Songs About Work Collection
by: Anastasia KlinovskaPosted on:

Songs About Work: The Soundtrack of Our Daily Grind (Part 2)

Work means something different to everyone. For some, it’s about persistence and discipline. For others, it’s creativity, leadership, or the satisfaction of building something meaningful. And sometimes, a single song can perfectly capture the feeling behind what we do every day.

In Part 1 of our collection, professionals from different industries shared the songs they associate with their work – from motivational anthems to tracks that remind them of important milestones in their careers.

But the responses didn’t stop there. We received many more fascinating stories about the music that accompanies people through busy schedules, big challenges, and proud achievements. That’s why we decided to continue the journey and create Part 2 of our collection of songs about work.

So let’s see which songs people associate with their work and listen to the stories and experiences behind their choices!

Table of Contents

1. “You’re The Voice” by John Farnham

The first song in this part of our collection comes from Sally Prosser, voice and public speaking coach. She associates her work with the powerful anthem “You’re the Voice” by John Farnham. Here is what Sally says about why she connects this song with her work:

I’m a voice and public speaking coach based in Brisbane, Australia, so people often break into John Farnham’s “You’re The Voice” – try and understand it – when I tell them what I do.

At first I kinda rolled my eyes. But, hey, Farnsy is Australian royalty and it is a great tune. I fully embrace it now and use the song to open my workshops and even had an acoustic live version as the centrepiece of my book launch party.

Now it’s like my anthem and immediately puts me in work mode – “we’re not going to sit in silence! We’re not going to live in fear!”

2. “Gold Digger” by Kanye West

The next song comes from Taleesha Kamp, the driving force behind Lucky Strike Gold, Gold & Relics Gold Prospecting Adventures. She associates her work with the well-known track “Gold Digger” by Kanye West. Here is what Taleesha says about why she connects this song with her work:

If I had to choose one song that connects to my work, it would be “Gold Digger”. The link is obvious on paper. I was raised in the Australian goldfields and now work in our family business built around gold prospecting and metal detecting. Gold has always been part of my world. Not in a flashy sense, but in a practical, boots on the ground way. It has shaped my upbringing, my career and the direction I am taking the business.

What resonates more deeply is the idea of chasing value. Gold is never guaranteed. You invest time, money and energy without certainty of return. That mindset carries across everything I do professionally. Launching new products, expanding the business, speaking publicly about the industry, backing decisions before the outcome is clear. It all requires a level of ambition and resilience. The song captures that drive. There is confidence in pursuing something valuable and backing yourself to find it.

There is also a contrast people often miss. From the outside, gold can look glamorous or opportunistic. In reality, it is early starts, research, risk management and patience. That tension between perception and reality mirrors the theme of the song in its own way. For me gold is not just a commodity. It is heritage, responsibility and a long term commitment to an industry that has been in my family for generations.

3. “Steer” by Missy Higgins


The next song comes from Kate Engler, Director and PR & Publicity Specialist at The Publicity Princess. She associates her work with the empowering track “Steer” by Missy Higgins. Here is what Kate says about why she connects this song with her work:

When I run my events (2 x yearly), as part of my getting ready I always play Missy Higgins’ song “Steer”. Its message is about being able to ‘steer your own path’ and that you are in control of your own destiny. This is very much the message I want our delegates to walk away with – that they don’t need an expensive PR agency to be able to harness free media coverage – they CAN actually do it themselves, and our grads have been doing this for 14 years of us running the Meet The Press MasterClass.

So when I hear “Steer” anytime, anywhere, I am reminded of the empowering knowledge we impart, and the success that entrepreneurs have achieved as a result of being in our environment. It always makes me smile and feel like a proud mother hen.

