The last few months have been pretty miserable haven’t they? World wide acts of terrorism have horrified and shocked us all to our core, we have seen one of the worst tragedies in the UK in a long time with the Grenfell Tower fire and it just seems that life is hard for many right now. Added to that there is a really poor state of affairs currently in the political world and I think a lot of people are feeling very low with little it seems to look forward to.
It is of course incredibly sad what has happened over the course of the last year but if this is to be the way we have to live we have to find ways of coping with all that is going on around us. And that doesn’t make you ignorant, it doesn’t mean you are burying your head in the sand. You can be sympathetic and thoughtful yet also know that for your sanity and happiness you still need to find ways to escape the world around you. A happy world, a calmer world, it may seem impossible these days. But nothing is.
Right now we live in a scary time for sure but for this reason we actually owe it to ourselves to be trying to fill our days with joy, as much joy as we can on every day that we can. Because ( and this sucks a bit ) we only get one shot at this life and I don’t know about you but I want to try as hard as I can to make it a happy one. That doesn’t mean walking around with a huge fake smile plastered across my face each day, because I have low days and plenty of them, as I am sure many of you do but it does mean recognising what makes me smile, what lifts my spirit and brings me joy. A giant cuddle with the girls, a really good catch up and coffee with the ones I love and music. Because music really does bring me such happiness. It is powerful, it has the ability to transform a day. I love concerts, gigs and festivals although I don’t go to as many as I would like but really just turning up the volume at home and spending 30 minutes dancing it out can change the way my day is going. I have so many different playlists and when I am travelling you will rarely see me without earbuds in.
I wanted to share with you 15 songs which always bring a smile to my face. Always. They aren’t necessarily my favourite songs ever, in fact some of my faves are rather mournful, gloomy songs but these are the ones I listen to when I need some cheer, some instant joy. Then I decided to ask some of my fellow bloggers to share their favourite happy songs and any reasons behind it and I have to tell you that this has been such fun to create. So here I give you the ultimate happy playlist. I hope you enjoy this as much as I have enjoyed creating it. Where possible I have linked to YouTube videos so you can listen to them all yourself as you go through. Also if you don’t feel like reading all the way to the bottom or perhaps you want to listen as you read then you can click here for the playlist on YouTube, go ahead and bookmark it for those days when you need a boost
1. Superstition – Stevie Wonder
This song is one of those songs that will always make me want to dance, even if it’s just a shuffle in my seat. It makes me want to just move and smile.
Apologies for those within hearing distance if this song ever comes on as I actually cannot listen to it without singing along. Also makes me want to dance.
3. Boom Shak A Lak – Apache Indian
Wind your bodyyyyy, wriggle your belly… this is the theme tune to my late teens and it always makes me feel like summer. If I get very tipsy on a night out I can possibly be seen asking the DJ to play this song.
I was introduced to this song by a friend last Summer and I must have listened to it a 1000 times since then. Although I do love the original I actually prefer the version from Future Sunsets that I have linked to above which I found on YouTube and the lyrics always make me smile. It is just a happy, feel good song about love.
5. Shut Up & Dance – Walk The Moon
This song makes me feel so happy. The girls are obsessed with it and they think they know all the words ( they don’t but their interpretation makes it even funnier ). I have spent many an hour dancing to it. Claire from Life, Love & Dirty Dishes agrees and says it instantly lifts her.
6. What Makes You Beautiful – One Direction
Another song I have danced around my lounge to with the girls more times than I can count. They love the song and they have a bit of a fascination with Harry Styles ( the 16 year old version ). Izzy will tell me every day that I’m beautiful and if this song comes on she says you know you are beautiful don’t you? Ahh to be seen through the eyes of a five year old.
7. Can’t Stop The Feeling – Justin Timberlake
Go on, put this on and try not to move. Even if it’s just your shoulders, something will be twitching. I got that sunshine in my pocket.
Also JT is just getting better with age, he has all the moves. Also recommended by Beth from Twinderelmo and Helen from Talking Mums.
8.Beautiful day – Joshua Radin
This is a really mellow, happy song. I love the lyrics and I am a huge Joshua Radin fan anyway. These lyrics:
Gonna turn my enemies into friends, what’s broken gets stronger when it mends..
9. You Belong With Me – Taylor Swift
I was never a big fan of Miss Swift until I listened to a load of her songs last year and dammit I got swifted. I am a fan now. A reluctant one but one none the less. This song is just fun and makes me sing along and reminisce about all that teen angst, you know the kind. Come on all together now.. she wears high heels I wear sneakers…
Whatever happened to Mika??? Most Mika songs were pretty catchy but I loved this and although it’s rare that I listen to it now it still gives me all the smiles when I do.
11. All The Small Things – Blink 182
The video alone is enough to make you smile and it just seems to sum up the entire pop industry at the time in one 3 minute video. I am not even entirely sure why this makes me happy, but it does.
13. On Top Of The World – Imagine Dragons
This is one of my favourite songs of the last 5 years or so. These lyrics: I could’ve gave up then but then again I couldn’t cause I’ve travelled all this way for something It is easy to feel on top of the world listening this and I love to listen whilst working out or blasting through my blog admin.
One of the lesser known Bon Jovi songs which was released in the early stages of my pregnancy with Chloe. My first few months of pregnancy were particularly fraught with worry and on many occasion I thought I had lost her. I first heard this song after good news following a scan and it became a sort of anthem for me during the rest of the pregnancy and even now I can feel that sense of relief and joy from that day.
15. Brown Eyed Girl – Van Morrison
There is no real reason why this makes me happy, it just does. Maybe because I am a brown eyed girl!
Moving on now to the recommendations from my fellow bloggers:
Hall & Oates – You Make My Dreams Come True Sus from Rough Measures recommended this because she cannot fail to smile whilst listening and she and her boyfriend get up and dance whenever it comes on.
