I am a playlist kind of person. I always have a perfectly tailored lineup of songs for any road trip, party or life challenge. Maybe it’s the enneagram one in me that has to do this, but it makes me feel great to know that I have a list of songs that should match the mood or vibe and that I won’t have to skip very many songs.
For some reason, my original IVF Survival Playlist is my most popular blog post, somehow I am 4th on the list when you google IVF playlist. I guess you could say I’m famous on the interwebs. But it’s getting outdated at this point, so I wanted to make a part 2 to modernize the list. These are in no particular order.
1. You & Me – Dave Matthews Band
This is more of a couple’s IVF survival song. This was our wedding song, and with lyrics like “you and me together, we can do anything” and “we can always look back at what we did”, it fits our journey and marriage so well. It means so much more now that we are technically “on the other side of things”.
Another honorable mention by Dave Matthews is Grey Street. It’s so sad yet uplifting.
2. In My Blood – Shawn Mendes
A great reminder to not give up. It gives me goosebumps and dusty eyes every time I hear it.
3. Reaching for the Sky – Hanson
This song is split into two in the String Theory album, and it’s a damn shame because it’s fantastic. It doesn’t stop me from listening to it on repeat. A reminder to never give up on your dreams.
4. Broken & Beautiful – Kelly Clarkson
This is a Shine Dance routine and I dance my booty off and fight back tears the entire time. I love it. I included the Shine dance video instead of the music video because it’s such a gorgeous routine. For those who don’t know, Shine Dance is a dance fitness program. I found it while searching for ways to dance and meet people and it delivered! I became an instructor and religiously went to class, that has since dwindled since having a baby but I fully intend to return as soon as possible! Shine Dance Fitness offers an online membership through shinedancefitness.com if you are interested and have a lot of their wonderful routines on YouTube. They also have a couple of full hour classes on YouTube here or here. Those aren’t the only two though, you my have to poke around on their YouTube page.
5. I Love Me – Demi Lovato
A great reminder never stop loving yourself through the whole process and to quit comparing yourself to others.
6. Bigger Than The Whole Sky – Taylor Swift
This. song. It’s sort of a life destroyer. Trigger warning: it is suspected to be about miscarriage. I only recommend listening to it when you are alone and ready to ugly cry. Why is it on a survival list? Because sometimes you have to sit in sadness and cry it out to move forward. Here is a verse or two for a little preview:
“Goodbye, goodbye, goodbye
You were bigger than the whole sky
You were more than just a short time
And I’ve got a lot to pine about
I’ve got a lot to live without
I’m never gonna meet
What could’ve been, would’ve been
What should’ve been you”
7. Something in the Water – Carrie Underwood
Such an uplifting gospel song. And everything about the music video is perfection.
8. Keep On – Sasha Sloan
This is also a Shine Dance Fitness routine. It was actually choreographed by a Shine instructor who was going through chemo after her breast cancer returned. To support her fight, a lot of the ladies in Shine nation filmed themselves doing the dance and posted it on Facebook for her. She has since passed away from it, and though I never met her in person I will always think of her and her positive attitude during some of the worst times in her life when I hear this song and it inspires me to be strong in the hard times. If you wanted to check out her teaching the dance for the first time, see the video below:
Here is the lyric video if you would rather just hear the song:
9. Rainbow – Kacey Musgraves
This song will always be special to me and anyone with a rainbow baby would probably love it. A good reminder that there is always something good when life is tough. One of the commenters on the YouTube video said that Kacey’s voice is like a warm hug, and it truly is.
10. Audition (The Fools Who Dream) – Emma Stone
La La Land is my favorite movie and this scene is evidence of why Emma Stone won the Oscar for this role. I still feel all the feelings when I listen to it. “Smiling through it, she said she’d do it, again.” Because we all know that no matter what the IVF outcome is, we would all do it again if we knew there was even a chance of getting our babies.
Some additional honorable mentions:
- Fight Song by Rachel Platten
- I’m Still Here from the Jem and the Holograms Soundtrack
- Don’t Give Up On Me by Andy Grammer
What are some songs that help get you through the tough times? I’d love more ideas!
First Comes Love 