10 Songs That’ll Help You Regain Control of Your Life

I don’t know about everyone else, but for me, 2025 has been off to a rough start. With February right around the corner, it’s time for a major change. If you’re in the same boat, let’s fight back and regain control of our lives! Say goodbye to all of the negativity and sufferings you’ve been through previously, and move onto a brighter future. Look fear straight in the eyes and say, “You’re not going to mess with me anymore, sucker!” If you want to flip the script, here are 10 songs that’ll help you regain control of your life. With all that said, let’s get on with the music!

10. “No Surrender” (2018) by Judas Priest

Shortly before Firepower (2018) came out, guitarist Glenn Tipton announced he’d been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. Very sad indeed, but like a warrior, Tipton didn’t let his illness stop him from writing and playing on the album. I read a YouTube comment recently that said “No Surrender” was written about Tipton due to his determination to keep playing the music he loves, despite being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. I can totally see that now considering the lyrics and the band probably knew about Tipton’s illness before his public announcement. There’s a pop quality to “No Surrender,” but it still has the toughness of Judas Priest. A lot of blazing guitars and the chorus is insanely catchy.

9. “One Little Victory” (2002) by Rush

There’s nothing like a killer drum intro from Neil Peart to rock the blues away (wait, that’s a different song; more on that later). As a smart marketing move, “One Little Victory” was the first single and opening track from Vapor Trails (2002), Rush’s first studio album since Test for Echo (1996). After touring for the latter wrapped up in 1997, Peart lost his daughter and wife in separate tragedies, forcing the band into a five-year hiatus. It’s no coincidence that Peart’s experience served as inspiration for the lyrics and as mentioned in my Songs with the Same Title – Rush Edition post, Peart had a gift for writing lyrics that resonate with everyone. In the case for “One Little Victory,” it’s not just for people who lost a loved one, it’s for those who lost their job, got divorced, or went through a bad breakup, etc. During difficult times, celebrate the moment that turns into one little victory.

8. “Where Few Dare to Walk” (2019) by Overkill

For a darker turn of events, Overkill’s “Where Few Dare to Walk” embraces the idea of living is the best revenge. If that’s your cup of tea, there’s nothing wrong with that. Sometimes it’s therapeutic for people to get back at their enemies because it provides them a purpose to make things right in a world that’s already messed up, as long as the action isn’t illegal. Or in other cases, it’s about sticking up for those who have been mistreated. What I love most about “Where Few Dare to Walk” is it forces me to put on a brave face and take on the world, despite the constant fears and self-doubt that race through my brain everyday. It’s dark and atmospheric, the bass line is excellent, and Bobby Blitz grabs listeners by the throat with his raspy vocals. 

7. “Rock the Blues Away” (2015) by AC/DC

2020 was when I officially became an AC/DC fan. It was great because I had all the time in the world to discover their albums, but it was also horrible because of the COVID-19 lockdowns. Despite them releasing Power Up (2020) in November that year, they couldn’t tour because of the dang virus. Thankfully, they had a song called “Rock the Blues Away” from Rock or Bust (2014) that somewhat prevented me from going insane. The song gave me hope that despite not knowing what the future holds for our country, everything will be alright. This was before I started going to concerts seriously and luckily, everything did turn out alright. Like “No Surrender,” it has a pop element, but it still sounds like AC/DC, which is basically fun rock ‘n’ roll. 

6. “Journeyman” (2003) by Iron Maiden

I mentioned in my May 2024 Purchases post that I discovered “Journeyman” right before Easter 2024 (and it was through a YouTube channel called the Metal Head Car Show, by the way). It’s so different from other Iron Maiden songs because it’s the first and only full acoustic track they’ve ever done, to date. Being the album closer for Dance of Death (2003), there’s an anthemic feel to it, which is well documented on the Death on the Road (2005) live album. It’s beautiful to see so many Iron Maiden fans coming together for the love of heavy metal and to be part of something special. Whether it’s about seizing the day or the life of a musician, there’s no denying how gorgeous the song is and the band needs to add it back into their setlist, pronto!

