The theme of starting anew is a powerful and enduring force in popular music. From the euphoric rush of new love to the determined crawl from rock bottom, songs about fresh beginnings offer hope, catharsis, and a soundtrack for transformation. We've ranked twenty of the very best tracks that capture this universal experience.
The Ultimate Anthems of Optimism
Topping our list is Fleetwood Mac's 1977 classic 'Don't Stop'. Written by Christine McVie for her soon-to-be ex-husband and bandmate John McVie, its buoyant melody and forward-driving rhythm belie the personal turmoil within the band. It remains a preposterously effective anthem, urging listeners to think about tomorrow.
Close behind is Curtis Mayfield's 1970 masterpiece 'Move on Up'. Its insistent brass and Mayfield's constantly urging vocals have lost none of their power, making the act of striving sound like an exhilarating blast. In third place, The Beatles' 'Here Comes the Sun' (1969) offers gentle, cyclical reassurance, having been streamed over a billion times more than any other Fab Four track.
Nina Simone's definitive 1965 reading of 'Feeling Good' claims fourth spot. Forget later covers; Simone's version builds from an emotive a cappella intro to a show-stopping finale of pure elation. Rounding out the top five is Public Image Limited's 1978 post-punk declaration 'Public Image', where John Lydon furiously excoriates his past and announces a literal new beginning with indecent excitement.
Personal Reinventions and Cultural Resets
The list journeys through deeply personal reinventions. Peter Gabriel's 'Solsbury Hill' (1977) reflects on his decision to quit Genesis, while David Bowie's instrumental 'A New Career in a New Town' (1977) perfectly soundtracks its titular optimism with breezy harmonica. Bronski Beat's 'Smalltown Boy' (1984) sombrely details the reasons behind a desperate fresh start for its queer protagonist, promising hope in its urgent beat.
Anthems of survival and resilience feature strongly. Gloria Gaynor's 'I Will Survive' (1978) perfectly captures the emotional effort of picking oneself up. Similarly, Joe Smooth's 1987 house track 'Promised Land', written during the AIDS epidemic, offers profound optimism and warmth for a marginalised community.
Euphoric Celebrations of New Love
The euphoria of new romance is another rich vein. Maxine Nightingale's 'Right Back Where We Started From' (1975) is a three-minute rush of cod-northern soul joy. The Carpenters transformed a bank jingle into 'We've Only Just Begun' (1970), thanks to Karen Carpenter's incredibly tender vocal. Astrud Gilberto's 1969 cover of 'Beginnings' turns a fabulous song into a lush, funky masterpiece that sounds the way falling in love feels.
Other highlights include Pulp's sweet, coincidence-driven 'Something Changed' (1995), The The's MDMA-influenced cocktail of introspection and hope, 'This Is the Day' (1983), and the triumphant up-yours of McAlmont and Butler's 'Yes' (1995). Disco queen Diana Ross's iconic 'I'm Coming Out' (1980), written with her gay following in mind, pulses with positive energy.
From Otis Clay's original, gospel-steeped version of 'The Only Way Is Up' (1980) to Florence + the Machine's intimidating yet liberating 'Dog Days Are Over' (2008), and CMAT's brilliantly fabricated emigration tale 'Nashville' (2022), these twenty songs prove that the journey of starting again is one of pop music's most powerful and enduring themes.
