Nothing and no one can get under your skin as well, and as fast, as your own mother. Maybe it’s because you were inside of her for around 9 months. Maybe it’s because she watched you grow and memorized the times you were triggered. Mom is our greatest superhero and, if we’re being honest, the single greatest villain and opposition any time we wanted to just give in to our dark side. So, in honor of Mother’s Day and her status as greatest superhero villain–we asked our staff–what is your hype song, and why? Because let’s face it–your hype song and your mom both know how to get your temper and emotions going from a cool 75 degrees to heatstroke, in less than 2 seconds flat. Happy Mother’s Day! Enjoy our list and–let us know yours!  –Sai Sisavatdy

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Donna Luangmany: I love a good hype song. Jay Z, A Tribe Called Quest, Talib Kweli, Lupe Fiasco, and DMX always get me in the right mood. But my anthem lately has been Alicia Keys’ “Girl on Fire”, the Inferno Version with Nicki Minaj (I love the energy she brings to the song) . Pair that song with a good cup of coffee and I feel ready to take on the world!

A.Ou: “Reminder” by the Weeknd brings me back to a time when I was working as an event organizer in Vientiane. I’d blast this song on the stereo while driving down the road, on my way to accomplish some daunting tasks that no 16 year old should be tasked with.

Chanida Phaengdara Potter: Michael Jackson’s “Bad” will never die as my go-to song to get me going in the morning. Because I’m bad. You know I’m bad, I’m bad come on, you know. And the whole world has to answer right now just to tell you once again, who’s bad?

Janit Von Saechao: I’ve had Drake’s “Nice For What” on repeat, every morning. It’s the feminist anthem/theme song of my life. Drake’s just been getting it right a lot lately and I’m here for ALL OF IT.

Timothy Singratsomboune: Getting ready for a protest, lifting at the gym, or considering cleaning my room: I need hype songs that can actually get me out of bed (for once). So I either listen to “Ryu’s Theme” from Street Fighter II (Turbo, of course), or to Jagged Edge’s “Let’s Get Married” (the remix with Rev. Run, of course).

Saysomphorn Sisavatdy: My personal anthem has been “Fighting Dreamers” from Naruto for a long time (it’s even linked in my formal LLOTP bio) because it is just the perfect depiction of how I view my journey and life. That said, so many songs invoke the fire within, from: “Uptown Funk” (Bruno Mars, Mark Ronson), “We Will Rock You” and “We Are The Champions” (Queen), “What a Wonderful World” (Louis Armstrong), and anything from Kendrick Lamar, to the one I chose here, “O-o-h Child” by the Five Stairsteps.

Bryan Thao Worra: I’m old school, so I’m just going to have to stick with classics, in this case, “I’ve Got The Power” by Snap! So, as that lyrical Jesse James puts it, “Peace, stay off my back!” You know. 🙂

Tell us–did we get it right? Did any of your favorites make it here?