4. “Hotel California” by The Eagles

The next song comes from Jemimah Ashleigh, Director of The Visibility Lab. She associates her work with the classic track “Hotel California” by The Eagles. Here is what Jemimah says about why she connects this song with her work:

I worked in law enforcement for 13 years and the song we all used to associate policing with was Hotel California – The Eagles. The line ‘You can check out any time you like but you can never leave’

5. “On the Road Again” by Willie Nelson

The next song comes from Ioan Istrate, Founder of Tripvento. He associates his work with the classic travel anthem “On the Road Again” by Willie Nelson. Here is what Ioan says about why he connects this song with his work:

The song I associate most with my work is “On the Road Again” by Willie Nelson. I split my time between West Virginia, D.C., and Europe, and the song captures the rhythm of constantly moving between places while trying to maintain focus and find the right environment to do deep work.

I’m building Tripvento which is a hotel ranking API that scores properties based on why you’re traveling, not just star ratings. The whole product came from living the problem, when you’re always on the road, finding the right place to actually work, think, and be productive isn’t a luxury, it’s the job. Willie made it sound romantic. I’m trying to make it practical.

6. “Learn to Fly” by Foo Fighters

The next song comes from Kishore Bitra, Lead of the Collaboration Engineering Team at the City of Baltimore. He associates his work with the energetic track “Learn to Fly” by Foo Fighters. Here is what Kishore says about why he connects this song with his work:

The song I most associate with my work is “Learn to Fly” by Foo Fighters, because it mirrors the cycle of experimentation and steady improvement I use in collaboration engineering. When I write a blog post or explore a new tool, I dig into research, test ideas in a lab, and iterate until the concept works in practice. That hands-on, learn-by-doing mindset is what the song evokes for me and what I try to bring to teams and talks.

7. “Lose Yourself” by Eminem

The next song, “Lose Yourself” by Eminem, was a popular pick among several professionals. Each person shared why this track resonates with their work, and we’ll start with Trevor Jones, Founder of Rhythm Collective. Here is what Trevor says about why he associates this song with his work:

I associate it with the unglamorous parts of building predictable lead-gen systems for service businesses: late nights inside ad accounts, rewriting landing pages, and fixing follow-up so a “lead” turns into booked work and real revenue.

When I started Rhythm Collective in Knoxville, I’d play it before jumping into high-stakes months where we had to make the numbers real – tracking pipeline, tightening targeting, and cutting anything that didn’t pay back. Across 13+ years, that mentality helped drive $140M+ in tracked revenue for clients, because you don’t get repeatable growth from hype – you get it from focus and iteration.

It also reminds me of being a kid selling paintball gear online and learning fast that attention is rented, but trust is earned. The song’s basically a timer: show up, do the work, and don’t waste the moment.

Another professional who connects their work with “Lose Yourself” by Eminem is Peter Jaraysi, Owner of Slam Dunk Attorney. Here is what Peter says about why he associates this song with his work:

Every time I hear it, I’m back at my desk at 11PM, building Slam Dunk Attorney from scratch – wondering if I was crazy for thinking I could actually change how personal injury law works in Atlanta.

That line – “you only get one shot, do not miss your chance to blow” – hit different when I was watching clients get lowballed by insurance companies who counted on people giving up. I refused to let that be the story.

Now, every time I walk into a tough negotiation or prep for trial, that song still fires me up the same way it did on day one. The hustle didn’t change – it just got more focused.

Steven Barna, Founder & Physician Life Care Planner at LCPMD, also associates his work with “Lose Yourself” by Eminem. Here is what Steven says about why he connects this song with his work:

“Lose Yourself” by Eminem is the song I associate with my work because life care planning and damages valuation is basically controlled urgency: you’re handed a stack of records, a settlement window, and one shot to turn messy medicine into a clean, defensible number. As a physician life care planner who’s led an integrated team at LCPMD – and after years as Medical Director of the MGH Pain Center – I’m used to high-stakes decisions where clarity beats volume.

