40 Songs about Perseverance (Rap, Hip Hop, Pop & More)

Foundations of Music

40 Songs about Perseverance (Rap, Hip Hop, Pop & More)

Hardships are part of life. That doesn’t mean your struggles are any less valid than anyone else. The songs in these categories are about finding that stubborn grit and courage to face life.

Whether you need an anthem, encouragement, or just some energy to fight through another day, you’ve come to the right place.

I. Strength and Courage

Strength and Courage sometimes can be brutal to find when you’re in pain. However, you’re not alone, and people have likely been where you are. Look to these songs for some Courage to fight some more.

1) Fight Song

Artist: Rachel Platten
Album: Wildfire
Year: 2016

If you feel like you need an uplifting song that won’t shame your hardship but praise your resilience. Fight Song is precisely what you’re looking for

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2) Brave

Artist: Sara Bareilles
Album: The Blessed Unrest
Year: 2013
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3) It’s My Life

Artist: Bon Jovi
Album: Crush
Year: 2000
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4) Stronger

Artist: Kelly Clarkson
Album: Stronger
Year: 2011

Stronger is a song about not letting every lost fight you’ve had drag you down but instead, use it as a kindle for you to burn brighter.

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II. Perseverance through hard times

You want to hear about struggles and how to beat through them. These songs can be your sledgehammer to breakthrough and an anthem to your Perseverance.

1) I Will Survive

Artist: Gloria Gaynor
Album: Love Tracks
Year: 1978
Click to Open YouTube

This is an undeniable classic to the topic of perseverance and hope. I will survive is one of the most recognizable songs about resilience, courage, and strength.

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2) My Shot

Artist: Lin-Manuel Miranda & Hamilton Ensemble
Album: Hamilton(Orginal Broadway Cast Recording)
Year: 2015
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My shot is a song written about Alexander Hamilton as his struggles to become a founding father of the US. It’s also, without a doubt, an anthem of unbreakable will and courage.

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3) Survivor

Artist: Destiny’s Child
Album: Survivor
Year: 2001
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4) Hall of Fame

Artist: The Script, Ft. will.i.am
Album: #3
Year: 2012
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III. Songs about not giving Up

Life will beat you down, time and time again. Finding that flame of defiance isn’t easy, but it exists in everyone. These are anthems to hardships and refusal to give up.

1) What’s up Danger

Artist: Blackway & Black Caviar
Album: Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
Year: 2018

What’s up Danger is not a song about seeking out thrill, but instead not buckling under its pressure.

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2) Hold on

Artist: Shawn Mendes
Album: Illuminate
Year: 2017
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3) Be Still

Artist: The Killers
Album: Battle Born
Year: 2012
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4) Love Yourz

Artist: J. Cole
Album: 2014 Forest Hills Drive
Year: 2014

J. Cole is an artist who keeps just telling his story truthfully. Love Yourz is about reminding ourselves that Your life is your own, as are your struggles. However, the good and the bad make our character, and we just have to soldier on sometimes.

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IV. Modern Songs

This is a special category for modern songs about perseverance—more anthems to ride to life’s battles while blasting these tunes.

1) Warrior

Artist: Demi Lovato
Album: Demi
Year: 2013
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Warrior is a tribute to everyone who felt as if they had to defend themselves because no one else could. However, that doesn’t make you any less but strengthens you.

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2) Ride – 21 pilots

Artist: Twenty One Pilots
Album: BlurryFace
Year: 2015
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3) Try – Pink

Artist: P!nk
Album: The Truth About Love
Year: 2012
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Try is a song about accepting the pain that might come through love and having a hot relationship you might get burnt. However, that should never stop you from trying to make things work.

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4) You Gotta Be

Artist: Des’ree
Album: I Ain’t Movin’
Year: 1994
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V. Pop

Pop is a genre that speaks for itself, the most popular music you’ve most likely heard. It doesn’t mean any of these are not capable of summoning your inner fight.

1) Sign Of The Times

Artist: Harry Styles
Album: Harry Styles
Year: 2017

While the song’s tone is somber, Sign of the times is a ballad about overcoming difficulties.

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2) I’m on Top of the World

Artist: Imagine Dragons
Album: Night Visions
Year: 2012
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3) Roar

Artist: Katty Perry
Album: PRISM
Year: 2013
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4) Eye of the Tiger

Artist: Survivor
Album: Eye Of The Tiger
Year: 1982

Eye of the Tiger is one of the most recognizable songs across time. Its themes of courage, dedication, and perseverance ring true still today.

