 gospel masterpiece by 🏆 Grammy-nominated gospel artist, 🎙 Ricky Dillard.  The ‘choirmaster’ himself and his brilliant choir delivers a powerful, 10-minute, must-hear ballad.  IF you need a good lift – and I’m not talking Planet Fitness – the emotional, spiritually charged “You’re the Lifter” will provide it.

Adding to the grand experience, 🏆 Grammy-winning gospel sensation 🎙 Tamela Mann provides a serious ‘lift’ towards the end of this 10-minute gem.  In the context of Choirmaster, if it felt the album was growing the slightest bit too long, “You’re the Lifter” provides a timely blessing that marvelously touches the soul.

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6. Mike Shinoda, “Lift Off”

Ft. Chino Moreno & Machine Gun Kelly

💿 Post Traumatic • 🏷 Warner • 📅 2018

In 2018, 🎙 Mike Shinoda masterfully translated grief and pain into a terrific album.  That album was his full-length, debut solo album, 💿 Post Traumatic. The source of the grief? The tragic suicide of his 🎙 Linkin Park bandmate, Chester Bennington.  While clearly painful for Shinoda, the music that resulted was awesome.  Among the awesome songs from Post Traumatic is 🎵 “Lift Off.”

🎵 “Lift Off,” featuring 🎙 Chino Moreno and 🎙 Machine Gun Kelly gives Post-Traumatic a sick, unapologetic, ‘other-worldly’ banger.  Shinoda is fired up on the first verse (“I spent six months just recharging my battery / Imagine me quitting, what a travesty that’d be”), while Machine Gun Kelly brings that Cleveland attitude on the second (“Paranoid when I sleep, but when I’m high, I’m happy / That’s why I need to kiss the sky when I get stuck in the valley Lift off”).  Moreno blesses the chorus with his mellow, spacey alt-rock vocals.

“I’m off of the Earth
On a ride, alone
I’m drifting away
Out of time, afloat
Away from the truth.”

Also, worth noting is the way the guitars are used on this record. Awesome!

7. Kanye West, “Lift Yourself”

🎵 “Lift Yourself Up” • 🏷 Def Jam • 📅 2018

“But they don’t realize, though…This next verse, this next verse though…These bars…Watch this some shit, go.” 🎙 Kanye West often finds ways to offend and piss of just about everybody. A number of fans were rethinking their ‘Kanye love’ following his profession of ‘Trump love’, something he addressed on his 2018 single, 🎵 “Ye Vs the People”. In addition to the most controversial single of the two, he also released 🎵 “Lift Yourself”.

Safe to say, Mr. West totally misses the mark – there was no lift whatsoever on the shot, sigh.  The production (West and 🎙 Mike Dean) isn’t the problem in the least – it’s Kanye.  When he urges listeners to “watch this go,” he fails to tell them just how utterly childish and ridiculous it actually is.  I quote:

“Poopy-di scoop
Scoop-diddy-whoop
Whoop-di-scoop-di-poop
Poop-di-scoopty.”

Bars man – bars.

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8. N.E.R.D, “Lifting You”

Ft. Ed Sheeran

💿 NO ONE EVER REALLY DIES • 🏷 Columbia • 📅 2017

🎙 N.E.R.D had one of the most adventurous albums of 2017 with 💿 NO ONE EVER REALLY DIES.  NO ONE EVER REALLY DIES marked the fifth studio album by the 🎙 Pharrell Williams-led collective – their first new album in seven years! Despite the buzz from lead single 🎵 “Lemon” and a rad follow up with 🎵 “1000”,  the album sadly didn’t ignite the charts. Nonetheless, it gave us those amazing singles, as well as the lift worthy (whatever that means) “Lifting You,” which concludes the LP.  

So, “Lemon” tapped 🎙 Rihanna for the assist.  Brilliant!  “1000” brought Future along for the ride. Awesome! Who joins Pharrell on “Lifting You?” None other than Grammy-winning pop standout, 🎙 Ed Sheeran. The result is an incredibly quirky, reggae-tinged record that definitely fits the unique aesthetic and vibe that is NO ONE EVER REALLY DIES.  Like so many of the other records on the album, it takes a listen or two (or three) to totally understand exactly what N.E.R.D are, um, going for.  That said, the Ed Sheeran chorus might be the most traditional part of this song:

“So, let them say what they want to about us
When they say your name
They’re lifting you.”

If nothing else, “Lifting You” definitely lifts your spirit – at least to some degree.

9. OneRepublic, “Lift Me Up”

💿 Oh My My • 🏷 Interscope • 📅 2016

“If I told you I was down, I was down, would you help me?” What a meaningful question. So, is there a meaningful answer? Anyways, the lines hail from the chorus of 🎵 “Lift Me Up.”  “Lift Me Up” appears as the 12^th track on Oh My My, the fourth studio album by pop collective 🎙 OneRepublic.

