35 Best Songs About Beginnings

“Wanna Be Startin’ Something” by Michael Jackson

Song Year: 1983

The King of Pop has plenty of hits, but this song managed to earn a place as the opening track for his iconic album Thriller. The album version is more than six minutes long, putting it on the high side for a song, and exists as a complex mix of disco, funk, and pop sounds that you won’t hear in many other songs.

“Brand New Day” by Sting

Song Year: 1999

Not to be confused with the Neil Patrick Harris song of the same name, Sting’s hit from the late 1900s is a pop song that directly addresses the listener, asking a series of questions and providing advice. Singers often focus on themselves, so Sting’s lyrics stand out for their uncommon focus and the dense number of them in the song’s runtime.

“New Beginnings” by Daydreamer

Song Year: 2016

“New Beginnings” is mainly instrumental but does have about one verse of lyrics matching the title. Songs about beginnings tend to emphasize their vocals, but well-done instrumental sections can convey similar feelings, and that’s on full display in this outstanding dance song.

“Waking Light” by Beck

Song Year: 2014

Written in part based on his own life and struggles, “Waking Light” is a song about moving forward and escaping the darkness behind you. In this song, the night can be a metaphor for almost anything troubling you, but you can rest and move forward when you’re ready to move on.

Although “Waking Light” is probably the most popular song from its album Morning Phase, the entire release is outstanding and won three major awards (including Best Rock Album and Album of the Year) from the Grammys.

“Feeling Good” by Nina Simone

Song Year: 1965

Songs about beginnings have been popular for decades, and with good reason. However, Nina Simone’s entry into the genre stands out thanks to its use of rhythm and blues. Modern songs tend to be more upbeat dance and pop songs, but a good classic tune can be genuinely timeless.

“Start Again” by Seven Lions

Song Year: 2018

The title track of its album (noticing a pattern here?), “Start Again” is a melodic dubstep song with an emphasis on its music. The instrumentals can all but drown out the lyrics here, encouraging listeners to feel the emotions in the song rather than paying too much attention to its dialogue.

“The Middle” by Zedd

Song Year: 2018

Most songs about beginnings have titles that indicate their association with the topic. Zedd’s collaborative work with Maren Morris and the duo Grey departs from that tradition, earning multiple Grammy nominations and surpassing over a billion streams on Spotify.

The lyrics focus on asking someone else to meet them in the middle, where a new beginning is possible. One of the important things about beginnings is that you still need to get to a place where you can have one, and sometimes that means bringing someone else along with you.

“Brand New Day” by Dizzee Rascal

Song Year: 2003

You see patterns in certain styles of music, and this song’s title is one many artists have used over the years. It’s a testament to clarity and the songwriter’s goals, which in this case include rap styling for the focus on new opportunities.

Rap is better known for more aggressive topics, but a great genre-defying song shows how pervasive the idea of new beginnings is among singers.

“A New Day Has Come” by Celine Dion

Song Year: 2002

The title track for Dion’s seventh studio album, “A New Day Has Come” is an uplifting pop song that she sang about the birth of her child. However, Dion also noted that people can interpret its lyrics to apply to many other things, making it among the most flexible tunes on this list.

“First Day Of My Life” by Bright Eyes

Song Year: 2005

An alternative-rock tune, “First Day Of My Life,” is an introspective song that focuses on how a beginning can feel like the start of someone’s life. Some people know what they want to be from an early age, but for others, life only starts in earnest once they find a place they feel like they belong. In that sense, it’s the beginning that matters more than any other.

“I Was Here” by Beyonce

Song Year: 2011

Pop superstar Beyonce has more than a few hits, but “I Was Here” is a particularly thoughtful piece discussing her desire to feel present and known by others. Though not a traditional song about beginnings, it’s aspirational and easy for anyone starting something new to relate to.

“Starting Over” by Chris Stapleton

Song Year: 2020

Chris Stapleton’s title track for an album (seriously, this happens a lot with songs about beginnings), “Starting Over” is a song about moving into the unknown, taking chances, and seeing what happens.

In it, Stapleton acknowledges that beginnings have challenges, but he also thinks that they’re worth facing instead of hiding away. That kind of optimistic outlook is great if you’re worried about where your beginnings might lead.