Tribute to Fresh Starts

Though we can set goals for self-improvement all year long, there's nothing like a new year to give us the illusion of having a clean slate to work from.

Whether you're trying to build better habits or have just resolved to not make resolutions, here's a seven-song playlist paying tribute to the beauty of a fresh start.

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SONG OF THE monDAY

David Bowie was the king of reinvention, which is no surprise that Changes, from Hunky Dory (1971), is considered by many to be his signature song. The song is cited as Bowie's first official North American release, though The Man Who Sold the World was released in 1969. 

SONG OF THE tuesDAY

Written by Paul McCartney, but credited Lennon-McCartney, Blackbird is from the 1968 album, The Beatles (White Album). Partly inspired by US race relations of the 1960s, we consider it a fresh start song because it encourages us to take the adversity we face to birth something new and stronger. We realize this justification might only make sense here at Vinyl. Regardless, Blackbird is a great song, one of the ten most-covered of all time.

SONG OF THE wednesDAY

Nothing says fresh start like ending a bad relationship and kicking the garbage to the curb, which is why we're including Kelly Clarkson's Since U Been Gone in our tribute. From her second studio album, Breakaway (2004), it peaked at No. 2 on Billboard Hot 100 and several critics consider it among the greatest pop songs of the last decade.

SONG OF THE thursDAY

If you set goals to end bad eating habits and are starting fresh with healthy foods this year, few songs are more inspiring than Vegetables. Written by Brian Wilson and Van Dyke Parks, it was released as the second track from the Beach Boys' 1967 album, Smiley Smile. Paul McCartney contributed the celery chewing sounds during the recording.

SONG OF THE friDAY

A fresh start feels good, and each day is a fresh start that's why we're including Nina Simone's Feeling Good in our tribute. The song was written by Anthony Newley and Leslie Bricusse for the 1964 musical The Roar of the Greasepaint - The Smell of the Crowd. Nina Simone recorded it for her 1965 album, I Put a Spell On You.

SONG OF THE saturDAY

I Can See Clearly Now was originally recorded by Johnny Nash for the 1972 album of the same name. It nit No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100 and has been covered by several artists, including Jimmy Cliff for the 1993 movie, Cool Runnings. The song’s one of the most optimistic tunes around, making it the perfect addition to a tribute to starting fresh.

SONG OF THE sunDAY

Written by Pete Seeger, Turn! Turn! Turn! became an international hit in 1965 when it was recorded by the Byrds. It was originally released in 1962 as To Everything There Is a Season (Turn! Turn! Turn!) by the Limeliters’s on the 1961 album Folk Matinee / Sing Out!. The lyrics of the song, except the title and last two lines, are adapted word-for-word from the first eight verses of Ecclesiastes.

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