Songs for the Libra

LIBRA: A big promotion is just around the corner for someone much more talented than you. Laughter is the very best medicine; remember that when your appendix bursts next week. -Weird Al Yankovic

It's Libra time, ya'll! These airs signs are said to be diplomatic, fair, idealistic, social, and clever while also getting a bad rap for being non-confrontational and indecisive. My personal Libra friends are pretty great, and some really stellar musicians represent this star sign as well. So let's go ahead and dive on in!

Complicated by Avril Lavigne (written by A. Lavigne, D. Alspach, G. Edwards, L. Christy)

Our early 2000's "grunge"(?) queen Avril is herself a Libra, which can be seen in the lyrics from what may be her most popular song ever, featured on her 2002 album Let Go. The narrator is attempting a diplomatic approach to discuss the other party's recent attitude shift, and describes the other party as detached, indecisive, and selfish, causing the narrator herself to feel a bit resentful towards them. Lavigne was the quintessential "I'm fourteen and this is deep" artist for myself and several other Millennials I'm sure, but this song still feels relatable all these years later after experiencing people in my life go through phases like this.

Chill out, what you yelling for/Lay back, it's all been done before/And if you could only let it be, you would see/I like you the way you are/When we're driving in your car/And you're talking to me one on one, but you become/Somebody else 'round everyone else/You're watching your back like you can't relax/You're trying to be cool, you look like a fool to me/Tell me why'd you have to go and make things so complicated/I see the way you're acting like you're somebody else gets me frustrated/Life's like this you, and you fall and you crawl and you break/And you take what you get and you turn it into/Honesty and promise me I'm never gonna find you fake it, no, no, no

my boy by Billie Eilish (written by B. O'Connell, F. O'Connell)

This song from Eilish's 2017 EP dont smile at me describes the narrator's boyfriend as mainly negative Libra traits: he's appeasing, detached, indecisive, and selfish, and like Avril in Complicated, Billie's feeling a little resentful towards him. This song has some interesting tempo changes as it transitions from verse to chorus which make it just as unique and individual as the rest of her repertoire.

My boy's being sus, he was shady enough/But now he's just a shadow/My boy loves his friends like I love my split ends/And by that, I mean he cuts 'em off, what/My boy, my boy, my boy/Don't love me like he promised/My boy, my boy, my boy/He ain't a man and sure as hell ain't honest

Womanizer by Britney Spears (written by N. Briscoe, R. Akinyemi)

We're introducing some Britney into the mix this month because why not, she's an icon. Featured on her 2008 album Circus, this is not my favorite Spears song but it is admittedly very catchy. The man the narrator describes in the lyrics is quite selfish and while our narrator is quite social, she has enough sense to call him on his bullshit.

Superstar, where you from, how's it going/I know you, got a clue what you're doing/You can play brand new to all the other chicks out here/But I know what you are, what you are, baby/Look at you, getting more than just a re-up/Baby, you got all the puppets with their strings up/Faking like a good one, but I call 'em like I see 'em/I know what you are, what you are, baby/Womanizer, woman, womanizer, you're a womanizer/Oh, womanizer, oh, you're a womanizer, baby/You, you, you are, you, you, you are/Womanizer, womanizer, womanizer/Boy, don't try to front, I know just what you are/Boy, don't try to front, I know just what you are/You got me going, you're oh so charming/But I can't do it, you womanizer/Boy, don't try to front, I know just what you are/Boy, don't try to front, I know just what you are/You say I'm crazy, I got you crazy/You're nothing but a womanizer

Last Name by Carrie Underwood (written by C. Underwood, H. Lindsey, L. Laird)

This song, featured on Underwood's 2007 album Carnival Ride, is one of my favorites of hers both in terms of song and music video. Our narrator is very social and arguably a little too cooperative with this man she meets in the bar, who himself gives off vibes of selfishness and detachedness. All that said, this song is still a bop 13 years later.

Last night, I got served a little bit too much of that poison, baby/Last night, I did things I'm not proud of, and I got a little crazy/Last night, I met a guy on the dance floor and I let him call me Baby/And I don't even know his last name/My mama would be so ashamed/It started off, "Hey, cutie, where are you from?" and then it turned into "Oh, no, what've I done"/And I don't even know his last name

Turn Me On by David Guetta ft. Nicki Minaj (written by D. Guetta, E. Dean, G. Tuinfort, O. Maraj)

David Guetta is always good for a party, so this collaboration with Nicki Minaj from his 2011 album Nothing But the Beat is perfect for our social Libras. The lyrics lean a little towards the appeasing nature of Libras as well, but all in all this song is just a good, fun time.

