Your office playlist isn’t just about background music; it’s about setting the right mood, boosting productivity, and creating a positive atmosphere that everyone can enjoy together with work appropriate songs. Whether you’re working on a project, brainstorming ideas, or simply need some motivation, the right songs for work can make all the difference. So, let’s dive into a curated selection of the best music for the office environment, guaranteed to keep your team in sync and uplifted throughout the day.
(psst: Looking to build even deeper bonds with your team? Check out our music team building activities!)
Top Songs for Work to Motivate Your Team
“The Dog Days Are Over” by Florence + The Machine
This song for work is about finding happiness and getting past the negative points in our lives. As a thought leader in the team building industry, the focus is on creating positive change and supporting employees in finding happiness and navigating challenges, coinciding with the dog days are over meaning. By prioritizing employee well-being, resilience can be cultivated, leading to a harmonious workplace culture benefiting both the company and individual employees.
“Wake Me Up” by Avicii
The summer hit is a song about living in the moment. We may be unsure of our futures but we are alive now and have to start living in the present or else life will pass right before our eyes. It’s a song that can resonate with many people no matter which stage of life we are currently in. We should all learn to accept the unknowns of the future and embrace the present.
“The Nights” by Avicii
This song is about living life to the fullest. “The Nights” by Avicii reminds listeners to live freely and lightly, and could be a great addition to your office party playlist. Obstacles will be thrown your way, but remember the good times and the moments that make life worth living.
“Titanium” by David Guetta ft. Sia
The pop techno song not only has a great catchy beat but also inspiring and empowering lyrics. The single talks about finding inner strength even when the world seems too dark and challenging. It is a great reminder for people to stand up for themselves and not let anyone else belittle them.
“Roar” by Katy Perry
This song is all about overcoming challenges and getting back up on your feet when someone or something comes along and knocks you down. Today’s transition to virtual work is unprecedented and can result in challenges you’re not used to. You’ll likely come across rough patches at work; whether it’s a co-worker who’s tough to get along with or a project that’s hard to manage. Teamwork – even in the virtual workplace – will give you that push you need to be able to overcome anything in your way. Maybe the problem can be fixed through improving communication or getting organized as a group – whatever it is, remember what Katy says! You’re a fighter and a champion. Don’t let obstacles get in your way.
“Hall of Fame” by The Script ft. Will.i.am
The song “Hall of Fame” featuring will.i.am is meant to be inspirational. The song sends a message to believe in the impossible and that you can be anything and do anything you desire with hard work and determination. It encourages listeners to dream and to believe in themselves despite critics. While this isn’t one of the most popular songs for work, it has an important message that is very relevant to our everyday lives. When we are feeling too scared or weak to follow our dreams this song is a reminder that we will never succeed if we don’t at least try.
“Viva la Vida” by Coldplay
This song tells the story of a king who used to rule the world but in an instant lost everything and everyone turned on him. The song has been interpreted in many ways but it’s also about the temporary nature of life. It symbolizes someone who just like a king can have everything in one moment and nothing in another. The song is a lesson to acknowledge that nothing is forever and that we should learn to appreciate and value what we have at the moment because it may not be there tomorrow.
“I Will Survive” by Gloria Gaynor
The song describes Gloria’s personal journey and strength after a breakup and is now regarded as a symbol of female empowerment. The lyrics tell the story of someone who was broken and afraid and built themselves back up. Despite the song being about a breakup, it can also apply to many other aspects of life. It is an empowering song for anyone and motivates the listener to believe in themselves and find the strength within.
“…it took all the strength I had not to fall apart.”
“Livin’ on a Prayer” by Bon Jovi
What a year it has been for us all mentally, emotionally, and physically. This song is the perfect addition to your upbeat office music playlist, and reminds us as listeners that we will make it through no matter the situation we are in. Most importantly, hold onto hope and stay optimistic through all the challenges that life is going to throw at you.
“Safe and Sound” by Capital Cities
“Safe and Sound” is all about having a support system to get you through the tough times in life. The message of the song is something that we can all relate to, especially after the global circumstances that most of us lived through in the past year. Therefore, it is important to have support, whether from one person or multiple, who will help us weather the storms and difficult parts of our lives.
