Songs for the Aries

ARIES: The look on your face will be priceless when you find that forty-pound watermelon in your colon. Trade toothbrushes with an albino dwarf, then give a hickey to Meryl Streep.-Weird Al Yankovic

Oh, Weird Al, you silly goose. Thank you for making us laugh. We’re already on our third Astrology Playlist: Aries! There’s a lot of really strong emotions kind of all over the map in this playlist, which fits in nicely because Aries feel big emotions all the time. They’re enthusiastic, passionate and temperamental, and always interesting.

bad guy by Billie Eilish (written by F. O’Connell, B. O’Connell) Eilish shows a lot of strong emotion in this song, intimidating the other party with her strong personality. While’s she’s being flirtatious, she’s also showing a competitive nature by putting the other party in their place. I like it when you take control/Even if you know that you don’t/Own me, I’ll let you play the role/I’ll be your animal/My mommy likes to sing along/With me, but she won’t sing this song/If she reads all the lyrics/She’ll pity the men I know/So you’re a tough guy, like it really rough guy/Just can’t get enough guy, chest always so puffed guy/I’m that bad type, make your mama sad type/Make your girlfriend mad type, might seduce your dad type/I’m the bad guy, duh

Just Be Held by Casting Crowns (written by B. Herms, M. Hall, M. West) Completely switching gears for this next one, here’s a personal selection from my sweet, wonderful Aries friend Ben: “My favorite song is Just Be Held by Casting Crowns! [My friend] showed it to me right after [my brother] passed away and it just lets me know that no matter that God has always got my back! I don’t need to worry or fret, I just need to breathe and be held. It is so refreshing every time I hear it now because of the transition I am about to go through and it helps me stay grounded and in the moment instead of being so fearful of the future!” Hold it all together, everybody needs you strong/But life hits you outta nowhere and barely leaves you holding on/And when you’re tired of fighting, chained by your control/There’s freedom in surrender, lay it down and let it go/So when you’re on your knees and answers seem so far away/You’re not alone, stop holding on and just be held/Your world’s not falling apart, it’s falling into place/I’m on the throne, stop holding on and just be held/Just be held, just be held

Tiny Dancer by Elton John (written by B. Taupin, E. John) This is definitely one of my favorite songs from absolute musical legend (and Aries) Sir Elton, both the original and Tim McGraw’s cover. The woman in the song is so flirtatious, passionate, and interesting, showing off her talents and stealing the narrator’s heart. Blue jean baby, L.A. lady, seamstress for the band/Pretty eyed, pirate smile, you’ll marry a music man/Ballerina, you must have seen her dancing in the sand/And now she’s in me, always with me, tiny dancer in my hand/Jesus freaks out in the streets, handing tickets out for God/Turning back, she just laughs, the boulevard is not that bad/Piano man, he makes his stand in the auditorium/Looking on, she sings the songs, the words she knows, the tune she hums/But oh, how it feels so real, lying here with no one near/Only you, and you can hear me/When I say softly, slowly/Hold me closer, tiny dancer/Count the headlights on the highway/Lay me down in sheets of linen/You had a busy day today

Wonderful Tonight by Eric Clapton (written by E. Clapton) Famed Aries musician Eric Clapton has had not only a great solo career, but can work successfully in a group as well, having been the guitarist for both The Yardbirds and Cream. Wonderful Tonight is such a great love song – it’s more subtle in its enthusiasm than some of the other songs on this list, but it’s still passionate, flirtatious, and optimistic. I love that the narrator keeps giving his lover little mini “pep talks” just by telling her she looks wonderful. It’s late in the evening/She’s wondering what clothes to wear/She puts on her makeup/And brushes her long, blonde hair/And then she asks me, “Do I look alright?”/And I say, “Yes, you look wonderful tonight”/We got to a party/And everyone turns to see/This beautiful lady/That’s walking around with me/And then she asks me, “Do you feel alright?”/And I say, “Yes, I feel wonderful tonight”

A Little Bit Longer by Jonas Brothers (written by N. Jonas) I really, really love this song for a lot of reasons. 1) It’s the title track for my favorite JoBros album. 2) It really showcased Nick Jonas’s songwriting ability as a teenager, because the lyrics really do hit hard when you listen to them – he wrote this song about being diagnosed with Diabetes and how it turned his whole world upside down. Despite the obvious fear in this song, he still stays optimistic and knows he needs to confront the illness head on, which can be true for any listeners battling any number of demons. Got the news today, doctor said I had to stay/A little bit longer, and I’ll be fine/When I thought it’d all been done, when I thought it’d all been said/A little bit longer, and I’ll be fine/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/And every time you smile, you laugh, you glow/You don’t even know, no, no/You don’t even know

