20 Best Songs About Identity Crisis and Individuality (Music Video + Lyrics)

Identity and individuality are deeply connected.

Identity is vital because it helps people to stand out as individuals, build a sense of well-being and significance, and engage in particular cultures and communities.

Individuality, on the other hand, gives people a clearer idea of what they need to be happy. Individuals pursue genuine happiness in whatever shape it may take, rather than subscribing to societal conceptions of happiness.

Whatever it is, the most important thing is to know and love oneself.

20 Best Songs About Identity Crisis and Individuality (Music Video + Lyrics)

Here are 20 Best Songs About Identity and Individuality:

1. Let Me Be Myself by 3 Doors Down

Official Music Video: 3 Doors Down – Let Me Be Myself (Official Video)
Lyric Video: 3 Doors Down- Let Me Be Myself (lyrics) w/download
Link to Lyrics: 3 Doors Down – Let Me Be Myself Lyrics
This song tells you to be original, just be yourself, and everything will be alright.

The artist is lost in his past and seeking to rediscover himself. 

Since he now realizes he's pretending to be somebody he's not.

Now, the writer is gratifying himself by saying, “Let me be myself,” so he can flourish with his brilliance.

2. Starboy by The Weeknd & Daft Punk

Official Live Video: The Weeknd – Starboy ft. Daft Punk (Official Video)
Lyric Video: The Weeknd – Starboy (Lyrics) ft. Daft Punk
Link to Lyrics: The Weeknd – Starboy Lyrics
The Weeknd invented the alter identity “Starboy.”

In the first portion of the music video, The Weeknd murders his “former self.” The Weeknd has also changed his hairstyle to represent his rebirth.

To transform into a star boy, he must ceremonially demolish his things while wearing a cross and sacrifice his old self while wearing a cross.

It is part of the soul-selling process to use this Christian emblem to perpetrate death and devastation.

3. Black Like Me by Black Guyton

Official Live Video: Mickey Guyton – Black Like Me (Live At Capitol Studios)
Lyric Video: Mickey Guyton – Black Like Me (Official Lyric Video) –
Link to Lyrics: Mickey Guyton – Black Like Me Lyrics
In the face of racial discrimination, a ray of light is this song by Guyton!

This song is about trying to fit in and the sorrow of being a black lady in a country where she feels invisible.

Guyton highlights her power declaration and pride in her uniqueness, her blackness.

Black identity is more than just the color of one's skin; it is also how you identify yourself via cultural aspects, practices, or historical origins.

4. Complicated by Avril Lavigne

Music Video: Avril Lavigne – Complicated (Official Video)
Lyric Video: Avril Lavigne – Complicated (Lyrics)
Link to Lyrics: Avril Lavigne – Complicated Lyrics
This song is about life, deceitful individuals, and relationships.

Be satisfied and grateful for what you have today.

You just must be optimistic and authentic to yourself at all times.

You have your own identity and should not allow others to change it.

Life isn't always easy; don't make it any harder. Accept your identity!

5. Invisible by Hunter Hayes

Official Music Video: Hunter Hayes – Invisible (Official Music Video)
Lyric Video: Hunter Hayes – Invisible (Lyrics)
Link to Lyrics: Hunter Hayes – Invisible Lyrics
This song suggests that being unique makes you special; therefore, dare to attempt something new. 

Even if no one ever cares about how you feel or tries to bring you down, recognize that you're not alone and everything will be alright.

You are not invisible.

You are an exceedingly significant individual.

6. Born This Way by Lady Gaga

Official Music Video: Lady Gaga – Born This Way (Official Music Video)
Lyric Video: Born This Way- Lady Gaga LYRICS
Link to Lyrics: Lady Gaga – Born This Way Lyrics
“Lady Gaga” has become a worldwide pop cultural sensation.

Her song ‘Born This Way' is mainly about the identity and belonging of a person.

It is about self-liberation and appreciating every aspect of oneself, regardless of ethnicity, gender, or sexual orientation.

The song reminds us that we have nothing to be ashamed of in ourselves since God will always embrace us for who we are.

7. Just Like Fire by Pink

Official Music Video: P!nk – Just Like Fire (From”Alice Through The Looking Glass” – Official Video)
Lyric Video: P!nk – Just Like Fire (Lyrics) “No one can be just like me any way” [TikTok Song]
Link to Lyrics: Pink – Just Like Fire Lyrics
Pink's song “Just Like Fire” is about the singer's commitment to live out her aspirations and genuinely be herself without being governed by others.

The song is about accepting your own individuality and not allowing others to control you.

8. I Don’t Want To Be by Gavin DeGraw

Official Music Video: Gavin DeGraw – I Don't Want To Be (Official Video)
Lyric Video: Gavin Degraw – I Don't Wanna Be (Lyrics)
Link to Lyrics: Gavin DeGraw – I Don't Want To Be Lyrics
DeGraw mentioned that this song was significantly impacted by the current identity issue among adolescents.

It's near as if you can travel to any city in the country, and the children don't necessarily have a distinct identity; it's as if anything they see on television is what they are.

This song encourages you to be yourself while remembering your origins and where you come from.

9. Hair by Lady Gaga

Official Music Video: Lady Gaga – Hair (Official Audio)
Lyric Video: Hair – Lady Gaga – Lyrics
Link to Lyrics: Lady Gaga – Hair
According to Lady Gaga, this song is about your identity, which is the most essential thing to you.

What is necessary is what is on the inside.

Hair is one of the first things you notice about someone.

