[2025] A roundup of Western cheer songs—supportive anthems that help you through life

CAN’T HOLD US FEAT. RAY DALTONMacklemore & Ryan Lewis

MACKLEMORE & RYAN LEWIS – CAN’T HOLD US FEAT. RAY DALTON (OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO)

This track grabs your heart with powerful vocals and an energetic beat.

Hailing from Seattle, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis boldly sing about their convictions, passion, and pride as independent artists.

It’s infused with their desire for creative freedom without relying on major labels and a deep love for their hometown, conveying a relentless will to push beyond limits.

The song reached No.

1 on the U.

S.

Billboard Hot 100 in 2013 and held the top spot for five consecutive weeks.

It was also featured in a UK Miller beer commercial and the trailer for the film “Jobs.” Perfect for boosting motivation before training or exercise, it’s a song that strongly propels anyone striving toward their dreams.

Counting StarsOneRepublic

OneRepublic – Counting Stars

This song expresses the anxiety and impatience that come with chasing one’s dreams through a clear, airy vocal and an acoustic sound.

It carries a wish to value spiritual richness, not just money or material worth, and OneRepublic’s soulful performance truly resonates.

Released as a single from the March 2013 album “Native,” it became a major hit, reaching No.

2 on the U.

S.

Billboard Hot 100 and No.

1 in the U.

K.

It was also used over the end credits of the film “Earth to Echo.” It’s a track that gives you a gentle push forward, standing by those who face the future with unease yet want to keep moving ahead.

Perfect for your morning commute or when you’re taking on something new.

Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You)Kelly Clarkson

Kelly Clarkson – Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You) [Official Video]

Adversity makes you stronger: a song about gaining strength from bitter experiences through your own power.

The chorus is inspired by words from the poet Friedrich Nietzsche.

Released by Kelly Clarkson in 2012, it became a hit in more than 15 countries worldwide.

Here It ComesPegboard Nerds

[Dubstep] – Pegboard Nerds – Here It Comes [Monstercat Release]

This track is more Dubstep than EDM.

Its appeal is the exhilarating sense of speed that blasts through from start to finish.

I fell in love with this song after seeing one of my favorite dancers perform to it.

This artist has released many other great tracks too—I’d recommend them all.

Not Like UsKendrick Lamar

Kendrick Lamar – Not Like Us

Set against a turbulent music scene, this ambitious work from American rapper Kendrick Lamar is imbued with a powerful message.

It carries a sincere sentiment that only he—who overcame a difficult childhood and has achieved remarkable success in the American music industry—could deliver.

Released in May 2024, the piece squarely confronts industry tensions and social issues, speaking through a commanding, West Coast–inflected beat.

On July 4, a music video was released to coincide with Independence Day, vividly portraying ties to the local community and pride in his roots.

It’s a song that can steady your heart when you need the courage to look ahead or the resolve to stay true to your convictions.

Viva La VidaColdplay

Coldplay – Viva La Vida (Official Video)

This song is characterized by its grandiose, majestic sound.

Released by the British rock band Coldplay in May 2008, it unfolds an epic narrative woven with historical and religious metaphors.

The lyrics, portraying the inner turmoil and self-reflection of a ruler falling from past glory, offer deep insights that reconsider the transience of life and the impermanence of power.

Featured in Apple’s iPod TV commercial, the song captured global attention.

At the 51st Annual Grammy Awards in 2009, it won Song of the Year, cementing its place as one of Coldplay’s signature tracks.

It’s a moving piece that resonates when you’re facing setbacks or loneliness, or when you’re about to take a new step forward.

I Had Some Help feat. Morgan WallenPost Malone

Post Malone – I Had Some Help (feat. Morgan Wallen) (Official Video)

This is a heartwarming duet co-written by American artist Post Malone, who effortlessly moves between the worlds of country pop and hip-hop, and rising country star Morgan Wallen.

Released in May 2024 as the lead single from his sixth album, F-1 Trillion, it reached No.

1 on the Billboard Hot 100.

The song portrays two men who have experienced the breakdown of a relationship and choose not to shoulder the blame alone, but to share it together.

Its message of standing by someone who’s hurting and facing forward together is sure to offer strength when you’re at a crossroads in life or struggling with a relationship with someone important.