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VI. Rock

Rock, the genre of truth and undeniable elite songs. The songs to raise your personal army to fight inner demons or arm you for the troubles life may throw your way.

1) Centuries

Artist: Fall Out Boy
Album: American Beauty/American Psycho
Year: 2015
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2) The show must go on

Artist: Queen
Album: Innuendo
Year: 1991

The show must go on written after Freddy Mercury was diagnosed with a deadly virus. Its powerful lyrics scream defiance in the face of hardship.

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3) An Ode To Lost Jigsaw Pieces

Artist: Enter Shikari
Album: The Spark
Year: 2017
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4) Shine on You Crazy Diamond

Artist: Pink Floyd
Album: Wish You Were Here
Year: 1975

Shine on You Crazy Diamond was written after the band kicked out one of its founding members as his mental health severely declined. This song is about struggling and being left to fend for oneself.

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VII. Hip-hop/Rap

To simply describe rap, its unadulterated cutthroat lyrics reveal brutal truths we might ignore. Not to mention its insatiable ability to summon your courage and arm you for your own trials.

1) Not Afraid

Artist: Eminem
Album: Recovery
Year: 2010

In its opening lines, Not Afraid addresses people struggling through hard times, but more specifically, those who struggle with substance abuse. The song is about how you can still piece your life together after it’s been shattered.

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2) Changes

Artist: 2Pac ft Talent
Album: Greatest Hits
Year: 1998
Click to Open YouTube

2Pac always wrote apart injustices he experienced. However, he specifies that life is difficult, but “That’s just the way it is,” and you have to learn to roll with the punches.

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3) Til’ I collapse

Artist: Eminem ft Nate Dogg
Album: The Eminem Show
Year: 2002
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4) Blessed

Artist: Wizkid ft Damian Marley
Album: Made in Lagos
Year: 2020
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VIII. Christian Songs

Christian songs inspire hope and spirituality. The genre is always one of hope and faith and is a testament that you can persevere.

1) Beneath The Waters (I Will Rise)

Artist: Hillsong Worship
Album: Cornerstone
Year: 2012
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2) Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)

Artist: Hillsong United
Album: Zion
Year: 2013
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Oceans praises that while people may fail God (Christian) won’t, and through Him, anything is possible.

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3) Shoulders

Artist: for KING & COUNTRY
Album: RUN WILD. LIVE FREE. LOVE STRONG.
Year: 2015

Shoulders is a song about healing and grace. Throughout the song, God(Christian) lifts the weight of burdens from everyone’s shoulders. Perseverance is thereby made easy.

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4) God Of All My Days

Artist: Casting Crowns
Album: The Very Next Thing
Year: 2016
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IX. Disney Songs

You may have heard these as a child or adult. Nonetheless, these Disney classics are made with that undefeatable courage you strive for. Listen and reap the benefits of a new anthem to sing your praise.

1) When you Believe

Artist: Mariah Carey, The Prince of Egypt Ensemble
Album: The Prince of Egypt Original Cast Ensemble
Year: 1998
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2) Touch The Sky

Artist: Julie Fowlis
Album: Brave
Year: 2012
Click to Open YouTube

A ballad about rebelliousness and persevering by oneself when the world wants you to be the opposite: “Touch the Sky” is a beautiful song about staying true to yourself through everyone’s criticism of you.

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3) Go the Distance

Artist: Roger Bart
Album: Hercules (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Year: 1997
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Another classic to the Disney generation, Go the distance, is about discovering oneself no matter what that will take. Perseverance in its essence.

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4) Still I Fly

Artist: Spencer Lee
Album: Planes: Fire & Rescue (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Year: 2014
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X. Songs with Perseverance in their lyrics

They’re the same inspiring anthems and inspirations you can find above. These few just have the fun spin of saying “Perseverance.”

1) Perseverance

Artist: Zuby
Album: Single
Year: 2018
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2) Surrendering

Artist: Alanis Morissette
Album: Under Rug Swept
Year: 2002
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Surrendering is a song quite literally about the opposite. While Throughout the song, it’s sung that that’s the wish, the song ends with choosing perseverance over surrender.

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3) Perseverance

Artist: Hatebreed
Album: Perseverance
Year: 2002
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4) Disco Lazaruz

Artist: Suagrdrive
Album: In a Place
Year: 2008
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Disco Lazaruz is about bringing back to life one’s will to survive and prosper.

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