Doctor, doctor, need you back home in bed/Doctor, doctor, where ya at, give me something/I need your love, I need your love/I need your loving, you got that kinda medicine that keep me coming/My body needs a hero, come and save me/Something tells me you know how to save me/I been feeling real low, oh, I need you to come and rescue me/Make me come alive, come on and turn me on/Touch me, save my life, come on and turn me on/I'm too young to die, come on and turn me on/Turn me on, turn me on, turn me on, turn me on

Hotline Bling by Drake (written by A. Graham, P. Jefferies, T. Thomas)

Drake's hit single from his 2015 album Views paints the picture of a narrator who's a bit struck by the lack of fairness from his ex after he moves away from the city - even though he's the one who left, he's not a huge fan of the changes she's making in her life and her social habits and the fact that she's now become nothing more than a booty call. This song is still fairly iconic and still sung in part by plenty of people, and listening to it for this post was definitely fun.

Ever since I left the city, you got a reputation for yourself now/Everybody knows and I feel left out, girl, you got me down, you got me stressed out/'Cause ever since I left the city, you started wearing less and going out more/Glasses of champagne out on the dance floor, hanging with some girls I've never seen before/You used to call me on my cell phone, late night when you need my love/Call me on my cell phone, late night when you need my love/I know when that hotline bling, that can only mean one thing/I know when that hotline bling, that can only mean one thing

Lose Yourself by Eminem (written by J. Bass, M. Mathers, L. Resto)

Master lyricist Eminem joins Avril Lavigne in the ranks of famous Libras, and that negative resentful side tends to showcase itself in most of his lyrics. Lose Yourself, the Grammy and Academy Award winner that is featured on the soundtrack for the 2002 film 8 Mile (starring Eminem himself and Mekhi Phifer), is definitely one of Eminem's most recognizable and most quotable songs, and it really showcases his incredible ability to rhyme just about anything.

Yo, his palms are sweaty, knees weak, arms are heavy/There's vomit on his sweater already, Mom's spaghetti/He's nervous, but on the surface, he looks calm and ready/To drop bombs, but he keeps on forgetting/What he wrote down, the whole crowd goes so loud/He opens his mouth, but the words won't come out/He's choking, how, everybody's joking now/The clock runs out, time's up, over, blaow/Snap back to reality, oh, there goes gravity/Oh, there goes Rabbit, he choked, he's so mad, but he/Won't give up that easy, no, he won't have it/He knows his whole back's to these ropes, it don't matter, he's dope/He knows that, but he's broke, he's so stagnant/He knows when he goes back to his mobile home, that's when it's/Back to the lab again, yo, this whole rhapsody/Better go capture this moment and hope it don't pass him/You better lose yourself in the music, the moment/You own it, you better never let it go/You only get one shot, do not miss your chance to blow/This opportunity comes once in a lifetime/You better lose yourself in the music, the moment/You own it, you better never let it go/You only get one shot, do not miss your chance to blow/This opportunity comes once in a lifetime, you better

Come Alive by Hugh Jackman, Keala Settle, Daniel Everidge, Zendaya, & The Greatest Showman Cast (written by B. Pasek, J. Paul)

While it's pretty well known that the fictional P.T. Barnum was a much nicer man than the real life one, this is song is a fun Libra representation. In the film, Barnum's circus became a place where the performers were treated more fairly than the real world, with Barnum as their gracious, cooperative, and diplomatic host with a flair for the dramatic. Come Alive isn't my favorite song in the movie, but it's still a good one to get hyped up to.

You stumble through your days/Got your head hung low, your skies are a shade of gray/Like a zombie in a maze/You're asleep inside, but you can shake awake/'Cause you're just a dead man walking, think of that, your only option/But you can flip the switch and brighten up your darkest day/Sun is up and the color's blinding, take a world and redefine it/Leave behind your narrow mind, you'll never be the same/Come alive, come alive/Go and light your light, let it burn so bright/Reaching up to the sky/And it's open wide, you're electrified/And the world becomes a fantasy, and you're more than you could ever be/'Cause you're dreaming with your eyes wide open/And you know you can't go back again to the world that you were living in/'Cause you're dreaming with your eyes wide open/So come alive

A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes by Ilene Woods & Cinderella's Mice Chorus (written by A. Hoffman, J. Livingston, M. David, O. Wallace, R. Sherman, R. Sherman)

Cinderella is a shining example of the best things about Libras. She's cooperative and diplomatic, tending to all of her BS duties with a smile because it's easier than being miserable all the time and it helps her never give ups hope. She's gracious and fair to animals that her stepfamily would love to bash with a rock. And as we all know, she loves a good party, especially when there's a happy ending involved.

