Not too long ago, I shared one of my favorite and most useful projects. Best of all, it has cost me zero dollars and nada cents. Now that’s a win. In this post, I wrote a list of the first 14 songs on my “House Cleaning Jams” YouTube playlist. That was a year ago. I’ve added 63 more songs since then.

One of my children frequently picks up my phone off the kitchen counter and reads out loud, “House cleaning jams,” and then it never fails. He always chuckles, sort of making fun of me, but not in a bad way. Isn’t it freeing to not care at all about being teased?

These are songs that “spark joy” for me. They help make cleaning up around the house doable. This is super important because when you have children and a slightly type-B personality, you need something like a list of delightful music to help you whistle while you work.

These are the next 15 songs on my list. I’ve kicked a few of the old first 14 off too, so it has changed a bit.

#13. Old Church Choir (Zach Williams)

This is exactly what the name implies. There’s nothing like the upbeat, foot-tapping kind of gospel music.

I got an Old Church Choir singing in my soul
I got a sweet salvation and it’s beautiful
I’ve got a heart overflowing ’cause I’ve been restored
There ain’t nothing gonna steal my joy
No, there ain’t nothing gonna steal my joy

Zach Williams

#14. The Breakup Song (Francesca Battistelli)

This one is not at all as the name implies. No bubble gum teeny-boppers here. This is about breaking up with fear.

#15. Haven’t Met You Yet (Michael Buble)

This one is just for fun.

P.S. Did you know that the grocery store crush girl in the video is actually Michael Buble’s real life wife?

#16. Way Back into Love (from the movie Music and Lyrics)

I don’t know why I enjoyed that movie so much as well as this song. Well, yes, I do. It was a classic chick flick. We laughed, we rooted for the couple to get together, and the songs were catchy and enjoyable.

#17. Brave (Sara Bareilles)

Not only is this song fun, but the words are spot on!!!! It’s an anthem for me because I am such a chicken about the saying what I want to say thing.

#18. Better When I’m Dancin‘ (Meghan Trainor)

Four or five years ago, I was living in California and home schooling our four children. My hips and legs were giving me a hard time, not always working properly and hurting when I wanted to sleep at night. Plus, home schooling felt impossible. Patience, what patience? There isn’t enough patience in the world for the job I had, or at least not in me. I was depressed.

Depression is something I fight the first few months of every single move. That’s not good considering how often we move, but I maintain that these feelings are completely normal, especially for a people person.

One day I was out Christmas shopping, and I came across a Snoopy toy that danced around, Tickle-Me-Elmo style. While it danced, it played sound clips of “Better When I’m Dancin’.” It turns out that this song is on the soundtrack of the Peanuts movie.

I cannot fully explain why, but this song was a turning point for me. I connected to it instantly. Forget saving singing Snoopy for Christmas. I brought him straight home and plopped him down on the dining room table, where the boys did their school work. I announced, “Boys, listen to this song.” I figured we all needed it.

Then I choked back the tears. The first few times I only listened, but before long we were all dancing, and you know what? We did feel better.

When you finally let go
And you slay that solo
‘Cause you listen to the music
Sing, oh, ey, oh
‘Cause you’re confident, babe
And you make your hips sway
We knew that you could do it
Sing, oh, ey, oh

Meghan Trainor

#19. 1,000 Ships (Rachel Platten)

Ah yes, a song of unrequited love, the story of my life until I married Alan.

#20. When Will My Life Begin? (from Tangled)

And this was the story of me in 2003-2004. Alan was in Iraq, I had no direction, and I’d play cards against myself on a t.v. tray and rush to hide them if anyone knocked on the door.

#21. When the Crazy Kicks in (Fracesca Battistelli)

Here she tells the story of my past 8 years. Before that, I didn’t even bother trying to wake up before the little boys. They were such early risers.

#22. All this Time (Britt Nicole)

Literally I like everything Britt Nicole sings.

#23. Hold On (Toby Mac)

The year Daniel was born, this was the soundtrack to my life. I used to sing it to myself and Daniel as I rocked him in his rocking chair. Rocking them was so wonderful.

Wake up to the rising sun
Thank the Lord for the
Things He’s done
Lift your eyes up to the
Hope that’s ever true
Wanna see you smiling girl
You’re a light in this jaded world
Wipe away those tears
This one’s for you

Toby Mac

#24. It’s a Beautiful Day (Michael Buble)

More of my favorite male singer

#25. How Many Kings (Downhere)

one of the most beautiful Christmas songs of all time

#26. You Say (Lauren Daigle)

No list is complete without Daigle. My entire list has many of her songs, but this tiny segment has two.

#27. Look Up Child (Lauren Daigle)

Lauren’s songs are uplifting, and I love that. You may notice that depressing songs aren’t something I do much of. Life is hard enough, so I have no desire to wallow. I’m not saying I don’t wallow because I do, but my music should motivate me, not encourage my sadness tendencies.

Hope you enjoy these! With my YouTube playlist, I rarely pay for any music, and I’m not stuck listening to stuff I don’t like or have never heard of as I did with Pandora. The only hitch is that I have to be constantly on the lookout for new music to add to it, but that’s not much of a downside.

Do you listen to music while cleaning, etc.? What are your favorites? You can click here to go straight to my full “House Cleaning Jams” playlist. Depending on how they were last shuffled, they may appear in a different order than above.

The post House Cleaning Jams Playlist, Part 2 appeared first on Stories of Our Boys.