Songs about ambition can come from any genre of music, but they tend to share a few common themes. Many songs about ambition deal with the idea of striving for something greater, even if it means sacrificing everything else. And still others celebrate the simple act of going after what you want, no matter how big or small it may be.
There are a number of songs that explore the theme of ambition, both positive and negative. They come from a variety of artists and genres, but all capture the essence of what it means to be driven by a goal. Here are 20 of our favorite songs about ambition.
Contents
- 1. “Lose Yourself” by Eminem
- 2. “Elected” by Alice Cooper
- 3. “Ambition” by Wale
- 4. “My Girls” by Animal Collective
- 5. “Juke Box Hero” by Foreigner
- 6. “Somethin’ Else” by Eddie Cochran
- 7. “Ambitionz Az a Ridah” by Tupac Shakur
- 8. “Whatever It Takes” by Imagine Dragons
- 9. “I Will Buy You a New Life” by Everclear
- 10. “Handlebars” by Flobots
- 11. “Hall Of Fame” by The Script
- 12. “War Pigs” by Black Sabbath
- 13. “The Climb” by Miley Cyrus
- 14. “I Want It All” by Queen
- 15. “Get Up 10” by Cardi B
- 16. “Emperor’s New Clothes” by Panic at the Disco
- 17. “What Do You Want From Life?” by The Tubes
- 18. “Flight of Icarus” by Iron Maiden
- 19. “Successful” by Drake & Trey Songz
- 20. “Power” by Kanye West
- Final Thoughts
1. “Lose Yourself” by Eminem
The first song on the list is one of the most well-known songs about ambition. “Lose Yourself” by Eminem is all about taking every opportunity that comes your way.
The song is incredibly motivating, and it’s easy to see why it’s become one of the most popular anthems for anyone striving to achieve their goals. It was released in 2002 and was featured in the “8 Mile” movie.
2. “Elected” by Alice Cooper
Next on the list is a song with a more light-hearted take on ambition. “Elected” by Alice Cooper is a song about a man who has his sights set on becoming the President of the United States.
The song paints a picture of a man who will stop at nothing to achieve his goal, even if it means breaking the law. This was released in 1973 as part of the Billion Dollar Babies album.
3. “Ambition” by Wale
Wale’s “Ambition” is a song about, you guessed it, ambition. This track is all about grinding and working hard to achieve your goals.
No matter what obstacles are in your way, you have to stay focused and keep pushing forward. This song was released in 2011 as the lead single from Wale’s album of the same name.
4. “My Girls” by Animal Collective
“My Girls” by Animal Collective is a song about having goals and working towards them. The lyrics talk about how the singer’s girls are his motivation to keep going, even when things are tough.
This song was released in 2009 as part of the Merriweather Post Pavilion album. You can stream it on all music platforms out there.
5. “Juke Box Hero” by Foreigner
The next song on the list is “Juke Box Hero” by Foreigner. This song is about a man who has always dreamed of being a rockstar.
It will resonate with anyone who has ever had a dream and worked hard to achieve it. This song was released in 1982 as part of the 4 album.
6. “Somethin’ Else” by Eddie Cochran
Eddie Cochran’s “Somethin’ Else” is a song about a man who is determined to make something of himself. He is sick of working hard with no recognition, and he is going to show the world what he is made of.
This song was released in 1959 and it is considered to be one of Cochran’s best tracks. You can find it on his self-titled album and it was also covered by several artists over the years.
7. “Ambitionz Az a Ridah” by Tupac Shakur
Next on the list is “Ambitionz Az a Ridah” by Tupac Shakur. This song is about a man who is determined to make something of himself.
He is sick of working hard with no recognition, and he is going to show the world what he is made of. This song was released in 1996 as part of his All Eyez on Me album.
8. “Whatever It Takes” by Imagine Dragons
“Whatever It Takes” by Imagine Dragons is a song about never giving up on your dreams. No matter how hard things get, you have to keep fighting for what you want.