A dream is a wish your heart makes/When you're fast asleep/In dreams, you will lose your heartache/Whatever you wish for, you keep/Have faith in your dreams, and someday/Your rainbow will come smiling through/No matter how your heart is grieving, if you keep on believing/The dream that you wish will come true

Imagine by John Lennon (written by J. Lennon)

The Beatles' resident Libra definitely had an ego the size of Jupiter, but damn was he a great musician. Taken from us at the age of 40, Lennon's most famous solo song is undoubtedly Imagine, which was featured on his 1971 album of the same name. The message is so simple and beautiful: "Maybe I'm a crazy person, but I think you should just be nice to people." Practice cooperation, be gracious and fair in your decision making, and just be kind.

Imagine there's no heaven/It's easy if you try/No hell below us/Above us, only sky/Imagine all the people living for today/Imagine there's no countries/It isn't hard to do/Nothing to kill or die for/And no religion, too/Imagine all the people living life in peace/You may say I'm a dreamer/But I'm not the only one/I hope someday, you'll join us/And the world will be as one

Hurt by Johnny Cash (written by T. Reznor)

My husband and I have talked more than once about artists covering other artists, and this song always comes up as a version that we love more than the original. First recorded by Nine Inch Nails for their 1994 album The Downward Spiral, The Man in Black recorded this more acoustic version back in 2002 for his album American IV: The Man Comes Around. The first time my husband and I heard it was in the trailer for the 2017 film Logan (starring Hugh Jackman and Patrick Stewart) and it was love at first listen for us. It's the story of a man who's been beaten down so many time's he's completely detached from the world, and in one last act of attempted selflessness is trying to let someone he loves know that he's not hurting them on purpose.

I hurt myself today to see if I still feel/I focus on the pain, the only thing that's real/The needle tears a hole, the old familiar sting/Try to kill it all away, but I remember everything/What have I become, my sweetest friend/Everyone I know goes away in the end/And you could have it all, my empire of dirt/I will let you down, I will make you hurt

Lovebug by Jonas Brothers (written by N. Jonas, J. Jonas, K. Jonas)

This hit single from the JoBros' 2008 album A Little Bit Longer is one of my all time favorites, and the music video is one of their all time best as well. Written primarily by Nick about his relationship with then girlfriend Miley Cyrus, this simple and romantic song expresses the narrator's feelings about his new love with an air of almost diplomatic fairness - he's trying to keep his cool and not act like he's totally over the moon about this girl so that his friends don't give him a hard time.

Called you for the first time yesterday/Finally found the missing part of me/I felt so close, but you were far away/Left me without anything to say/Now I'm speechless, over the edge/I'm just breathless, I never thought that I'd catch this lovebug again/Hopeless, head over heels in the moment/I never thought that I'd get hit by this lovebug again

Happy and Sad by Kacey Musgraves (written by D. Tashian, I. Fitchuk, K. Musgraves)

Musgraves takes a Libra-esque approach in this song from her 2018 album Golden Hour. Again, we find ourselves with our narrator in a social setting at a party, and she's diplomatically trying to sort out her feelings towards her significant other with the always confusing feeling of feeling happy and sad simultaneously (it is possible and it is a little stressful). She's giving all of her emotions a fair chance to express themselves, and even though this isn't my favorite Musgraves song, the lyrics are pretty relatable to everyone.

It's not you, it's the glow of the party, the way that you've got me/Lit up inside, it's the song that they're playing, the words that you're saying/It's never felt so right/And I'm the kind of person who starts getting kinda nervous/When I'm having the time of my life/Is there a word for the way that I'm feeling tonight, happy and sad at the same time/You got me smiling with tears in my eyes, I never felt so high/No, I've never been this far off of the ground/And they say everything that goes up must come down/But I don't wanna come down

Since U Been Gone by Kelly Clarkson (written by L. Gottwald, M. Sandberg)

This hit single from Clarkson's 2004 album Breakaway is still one of her most popular today. Clarkson's narrator goes through a lot of Libra characteristics in the lyrics: she's attempting diplomacy and fairness in her explanation of why she's better off without her ex, and it's gotten to the point where she's pretty gracious about the way things ended because she knows he wasn't worth it.