Jump – Van Halen – Janice from FarmersGirl Kitchen wants to jump whenever she hears this. She also recommends Up On The roof – James Taylor for when this old world is getting you down…
I Love To Boogie – T Rex – Elizabeth from Elizabeth’s Kitchen Diary recommended this as it makes her get up and dance like a fool in the kitchen.
Mr Blue Sky – Electric Light Orchestra recommended by Kellie from Kellie’s Food To Glow, she said she can’t help but feel happy whenever it is played, it is rarely on the radio but if I hear it so do my neighbours. Irresistible soaring strings. Also recommended by Kellie from Kellie Allen Writer who says: As soon as it starts I feel light, free and happy! It has such an awesome rhythm and it’s also in one of my fave Dr Who episodes during a truly happy moment
Come On Eileen – Dexy’s Midnight Runners recommend by Becca from Amuse Your Bouche – this song is also one which makes me beam and remember nights spent in Walkabout. This song ALWAYS came on.
Copacabana – Barry Manilow recommended by Helen from Family Friends Food. When she was in her early 20’s she was in an am dram production and the whole cast would gather and sing this together before a performance. Such an uplifting song. For me personally this will always remind me of that episode of Friends. You know the one.
Happy – Pharrell Williams recommended by Camilla from Fab Food 4 All, she said you can’t help but feel happy ( and click your fingers ) listening to the words and beat. Also recommended by Rachel from Rachel Beauty who challenges anyone not to dance to it.
Grace Kelly – Mika Nicola from Kitchen Sanctuary likes to do the different voices when she is in the kitchen.
Mr Brightside – The Killers – recommended by Nicola again as it makes her feel young and rock n roll. Also recommended by Clare from Neon Rainbow Blog and Laura from The Unsung Mum who says it was a huge hit while she was at Uni and one they all sang at the top of their lungs in the pub!
For Kavey from Kavey Eats it is Golden Brown – The Stranglers which brings a smile to her face.
Andrea from The Petite Cook loves Don’t Stop Me Now – Queen which was also recommended by Laura of Five Little Doves who says as soon as she hears the opening line it takes her back to her early twenties and how she would dance herself stupid to it with friends. These days she has swapped clubs for her kitchen but she still can’t help but dance to it.
Choclette from Tin & Thyme never thought she would suggest Abba but the song Mamma Mia makes her think of the film and she immediately starts grinning.
Erica from The Incidental Parent loves You And Me Song – The Wannadies as it’s so happy and uplifting.
Sarah from A Few favourite Things loves Valerie – Mark Ronson and Amy Winehouse as there is just something about it that gets her singing and dancing along.
Kate from Five Little Stars says Rather Be – Clean Bandit reminds her of her first summer as a parent and the amazing friends she made through her NCT group, although it’s not the sort of music she normally listens to she loves it as it is uplifting and gets a little emotional when it comes on.
Emily from Emily & Indiana can’t help but smile and think of the film White Chicks every time she hears A Thousand Miles – Vanessa Carlton
Amy from The Mighty Duxburys loves Yeah – Usher, she isn’t really sure why as it’s not her usual type of music but it transports her back to high school and dancing like a loon!
Stacey from One Small Human recommends All About That Bass – Meghan Trainor She said: I actually really didn’t like the song at all until my son started dancing to it! He was about a year old when it was being played all the time and it used to make him dance immediately. Makes me smile every time I hear it now.
Jade from The Newlyweds Site had Thinking Out Loud – Ed Sheeran as her first dance song and it now always makes her feel happy and remember her perfect day! Soppy but sweet, yes? I actually quite like it myself especially these lyrics: Darling your soul will never grow old, it’s evergreen.
Cathryn from Cardiff Mummy Says rates Do You Love Me – The Contours as one of her favourite happy songs, it reminds her of her close friends.. plus it’s on the Dirty Dancing soundtrack!
Pompeii – Bastille was recommended by Alana from Baby Holiday as it was the first song she heard on the day of her wedding so it brings back loads of good memories of the day.
Kayleigh from Candyfloss & Dreams loves I Bet You Look Good On The Dance Floor – Arctic Monkeys as she said it reminds her of all the fun times she had at college with her friends.
Hannah from The Amphletts recommended Do You Remember – Jack Johnson as it reminds her of a video her husband sent her whilst on deployment to Afghanistan and says it always makes her smile as she thinks about all they have been through together.
Rude – Magic was playing on the radio just before Julie from Pondering Parenthood was proposed to and again just after – it was very apt so always brings a smile.
Frances from Whinge Whinge Wine defies anyone to not love The Power Of Love – Huey Lewis & The News
And this playlist could have gone on and on but I think this is enough for now. Perhaps I’ll do a part two at some point, I certainly have enough recommendations for another post!
I hope this playlist brings a smile to your face at least once! You can find the full playlist here.
What a wonderful and varied collection! Love it!
Love, love, love this! Come On Eileen is my absolute favourite song for getting me feeling happy! Walk The Moon was on the radio as I drove home from work earlier, I was already in a good mood, but it lifted my spirits even more! Great list xx
So many of my favourites in your list, it’s nice to know that my blogging friends like a lot of the same music, I’ve saved the playlist so it’s there when I need a bit of a boost!
I love a bit of Van Kristin Morrison and was blasting out Blink in the way home today, gotta love them. So glad to see someone else loving the Wannadies You & Me song, it was our first dance
Ps don’t know where Kristen came from? Auto correct gone mad!
Listening to this playlist was a real eduction and great fun too. Thanks for getting me to listen to a whole heap of music I’d probably never have heard otherwise.
Loving all these songs, it’s amazing how some good music can instantly lift your spirits-)