Nice high tops Elvis!

It occurred to me that Innovators need music as much as, maybe more than, everyone else. Music is an unparalleled source of inspiration for many people, so why would innovators be any different?

So, what would the inspired Innovators ultimate playlist be?

I’ve created the ultimate playlist for innovators — based on experience, and suggestions from friends on Twitter and Facebook. Now, it’s a given that there might be different playlists for different innovator mind-frames, like, what to play when doing research, or what to play when building a prototype, doing idea generation, etc.  Those might come later.  But this list is the generic all purpose one. I say Innovator in my title, but this is a post for Entrepreneurs as well.

Writing this started out as a whim. It’s evolved into a real learning experience.  I’ve discovered new musical artists, and new sources of inspiration. It’s opened new mind-doors for me — through my ears.  Perhaps it will do the same for you — so without further ado:

Innovator’s Playlist (in no significant order)

1. “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’” – Michael Jackson.  Forgive me, it’s disco, and pop all the way. The sentiment however is pure innovator, it’s infectious, and yes, you can dance like mad to it.  An innovator is always about ‘Startin Somethin’ — his or her life is a dance of new initiatives, solving big problems, creating new products and services — or the ultimate — a start-up company. I considered making “Man in the Mirror” part of this list as well (a suggestion by Deb Giampoli) the self-reflective honest is a necessity to be sure — but am limiting it to one song per artist (it’s my blog, I make the rules.)

2. “Start Me Up” – Rolling Stones. Although this clearly is a song about “getting down” it’s still inspirational for business people.  Innovators have that kind of sexual energy don’t they? But more than that, I think a lot of innovators feel that if they can get a toe-hold on a market, they are unbeatable. That’s the bigger message to me. The Chicago Bulls (the teams that used to win all the time) used this song at almost every home game — it worked well for them! Thanks to Steven Thompson and Ed Duemler for this one, although I did an Entrepreneur workshop in South Africa and called it “Start Me Up” for a reason…

3. “Desire” – U2. The motivation to do something should come from a very deep and strong place, call it the soul, call it your heart, you won’t have the staying power and will to get something done if you don’t have a very strong Desire. Yes, money can be a motivator, but it had better not be the only one; it’s rarely enough. This song is the quintessential one about Desire, I can’t listen to it without my heart beating faster.

4. “Don’t Stop Believin” – Journey. Quite cornball I know, and yet, it belongs in this list because the refrain is one that any innovator/entrepreneur needs to repeat to themselves constantly. You need to believe in what you’re doing, because invariably others will question it, you will hit rough spots, and the easy way out will be to quit. Play this song then, and “hold on to that dream.”

5. “Follow That Dream” – Elvis Presley. The first king of pop did this catchy number for the movie of the same name. Elvis does a good job of selling the message of the song — doing what your heart desires.  That’s where a lot of good business starts. The movie plot actually has a “start up” aspect — they start a business to help sports fisherman. The aspect of “following” is interesting too, because while goals are necessary, sometimes it’s the unexpected path — appearing out of nowhere — that leads us to the promised land.

6. “Mission Impossible Theme” – Lalo Shiffrin. When you’re doing something really difficult, and something that requires a sense of urgency, you’ve got to have a soundtrack with a bit of pace to motivate you.  When it comes to pace and urgency this is one of the best songs ever. When you hear it, the confidence and excitement it builds in you is palpable. This is a really good one for imagining how you are going to win, get over a hurdle, or finish something. To me, the sound of this iconic TV theme means — get things done! For music trivia buffs, this piece is written in the unusual 5/4 time.

7. “Gonna Fly Now” – Rocky Theme – Vocals: Deetta Little/Nelson Pigford, composed by Bill Conti. It’s tough to beat this one for pure inspiration. The association, for me, is with the underdog who’s doing that hard work, and building, building, building, towards winning against all odds.  And that’s what innovating is all about.  When I see Rocky that sequence never fails to bring me to tears.  Which has me thinking, maybe we need a top 10 movies for Innovators/Entrepreneurs. Send suggestions.