I think of it on the late nights when we’re reconciling treatment trajectories (pain interventions, behavioral health, rehab) into line-item costs that an attorney can actually use in mediation. When I built MCPMD’s streamlined 6-step process, the goal was to remove friction (submit → sign → pay → report) so firms could move faster without sacrificing medical accuracy – especially in non-catastrophic chronic injury cases where delays quietly erode leverage.

In practice, the “one shot” moment is when an adjuster finally has to price the future: you either present credible projections that raise reserves, or you leave money on the table. The reports we produce are designed for that exact decision point – actionable, transparent assumptions, and numbers that map back to real-world care.

The next person who associates “Lose Yourself” by Eminem with their work is Pavankumar Kamat, Co-Founder and CEO at Panto AI Inc. Here is what Pavankumar says about why he connects this song with his work:

I associate this track with the grind of building startups because it distills the founder’s paradox: relentless preparation paired with a single, high-stakes moment to execute. During late-night launches, investor pitches, or critical product decisions, that sense of focus and urgency – don’t miss your chance – is exactly the mindset required to convert hard rehearsal into decisive action.

At the team level it’s a reminder that momentum isn’t accidental. We create conditions for those moments through disciplined repetition: clearer priorities, rigorous feedback loops, and ownership culture. The song’s energy captures both the pressure and the clarity we chase when a company is trying to turn potential into tangible progress.

Next up, Danyon Togia, Founder of Expert SEO, connects his work with “Lose Yourself” by Eminem. Here is why he connects this song with his work:

The song I associate most with my work is “Lose Yourself” by Eminem. Not because it’s aggressive or hyped up, but because of the mindset behind it. When I started Expert SEO, I didn’t have a big team or funding. It was just me, a laptop, and a handful of clients who were taking a chance. SEO is slow burn work. You can put in months of effort before rankings move. That song always reminded me that when an opportunity shows up, whether it’s a major client pitch or a chance to scale, you don’t hesitate. You prepare, you take the shot, and you own the outcome.

I remember working late nights on a national campaign that had to turn around declining traffic. We rebuilt their content structure, fixed technical issues, and tightened internal linking. It took weeks before we saw traction. When rankings finally jumped and revenue followed, it felt like that chorus moment. Quiet work, then impact.

If I had to sum it up, that track represents commitment. No waiting for perfect conditions. Just doing the work properly and stepping up when it counts.

The next person who associates “Lose Yourself” by Eminem with their work is Eli Pasternak, CEO at Liberty House Buying Group. Here is why he associates this song with his work:

I have seen that song capturing exactly how starting felt where you get one shot escaping your dead end corporate job and blowing your first deal means back to cubicles forever wondering what if you’d committed fully instead of playing it safe like everyone expected.

In my opinion the line about palms sweaty perfectly describes cold calling distressed sellers knowing one yes changes everything but 38 nos destroy your confidence making you question whether you’re cut out for entrepreneurship or just delusional thinking you could build something real from nothing.

What makes it edgy is Eminem talking about poverty and desperation which is exactly what I navigate daily speaking with families losing homes where stakes aren’t metaphorical but actual people getting destroyed financially while I’m trying helping them escape before auctions wipe out remaining equity they desperately need surviving afterward somehow independently.

That song reminded me during brutal early years when deals fell apart and money ran low that backing down meant accepting mediocrity forever versus pushing through fear becoming someone who actually built something meaningful from scratch with zero safety nets protecting me from catastrophic failure threatening constantly.

The next professional who finds “Lose Yourself” by Eminem meaningful in their work is Damien Zouaoui, Co-Founder & Chief Growth Officer of Oakwell Beer Spa. Here is why he associates this song with his work:

It reminds me of the early phase of building a hospitality concept that didn’t fit any standard category: you don’t get endless chances to make a first impression, and you have to execute under pressure even when you’re still figuring things out. The song captures that mix of urgency and focus that shows up in real operations: a full schedule, a small team, and zero room for sloppy handoffs.