Butterflies by Kacey Musgraves (written by K. Musgraves, L. Laird, N. Hemby) My Kacey pick for this playlist is a super chill one. Musgraves has said she wrote this song about the early days of her relationship with her now husband Ruston Kelly, and the optimistic tone is impossible to ignore. She’d been minding her own business and was kind of used to be the one who was put in her place, but this love came along and turned all of that on its head. I was just coasting, never really going anywhere/Caught up in a web, I was getting kinda used to staying there/Then out of the blue/I fell for you/Now you’re lifting me up ‘stead of holding me down/Stealing my heart ‘stead of stealing my crown/Untangled all the strings ’round my wings that were tied/I didn’t know him and I didn’t know me/Cloud Nine was always out of reach/Now I remember what it feels like to fly/You give me butterflies

Miss Independent by Kelly Clarkson (written by C. Aguilera, K. Clarkson, M. Morris, R. Lawrence) I know in a previous post I proclaimed my undying love for this song, but I can’t help it – it’s so.damn.good. Clarkson is going to be a new staple on these playlist for sure. This song hits so many Aries checkmarks it’s almost funny – the “character” of Miss Independent is passionate, she has super high expectations, she doesn’t apologize for who she is, she’s used to being the best at everything she does, she puts people in their place, she intimidates people with her strong personality, she’s competitive, and tends to overthink. Misguided heart, Miss Play It Smart/Miss, if you wanna use that line, you better not start, no/But she miscalculated, she didn’t want to end up jaded/And this Miss decided not to miss out on true love/So by changing her misconceptions, she went in a new direction/And found inside, she felt a connection, she fell in love/What is this feeling taking over, thinking no one could open the door/Surprise, it’s time to feel what’s real/What happened to Miss Independent, no longer need to be defensive/Goodbye, old you, when love, when love is true

A Whole New World by Brad Kane & Lea Salonga (written by A. Menken, T. Rice) Jasmine is here to represent the Disney Princesses for Aries, and she truly fits the bill. This girl is passionate and temperamental, she has super high expectations because she knows what she’s worth, she takes initiative where she can in her life, and she intimidates all her suitors (yes, even Aladdin) with her strong personality. Unbelievable sights, indescribable feelings/Soaring, tumbling, free wheeling through an endless diamond sky/A whole new world, don’t you dare close your eyes/A hundred thousand things to see, hold your breath, it gets better/I’m like a shooting star, I’ve come so far/I can’t go back to where I used to be/A whole new world, every turn a surprise/With new horizons to pursue, every moment red letter/I’ll chase them anywhere, there’s time to spare/Let me share this whole new world with you

When it Rains it Pours by Luke Combs (written by J. Walker, L. Combs, R. Fulcher) This song is another personal pick, this time by my sweet sister-friend Mackenzie: “My favorite song changes almost daily so I’m struggling. This week, I’m on a country kick with When it Rains it Pours. I love music but to pick a favorite anything has always been a struggle. I tend to lean toward songs that have a catchy tune but explore some piece of my reality. Any song that puts into words a feeling I’ve felt, always is a favorite.” Sunday morning, man she woke up fighting mad/Bitching and moaning on and on ’bout the time I had/And by Tuesday, you could say that girl was good as gone/And when Thursday came around, I was all alone/So I went for a drive to clear my mind/Ended up at a Shell on I-65/Then I won a hundred bucks on a scratch-off ticket, bought two 12 packs and a tank of gas with it/She swore they were a waste of time, oh, but she was wrong/I was caller number 5 on the radio station, won a four-day, three-night beach vacation/Deep sea, señorita fishing down in Panama/And I ain’t gotta see my ex-future-mother-in-law anymore/Oh Lord, when it rains, it pours

Tightrope by Michelle Williams (written by B. Pasek, J. Paul) This is my favorite song from The Greatest Showman, so I’m hella jealous that it gets to go to Aries. The character of Charity Barnum is so passionate here – she has super high expectations for she and PT’s future because they’re both achievers, just not always on the same page. They both look towards their next adventure, she just looks a little less far ahead than he does. I love Tightrope as a love song because at its core, it’s about a wife who wants to confront any problems that occur head on as long as it’s with her husband. Some people long for a life that is simple and planned, tied with a ribbon/Some people won’t sail the sea ’cause they’re safer on land, to follow what’s written/But I’d follow you to the great unknown/Off to a world we call our own/Hand in my hand and we promised to never let go, we’re walking the tightrope/High in the sky, we can see the whole world down below, we’re walking the tightrope/Never sure, never know how far we could fall/But it’s all an adventure that comes with a breathtaking view, walking the tightrope with you

