Picture by Brainsonic
“One good thing about music: when it hits you, you feel no pain” – Bob Marley
Well Mr Marley, we’re putting that to the test…
Ah, that unemployment black hole. When you’ve spiralled into hopelessness, despair and biscuit crumbs, and it’s hard to believe things will get better. Your mum isn’t answering the phone, and making “AAAAAARRRRRRGGGGGHHHHHHH” your Facebook status hasn’t made you feel any better.
How To Be Jobless asked you, our fabulous readers and followers, what songs you listen to for a pick-me-up during the lows and lows of the job hunt. Here’s what you came up with…
Ladies and gentlemen, the Ultimate Jobless Playlist
Stephanie Spiro, New York, USA – “Mine is Job Application by Meryn Cadell. It cracks me up because it’s so true. It makes me think of real conversations I’ve had as a job applicant. It’s also How To Be Jobless in song form – making us laugh at the crappy job situation.”
Dion Watts, London, UK – “The 2Cellos version of Welcome to the Jungle is a great motivator before an interview – but it’s also classical, so I feel ever so classy when I listen to it!”
Ashten Fields, North Carolina, USA – “The Lazy Song by Bruno Mars reminds me of how absurd it is that I only want to be lazy when I have a job. When you’re jobless all you want to do is work.”
Lil’ Miss. Geek Chic, Chester, UK – “It’s the lyrics that get me in Try by Pink – ‘Just because it burns, doesn’t mean you’re gonna die’ – too right! People (like me) should toughen up and try!”
Christie Mudie, Brighton, UK – “Depeche Mode’s Just Can’t Get Enough. My attempt at reverse psychology.”
Hasina Khatib – “Miley Cyrus’s The Climb. Don’t judge! It reminds you of a reason to keep walking when you want nothing more than to call it quits.”
Stinne Elkjær, Aarhus, Denmark – “Mine’s about escapism. I drift away when I listen to Chris Isaak’s Wicked Game. Plus job hunting is a wicked game, right?! Also Walking on Sunshine always cheers me up.”
Penny Cook, Essex, UK - “I get a nice bit of regression and good memories when wailing along to Mmmbop by Hanson. It’s impossible to feel depressed listening to that song!”
Robine Padberg, Amsterdam, Holland – “Electronic music helps me forget my own thoughts. I love Civilisation by Justice.”
Stevie Martin, London, UK – “Fighter is about love but you could equate it to jobs. Plus Float On by Modest Mouse has excellent lyrics for when you’re feeling down: ‘Bad news comes don’t you worry even when it lands/ Good news will work its way to all them plans…we’ll float on, good news is on the way’.”
How To Be Jobless – “Iggy Pop’s Lust for Life does it for me. I picture Ewan McGregor sprinting from the police, and picture all the jobless youngsters sprinting away from feeling destitute and unsuccessful. I then think maybe I shouldn’t be comparing us to smackheads. Anyway, the song rocks.”
