Songs are a way to express your feelings and experiences through music. When you’re trying to figure out who you are, music can help you understand and accept yourself. Many artists have poured their hearts into finding their worth through songs, and here are 21 songs about identity that we handpicked especially for you.
Table of Contents
- 21. “I Don’t Want to Be” by Gavin DeGraw
- 20. “Born This Way” by Lady Gaga
- 19. “Black Like Me” by Mickey Guyton
- 18. “Invisible” by Hunter Hayes
- 17. “Let Me Be Myself” by 3 Doors Down
- 16. “Who You Are” by Pearl Jam
- 15. “In My Life” by The Beatles
- 14. “ME!” by Taylor Swift ft. Brendon Urie
- 13. “Southern Curls” by Julie Williams
- 12. “The Way I Am” by Charlie Puth
- 11. “Complicated” by Avril Lavigne
- 10. “Just Like Fire” by Pink
- 9. “Hair” by Lady Gaga
- 8. “I’m Different” by Randy Newman
- 7. “Sit Still, Look Pretty” by Daya
- 6. “All Kinds of Kinds” by Miranda Lambert
- 5. “My Life” by Billy Joel
- 4. “Am I a Girl?” by Poppy
- 3. “You Say” by Lauren Daigle
- 2. “I Love Me” by Meghan Trainor ft. LunchMoney Lewis
- 1. “Try” by Colbie Caillat
21. “I Don’t Want to Be” by Gavin DeGraw
“I Don’t Want to Be” by Gavin DeGraw is a song dedicated to self-love and being genuine. This indie pop song was released in 2003 on the album “Chariot.” It tells about the singer’s frustrations and identity crisis, making it a piece that is easy to relate to.
20. “Born This Way” by Lady Gaga
This award-winning masterpiece by Lady Gaga has become a huge success for its powerful message and musicality. “Born This Way” is all about celebrating one’s uniqueness and making one’s way through the world. This song was released in 2011 on Gaga’s album “Born This Way.”
19. “Black Like Me” by Mickey Guyton
This song by Mickey Guyton tackles racial discrimination and won a CMT Music Award as Breakthrough Video of the Year. The words in “Black Like Me” show that it’s important to welcome and enjoy differences and try to make a fair and equal society for everyone. It was on Guyton’s album “Remember Her Name,” released in 2021.
18. “Invisible” by Hunter Hayes
This sentimental song by Hunter Hayes is from his 2014 album “Storyline.” The singer relates his personal experiences in this song, inspiring those who feel alone in facing life’s battles. It also encourages listeners to believe in themselves and shut down the voices that say otherwise. This song has won Hayes a Grammy for Best Country Solo Performance.
17. “Let Me Be Myself” by 3 Doors Down
This song by the American band 3 Doors Down depicts the struggles of finding one’s identity and the approval of others. It tells us that we should break free from things that control us. It was released in 2008 on their self-titled album.
16. “Who You Are” by Pearl Jam
This classic rock is from Pearl Jam’s “No Code” album, released in 1996. The message is about appreciating life before it is over. It also poses a challenge to anyone to play a significant part in this life.
15. “In My Life” by The Beatles
This popular hit by the British legends The Beatles is about remembering the past that shaped the person to be who he is in the present. This song has a playful guitar and piano parts that add flavor to this all-time hit. It was released under their album “Rubber Soul” and is still widely admired up to this day.
14. “ME!” by Taylor Swift ft. Brendon Urie
“ME!” by Taylor Swift is from her album “Lover,” released in 2019. It features Brendon Urie of the band Panic At The Disco. The song is about how the singer is special and different from others. She knows she can be hard to deal with and has problems, but she is also sure of her value and promises that nobody can love her partner as she can.
13. “Southern Curls” by Julie Williams
“Southern Curls” is a country song by Julie Williams on her self-titled album. The song is about a Southern girl who is judged for how she looks, especially her curly hair and skin color. The lyrics show the difficulties she experienced while growing up and her fight to accept herself.
12. “The Way I Am” by Charlie Puth
“The Way I Am” is a song by singer-songwriter Charlie Puth. Here he talks about feeling pressured to fit in with what society expects from him. This pop song is from his album “Voicenotes,” released in 2018.
11. “Complicated” by Avril Lavigne
“Complicated” is a pop rock by Avril Lavigne released in 2002 on her album “Let Go.” This massive hit has won multiple awards, including the Grammy Award for Song of the Year. It tells about how hard it can be to fit in and be liked and why it’s essential to stay true to who you really are.
10. “Just Like Fire” by Pink
Another revolutionary anthem by Pink is here! “Just Like Fire” is about wanting to be unique and not like everyone else, even if people criticize her for being different. Released in 2016, it is from Pink’s album “Alice Through the Looking Glass.” It won the Teen Choice Award for Choice Song from a Movie or TV Show.
9. “Hair” by Lady Gaga
“Hair” was released in 2011 as part of Lady Gaga’s album “Born This Way.” It tells a powerful message of self-expression and appreciation of one’s unique features. Here she sings about wanting to be free and unashamed for who she is.
8. “I’m Different” by Randy Newman
The words of this 1983 song talk about a person who feels good about being unique and doesn’t worry about following what society expects of him. The phrase “I’m different, and I don’t care who knows it” is repeated to show this feeling. It is from Newman’s album “Trouble in Paradise.”
7. “Sit Still, Look Pretty” by Daya
Here’s another song about going against the grain. “Sit Still, Look Pretty” by Daya is about how the singer doesn’t want to change herself to please a man’s idea of a perfect woman. This pop song was released in 2016 and received a nomination for Song of the Year in the Radio Disney Music Awards.
6. “All Kinds of Kinds” by Miranda Lambert
This inspirational country song by Miranda Lambert encourages listeners to embrace each other’s uniqueness and avoid judging and discriminating against others. It was released in 2011 on her album “Four the Record.”
5. “My Life” by Billy Joel
“My Life” by Billy Joel is from his album “52nd Street” and was released in 1987. This classic rock has become a popular hit for its inspiring message. It encourages listeners to embrace their choices and not be swayed by other people’s opinions.
4. “Am I a Girl?” by Poppy
“Am I a Girl?” is a song that tells of the struggles of a person trying to fit into the gender norms. The singer’s confusion regarding her gender and how to act accordingly is evident in the song’s lyrics, making this another relatable song for those on the same page. It is from Poppy’s 2018 album “Am I a Girl?”.
3. “You Say” by Lauren Daigle
This contemporary Christian music is about finding one’s identity in God. It says that instead of listening to negative thoughts that can make you feel bad, the song says you should trust God’s love and what He says about you. “You Say” by Lauren Daigle is from her 2018 album “Look Up, Child” and has won the Billboard Music Award for Top Christian Song.
2. “I Love Me” by Meghan Trainor ft. LunchMoney Lewis
The song “I Love Me” is about loving yourself and accepting who you are. It tells listeners to embrace their special qualities and not care about what others think. It is one of the tracks from Trainor’s 2017 album “Thank You.”
1. “Try” by Colbie Caillat
“Try” is a powerful anthem about accepting oneself despite imperfections. The song tells how society wants people to look pretty, but the lines repeatedly say that you don’t have to try so hard to achieve happiness. This pop song is from Colbie Caillat’s “Gypsy Heart” album.
Are you also finding your way to knowing yourself better? Maybe tuning in to these fantastic tracks would help.