The practical takeaway for me has been to treat every shift like a performance with a clear script: tight pre-shift alignment, simple standards that are easy to repeat, and a service flow designed to reduce decision fatigue for staff and guests. When I hear it, I’m reminded that consistency isn’t a vibe – it’s a system you build and protect.

The next individual inspired by “Lose Yourself” by Eminem in their professional life is Nick Gibson, Marketing Director at Stash+Lode. Here is why he associates this song with his work:

The song I associate with my work is “Lose Yourself” by Eminem. Marketing often rewards discipline more than inspiration. Many of the most important decisions come from patiently refining ideas rather than chasing attention. That song reminds me that focus and persistence usually matter more than momentary creativity.

8. “Eye of the Tiger” by Survivor

The next song in our collection is “Eye of the Tiger” by Survivor, which several people associate with their work. The first person who connects this song to their professional life is Miranda Motlow, Founder and CEO of Motlow Production Inc. Here is why she associates this song with her work:

“Eye of the Tiger” by Survivor has been my work anthem since I started producing live events. There’s something about that opening riff that kicks in the exact mental gear I need when I’m standing in an event control room with six camera feeds, a live stream running, and a client watching over my shoulder.

I filmed the Gasparilla Pirate Fest parade for Seminole Hard Rock Tampa for years – 4.5 miles of floats, marching bands, and a 165-foot pirate ship sailing into Tampa Bay. No retakes. No pausing. That song lives in those moments where everything is live and the margin for error is zero.

For me, entrepreneurship in production is about staying composed when the stakes are highest. That song reminds me that preparation is what makes calm possible under pressure.

The next person who associates “Eye of the Tiger” by Survivor with their work is Preston Guyton, Founder & CEO of Sure Send CRM. Here is why he connects this song to his work:

Twenty years in real estate taught me that this industry will humble you fast. I’ve watched agents burn out, teams collapse, and companies spend fortunes on leads that went nowhere – and I’ve been in those trenches myself, rebuilding after hard seasons.

When we were building ez Home Search from scratch – stitching together exclusive county territories, TCPA-compliant verification, CRM integrations – there were months where nothing worked the way it should. That song played on more late nights than I can count. Not for motivation in a cheesy way, but as a genuine reminder: the fight itself builds the thing worth having.

The lyric “rising up, back on the street” hits different when you’ve had to restart a system at 2 am because a lead pipeline broke, or when you’re coaching an ISA who just had their worst call week. You don’t quit. You audit, adjust, and go again.

The next person who finds “Eye of the Tiger” by Survivor inspiring for their professional journey is Maxwell Meltzer, founder of MaxWax Marine. Here is why he connects this song to his work:

Every time we’re knee-deep in a full oxidation restoration on a neglected hull – I mean truly weathered, chalky, UV-destroyed gelcoat – that song plays in my head without fail.

The work is brutal and unglamorous. We’re talking hours of wet sanding before anything even starts to shine. But the moment the gelcoat comes back to life and the color pops again, it feels exactly like that song sounds. We once saved a client $25k by restoring a door that a yard wanted to fully replace – that kind of comeback energy is what I live for.

Entrepreneurship in marine services is physical, relentless, and humbling. You’re outside in the Boston cold, on your hands and knees on a hull, problem-solving in real time. The song captures that underdog grind – building something from nothing, rep by rep, boat by boat.

The next leader who ties “Eye of the Tiger” by Survivor to their professional drive is Michael Brewer, head of River Palm Landscaping. Here is why he associates this song with his work:

As owner of River Palm Landscaping with 20 years transforming Arizona deserts since 2003, this pumps my crew through 115°F heat on paver patios and retaining walls in rocky soil.

On a Golden Shores backyard overhaul, we blasted it while installing low-voltage lighting, irrigation, and native plants – finished two days early, boosting client property value up to 20% per NAR studies.

