Music’s “Magic Power”

Triumph’s 50th reunion tour

Someone recently posted that Triumph—that other Canadian power trio[1]—was going to be touring soon! Could it really be true? Checking online showed that it is so. Original band members Mike Levine, Rik Emmett, and Gil Moore will be celebrating the 50th anniversary of their self-titled debut album by touring during 2026.[2]

Cover of 2022 rockumentary.

Triumph is perhaps best known for their catchy, hard-driving tunes like “Lay It on the Line,” “Rock n Roll Machine,” and “Fight the Good Fight.” I love those, but my personal favorites are “Magic Power” and “Hold On.” Hearing these songs never fails to lift my spirits. A brief look at the lyrics will show you why, though there’s no substitute for clicking on the links and giving them a listen.

I find these “Magic Power” lyrics insightful and gripping:

“Something’s at the edge of your mind
You don’t know what it is
Something you were hoping to find
But you’re not sure what it is.
Then you hear the music
And it all comes crystal clear
The music does the talking
Says the things you want to hear.

I’m young, I’m wild and I’m free
Got the magic power of the music in me . . .

She climbs into bed
She pulls the covers overhead
And she turns her little radio on
She’s had a rotten day
So she hopes the DJ’s
Gonna play her favorite song.

Makes her feel much better
Brings her closer to her dreams.”

Photo by Paige Cody on Unsplash

Whether you’re reaching for something you can’t put words to, you’ve had a bad day, or you simply relish dancing around in your joy to be alive, this song captures what’s so special about Triumph’s music.

Many other fans find that my other favorite song, “Hold On,” speaks to them even more deeply:

“Music holds the secret, to know it can make you whole.
It’s not just a game of notes, it’s the sounds inside your soul . . .
I sing this song for the common man, for the people in despair.
I bring my song into the world and I sing it everywhere
The simple truth lies waiting here for everyone to share.
So hold on and I will take you there . . .
Hold on, hold on to your dreams
Hold on, even though it seems
Everyone around you has their little schemes . . .
Can’t you feel the magic, feel it everywhere
Can’t you hear the music, there’s something in the air.
There’s a celebration deep within a song
Celebrate this feeling, you know it can’t be wrong.”

Making music isn’t just some game, sings Triumph. They’re in the serious business of giving voice to the deepest longings of your soul. Especially for those in despair who may need a little boost to “hold on,” this song can make all the difference.

You really need to watch the 2022 rockumentary, Triumph: Rock & Roll Machine, to hear heartwarming testimony from super-fans, some of whom say that listening to Triumph’s music saved their lives by giving them hope.[3] Some of those stories will likely have you in tears, but they’ll be triumphant ones. That’s the magic power of music.

Photo by Sean Benesh on Unsplash

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[1] The first one, and my favorite, is Rush.

[2] Christopher Hoffman, “Triumph Returning to the Road for 50^th Anniversary Tour after Nearly Four Decades,” News 4 San Antonio, December 10, 2025, https://news4sanantonio.com/news/entertainment/triumph-returns-to-the-road-for-50th-anniversary-tour-after-nearly-four-decades-san-antonio-texas-arenas-concert-allied-forces.

[3] Triumph: Rock & Roll Machine, directed by Sam Dunn and Marc Ricciardelli (Banger Films Production, 2022), https://www.imdb.com/title/tt15301628/.