I'm working on a special project for a hospitalized young woman I know. She's a 14 year old girl who just spent the last year recovering from a crippling infection (coma, brain inflammation). 

I've decided that as her cool older cousin when I visit her next I'm going to bring a complilation of ~3 CDs worth of music for her, and I'm completely open to suggestions as to the tracks I include.

Difficulty: She was home schooled and has been somewhat sheltered in her life - which means she hasn't really been exposed to pop culture like most 14 year olds might (this is both good and bad I suppose) - but the main tenor I want the playlist to strike is that it be uplifting enough as to assist with her recovery, but sensitive enough to the reality of suffering as to not be sacchrine. Moreover, it needs to be mature enough as to speak to her teenage angst but safe enough as to pass the scrutiny of conservative Catholic parents.

I have some assistance already, but I want to make it just right for her so I'm putting this out there in the hopes that it passes under the nose of someone more versed in music than I who might be able to suggest things I'd never think of but that would be just perfect for this situation.

Please give this a moment of thought. If I do this right, I know she'll absolutely love it.

/Oh and chess_kebabs, yes, "Fields of Gold" will be in there somewhere, haha

It may end up being a bit much given the situation, but I'm a sentimental sucker for The Flaming Lips' "Do You Realize?".

You also can't go wrong with the Beatles' Abbey Road Medley -- the entire last half of the album starting with "You Never Give Me Your Money"

I'm thinking of including a lot of the Beatles covers from the "Across the Universe" soundtrack.

As far as specifically Christian music, I have Lifehouse and Counting Crowns.

I really don't want to ruin this for her, but anything Pink Floyd may be OK...

Oh, and I think some of the songs from the classic Nick Drake album '5 Leaves Left' will be absolutely perfect.

Ah you might be right about some Floyd. I'm going to go look Nick Drake up now, thanks for the suggestion. Any song that stands out as exemplary/ that made you think he'd be good?

Honestly, every track on that album is a real gem. Probably "Fruit Tree" and "River Man" stand out though.

Good call on the Floyd and Nick Drake, although the latter might be a little too downbeat.  Rael, try Pink Moon, Time of No Reply, Things Behind the Sun or Hazey Jane by Nick Drake.

Yes, that's possibly true.

Might I also suggest "In My Life" by the Beatles, "Watching the Wheels" by John Lennon and almost any song off of "All Things Must Pass" by George Harrison.

A couple more, "Dock at the Bay" by Otis Redding, and "What a Wonderful World" by Louis Armstrong (OK, pushing saccharine, I know, but great songs nonetheless)

OK, one more:  Bob Marley's  "Three Little Birds"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KGnYw-OuCnI&feature=channel_page

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tjHkj-uSt_Y&feature=channel_page

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pnaRUpar_bY

That one always lifts my mood.

The next is inappropriate but I always try to get people to check this song out

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jcj59M4Iz7w&feature=related

c'mon u guys! shes fourteen!

put something a teenager would like, not the beatles

Every teenager should like the Beatles.

What about the song by the 'lighthouse family'; "forever".

Jethro Tull - "Nothing is easy" always puts me in a good mood

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZZ35zOtmFc

here, take it from a fourteen year old.

anything from;

reliant k

newsboys

paramore

mayday parade

three doors down

goo goo dolls

(the last three arent christian, but they're wholsome.)

please take these into consideration.

teenagers now a days are much more different