Lasso by Phoenix (written by C. Mazzalai) This was another Pinterest playlist find and it took a second to grow on me. The lyrics I think definitely lean towards the Aries characteristics of overthinking and focusing on their latest fleeting obsession. Where would you go, not long ago, I’ve been thinking out loud/Why so suddenly, don’t you know/Don’t do it, what you do, what you do to me/Forever is a long, long time when you’ve lost your way/Trying to follow your ideals, oh, sorry but your so called life, it is such a waste/Wear your real eyes, no, you don’t realize/Where would you go, where would you go with a lasso/Could you run into, could you run into, could you go and run into me/Where would you go, where would you go, tied up to a lasso/Could you run into, could you run into, could you go and run into me

Transcending by Red Hot Chili Peppers (written by A. Kids, C. Smith, D. Navarro, M. Balzary) This Pinterest playlist find comes out swinging straight out the gate with no apologies whatsoever. The narrator is passionate, temperamental, argumentative, and their cut off game is strong. I really like the first part of this song a lot, the ending gets a little weird for me but it’s still alright despite being a little long. You are my god, you are my dog/You kept me close, love never lost/I called you hippie, you said, “Fuck off”/Said your brother’s a real punk rocker/Something gonna happen/Something very soon/Transcending flesh could be a breeze/Sending me up over the moon

Casper by Russian Red (written by L. Hernandez) This was another unique find from Pinterest research. It’s definitely an interesting song, playing with different tempos and keys vocal styles all within the confines of this one song. The narrator is passionate and interesting, likely a bit intimidating to others as well. There was one, and there were two/And then I probably lost the count/But I can’t even see their faces/Can’t remember any sound/And the sweetest smell was/Always something kind of dark/That’s the good love coming for you/It will give you good advice/You shook me like nobody, fooled me like nobody/Nobody, nobody, nobody ever had/You shook me like nobody, fooled me like nobody/Nobody, nobody, nobody ever had

Dreaming of You by Selena (written by F. Golde, T. Snow) The ’90s Latina legend Selena was tragically taken from us way too soon at the age of 23, but her career definitely didn’t die with her. The narrator of one of her best known songs is incredibly passionate and flirtatious, talking to her love that she is unable to be with. Late at night, when all the world is sleeping/I stay up and think of you/And I wish on a star/That somewhere you are thinking of me, too/’Cause I’m dreaming of you tonight/Till tomorrow, I’ll be holding you tight/And there’s nowhere in the world I’d rather be/Then here in my room, dreaming about you and me

Eyes Open by Taylor Swift (written by T. Swift) My Taylor pick for the Aries is one of the singles she wrote and released for the 2012 film The Hunger Games. Swift narrates as though she’s speaking directly to main character Katniss Everdeen, who is a pretty good example of Aries traits herself. Katniss, while in the Arena, always has to have her eye on her next terrible “adventure,” and even before she Volunteered she took initiative to save her family by learning how to hunt. She stands up for underdogs like her sister Prim, Rue, and even Peeta. She gives herself very aggressive pep talks to keep confronting her problems head on and motivates others like Rue and Peeta to do better. She showcases her talent with a bow to the Gamemakers and when it comes down to it, gets competitive in order to stay alive. The tricky thing is yesterday, we were just children/Playing soldiers, just pretending, dreaming dreams with happy endings/In backyards, winning battles with our wooden swords/But now we’ve stepped into a cruel world where everybody stands and keeps score/Keep your eyes open/Everybody’s waiting for you to break down/Everybody’s watching to see the fall out/Even when you’re sleeping, sleeping/Keep your eyes open

I Wanna Dance With Somebody by Whitney Houston (written by G. Merrill, S. Rubicam) My final song this week is a personal pick from my adorable friend Jayna: “Favorite Song: I Wanna Dance With Somebody by Whitney Houston. It’s my favorite because it’s a great dance song in the car, at home or at weddings and I love to dance! It’s my fun, go-to, let-loose song. Plus, I heard they played it at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding reception :)” Clock strikes upon the hour, and the sun begins to fade/Still enough time to figure out how to chase my blues away/I’ve done alright up ’til now, it’s the light of day that shows me how/And when the night falls, the loneliness calls/I wanna dance with somebody/I wanna feel the heat with somebody/Yeah, I wanna dance with somebody/With somebody who loves me

Happy Aries season, little rams! I hope ya’ll get some fun listening out of this (whether you’re an Aries or not). See ya’ll next week!