The Gratitude Playlist
The chill in the air brings with it a shiver of excitement—in the coming weeks, we can look forward to spending time together with loved ones around the dinner table, hearing age old stories being retold in living rooms, and to moments still and quiet as falling snow, when we stop and remember what life is all about. This time brings with it the echoes of songs from the winter holidays like Christmas and Hanukkah, but what about Thanksgiving? Curiously, this warm and welcoming North American holiday which is filled with moments deserving of a good soundtrack has yielded only a handful of songs specifically about Thanksgiving.
If this upcoming holiday finds you yearning for music with a bit more substance than Adam Sandler’s Turkey Song, give the DP Life Gratitude Playlist a try! If you’re curious about why we picked these songs, continue reading about some of the highlights below!
Sleeping At Last—North
This song calls to mind the heartfelt efforts by the pilgrim forefathers to create a beautiful new home where God could dwell. It reminds us of what we all yearn for: to plant our roots down, to work hard to build a beautiful family, and to leave a legacy behind.
Other songs on our playlist that are perfect for Thanksgiving’s more tranquil moments are Mary Chapin Carpenter’s Thanksgiving Song, and Josh Groban’s Thankful.
Grateful: A Love Song to the World
In addition to being a heartwarming global singalong, the story behind the creation of this song is a true lesson in gratitude. After experiencing success in an Ivy League university, on Wall Street and in the music industry, producer Nimo Patel found himself feeling empty. Realizing that the only true path to God was in selflessly serving others, he shifted his life focus towards helping underprivileged communities in India. He later decided to reconnect with his passion for music, producing an internationally collaborated album entitled Empty Hands, based on the idea that we all enter and leave the world empty-handed, and thus it is our actions, not our possessions, that define us.
For songs with a similar message, check out Natalie Cole’s “Be Thankful” and Earth Wind & Fire’s “Gratitude.”
India Arie—Better People
This upbeat, danceable yet thought-provoking track is designed for getting people of all ages out of their seats and having fun together, a notion Ms. Arie highly encourages in her lyrics, calling those of different generations, races and beliefs to talk to each other and discover how much we can benefit.
For more songs that celebrate relationships, check out Eric Hutchinson’s “People I Know” and Sister Sledge’s classic “We Are Family”.
Mercedes Sosa—Gracias a la Vida
Gratitude through music is by no means limited to the English language, as this beautiful song illustrates. Songstress Mercedes Sosa’s gratitude for a life rich with blessings is evident in her passionate delivery of the lyrics, some of which translate to: “Thanks to life, which has given me so much. It gave me laughter and it gave me longing. With them I distinguish happiness and pain —the two materials from which my songs are formed, And your song, as well, which is the same song. And everyone’s song, which is my very song.”
To continue the multilingual exploration of gratitude, try Tiziano Ferro’s Italian ballad “Per Te” (“For You”), French singer M. Pokora’s “Merci d’Ètre” (“Thank You for Being”) and Filipina sensation Charice’s romantic song “Yakap” (“Embrace”).
We hope that this humble roundup of musical gratitude will set the tone for you and yours to have a fantastic Thanksgiving. Be sure to share with us your favorite songs about gratitude or the holiday season, and to share this playlist with your loved ones. Happy Holidays!