Here's the thing, we started out friends/It was cool, but it was all pretend/Yeah, yeah, since you been gone/You dedicated, you took the time/It wasn't long 'til I called you mine/Yeah, yeah, since you been gone/And all you'd ever hear me say is how I pictured me with you/That's all you'd ever hear me say/But since you been gone, I can breathe for the first time/I'm so moving on, yeah, yeah/Thanks to you, now I get what I want/Since you been gone

For Good by Kristin Chenoweth & Idina Menzel (written by S. Schwartz)

The final duet between Glinda and Elphaba in Stephen Schwartz's Wicked is one of my favorite songs in the whole show. In terms of Libra traits, you can see two friends who were exhibiting some of the unhealthier traits (indecisiveness, resentfulness, and selfishness) forgiving each other and turning over a new, healthier leaf (cooperation, diplomacy, fairness, and graciousness). This song has a beautiful message combined with a beautiful melody to create something truly wonderful.

I've heard it said that people come into our lives/For a reason, bringing something we must learn/And we are led to those who help us most to grow/If we let them, and we help them in return/Well, I don't know if I believe that's true/But I know I'm who I am today because I knew you/Like a comet pulled from orbit as it passes a sun/Like a stream that meets a boulder halfway through the wood/Who can say if I've been changed for the better/But because I knew you, I have been changed for good

LoveGame by Lady Gaga (written by S. Germanotta, N. Khayat)

This hit single from Gaga's 2008 album The Fame is notorious for the sexual innuendos not so subtly sprinkled throughout the lyrics. Gaga displays some Libra-like selfishness here in her quest for her own satisfaction, but you could also argue she's willing to cooperate with the object of her...affection?...in the playing of said "love game." Ya'll, I love Gaga, but this song is still weird to me and yes, I still laugh at the use of the words "disco stick" at almost thirty years old.

I wanna kiss you, but if I do, then I might miss you, babe/It's complicated and stupid, got my ass squeezed by sexy Cupid/Guess he wants to play, wants to play a love game, a love game/Hold me and love me, just wanna touch you for a minute/Maybe three seconds is enough for my heart to quit it/Let's have some fun, this beat is sick/I wanna take a ride on your disco stick/Don't think too much, just bust that kick/I wanna take a ride on your disco stick/Let's play a love game, play a love game/Do you want love or you want fame/Are you in the game, dans the love game/Let's play a love game, play a love game/Do you want love or you want fame/Are you in the game, dans the love game

Psycho by Post Malone ft. Ty Dolla $ign (written by A. Post, L. Bell, T. Griffin)

This single was one of the most popular from Posty's 2018 album beerbongs & bentleys. As seems to be typical with Post's music, we can see some more negative Libra characteristics here in the lyrics such as resentfulness, selfishness, and a touch of indecisiveness. I personally still like this song as much now as when it first came out - any excuse to listen to Post Malone is a good one for me.

You stuck me in the friend zone, I tell that four-five, the fifth/Hunnid bands inside my shorts, DeChino the shit/Try to stuff it all in, but it don't even fit/Know that tI been with the shit ever since a jit/I made my first million, I'm like, "Shit, this is it"/Thirty for a walkthrough, man, we had that shit lit/Had so many bottles, gave ugly girl a sip/Out the window of the Benzo, we could send in the rent/And I'm like whoa, man, my neck so g****** cold/Diamonds wet, my t-shirtt soaked, I got homies, let it go/My money thick, won't ever fold/She said can I have some to hold and I can't ever tell you no/Damn, my AP going psycho, lil mama bad like Michael/Can't really trust nobody with all this jewelry on you/My roof look like a no-show, got diamonds by the boatload/Come with the Tony Romo for clowns and all the bozos/My AP going psycho, lil mama bad like Michael/Can't really trust nobody with all this jewelry on you/My roof look like a no-show, got diamonds by the boatload/Don't act like you my friend when I'm rolling through my end zone

Boys Ain't Shit (Estos Chicos No Lo Son Remix) by SAYGRACE ft. Becky G (written by B. Newbill, G. Sewell, R. Gomez, R. Williamson, S. Fischer)

Ok, this little bop was an extremely fun find during research this week. Released as a single in 2019, SAYGRACE and Becky G paint a picture of a (possibly Libra) woman who's tried to be cooperative, diplomatic, and fair in different relationships and they're basically just done being treated like poop. Definitely give this one a listen, you won't regret it.