“…In a tidal wave of mystery. You’ll still be standing next to me”
“Stayin’ Alive” by the Bee Gees
The song references the struggle of trying to stay alive in the rough streets of New York City. They reference multiple times how surviving each day is a victory in itself. Although we may not all be trying to survive the cities of NYC this song is very relevant to our current situation and living through a pandemic. Even if things don’t pan out as we had imagined, sometimes it is important to be grateful for simply being alive.
“Beautiful Day” by U2
The song is about finding joy in the small things in life. Regardless of how difficult life is, or if we have experienced loss, we have to appreciate the small things that we have left. Just like a flower that can thrive in inhospitable conditions, humans can also survive and persevere during hard times. This song is an important reminder for us to appreciate all of the small and seemingly meaningless things in our lives.
“Lean On Me” by Bill Withers
One of the most meaningful songs I’ve ever heard is “Lean On Me” by Bill Withers. Inspired by his tough upbringing, Withers crafted lyrics that came from his heart and expressed the gratitude he had towards his friends when times were hard. This song is all about acknowledging defeat and weakness and having a shoulder to lean on in times of need.
“Treat People With Kindness” by Harry Styles
The hit song is all about making small changes in your life that will lead to your happiness and doing the same for others. It is about acceptance and treating others the way we would like to be treated regardless of our differences. It is a message that is relevant for listeners of all ages and paths of life.
“Up&Up” by Coldplay
The song embraces that things are going to happen in life. Still, through all the ups and downs, there is always a light at the end of the tunnel. It reminds listeners that if something isn’t working for you in life to change it. We all experience “damages” that may impede our journey but Coldplay strives to remind us to fix those “damages” so we can continue on. Accept the challenges that life throws at you and build something great out of it.
“Walking on Sunshine” by Katrina & The Waves
The song “Walking on Sunshine” is a feel-good song that immediately lifts your spirits. The title and refrain “walking on sunshine” refer to the happiness one feels when in love. The beat and lyrics are great for motivation and to lift anyone’s mood!
“Remember the Name” by Fort Minor
You might remember hearing this song in commercials years ago to promote sporting events. The lyrics of “Remember the Name” relate perfectly to the spirit of competition and aiming high – it’s all about the formula for success. It makes sense why this motivating music would be perfect for competitive sports – Fort Minor breaks down every piece of what they believe enables us to succeed:
“Ten percent luck, twenty percent skill, fifteen percent concentrated power of will. Five percent pleasure, fifty percent pain, and a hundred percent reason to remember the name.”
“Upside Down” by Jack Johnson
Have you ever been told you can’t do something and it made you want to do it even more? This week’s song, Upside Down by Jack Johnson, sends a message to always stay curious. By staying curious and looking at challenges from a different perspective you might discover something better that wasn’t initially right in front of you.
“What a Wonderful World” by Louis Armstrong
The song highlights the little things in life that are beautiful people seem to lose sight of. From skies of blue to trees of green, it reminds us to take a step back and focus more on the positive aspects the world has to offer. It may be a difficult time or a difficult week, but the world won’t stop spinning. As you drive to work or work from home take a moment to look outside and observe something you find beautiful. Not only will this workplace song serve as a reminder of what a wonderful world we live in, but take away a bit of the stress on our shoulders.
“Whatever It Takes” by Imagine Dragons
The song is about ambition and doing ‘whatever it takes’ to accomplish your goals. It’s a great motivating and catchy song that reminds us all to go after our dreams. The path to our goals and dreams may not always be easy but if we are determined the end result will be worth the effort.
“Dream On” by Aerosmith
Steven Tyler, the lead singer of the Boston band Aerosmith, wrote “Dream On” when he was only 17 years old. Just a kid with a dream and the motivation to achieve his personal goals in the music world. The song is specifically about “singing through the laughter and the tears” – which was probably Tyler’s way of expressing his resilience to be what he dreamed of without letting anything get in his way – but we think the lyrics and essence of this workplace song can be applied to any dream, not just within the music industry.
“High Hopes” by Panic! At the Disco
This tune is about following your own path and chasing after your dreams. If you’ve ever had a dream for the future, we recommend you listen to High Hopes by Panic! At the Disco.
“Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You)” by Kelly Clarkson
Kelly Clarkson is known in the music world for being a strong, confident female figure and role model for girls everywhere. She sings about standing up for yourself and having the strength to achieve what you want when you want it. Her song “Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You)” is about taking challenges and turning them into positives. “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger” means that when you look at negative things in a positive light, you can turn them into personal achievements and learn from pain or mistakes.
“What a Feeling” by Irene Cara
The hit song is about following your dreams. The song is quite inspirational and encourages the listener to not let fear and pride prevent you from doing what you want and following your passions in life. The song has an important message for everyone that may be too scared to take a risk for fear of failure or criticism from others.
“…Take your passion and make it happen”
“Rescue Me” by OneRepublic
The song is about unconditional support and reminisces on a past relationship. The song questions over and over if they will be there for each other when needed regardless of how the relationship ended. It makes the listener think about their own relationships and wonder if they have someone who will also “rescue” them.
“Pocketful of Sunshine” by Natasha Bedingfield
It’s all about possessing inner strength and knowing your own power. “Sticks and stones” can’t break you if you realize your own worth – and show it to the rest of the world.
“Beautiful People” by Ed Sheeran ft. Khalid
The song encourages listeners to be true to themselves and to avoid a life surrounded by materialism and appearances. The “beautiful people” in the song refer to celebrities who appear to have everything but still live very sad, empty lives. That is why Ed Sheeran goes on to say that he is not beautiful and, therefore wishes to remain true to himself and avoid the superficial life that many celebrities lead.
“Remind Me to Forget” by Kygo ft. Miguel
The song deals with having a powerful love so deep that it’s nearly impossible to forget the memories. Despite the relationship ending badly it still leaves a mark. Whether it’s a relationship or a friendship we all have people in our lives that have left an impression, (good or bad) that we will never forget.
“Get Along” by Kenny Chesney
This song encourages listeners to live in harmony with one another and appreciate that we all come from different walks of life. We tend to forget that everyone has their own personal battles, experiences, and goals. The more we work to understand that concept, the happier and healthier our relationships with others and ourselves will be. Remember to take advantage of the small things in life and make the most of every situation you are in.
“Same Boat” by Zac Brown Band
The song “Same Boat” is all about empathy. It emphasizes that most of us are going through similar situations and we should therefore be kind and understanding to others. It also warns us about judging others too quickly without knowing their background or circumstances. It’s a song with a positive and motivating message that resonates with most listeners.
“…But you can’t judge a man until you walk a country mile in his shoes” – Zac Brown Band
“Shy Away” by Twenty One Pilots
This song is about being a role model and highlights the relationship and experience of being an older sibling. It is about the difficulty of an older brother to no only try to figure out their own purpose but also witness someone they love trying to find a purpose. And how being that influential figure in a younger sibling’s life affects your own. This song resonates with a lot of listeners who have younger brothers and sisters and know what it’s like to be that role model figure.
“Run” by OneRepublic
This is a song about never giving up, and shutting down any negativity that brings you down. This is an important lesson for everyday life and a reminder to always keep going despite difficult circumstances.
“Wouldn’t It Be Nice” by The Beach Boys
This is about young love and being hopeful about a future together. The song has a great upbeat melody to lift your spirits and get anyone into a good mood. It’s a perfect addition to your upbeat office music playlist.
“It’s OK Not To Be OK” by Marshmellow and Demi Lovato
The song discusses mental health and the fear of expressing negative emotions. It’s an important topic in the world today as many have had to deal with new shocking and stressful circumstances. The song is a reminder to many that you do not have to be happy and have everything sorted at all times. It’s acceptable to have moments when you feel down and to know that others are experiencing the same.
“Giants” by Dermot Kennedy
The song is about letting go of the past, despite how painful the memories may be, and moving with the future no matter how uncertain it is. It is a message that many of us today can resonate with. Whether it be a pandemic that the globe is trying to overcome or smaller personal battles it is always a good lesson to leave the past behind us and move on.
“Too Late” by Cash Cash ft. Wiz Khalifa & Lukas Graham
The lyrics encourage the listener to live life to the fullest. It makes us all think if we died today would we be content with everything we have done and accomplished. It’s an important message to take advantage of the present and build those lasting bonds and relationships before it’s too late.
“No Judgement” by Niall Horan
“No Judgement” is a catchy tune centered around the theme of acceptance. The song is about embracing someone for who they are regardless of their flaws and not feeling like you have to change to be around certain people. It’s an important lesson to take with us daily and try not to judge others even if they are different from us.
