Time recently released their list of the 100 most influential people of 2018 — and now 35 of them have contributed to a Spotify playlist of songs that inspire them.
The pioneers, artists, leaders, titans and icons contributed a suitably eclectic, genre- and era-blurring list, along with a heartfelt note with each as to how the track played a part in these influencers’ lives.
Nearly every era of popular music is represented in some way, from inspirational classics like John Lennon’s “Imagine” (“It’s a shame that such a talented man was lost to gun violence,” reflects Parkland student/activist David Hogg), to firebrand hip-hop like The Notorious B.I.G.’s “Juicy” (“It’s a song about overcoming adversity in the hood and living a life you never dreamed,” states Trevor Noah). This is contrasted with modern pop songs like Coldplay’s “A Sky Full of Stars,” which tennis player Roger Federer mapped onto his own life and career: “It is the perfect song at the end of a good week’s practice or for a victory car ride home with the team.”
You can check out Time’s list of 2018’s most influential people here and stream their uplifting, inspirational Spotify playlist below.