It captures the grit of desert builds, turning brutal jobs into wins that save homeowners water and maintenance long-term. Keeps us roaring for low-volt installs and full transformations.

The next individual who finds “Eye of the Tiger” by Survivor inspiring for their work is Tyler Henn, Owner of hennhouse. Here is why he connects this song to his professional life:

The song I most associate with my work is “Eye of the Tiger.” Its steady, focused drive mirrors the problem-solving mindset I developed in roofing sales and carried into building repeatable systems for local SEO and web design. That experience taught me to be thorough, document processes, and prioritize clarity for local businesses rather than chasing shortcuts. It is a reminder that consistent effort and practical systems win over quick fixes.

9. “Unstoppable” by Sia

The next song people connect with their professional drive is “Unstoppable” by Sia, first highlighted by Betsy Pepine, Owner and Real Estate Broker of Pepine Realty. Here is why it inspires her workday:

“Unstoppable” by Sia is the song I most associate with my work because it got me through the messy, uncertain stretch that nobody sees from the outside.

Early on, when I was building Pepine Realty, I honestly wasn’t sure it would last. You can have a vision and still lie awake doing the math: payroll, market volatility, and the weight of knowing other people’s income depends on your decisions.

I’ve been there. I remember wondering more than once whether pushing forward was responsible or reckless.

For me, the song isn’t about things being easy. It’s about choosing to keep going when the facts on paper suggest you should stop. Building a business can feel like that – you’re moving forward while your confidence lags behind your obligations.

In those moments, I didn’t need hype. I needed resolve. That song gave me just enough to take the next step.

When Pepine Realty made the Inc. 5000 list, I cried in my car with that track on. No speech. No audience. Just me finally letting the pressure out.

Later, when Barbara Corcoran became a mentor, I played it on the drive home after our first conversation. I could feel the significance of that moment in my bones.

I’ve noticed you don’t reach milestones the way you imagine. You get there still carrying the doubt you had on the way up. Then it hits you all at once.

Now when I hear “Unstoppable,” I don’t just think about survival. I think about my team. I think about Pepine Gives. I think about the families you can actually picture – the people we’ve helped find stable housing and a fresh start.

The next person who associates “Unstoppable” by Sia with their work is Ruby Finley, Insurance Agent at A Plus Insurance LLC. Here is what she says about why she connects this song to her work:

The song I feel I connect with most in my work life is “Unstoppable” by Sia. I don’t relate because I feel fearless every day, but because some days you just have to decide to show up that way regardless of how you feel. In my career, people count on me to give them clear answers and guidance. There is a real responsibility in that. This song reminds me to stand tall even on the days I am not feeling it. It brings me back after long days, hard conversations, and moments where every little detail matters. For me “Unstoppable” represents inner strength. Not loud or flashy confidence, but the quiet kind where you build over time doing the work and staying consistent, showing up no matter what.

10. “Under Pressure” by Queen & David Bowie

The next song that people associate with their work is “Under Pressure” by Queen & David Bowie. The first person who connects this iconic track to their professional life is Jonathan “Il Pappa” Ribeiro, Founder of Aesthetics Gaming Experience. Here is why:

A really good song that resonates with me and my relationship with work, at least lately, is the song performed by Queen & David Bowie: “Under Pressure”.

The title gives up much about the overall theme. This song resurfaced in a moment when my previous business was falling apart, and I was under heavy pressure indeed. People maybe don’t like the tone, a bit melancholic of the lyrics, but the performers are exceptional in making it lighter and more hopeful than dark, which is also something that happens in our career path.

Ironically, what made me more fond of the song wasn’t the momentum that resurfaced, which matched my own turmoil, but the medium. It surfaced during the last Eurocopa. I’m a huge football fan, and curiously, it was my first career path idea throughout my whole youth.

