A while back, I shared on Facebook that I have this little mix of songs on my iPod that I listen to on my way in to work in the mornings. I intentionally made it upbeat and energetic so that I’d be energized and awake by the time I got to work.

• Make Your Own Kind of Music — Cass Elliot — 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of the Mamas and the Papas
  This makes me feel like Desmond from Lost, where he plays this song as part of his “morning” routine. It’s a very motivational song about doing your own thing.
• More Than A Feeling — Boston — Boston
  This is a perennial road trip favorite of mine and has been for nearly 15 years, when my dad introduced me to it.
• Last Living Souls — Gorillaz — Demon Days
  Watch out for the zombies! Seriously, it’s a light-hearted reminder for me to not become an office zombie workaholic.
• Mother Nature’s Son — Sheryl Crow — I Am Sam
  Sheryl Crow has one of the sexiest voices ever, and she makes this Beatles song sound so incredible.
• The Rover — Led Zeppelin — Physical Graffiti - Disc 1
  Just a great tune for the road. Make that just about any Led Zeppelin track. It’s hard to beat Bonham’s drums, Page’s guitar, Plant’s vocals, and Jones’ bass guitar.
• Smells Like Teen Spirit — Nirvana — Nevermind
  This makes me laugh as I remember this one from high school. Then I realize how depressing ’90s music was, especially grunge.
• We Are All Made of Stars — Moby — 18
  A little bit of optimism after Nirvana. We’re all made of star dust, so no one can stop us now. On the other hand, are we cosmically insignificant? What does it mean for the stars if we’re made of the same stuff? (No, I don’t think like that all the time.)
• Cochise — Audioslave — Audioslave
  A reminder to do what you believe in, regardless of what anyone else thinks. (Cochise was an Apache chief who took vengeance on the entire southwest. Details at the bottom of this page: Cochise Lyrics) I usually finish this as I pull into my parking space, and it really energizes me. Great stuff. Tom Morello is an amazing guitarist.

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