8. “Takin’ Care of Business” – Bachman-Turner Overdrive. This is another cornball song that has an irrepressible feel. It’s meant to inspire jealousy at the “easy” life of being a self-employed musician. It works! And a lot of small business people are having so much fun doing what they do, they don’t think of it as work, much like the guy in the song. We can all inspire to the joie de vivre in Takin’ Care of Business.

9. “Nabucco Overture” – Verdi. I’m not a huge classical fan, but Michel Lecoq turned me onto this piece. It’s a stunner, it builds slowly, and then packs a major punch that is incredibly satisfying.  Like a lot of classical pieces it takes time to develop, but stick with it, it’s worth it. A lesson in delayed gratification for innovators.

10. “The World’s Greatest” – R. Kelly. I’m an older fella, so to be honest, I’d never heard this song until I put out the call for this post. It’s a newer tune from the hip/hop side of the fence, suggested by Tammy Heath Pierson. I downloaded it from iTunes and imagine my surprise when I really liked it. I think of hip hop as rhythmic, but un-melodic, but this is a very musical number. It suggests the brashness of Muhammad Ali. Confidence is key to being an entrepreneur or innovator. This is scary, I’m starting to really like R. Kelly.

11. “Unwritten” – Natasha Bedingfield. I’d never heard of this one either, another suggestion by Deb Giampoli. It’s about that blank page, and the challenge of creating something. “Open up the dirty window, let the sun illuminate the words that you could not find…” Love it. Have downloaded all of Bedingfield as a result, this post is opening new musical doors for me…and amping up my iTunes bill.

12. “Nothing Ever Happens” – Del Amitri. I’m officially an old fart. Never even heard of Del Amitri (the last Del for me was Del Shannon…). Karl Raat (who writes a very cool blog) suggested this one. This is a dark song, and I’m including it here because it’s a song to remind you what an innovator runs away from, the bleakness of a life without fulfilling work.

13. “Magic of the Mind” – Bill Hartwell. Not surprised if you’ve never heard of this, but it’s a delightful song about creative thinking.  Penned by CPSI colleague Bill Hartwell, it’s something of a tribute to the conference, the CPS process, and its inventor Sidney Parnes. Magic of the Mind is also the title of a Parnes book about creativity. You should check out Hartwell, he’s playing gigs in the San Diego area, or buy his CD from his website. I’ll put the lyrics to Magic of the Mind below the list.

14. “Climb Ev’ry Mountain” – Rodgers & Hammerstein. From The Sound of Music. The voice from the movie was Marjorie McKay (she overdubbed film actress Peggy Wood).  Shirley Bassey and Tony Bennet also gave it a whirl. It’s a highly emotional and operatic tune, and one that has resonated over the decades. And an innovator has to climb every mountain to be sure; with this song in your head you might just make it.

15. “My Way” – Paul Anka (pick your favorite artist, Sinatra, Elvis, etc.) wrote the lyrics to the melody of a French pop tune, and the result was this classic. He actually had Sinatra in mind while writing the words. An entrepreneur has a fundamental motivation to do something “my way” — a better way, a different way. They take the risk and let the chips fall where they may. While betting the farm, play My Way, and you’ll have to few regrets to mention no matter how it works out.

16. “The Candy Man” — Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley. Whimsy, magic, and fun are all part of creating things, so I had to include this. Loved Sammy Davis Jr.’s version best. The Rat Pack’s second entry into the list.

17. “Faith” – The Cure. Life in a start-up, or, an aggressive innovator effort, can at times be frightening, scary, gloomy, and just plain awful. This is the truth, and all the positive thinking in the world isn’t going to change this, it’s still going to happen. At those times one must draw on a deep faith, whether it be a faith in God, or simply a faith or belief in what you are doing. This song represents that gothic moment, and it’s a balance to all the unbridled cheerfulness in this list. Thanks to my friend Guillaume Pakel and his muse Florence Duvachelle for bringing this to my attention.