“Lift Me Up” is an ear catching record from the onset.  Honestly, it’s one of the best joints from Oh My My.  The groove is signature OneRepublic – on-point to say the least. Front man 🎙 Ryan Tedder sounds incredibly strong, shifting between his lower register and that potent falsetto (remember those “Apologize” days, sigh).  A pleasant, groovy track, “Lift Me Up” is about the power of love – holding each other down.  So, just to reiterate, “If I told you I was down, I was down, would you help me?”  You better “lift me TF up!

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10. Jonathan Traylor, “Lifted”

💿 The Unknown • 🏷 Capitol CMG / Motown Gospel • 📅 2020

“You lifted me, lifted me up / So, my praise will never come down.” 🎵 “Lifted” commences 💿 The Unknown bombastically – chocked full of spirit. The Unknown is the 2020 studio album by gospel artist 🎙 Jonathan Traylor. Traylor sings with great exuberance and hope; his performance is definitely uplifting and incredibly authentic. Furthermore, the songwriting is a strong suit.  No, the writing isn’t particularly complicated, but the things Traylor sings, as he speaks of praising The Most High are awesome.

“I am redeemed
You ransomed me
You buried my shame
You called me worthy.”

Adding to the uplifting experience is the production, which goes beyond the realm of traditional black gospel.  Honestly, “Lifted” fuses pop/rock, hip-hop, and contemporary R&B, sounding incredibly modern – attractive to the younger audience by all means. Ultimately, “Lifted” is an optimistic joint that infuses us all with a much-needed, heavy dosage of spiritual refresh.  Amen! #Lifted

11. Dirty Heads, “Lift Me Up”

💿 Super Moon • 🏷 Five Seven Music • 📅 2019

“Lift me up / Said I just got a brand-new bag / Lift me up, now / Yeah, I think I need another drag.” Well, that ‘bag’ and ‘drag’ part definitely goes with reggae music, wouldn’t you say? The lyrics hail from the chorus of 🎵 “Lift Me Up,” the second track from the album, 💿 Super Moon. Super Moon marks the seventh studio album by eclectic collective, 🎙 Dirty Heads.

The aesthetic established on “Lift Me Up” is amazing to the nth degree, despite the fact that it only runs about two-and-a-half minutes in duration.  The groove is hella infectious, as to be expected. The production by 🎛 Dave Cobb is marvelous, incorporating horns, soulfully chill background vocals and an entire ‘vibe.’ Adding to the allure of “Lift Me Up” is the chorus (aforementioned), which easily gets stuck in your head. Lots to heart about this ‘joint’ – pun definitely intended!  I mean, this song is all about dat bud!

12. Passion Pit, “Lifted Up (1985)”

💿 Kindred • 🏷 Columbia • 📅 2015

“And 1985 was a good year – the sky broke apart then you appeared / Dropped from the heavens, they call me a dreamer / I won’t lie, I knew you belonged here.” 🎵 “Lifted Up (1985)” initiates 💿 Kindred, the 2015 album by alternative collective 🎙 Passion Pit in exuberant, luminous fashion.  Front man 🎙 Michael Angelakos delivers his usual distinct and beautiful vocals, a signature characteristic of this band.  The sound of the record is bright to the nth degree, but it’s not been all bright for Michael over the years, who’s battled bipolar disorder.  Specific lyrics reference the struggle he’s experienced.

“Now the rain and the thunder are clashing
The sun’s got aa smile ‘cross the face
Oh, but yeah, I’m so tired
I fight so hard and come back beaten
Beacon, burn through it brightly.”

Given the sound and the thoughtful songwriting, it’s unsurprising “Lifted Up (1985)” was chosen as the set’s promo single.

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13. Jay-Z & Kanye West, “Lift Off”

Ft. Beyoncé

💿 Watch the Throne • 🏷 Roc-A-Fella / Shawn Carter • 📅 2011

“We gon take it to the moon/ Take it to the stars/ How many people you know can take it this far?/ I’m supercharged/ ‘Bout to take this whole thing to Mars.”  Thank you 🎙 Beyoncé for informing us of your extraterrestrial plans.  That chorus, with those powerful vocals hail from “Lift Off,” one of the most colorful songs from the Jay-Z and Kanye West collaborative album, 💿 Watch the Throne.  It should come as no surprise that Hov’s wife delivers one of the brightest spots of the song.

Beyoncé’s chorus isn’t the only triumph.  The production served up by a team comprised of 🎛 Pharrell Williams, 🎛 Don Jazzy, 🎛 Q-Tip, 🎛 Mike Dean, 🎛 Jeff Bhasker, and West definitely kicks ass.   Of course, both West and Jay-Z also deliver their own notable rhymes on their respective verses.  West handles the first verse, which has its fair share of melodic moments.  As for Hov, his second verse is brief and ‘out of the box’ if you will (“Earth is boring to ‘em, shit is making my dick soft”).  Not only is “Lift Off” intriguing in the context of Watch the Thone, but it’s also definitely an intriguing way to conclude 13 Songs That’ll Lift 🏋 You Up (Some of ‘em).