Songs that Keep Us Inspired – WGF Playlist 2024

In fall 2024, we created our first Wisconsin’s Green Fire music playlist.

Amid all our serious conservation work, we like to have fun! What better way than by sharing some great music with each other?

For our “Songs that Keep Us Inspired” playlist we asked members of the WGF community to send us just one song each that they play to boost their sense of hope and spur their motivation. We received dozens of song contributions from WGF board members, staff, and supporters. We compiled 50 of those recommendations for a playlist of about 2.5 hours of inspiring and motivating music.

Curator of the playlist, WGF’s Communications and Outreach Coordinator, Carolyn Pralle said:

“I had so much fun putting this playlist together. It features a wide-ranging set of great songs, mixing genres like rock, pop, hip-hop, bluegrass, and Motown. The playlist represents over 80 years of music, ranging from Woody Guthrie’s 1940 folk classic ‘This Land is Your Land’ to songs of today like Mumford & Sons and Pharrell Williams’ 2024 hit ‘Good People.’

I hope this playlist brings you some good vibes, and a sense of renewed connection with our community of Voices for Conservation. Play it on your commute, a road trip, or for a living room dance party!”

Listen to the playlist below, or on YouTube here.

Note: YouTube playlists contain ads, but these ads are not associated with Wisconsin’s Green Fire in any way.

Songs on the playlist:

Below, you’ll find the list of songs with the artist and song title, followed by the person who recommended it to WGF. Some songs were recommended by multiple people! If your recommendation didn’t make the list, we still appreciate you sending it to us. We decided to only include one song per artist/band; we did not include incomplete recommendations, religious hymns, political anthems, or songs that weren’t shareable via YouTube playlists.

1. Shakira – “Try Everything” – Meleesa Johnson
2. AURORA – “Giving in to the Love” – Carolyn Pralle
3. Loreena McKennitt – “The Mummers’ Dance” – Mike Meyer
4. Stan Rogers – “The Mary Ellen Carter” – Bryan Pierce
5. Dave Matthews Band – “Ants Marching” – Mark Asplund
6. Bruce Springsteen – “We Can Take Care of Our Own” – Fred Clark
7. David Glen Eisley and Bob Kulick – “Sweet Victory” (as performed in SpongeBob SquarePants) – Will Scheder
8. Marvin Gaye – “What’s Going On” – Nancy Larson
9. Sturgill Simpson – “Just Let Go” – Ben Becker
10. Keb’ Mo’ and Rosanne Cash – “Put A Woman in Charge” – Tom Jerow
11. Michael Franti and Spearhead – “Work Hard and Be Nice” – Terry Daulton
12. Sam Cooke – “A Change is Gonna Come” – Don Behm
13. Pharrell Williams – “Happy” – Bruce Neeb
14. Macklemore & Ryan Lewis – “Can’t Hold Us” – Ashley Gries
15. Joni Mitchell – “Big Yellow Taxi” – Paul Heinen
16. Mumford & Sons and Pharrell Williams – “Good People” – Amy Mueller
17. The Beatles – “Here Comes the Sun” – Erica LeMoine, Katharine Odell, Rick Neville, John Rasmussen
18. John Denver – “Earth Day Every Day (Celebrate)” – Stan Temple
19. Dolly Parton – “Coat of Many Colors” – Laurie Groskopf, Eric Booth
20. Trans-Siberian Orchestra – “First Snow” – Bob Aldrich
21. John Lennon – “Imagine” – Lance Green, Janice M. Penn
22. Eilen Jewell – “Rain Roll In” – Thomas Peschong
23. Louis Armstrong – “What A Wonderful World” – Ted May, Ginni Henke
24. The Guess Who – “Hand Me Down World” – Matt Carothers
25. The Mountain Goats – “This Year” – Scott Valitchka
26. Owen Temple – “Days” – Dennis Gill
27. U2 – “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” – Anonymous
28. Indigo Girls – “Hammer and a Nail” – Julie Arneth
29. Joe Strummer – “Johnny Appleseed” – Karyl Rosenberg
30. Gloria Gaynor – “I Will Survive” – Lyman Wible, Anonymous
31. MisterWives – “SUPERBLOOM” – Richard LeClaire 
32. Crosby, Stills & Nash- “Carry On” – Mick Mlinar
33. Bobby McFerrin – “Don’t Worry Be Happy” – Jerry & Deborah Hinchcliffe 
34. Judy Garland – “Over the Rainbow” – Tom Thoresen
35. The Black Keys – “Beautiful People” – Lisa Trumble
36. Talking Heads – “This Must Be the Place (Naive Melody)” – Amy Walden 
37. Lady Gaga – “Hold My Hand” – Fred Strand
38. Holly Near – “The Great Peace March” – Sheri Buller
39. Sara McLachlan – “Ordinary Miracle” – Kathleen Trochlell
40. Scandal, Patty Smyth – “Goodbye to You” – Patricia & Ann Juday
41. Mark Isham – A River Runs Through It – Theme Tune” – LaTonya Johnson
42. Green Day – “Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)” – Larry Prochnow
43. David Bowie – “Heroes” – Ray White
44. Woody Guthrie – “This Land is Your Land” – Bob Martini, Marsha Berenson, Dean C. Hansen
45. Stephen Stills – “Johnny’s Garden” – Patrick Quaintance
46. Kansas – “Song for America” – William & Kim Fisher
47. Ray Charles – “Oh What a Beautiful Morning” – Maggie & David Jones
48. John Mayer – “Waiting on the World to Change” – Kyle A. Bladow
49. Barbra Streisand – “People” – Edie Ehlert
50. Claudia Schmidt – “Old Devil Time” – Kathleen Falk

Thank you to everyone who recommended a song!

What was your favorite song on our playlist?

• Let us know at info@wigreenfire.org.

Did these songs make you smile, or feel inspired?

• Please consider giving to Wisconsin’s Green Fire to Support Our Work with your donation today. Thank you!