“Lay Your Head on Me” by Major Lazor ft. Marcus Mumford
The song combines Marcus Mumford’s folklore-style lyrics and singing with the electronic beats of Major Lazor. The song lyrics are about being there for others when they are in need. It’s about offering support and being there for one another. The music video is also very unique as it features artists from all over the world.
“Know Your Worth” by Khalid & Disclosure
The song for work sends a message about self-value and not letting someone else take you for granted. It is a great message that can be applied to many different areas of life. Whether it be your personal life, love life, or in your career you should always know your worth and not let someone else undervalue you.
“Melody” by Lost Frequencies ft. James Blunt
The catchy summer work song is about uplifting love and having that person in your life that you can always count on to make you smile when you are down. At any point, it is always important to have that ‘melody’ in our lives whether that be family, friends, or a partner.
“Team” by Lorde
The lyrics call on the feeling of being part of a close and tight-knit group of peers, and being a member of a unit. Her friends are her “team”. It’s a song about teamwork within a group of friends. Normally the word “team” is associated with athletics. But being a part of a team does not have to apply exclusively to sports or other types of organizations – like Lorde, your “team” could also be a group of friends or family members who work together and look out for each other.
“All For One” by Five For Fighting
The 100th episode of Hawaii Five-O has a new theme song written by Five for Fighting’s John Ondrasik. Hawaii Five-O has one of the most iconic theme songs of any television show in recent history. But for its 100th episode, the producers wanted to change it up a bit. They called in John Ondrasik from the popular group Five for Fighting to utilize his singing and songwriting skills and come up with something to celebrate the show’s success.
“Fighter” by Christina Aguilera
You know the saying “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger”…well, that’s what this song for work is all about! It’s about taking negative or challenging experiences and using them to strengthen yourself for future challenges. Every struggle you face may be tough at the time, but there’s a silver lining – it prepares you to overcome future obstacles.
“Don’t Stop Me Now” by Queen
“Don’t Stop Me Now” is a great pump-up song to get you back on track while you’re at work. The motivational lyrics tell the story of an energetic individual who can’t be stopped because he/she is having such a good time. Even if you’re at work, it’s possible that you could feel this way too – team building activities can be so much fun that you’ll forget you’re still at your 9 to 5!
“Eye of the Tiger” by Survivor
This song gained lots of fame when it was featured in one of the popular Rocky movies in the 1980s. Now, it’s used in movies and TV all of the time during inspirational scenes. It has become the anthem for the underdog who is able to overcome and fight to the top.
“I Can” by Nas
I Can by Nas is an inspirational workplace song aimed at youth that is meant to empower and push kids to rise above peer pressure and overcome their fears to do what’s right and achieve big things. As the lyrics say, if you work hard, you’ll be where you want to be – and that’s the most important thing to remember in any aspect of life! Being able to work hard is a skill that everybody should possess to feel proud and accomplish big tasks. Play this whenever you’re feeling down or need an extra push to get something done. Remind yourself that if you work hard, you can do whatever you want to do!
“Brave” by Sara Bareilles
Brave by Sara Bareilles is a song is all about how it’s important to choose to be brave. It’s about recognizing the power you have within yourself even when you start to doubt it or feel small.
“I’ll Be There for You” by The Remembrandts
Probably the most popular and recognizable theme song of all time, I’ll Be There For You by The Rembrandts is a song that any fan of the popular 1990 sitcom Friends would know. The song is perfect for the show because it’s about a group of friends living in the city, going through life, and creating an unbreakable support system for each other. The lyrics for the song perfectly describe the type of friendships that the characters on the show have with each other.
“Move Along” by All-American Rejects
This song came out in 2005 but is still actively used in movies and television very frequently. It’s about moving past hardship and working together to overcome tough times. Check out the music video and lyrics for Move Along by All-American Rejects and see what we mean.
“Raging Fire” by Phillip Phillips
American Idol winner Phillip Phillips sings about sticking by a close friend or significant other even though times have changed and so have they. It’s about the power of love and feeling as if your soul is a “raging fire” ignited by somebody else.