5. “Back in the Saddle” (1977) by Aerosmith

While the lyrics are about cowboys wanting to have sex, they can also be interpreted as, “I’m back and there’s nothing you can do to stop me now, motherfu….,” you get the idea. Hearing “Back in the Saddle” for the first time in college was mind blowing because that’s when I discovered Aerosmith were more than a pop band with ballads like “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing” and “Cryin.’” They were a heavy rock band in the ‘70s and Steven Tyler could scream his butt off. “Back in the Saddle” is one of the heaviest songs they’ve ever done and the galloping horse sound effects are genius. Despite the band retiring from touring last year, we still have the music to remember them by, thankfully.

4. “When the Pain Comes” (2023) by Black Stone Cherry

10-20 years ago, mental health was not often talked about publicly. Now, people are sharing their experiences with others who are going through similar hardships as them. Black Stone Cherry frontman Chris Robertson is very open about his struggles with mental health and depression because if he can help one individual, it’s worth all the backlash he faces from gosh, who knows how many others. The same can be said for Black Stone Cherry’s music because they’re not afraid to write about songs dealing with mental health, depression, and other troubles human beings face daily. As mentioned in my Screamin’ at the Sky (2023) album review, they’re not the first band to cover those topics, but we all could use a reminder because people aren’t educated enough about them. “When the Pain Comes” gives listeners hope that there’s always a light at the end of the tunnel. 

3. “Iron Will” (1995) by Skid Row

If Slave to the Grind (1991) was considered a heavy album for Skid Row, their following album, Subhuman Race (1995), took their sound to the next level. It’s got groove metal, alternative metal, grunge, and all the other influences that made up ‘90s rock. It’s already a great album, but “Iron Will,” the closing track, solidified my love for Subhuman Race. It’s got a great chorus, Sebastian Bach delivers an evil vocal performance, the musicianship is excellent, and the lyrics are a big slap in the face. There’s a sense of rebellion that encourages listeners to break free from the status quo, be the best version of themselves, and never take “no” for an answer. “Seize, you are not owed, stand or fall / And refuse to be denied.”

2. “Undefeated” (2011) by Def Leppard

Considering everything Def Leppard went through with Rick Allen’s accident and Steve Clark’s death, it made sense for them to write a song called “Undefeated.” If that wasn’t heartbreaking enough, guitarist Vivian Campbell was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 2013. Like Tipton, he’s also a warrior that won’t let his illness stop him from playing the music he loves, but can’t the guys get a break already? On the plus side, their hardships made them stronger as a band and inspired them to make each day count. For music fans like us, it’s inspiring because if they can survive all that, so can we! “Undefeated” is classic Def Leppard with big backing vocals, crunchy guitars, lots of melody, and it’s catchy as heck!

1. “It’s My Life” (2000) by Bon Jovi

“It’s My Life” is overplayed to death, but there’s a reason why it became a hit 25 years ago; it’s a well-written song. I’m still sad about Richie Sambora not being in Bon Jovi anymore, but I can still jam out to the song whenever I hear it because none of the drama that went down behind the scenes can take away how good the song makes me feel. It’s positive, uplifting, and makes me feel like I can do anything! If I’m not mistaken, “It’s My Life” was the first Bon Jovi song I ever heard as a kid, which was years before I became a fan of the band. The lyrics are so simple, yet so relatable. The world will try to tear us apart, but if we’re brave enough, we can fight back for the life that we deserve.

There you have it, people! Those are 10 songs that’ll help you regain control of your life. My list is obviously not the right list because we all have different tastes. If you’ve got favorite songs you like to play to feel confident and ready to take on the world, blast them as loud as you like! Music is only part of the solution, but I believe with hard work and dedication, good things will happen to those who are patient. Whatever hardships you’re dealing with right now, you’ll get through them and everything will be alright! 

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Take care and see ya real soon!

Lana