The next person who associates “Under Pressure” by Queen & David Bowie with their work is Vitaliy Zurov, profesiional who leads the content strategy at SellerMax. Here is what he says about why he connects this song with his work:

The song that defines my professional life is “Under Pressure” by Queen & David Bowie. It instantly transports me back to my first major project launch where a skeleton crew had to migrate an entire database over a single weekend; the bassline perfectly mirrors that focused, rhythmic intensity required when the stakes are at their absolute highest.

To me, this track represents the collaborative “click” that happens when a team is pushed to its limit but remains perfectly in sync. It’s a reminder that the best work often happens under tension, and that the “pressure” of a deadline is often the catalyst for our most creative breakthroughs.

11. “Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger” by Daft Punk

The next song in our collection is “Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger” by Daft Punk. Several people associate this energetic track with their work, starting with Hans Graubard, COO & Co-founder of Happy V. Here is what he says about why he connects this song with his work:

“Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger” by Daft Punk. It reminds me of the unglamorous, repeatable work behind any product people can trust: refine the process, tighten the spec, test again, document it, then keep improving. In operations, that mindset shows up in things like closing the loop between customer feedback, formulation adjustments, and quality checks so we’re not guessing – we’re measuring. The song’s rhythm feels like a production line and a QA checklist moving in sync.

It also brings me back to late nights with our team working through manufacturing details that most customers never see–batch records, supplier verification, stability considerations, and making sure what’s on the label is what’s in the bottle. The win isn’t speed alone; it’s durability. Small improvements compound when you do them consistently and transparently.

Another person who associates this track with their work is Igor Golovko, Developer and Founder of TwinCore. Here is why he connects “Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger” with his professional life:

“Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger” by Daft Punk. It reminds me of late nights when we were stabilizing a .NET Core + Angular release: tightening API contracts, optimizing SQL queries, and watching TeamCity pipelines go from red to green. The song’s loop feels like the engineering cycle – measure, fix, test, repeat – until performance and reliability are where they need to be.

It also captures what I value in a team: incremental improvement and discipline. When we add NUnit coverage, refactor a messy module, or cut latency by removing unnecessary round-trips, it’s rarely one big heroic change – more like a series of small, coordinated wins that compound over time.

12. “ZITTI E BUONI” by Måneskin

The next song in our collection comes from Isabella Rossi, Chief Product Officer at Fruzo. She associates her work with “ZITTI E BUONI” by Måneskin. Here is what she says about why she connects this energetic track with her professional life:

My parents are Italian, so the 2021 Eurovision Song Contest had me pumped. I convinced my whole office to watch it live while we worked that Saturday finishing updates for the Fruzo mobile app.

The timing worked perfectly, noon in San Francisco meant evening in Europe. When Måneskin won, we absolutely lost it. Everyone jumped up singing the song like I had won instead of them. The app updates launched successfully that same day, so the song became tied to both victories in my mind.

I still sing “ZITTI E BUONI” all the time when I’m working. It reminds me of that Saturday when everything came together, the team pulling through under deadline pressure, celebrating together, and Italy taking home the Eurovision crown. Best work soundtrack ever.

Songs About Work: The Soundtrack of Our Daily Grind, Final Thoughts

As you can see, the music people associate with their work is as diverse as the careers themselves. From anthems of determination like “Lose Yourself” by Eminem to collaborative and process-driven tracks like “Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger” by Daft Punk, these songs reflect the emotions, challenges, and victories that come with professional life.

Work is more than tasks and deadlines – it’s about passion, problem-solving, leadership, and resilience. A song can distill these feelings into a few minutes of rhythm, lyrics, and energy, creating a soundtrack for the moments that define our careers. Listening to these choices reminds us that while our professions vary widely, the drive to succeed, overcome obstacles, and find fulfillment is universal.

Now it’s your turn: what song do you associate with your work? Share it in the comments below! And don’t forget to take a look at our other article on songs about childhood. We believe you’ll enjoy it and find melodies that bring back your fondest memories.

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