You only hit me on the late night, I never see you in the daylight/You wonder why I got an attitude, you make it hard for me to play nice/Have I become a habit, quick trip on your lips, doing acid/And I know you think you're so cool, but it really ain't attractive/Why do you waste all my time/Keep on telling me lies/'Cause you know I'll come right back/When you don't even write back/These boys ain't shit, I ain't here for it/If you want me, act like it, act like it/These boys get pissed 'cause I won't stand for it/If you want the sweet life, then act like it

How You Get The Girl by Taylor Swift (written by T. Swift)

This song from Swift's 2014 album 1989 is a fun little bubbly number with that telltale semi-80's pop sound she was going for at the time. Telling the story of a guy trying to win back the love of a girl he hurt, the guy in question is having to stop being selfish, decisive, and detached and instead be more fair, a little more social, and more cooperative to make the relationship work.

Stand there like a ghost, shaking from the rain, rain/She'll open up the door and say, "Are you insane-ane"/Say, "It's been a long six months"/And you were too afraid to tell her what you want, want/And that's how it works/That's how you get the girl/And then you say, "I want you for worse or for better/I would wait forever and ever/Broke your heart, I'll put it back together/I would wait forever and ever"/And that's how it works, that's how you get the girl, girl/And that's how it works, that's how you get the girl, girl

wonderful by Travis Scott (written by A. Tesfaye, J. Webster, M. Dean, M. Samuels, T. Williams)

No, I didn't forget to ask any of the actual Libras I know about their favorite songs. This first one is from my bonus brother (aka my actual brother's best friend) Corbin, who was kind enough to stop playing video games for a minute to send me this:

"[wonderful]'s my favorite song because it reminds me of my favorite weekend at ACL with my friends. I like the lyrics of it, and it just is an overall chill song."

Oh my, on a vibe, what a wonderful time/Hundred deep, all my n***** outside/Valet park when I pull up in the ride/Oh, it's late, you might have to spend the night, yeah/Oh, I love my city lit at night, yeah/Oh, I love my bitches when they bite, yeah/Oh, let's call some up and let's get right, yeah/Oh, yeah/We just landed in your city, go time/Driving to the venue like she seeing no signs/She got all the passes, she don't ever do lines/Busting like she single, she ain't wasting no time/You cannot record that for the show now/Leave your phone, you get that later on now/Pour that special drink, that's for my throat now/And take a sip/Oh my, oh my, what a wonderful time/Been a minute since I pulled up outside/Shut it down, yeah, we do that every time/Ooh-wee, got a feeling you might, yeah/Work it like a stripper, yeah/But you not a stripper, yeah/Dog her down with ya, yeah/Work that nine to five with ya, yeah/After, smoke a pound with ya

Dawning On Me by Villagers (written by C. O'Brien)

Our second personal Libra pick is from another bonus brother (this time my best friend's husband and naturally my friend as well) Derek:

"I recently fell in love with the song Dawning On Me by indie folk band Villagers. The instrumentals stuck out to me in this song because even though they used a key that has several minor and diminished chords, they maintained an upbeat and relatively happy atmosphere in the song. Many times when we hear songs with minor and diminished chords, it's because the song is telling a sad or dark story. Villagers was able to reframe my perspective on the use of these types of chords and showed the versatility of music and how you don't have to stick to one musical process. I also really loved the lyrical story of the song, and think the message is one we have all related to at some point in our lives: being kept awake by the overwhelming feelings we get from the special someone we love."

I've been awake for so long now/Just can't get to sleep/You've been tugging at my eyelids/You've been dawning on me/And there's a light coming through the window/But all I can see/Is the light of your love/You've been dawning on me/Dawning on me

Kiss Off by Violent Femmes (written by G. Gano)

Apparently this month I went a little more cynical than had planned - sorry folks, definitely wasn't intentional!. Featured on their 1983 self-titled album, the Violent Femmes get a little resentful in the lyrics of this song as they describe someone they cared about who didn't care as much about them as they would've hoped. Who hasn't gotten a little bitter about a one-sided relationship at some point?

I need someone, a person to talk to/Someone who'd care to love/Could it be you, could it be you/Situation gets rough and I start to panic/It's not enough, it's just a habit/And kid, you're sick, well, darling, this is it/You can all just kiss off into the air/Behind my back, I can see them stare/They'll hurt me bad, but I won't mind/They'll hurt me bad, but they do it all the time/Yeah, they do it all the time, they do it all the time/They do it all the time, they do it all the time, do it all the time

Happy Libra Season! I'd call ya'll littles scales but that's weird so, like with the Virgos, we're going to just leave it at that. As always, whether you actually subscribe to astrology or not, I hope you at least found some good new music to listen to. Happy listening, and see ya'll next week!