This orchestral track is from the movie “Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron,” based on the life of a mustang who was brutalized in captivity before breaking free. The word “cimarron” is Spanish for “wild, untamed, fugitive.” Mustangs are known for their resilience, endurance and adaptability to harsh environments. 

The Spanish track title translates to “nobody knows,” used to express uncertainty, lack of knowledge or being unable to predict an outcome. A personal and introspective view of the impact of fame and the criticism he faces, this song is a call to live in the moment, release yourself from the approval of others, and embrace who you are. 

This Seoul Town Road remix brings together a Billboard Hot 100 gay rapper and the leader of the biggest global K-pop sensation. For the full cultural visuals, check out their historic 2020 Grammy Awards performance. 

The pulsating rhythm of this tale about empathy makes this one of the most memorable, emotionally intense songs in pop music. Its 2022 comeback on Netflix’s “Stranger Things” made the artist, at age 64, the oldest woman to top the UK Singles Chart in the UK. At her induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame the next year, Bush was recognized for her innovation, including being the first to use a headset mic on stage. 

The Band rock guitarist and songwriter wrote the television documentary “Music for the Native Americans” soundtrack inspired by his Mohawk heritage. His son is on drums for this track. His daughter does backup vocals on the album’s “Coyote Dance” track. 

Penned with his long-time lyricist partner Bernie Taupin, this track is about liberation and the feeling of freedom from limitations, heartbreak and societal limitations. Few have accomplished so much in life: Royalty, knighthood, EGOT winner, HIV/AIDS philanthropist and a champion of same-sex marriage and equality. 

This optimistic track has been widely interpreted as a message to people who are unrecognized and unappreciated for their accomplishments. Take your own steps. Do it your own way and you will rise. 

The singer/songwriter has described this as being about “letting go” and “wanting to feel free in a time where I felt an overwhelming amount of numbness.” Her horses are a restless, untamed spirit who desire freedom and adventure. 

Richman has maintained his playful lyricism throughout his punk > folk > country musical journey. Forget the labels. He’s a fun and fascinating storyteller. This track is perhaps about a girl choosing horses over him. 

Beyonce is not the first or only Black woman to sing country (Google: Black Opry). But for someone as established as Queen Bey to release crossover album “Cowboy Carter” at the height of social injustices across America, that’s the epitome of courage. 

In response to the lack of female music producers, the singer/songwriter produces her own alt pop music. The first-born daughter in a Chinese American family, she explores identity, societal pressures, and independence in this song. 

Originally from Kentucky and known today as the voice of the Bakersfield sound, he wrote this country ballad about maintaining relationships. 

A fifth generation Louisiana farmer, this trail blazing country singer/songwriter belts out this tune about resilience and independence. 

Written by Stan Jones in 1948, the song is based on a story told to him as a boy by a Native American: When souls vacate their physical bodies, they live as spirits in the sky that look like ghost riders. 

In this modern country western song that begins with a fiddle and culminates with a banjo, the Wyoming native singer/songwriter reminisces about the need to have loved ones in your life, but is torn because relationships come at a cost of your independence and mobility. 

From the New York underground punk scene, this rebellious song unfolds the story of a young man who rises from trauma when envisioning horses. 

Written as a memorial after the loss of his 15-year-old son, this solemn song uses horses for their transformative power with a message that love is unending and persists beyond life. 

In the group’s trademark post-punk style, this track seems to condemn pretentiousness and expose the impact it has on relationships.