This song was released in 2017 as part of the Evolve album. It is one of the band’s most popular tracks and it has been used in several events and even a video game.
9. “I Will Buy You a New Life” by Everclear
This next song is a bit different from the others on the list. “I Will Buy You a New Life” by Everclear is about helping out the person who also helped you through the tough times.
This song was released in 1997 as part of their So Much for the Afterglow album. This is a great dedication for the real ones in your life.
10. “Handlebars” by Flobots
Flobots’ “Handlebars” is a song about achieving what seems to be an impossible dream. The lyrics talk about how the singer’s girls are his motivation to keep going, even when things are tough.
This song was released in 2005 as part of their Platypus album. You can stream it on all music platforms out there.
11. “Hall Of Fame” by The Script
Next on the list is “Hall Of Fame” by The Script. This song is about never giving up on your dreams. No matter how hard things get, you have to keep fighting for what you want.
This song was released in 2012 as part of their album #3. It features will.i.am and it is one of the band’s most popular tracks.
12. “War Pigs” by Black Sabbath
“War Pigs” was released in 1970 by Black Sabbath. This song is about the ambition for power and how it can corrupt people.
It is still relevant today, as it was back then. It has also been covered by various artists over the years. You can find this song on their Paranoid album.
13. “The Climb” by Miley Cyrus
This next song is a bit different from the others on the list. “The Climb” by Miley Cyrus is about never giving up on your dreams. No matter how hard things get, you have to keep fighting for what you want.
This song was released in 2009 as part of the Hannah Montana: The Movie soundtrack. It is one of her most popular tracks in her career.
14. “I Want It All” by Queen
Queen’s “I Want It All” is a song about being ambitious and not settling for anything less than what you want. This song was released in 1989 as part of their The Miracle album.
This is just one of their many hit songs with over 94 million Youtube views. It was also covered by various artists over the years.
15. “Get Up 10” by Cardi B
Next on the list is “Get Up 10” by Cardi B. This song is about all the hardships she had to face before getting to where she is now.
This song was released in 2018 as part of her Invasion of Privacy album. You can stream it on all music platforms out there.
16. “Emperor’s New Clothes” by Panic at the Disco
Panic at the Disco’s “Emperor’s New Clothes” is a song about not being afraid to be different. This song was released in 2015 as part of their Death of a Bachelor album.
It peaked at number five on the US Billboard Hot Rock Songs chart. This now has almost 300 million views on Youtube, making it one of their most popular tracks of all time.
17. “What Do You Want From Life?” by The Tubes
The next song on the list is “What Do You Want From Life?” by The Tubes. This song is about being ambitious and not settling for anything less than what you want.
This song was released in 1975 as part of their self-titled album. You can stream it on all major music platforms out there.
18. “Flight of Icarus” by Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden’s “Flight of Icarus” is a song inspired by the Greek myth of Icarus. This song was released in 1983 as part of their Piece of Mind album.
It peaked at number 11 on the UK Singles Chart. This now has over 11 million views on Youtube and can also be streamed on all music platforms out there.
19. “Successful” by Drake & Trey Songz
The next song is “Successful” by Drake & Trey Songz. This song is about being ambitious and not settling for anything less than what you want.
This song was released in 2009 as part of Drake’s Ready mixtape. It peaked at number 17 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. It also features a quick appearance of the famous rap artist, Lil Wayne.
20. “Power” by Kanye West
Finishing off the list is “Power” by Kanye West. This song is all about having, well, power. West raps about how he’s got the power to make things happen and how he won’t give that power up for anyone.
It’s an empowering track that will definitely get you pumped up to achieve your goals. You can find it on his My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy album.
Final Thoughts
There you have it, a list of songs about ambition. These tracks are sure to get you motivated and help you achieve your goals. They vary in genre, but they all have one thing in common: they’ll help you reach your potential. So crank up the volume and get out there to make things happen!
