10 Songs That Shaped Who I Am

Music has always had a direct line to my memory, my emotions, and my identity. These 10 songs didn’t just sound good—they stayed with me. Some made me feel seen. Some made me feel joy. Some broke my heart in ways I couldn’t explain at the time. But all of them shaped me.

10. "Change the World" – Eric Clapton

The song that taught me how deeply music can hold emotion.

This song makes me sad—even though it probably shouldn’t. It’s soft and hopeful on the surface, but it’s always carried something heavier for me. I first heard it through the movie Phenomenon, and after watching it as a kid, I cried for almost an hour. I loved John Travolta so much, and the ending just wrecked me. Ever since, this song brings me right back to that moment. It showed me how music can hold emotional weight—how it can stay with you long after the scene fades.

9. "I Want to Thank You" – Alicia Myers

The song that reminds me of my mom—and of home.

This is one of those songs my mom loved to play when I was a kid, and it stuck with me. It’s joyful, soulful, and full of warmth—just good energy all around. As I got older, I started to understand the gratitude in it, the feeling behind the groove. It’s more than just a great song. It reminds me of my mom, of home, of a kind of everyday happiness that stays with you. And the fact that Alicia’s from Michigan too? That just makes it even more special.

8. "Alright" – Janet Jackson

The song that gave me pure joy as a kid.

This song just made me happy. Plain and simple. As a kid, whenever “Alright” came on, I lit up. It was upbeat, funky, and full of life. And the video? It’s still my favorite of hers—colorful, classic, and full of some of the best dancing she’s ever done. This song is joy in motion. Even now, it brings back that carefree feeling every time I hear it.

7. "Mind Playing Tricks on Me" – Geto Boys

The song that showed me music doesn’t have to be pretty to be powerful.

This was the first song to ever scare the living daylights out of me. I was like five, watching MTV, and the second this video came on—I ran. No joke. It haunted me. But even back then, I could feel there was something real happening in it. In hindsight, this was probably the first time I realized that music didn’t always have to be joyful. It could be dark. Honest. Heavy. This song showed me that music is expression, even when the truth is uncomfortable.

6. "Cater 2 U" – Destiny’s Child

The song that pulled me in with sound, not experience.

I had no one to sing this to—but that didn’t stop me from playing it on repeat like I did. I couldn’t relate to the lyrics at the time, but it didn’t matter. It was the love of the group, the richness of the harmonies, the softness of the production. It was good ol’ R&B at its best, and I was obsessed. There was just something about the way it sounded that pulled me in.

5. "Everything You Want" – Vertical Horizon

The song that made me feel connected to something bigger.

I was already starting to lean into this kind of sound, but this song sealed it. It was melodic, emotional, and had that clean rock edge—but it was still catchy as hell. You know that feeling when a song makes you feel bigger than life? Like you just want to stare up at the sky and exist with it? That’s what this one did. It made me feel like I wasn’t just listening—I was part of something.

4. "Are U Still Down" – Tupac & Jon B

The song I loved so much, I had to record it.

I used to record this off the radio onto a cassette on my little boombox—that’s how much I needed to have it on repeat. It had everything I loved: smooth R&B, Tupac’s rawness, and Jon B’s vocals that just felt effortless. It was moody, intimate, and cool. This song takes me right back to that time—back when making a mixtape felt like magic.

3. "Finally" – CeCe Peniston

The song that introduced me to house music.

This was my introduction to house music—and what an introduction. The energy, the vocals, the joy... it was all there. “Finally” made me feel something, even before I fully understood the genre. It was upbeat, soulful, and full of life. It opened the door to a sound I’d fall deeply in love with later on. To this day, it still makes me want to move.

2. "Rush Rush" – Paula Abdul

The song that made me realize what kind of music I loved.

I remember hearing this on the radio as a kid and just thinking, I really like this. There was something soft and emotional about it that stuck with me—even before I had words for why. It’s the kind of song that feels like a warm memory. It’s romantic, a little dreamy, and totally in line with the kind of music I’d grow to love. And honestly, who doesn’t love Paula?

1. "Human Nature" – Michael Jackson

The song that never left my heart.

Michael Jackson has so many songs I’ve loved at different points in my life—but “Human Nature” has always been one of my favorites. It’s ingrained in my mind and heart in a way that never faded. There’s something soft and hypnotic about it. It’s not loud, but it stays with you. It’s the kind of song that feels like a memory even when you’re hearing it for the first time.

These songs are more than just favorites. They’re milestones. They live in my memories, in specific moments, in who I was and who I’ve become. They shaped how I listen, how I feel, and how I remember.

Of course, these are just some of the songs that shaped me. A list of ten can’t possibly capture the whole soundtrack of a life—but these are some of the strongest entries. The ones that left a mark that still shows.

💬 What songs shaped you the most—and why?

Drop them in the comments. I want to hear your story too.