Adolescents and Young Adults (AYA)

Treat People With Kindness (Artist: Harry Styles)

"I survived cancer and I still have ongoing medical problems that are not outwardly visible. I think this song reminds us to treat everyone with kindness because you can't always see the struggle that people are going through. I think this song is a happy and upbeat song and it make me smile 😊 I've seen Harry Styles a couple of times and he is so warm and kind to his audiences no matter what your background is or who you are as a person ❤️"

Dreaming (Artist: T-Pain)

"I like to pretend that instead of "the pressure", T-Pain says "depression", and it helps me contend with my own depression! Plus, it is just a good song."

Angels Among Us (Artist: Alabama)

"Reminds me to keep going and push on even in the toughest times."

Just Savanah (Artist: Baked Bean)

"I am a loving extrovert, and I wish everyone would be kind and unwind. Every person has a unique quality beyond equality. We each have been in moments of need, so out with the greed. Live, laugh, and love."

Listen to Savanah's song

Mighty In Me (Artist: Molly Oldham)

"When I was recovering, the world felt like it was passing me by. I tried to be positive but I learned that it is okay to not be okay. I realized I was stronger than I felt. This song helped me get up and stop feeling sorry for myself."

Listen to Molly's song

Mission (Artist: Lupe Fiasco)

"Music is a huge part of my life and helped me a lot during treatment. I made my own cancer themed playlist a few years later and that is when I found this song. A lot of cancer related songs or songs about overcoming challenges can be very emotional and sad whereas as this song felt like an anthem. It speaks explicitly about cancer and tells people's stories but instead of sympathy or sadness it possesses strength and support. The song empowers those who have been affected by cancer. It is a song just for us to embrace our challenges in life instead of being overcome by misery which I think is so important. I embrace that I am a cancer survivor and don't allow it to be this dark cloud over me but rather a mountain I have conquered and has made me the person I am today. This song embraces that for me."

Love's In Need Of Love Today (Artist: Stevie Wonder)

"I played this song on repeat during hospital stays. I found that it helped me stay calm and less stressed if played the same familiar music over and over again. This song, in particular, has a very uplifting message and brought me through that difficult time."

Horsefly (Artist: Dirty Heads)

"I love this song because it reminds me how much I love life & to never give up on myself."

Never Ending Song (Artist: Conan Grey)

"My cancer diagnosis and my time in the hospital took away my passion and interest in a lot of things including music. This song came out and the first time I listened to it I fell in love with it. It sparked my passion for music again and once I fell back in love with music I started to regain passion in many activities I used to love. Art, reading, writing, scrapbooking, playing piano, basically gave me a reason to keep living. I have chronic GVHD and chronic pain ever since my bone marrow transplant and it almost feels like a never ending song‚ but if I'm going to live in pain I'll do it with the passion I once had before cancer ruined everything."

I Believe (Artist: Christina Perri)

"It reminds me that this is not the end, it's just the beginning."

Potion of Pain (Artist: A René)

"This song is a song I actually wrote about my experience with cancer. I was hiding my emotions and putting on a mask as I underwent treatment. This song I think could be how a lot of cancer patients feel as they undergo treatment."

I Say Free (Artist: Savannah Mason)

"I wrote this song, alongside my producer Kenli, about my cancer journey. It inspires me to focus on the things in life that truly matter and let go of the ones that don't."

Champagne Supernova (Artist: Oasis)

"I was listening to it the day I got news the treatment was successful."

If You Could See Me Now (Artist: The Script)

"All deaths of people close to me, family and friends. I listen to this song dealing with the loss. Lost friend to Suicide, two family members close together to Cancer and lost uncle day after getting Covid Vaccine."

People Help The People (Artist: Birdy)

"It made me thing of my friends and family that was there to help me."

My Blood (Artist: Twenty-One Pilots)

"This song helped me through treatment and still to this day by giving me the feeling that support is always there when you need it. It's key to know there's help out there."

Give Heaven Some Hell (Artist: HARDY)

"I lost my cousin Mikey to DIPG and it's how I imagine he's doing up in Heaven right now and still having a good time. He was 19 years old, lost him May 2020. Mikey Strong."

Everybody's Talkin' (Artist: Harry Nilsson)

"My dad lost his battle to multiple myeloma and AML just under two years ago. He loved this song so much, with his favourite line being, "Going where the weather suits my clothes‚" as he always loved the sun. He asked for this to be played on repeat in his final weeks and days at home. It was only fitting for it to be his funeral song, being one of somber happiness. I will never not tear up when I hear it. I hope he has gone somewhere where the weather is suiting his clothes."

It's My Life (Artist: Bon Jovi)

"This song is important to me because I grew up with this song since I was little it talks about how you live your life how you want to and taking control of you life no matter what."

Shake It Off (Artist: Taylor Swift)

"Dance, and shake the bad stuff too!"

Warrior (Artist: Hannah Kerr)

"Because of the lyrics.

I will keep the hope alive - I will find the strength inside - I will keep the hope alive I am a warrior, - I will survive"

No Reason At All (Artist: McKenzie Hupke)

"This is the first song I wrote and released during my work with Play It Back, the program for AYA Music Artists! Having a song that is actually my voice and my work despite the total hearing loss I have from my tumors, felt so good to get out a message that says “They say it all happens for a reason, or no reason at all, I know I just got to go on, here comes another fall, and I know I’ll get up!” It truly says, here’s what life has given me and I can prove that I can still get through."

 

Don't You Worry 'Bout A Thing (Artist: Stevie Wonder)

"I was diagnosed with Stage III Ovarian Cancer at age 16. I grew up in a household where artists of the 70s & 80s were always in playing. Since my diagnosis, this song has stayed in rotation because it has always been able to reset my mood and take me from a place of feeling hopeless to hopeful. And that...is the power the music!"

 

What's Up? (Artist: 4 Non Blondes)

"This has been one of my favorite songs since I was a child. When I was going through cancer treatment and starting to see the finish line, this allowed me to feel all the emotions and end with good feels."

 

Good Life (Artist: OneRepublic)

"I remember right before I had my first invasive surgery, my oncology team played this song to help me feel better. The surgeons and my parents all started dancing to lift my spirits! The message of the song and the people there helped me feel like I was going to get through this!"

 

Tonight (Artist: New Kids On The Block)

"When I would get my radiation treatments, I would have the technicians play new kid on the block songs, and this was one of my favorites."

 

I Won't Back Down (Artist: Tom Petty)

"This song is important to me because when it comes to fighting cancer, we must never back down."

 

The Ultimate Showdown Of Ultimate Destiny (Artist: Lemon Demon)

"Because after a long fight of unknown things popping out at you, you're in it for the long hall. Wondering if you'll survive when they tell you, you won't. Sometimes the winner is the one you least expect."