This song is clearly about self-acceptance. It's about accepting that not everyone will like you, but you must put yourself out there and live free. 

10. Southern Curls by Julie Williams

Official Music Video: Southern Curls – Julie Williams
Link to Lyrics: Julie Williams – Southern Curls Lyrics
“Southern Curls” is a great song that will empower and educate many individuals.

Julie wants people to realize the struggles many Black girls face regarding their hair and the invisibility of individuals who look like them.

She also believes that “Southern Curls” will speak to anybody who does not view themselves as “attractive,” assuring listeners that if they learn to appreciate themselves for who they are, others will follow the lead.

11. I’ve Gotta Be Me by Sammy Davis Jr.

Lyric Video: Sammy Davis Jr. – I’ve Gotta Be Me – With On-Screen
Link to Lyrics: Sammy Davis Jr. – I've Gotta Be Me Lyrics
This song is immensely empowering since it constantly says, “I gotta be me!”

Even if we are alone in this struggle, battling for survival every day, the most important thing is “I gotta be me.”

Being true to yourself and recognizing your identity will take you anywhere.

12. The Way I Am by Charlie Puth

Official Music Video: Charlie Puth – The Way I Am [Official Video]
Lyric Video: Charlie Puth – The Way I Am [Official Lyric Video]
Link to Lyrics: Charlie Puth – The Way I Am Lyrics
The speaker of “The Way I Am” simply tells the individuals around him and the general public that he's exhausted from pretending to be someone he's not. 

He will be himself, regardless of whether they love or despise him for it.

13. Try by Colbie Caillat

Official Music Video: Colbie Caillat – Try (Official Video)
Lyric Video: Colbie Caillat – Try (Lyrics)
Link to Lyrics: Colbie Caillat – Try Lyrics
“Try” is a heartfelt song that inspires you to look for yourself. 

It's a song about self-love and telling individuals that they don't have to worry about what other people think of them as long as they're happy with themselves.

14. I Love Me by Meghan Trainor ft. LunchMoney Lewis

Official Music Video: I Love Me
Lyric Video: Meghan Trainor – I Love Me (Lyrics) 2016
Link to Lyrics: Meghan Trainor – I Love Me Lyrics
Meghan speaks on the importance of accepting yourself in this song.

It doesn't matter if no one else does; what counts is that you love yourself.

The most essential thing is embracing your identity because if you don't, who will?

15. Mistaken Identity by Kim Carnes

Official Audio: Kim Carnes Mistaken Identity (Mistaken Identity 1981)
Link to Lyrics: Kim Carnes – Mistaken Identity Lyrics
Kim picked ‘Mistaken Identity' as one of our rediscovered Albums not simply because it was a massive hit at the time but because it deserves to be heard by as many contemporary audiences as possible.

This is a song about a relationship in which the other party tells his partner that he must have mistaken her identity.

He is not the girl he wishes he could be.

16. I’m Different By Randy Newman

Official Audio: I'm Different
Link to Lyrics: Randy Newman – I'm Different Lyrics
This song stands out from the others because it exudes confidence.

He is aware that he is different, but he is proud of it and doesn't care what others think.

Although, since he is different from the rest, a part of him feels superior.

17. Who We Are by Red

Lyric Video: Red – Who We Are [Lyrics] HQ
Link to Lyrics: Red – Who We Are Lyrics
This song is about finding one's identity in Christ.

It talks of the conflicts we face, the promises we make, and the presence before The Almighty.

It is Who We Are!

18. ME! By Taylor Swift ft. Brendon Urie

Official Music Video: Taylor Swift – ME! (feat. Brendon Urie of Panic! At The Disco)
Lyric Video: Taylor Swift – ME! (Lyrics) Ft. Brendon Urie
Link to Lyrics: Taylor Swift – ME! Lyrics
Taylor demonstrates how the lyrics express her identity.

Me! is about self-esteem and confidence.

The song focuses on accepting and enjoying our distinct qualities and celebrating them.

19. All By Myself by Eric Carmen

Official Audio: Eric Carmen – All by Myself (Audio)
Link to Lyrics: Eric Carmen – All By Myself Lyrics
“All by Myself”  is inspired by the second movement (Adagio sostenuto) of Sergei Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor, Opus 18, which was notably used to accompany the British film Brief Encounter in 1945.

This song is painful.

The narrator is alone and does not want to be alone, yet by being so, he learns more about himself and avoids dealing with deceptive people.

20. My Life by Billy Joel

Official Audio: Billy Joel – My Life (Audio)
Lyric Video: Billy Joel – My Life (lyrics on screen)
Link to Lyrics: Billy Joel – My Life Lyrics
This is a song about tenacity.

The courage to analyze yourself and the bravery to live your life as you like.

The song's lyrics depict wandering Americans looking for their path in life.

One guy trades his “American” fantasy existence for one of fame and splendor in California.

The other character reconsiders the advantages and disadvantages of tripping around.

They pursue their own course regardless of what others tell them.

About Author

Arielle P

Arielle P

Songwriter | Music Producer | Engineer.

With a background in music production and a strong passion for education, Arielle is dedicated to helping emerging artists navigate the music industry. She has worked with a diverse range of artists, from indie rock bands to well-known hip-hop and grime artists. Arielle's unique approach to teaching focuses on empowering artists to take control of their brand, ensuring they retain creative ownership throughout their journey. In her free time, she enjoys experimenting with new sounds in her home studio and sharing her insights through music production tutorials and workshops.

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