18. “Revolution” – Lennon/McCartney. Hard to say which version of the song I like best, the wacky one, or the slower, shooby dooh way, one. Either way, the song is all about change, and change is what innovators do. It might be tough to actually have this on a playlist since it’s not available on iTunes (but we can assume creativity in my readership).  Thanks to Russ Schoen for this suggestion.

19. “Shining Star” – Earth Wind and Fire. If you really need a lift, listen to this song. Listen to the whole album, “That’s The Way of The World.” Suggested by Jack Brotman (and I wish I’d remembered it before he did!).

20. “Jump” – written and performed by Van Halen (Alex Van Halen, David Lee Roth, Eddie Van Halen, Michael Anthony).  I’ve got a soft spot for this tune as it has me getting over being tentative and taking risks. This is another Ed Duemler suggestion.

21. “Truckin” – The Grateful Dead. No playlist is complete without a Grateful Dead song, so here it is, suggested by Richard Schwartz.  It’s one of those life affirming numbers, and yes, like all other humans, innovators have to find some joy, just truckin along, and yes, what a long, strange trip it’s been.

So, that’s it. Let the arguments begin!

*********************************************************

Other suggestions I didn’t have time to integrate into the post above:

• Jind Mahi – Malkit Singh http://bit.ly/12Vn0g (suggested by Mark Brady) — this is irrepressible and I don’t even know what’s being said, it’s in some Indian language. I am standing up gyrating while I type listening it’s so good.
• Elvis Costello – Red Shoes (Live TOTP 1977) http://bit.ly/deoZn (Mark Brady). I’d considered “What’s So Funny About Peace Love and Understanding” as well.
• Nessun Dorma – Paul Potts http://bit.ly/d4BPg3 (Mark Brady)
• The Babys – Isn’t It Time http://bit.ly/9ZXr64 (Mark Brady)
• Selfless, Cold and Composed by Ben Folds Five http://bit.ly/fnxNw (Mark Brady)
• Björk – Venus as a Boy LIVE 1994 Vessel http://bit.ly/iKCXq
• University of Cincinnati fight song: http://www.ucband.uc.edu/band/media/sounds/01-02/Cheer_Cincinnati.mp3 (Mark Fraley) — and yes, it is motivational, particularly if you’re a Bearcat
• 4:33 by John Cage – which was essentially four and a half minutes of ambient sound, silence, it gets a mention here for its sheer innovation.
• “Who Threw the Overalls in Mrs. Murphy’s chowder?” – an Irish ditty my father used to sing, and is probably only motivating to me and my sister Marijo O’Connell who suggested it.
• William Obit, anything he does, according to Maren Elwood.
• “The Climb” by Miley Cyrus, suggested by Gayle Barrow Burton. I’ll check it out, again, new doors, I know of Miley Cyrus…
• “I Dreamed of Another World” by the French rock band Telephone (Jean Christophe Pakel)
• “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” and “Love” by the Art of Noise (Delphine Batton)
• “There Are No Boundaries”. Written by Kara DioGuardi (suggested by Deb Giampoli)

************************************************

Lyrics to: The Magic of the Mind

by Bill Hartwell

Everyone can wonder, and everyone can dream
Everyone can wish for all they’ve heard but never seen
Those who realize their dreams of all they hope to find
Are those who know the secrets in the Magic of the Mind
All the wise ones of the world, are just like you and me
Hemingway or Gershwin, Picasso or Curie
Einstein solved the mysteries of earth and space and time
They lived their lives believing in the Magic of the Mind
Oh let your imagination, take you anywhere you want to go
No there are no limitations to all that the mind has to show
Let the magic of the mind help you grow
What makes a woman successful, what makes a brave man bold
What is it that controls the heart, and makes the young ones old
Every question, that’s been raised, throughout the course of time
Has an answer that is hidden in the Magic of the Mind
And you can find it by believing in the Magic of the Mind