“Right Now” by Van Halen
Aside from the song being a classic from the band, Right Now by Van Halen has lyrics to get you pumped up and ready for anything. The up-tempo, catchy tune will get you going if you need a pick-me-up. The lyrics are all about doing things in the “now” and not putting them off til tomorrow or some other time. It’s about being present and moving forward, not looking behind you when times are tough.
“Don’t Stop Believin’” by Journey
This is a song about the American dream. Hard work = results! Anybody can rise above obstacles as long as realistic expectations are set, and you “don’t stop believin’” in yourself (and your team!). If you’re ever feeling like you’re going to give up, throw on this rock anthem and listen to the lyrics for a little extra inspiration to continue on.
“Work It Out” by Jurassic 5
“Work It Out” came out in 2006 and was a big hit among fans of hip-hop. The collaboration with Dave Matthews also reached a totally new audience and the song became popular quickly. We love the lyrics because they’re all about working out your problems by starting with yourself. Sometimes you are your own worst enemy without even realizing it. Take a look in the mirror and change your perspective.
“I Won’t Back Down” by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Tom Petty makes feel-good music for any occasion, and “I Won’t Back Down” is one of his most inspirational songs. It’s simple, and the lyrics aren’t complicated or confusing. He talks about standing your ground and not letting the world or outside factors bring you down.
“Well I know what’s right, I got just one life
In a world that keeps on pushin’ me around
But I’ll stand my ground and I won’t back down” – Tom Petty
“Better Days” by Citizen Kane
A one-hit-wonder at its finest, “Better Days” was the most popular song by Citizen King in the late 1990s. We like it for our office playlist because of its clever lyrics and the catchy instrumentals. The lyrics list a series of unfortunate events only to be followed at the end of each segment by “I ain’t got much to lose”. It reminds us that no matter how bad things get or how down you might be, there’s always going to be someone who has it worse – and there’s always going to be a way to make it better.
“Don’t Play No Game That I Can’t Win” by The Beastie Boys feat. Santigold
This workplace song is about a winning attitude, and having the confidence in yourself (and your team) to achieve the success you strive for. In this song, the Beastie Boys talk themselves up like they have something to prove. It reminds us that if you go into what you do with the right mindset, anything is possible – and you’ll be surprised how much you can accomplish. “Don’t Play No Game That I Can’t Win” means start (or finish) anything with a negative outlook or no goals to work towards. You are your own biggest competition!
“Get Up, Stand Up” by Bob Marley
“Get Up, Stand Up” is about putting your best foot forward and giving your all to fight for what’s right. If there’s something you believe in or want to achieve, stand up for yourself and make it happen. It’s important to not back down in the face of oppression or struggle. “Get Up, Stand Up” is inspirational music to get you through your work day! Be like Bob and put everything you have into what you’re doing.
“Get up, stand up. Stand up for your rights. Get up, stand up. Don’t give up the fight!” – Bob Marley
“On Top of the World” by Imagine Dragons
Imagine Dragons have come out with a couple of big hits over the past year or so, including “Radioactive,” “Demons” and “It’s Time”. If you like their style, you’ll love “On Top Of The World” as one of your songs for work. We love it because it’s about acknowledging defeat, but not letting it deter your will to get up and try again. It’s also SUPER catchy and upbeat! It reminds us that confidence is all we need to conquer a difficult task. If you just believe that you’re “on top of the world,” then you are. Throw on some music to inspire you, get motivated, and tackle that project. You can do it!
“The Man” by Aloe Blacc
Aloe Blacc really IS “The Man”. He’s been gaining more popularity in the music world lately, and we think his new song “The Man” has an awesome message: take responsibility for your actions and stop making excuses! Be the best version of yourself and show everybody around you that you’re “the man”. Contribute your unique skills or talents to your team and prove how important you are as a part of your group dynamic. Confidence is key in this workplace song for your office playlist.
Use Workplace Songs to Bond with Your Team
It’s clear that music has a remarkable power to enhance our work environment and bring us together as a team. Each workplace song on this list was carefully chosen to uplift spirits, foster creativity, and create a sense of unity among colleagues. Whether you’re tackling a challenging project, engaging in music team building activities, or simply enjoying a break together, these songs for work are sure to keep the energy high and the vibes positive. So, plug in those headphones or turn up the office speakers, and let this office music playlist continue to inspire and motivate us all to do our best work, together.
