‘Big Feelings’ Song Playlist
published 7/30/24; updated 4/14/25
by Catharine Hannay, founder of MindfulTeachers.org
Continuing the popular series of Song Playlists for Teachers, here are a variety of performers singing about a range of different emotions.
As always, be sure to preview anything you plan to share with your students or clients. (As in, watch the full video and read the lyrics.) With an international audience teaching young children through adults, there should be something for everyone here, but not every song will fit your particular context.
All Our Feelings Are Okay, MSB Music Therapy with Ms. Danni
Children’s song about accepting how you feel
Guilt, Mountain Man
lyrics; audio; video of live performance
A capella folk song about learning to accept mistakes and regrets.
It’s OK to Feel This Way, Mil’s Trills feat. Uncle Jumbo
Lonely, Bebel Gilberto
lyrics (in English and Portuguese); translation; audio
So Lonely & Message in a Bottle; The Police
lyrics for So Lonely; lyrics for Message in a Bottle; performance by Bruno Mars
Surface Pressure, by Lin-Manuel Miranda (from Encanto)
lyrics; video of jazz performance by Jessica Darrow (song starts at 1:00); clip from Encanto
The famous song from Encanto about feeling overwhelmed by too many responsibilities.
What a Feeling, Irene Cara
lyrics; cover by Walkman; performance by Irene Cara; performance by Lauren Platt
Theme song from Flashdance about the excitement of pursuing a passion.
What Else Can I Do? by Lin-Manuel Miranda
lyrics; cover by Stephen Scaccia; clip from Encanto featuring Diane Guerrero and Stephanie Beatriz
Letting go of the need to be ‘perfect’ and experiencing the joys of creativity and self-expression.
You Don’t Have to Smile if You Don’t Want to, The Tallest Kid in the Room
audio
Nobody should tell you how you’re allowed to feel.
Related Posts
There are many more song playlists and other resources on self-awareness and self-acceptance here at MindfulTeachers.org, including the following posts: