Nov 02, 2017 - But I digress... What song always cheers you up?
I’ve been making a playlist out of answers from the last question I asked—about which songs give you the chills—and it’s a heavy one. So I’m thinking something more upbeat is in order as a follow-up. Since college, the tune that put a smile on my face no matter how blue I was is “Every Day I Write the Book,” by Elvis Costello and the Attractions. When my marriage was in its final death throes, “Hey Ya” by Outkast was a big hit, and that did it too. There have been many more, but those are the ones that endure, for whatever reason. How about you?
Kim France
I was born in Houston, Texas in 1964 and have lived in New York City since 1988. I had a long career in magazines, working at Sassy, Elle, New York, and Spin, and in 2000, I founded Lucky magazine, which I edited for ten years.
“Hot Stepper” Ini Kamoze
“Zungguzungguguzungguzeng” Yellowman (Trust me)
“Happy” Pharrell
“Walking on the Sun” Smashmouth
“Humpty Dance” Digital Underground
“Groove is in the Heart” Deee-Lite
“Diamonds” Rihanna
Oy, don’t get me started.
Good Morning Starshine
Friday I’m in Love
Rock Lobster
I have an entire playlist of songs that make me happy, and “Every Day I Write the Book” happens to be on it. Here are some of the others…
“Bright Whites” Kishi Bashi
“I Know What I Know” Paul Simon
“Cecelia” Simon and Garfunkel
“Oh Boy!” Buddy Holly
“Oblivious” Aztec Camera
“Hotel Yorba” White Stripes
“Baby I’m a Star” Prince
“Balloon Man” Robyn Hitchcock and the Egyptians
Oooh, Oblivious! I loved that song in college and this just compelled me to play it for the first time in years, first thing this morning.
Ohhh Kishi Bashi! Ive seen him live and he just carries an ENERGY!!!
“It’s Raining Men” The Weather Girls
A million years ago, in the mid-80s, I taught an aerobics class. I really only did it so I could make my own playlist, and this song was always on it. Always got everyone going.
I took an aerobics class in the early 80s, at my workplace in Macungie, PA. This song was always on the playlist, this, and Jump, by Van Halen. Certainly got me ready for the long commute home;).
Life on a Chain by Pete Yorn does it every time. Also, a little corny, but a live version of Barbara Streisand singing Don’t Rain on my Parade gives me lots of power.
I love Don’t Rain on My Parade!! Have you seen it in Funny Girl? It makes me want to conquer the world. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aO3Gb5mkwTc
When I was a kid, I used to “perform” this song starting upstairs in my bedroom, moving through the house-finally dancing into the backyard. My poor parents!
Oh yeah to the Pete Yorn, Elisa! That one is always played at volume 11 in my car!
“Walking on Sunshine ” Katrina &the Waves
“You Better You Bet” the Who
Adore both those songs!
Early Elvis Costello bring bags me back to my joyful mispent youth!
So so many, but off the top of my head;
My aim is true (more EC)
Friday I’m in love (cure)
Use me (bill withers)
I’m sure I have some from this decade.
But I’m in the mood to feel young!
So many, but here’s a few:
“This Must Be The Place (Naive Melody)” Talking Heads
“Steal My Sunshine” Len
“Lawyers, Guns and Money” Warren Zevon
“Can I Kick It?” A Tribe Called Quest
“Three Little Birds” Bob Marley
“Bizarre Love Triangle” New Order
Definately Here Comes The Sun. It was played a a recent memorial service I went to and I think it helped everyone.
“A message to you Rudy” by the Clash
“Wonderful world, Beautiful People” by Jimmy Cliff. This one never fails!
Isn’t Message to You Rudy by The Specials?
They both performed it, and I’m guessing the Specials came first but I don’t know for sure.
Yes, the Specials also recorded it (the original was by the wonderfully named Dandy Livingstone), but for some reason, the Clash’s version does it for me…
This week its:
Air – Kelly Watch The Stars (Moog Cookbook remix)
De La Soul – Rolling Skating Jam called Saturdays
Deee Lite – Deee Lite Theme
Malcolm McLaren – Buffalo Gals
Crack in the Pearl Part II – Mark Ronson
Absolute – Scritti Politti
Now She Knows She’s Wrong – Jellyfish
Digital Love – Daft Punk
Unsquare Dance – Dave Brubeck Quartet (thanks to Baby Driver)
Anything New – Bibio
Mick’s up – The Style Council
A big YES! to Saturdays. Such a fun one!
Scritti Politti!!!!!!
Prince – Delirious
King Coleman – Boo Boo Song (just google it)
Go-Gos – Vacation
Isaac Hayes as Chef – Salty Chocolate Balls
“Good Day” by Nappy Roots
“Take Your Mama” and “I Don’t Feel Like Dancing” by Scissor Sisters
“Jump (For My Love)” by The Pointer Sisters
Love this new feature, Kim 🙂
The Scissor Sisters are the BEST.
This Must Be The Place – Talking Heads
One of my happy songs too! Love it.
Couldn’t Get It Right- Clinax Blues Band
Dear Prudence- The Beatles
The Love Cats- The Cure
Suedehead- Morrissey
Dock of The Bay- Otis Redding
Nights On Broadway- Bee Gees
Maybe I’m Amazed- Paul McCartney
I Sat By The Ocean- Queens of the Stone Age
Yes! I love Nights on Broadway! Every time I hear it, I start dancing. I sat by the Ocean has been a favorite for me, too.
I believe this is the hardest question you’ve ever posed. Either that or I am a complete pessimist! I’ll have to get back to this later in the day after my coffee has kicked in…
Up on the Roof-Drifters
Moonlight Feels Right-starbuck
New Orleans Ladies -Louisiana’s Leroux
Blackwater-Doobie Bros
Anything by the Eagles
Al Green’s cover of “I Want To Hold Your Hand”
Beyoncé – “Countdown”
George Michael – “Freedom! ’90”
Pixies – “Where Is My Mind”
LCD Soundsystem – “Dance Yrself Clean”
Otis Redding – “Try A Little Tenderness”
Rolling Stones – “Loving Cup”
Supertramp – “Give A Little Bit”
Florence + The Machine – “Dog Days Are Over”
The Beatles – “Here Comes The Sun” (for pretty much my entire life.)
Freedom! 90 is SUCH a good song!
I knew if I read through the responses, someone would’ve beat me to “Freedom ’90”. No “Wham Rap” yet, though?
Love Shack – the B52s
Why Can’t I touch it – the Buzzcocks
Another Girl Another Planet – the Only Ones
All that I know – Collective Soul
Rudy Can’t Fail – The Clash
Hey Roslyn – David Bowie (and every other Bowie song)
Rio by Duran Duran
My wedding ceremony ended with Daft Punks “Get Lucky” and everyone got up and danced. It ALWAYS makes me smile to hear.
housequake – prince
just dancing – sylvan esso
mr cab driver -lenny kravitiz
proud mary – tina and ike turner
rock steady aretha franklin
love sex magic ciara and justin timberlake
The Proclaimers “I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)”
– Brighter Than Sunshine – Aqualung
– Three Little Birds – Bob Marley (I sang this to my triplets when they were babies and I rocked them to sleep, so it always holds happy memories for me)
– Can’t Stop the Feeling – Justin Timberlake
The Reflex – Duran Duran
Bad Reputation – Joan Jett & The Black Hearts
Everyday – Buddy Holly
Oh L’Amour – Erasure
Can I Kick It – Tribe Called Quest
I Beg Your Pardon (I Never Promised You A Rose Garden) – Kon Kan
Freedom – Wham (not to be confused w/George Michael’s Freedom 90, which is also a winner)
a BIG YES on the Wham/George!!
All You Need Is Love-The Beatles
Happiness Runs-Donovan
Monkey Man-The Stones
Chuck E’s in Love- Ricki Lee Jones
After Midnight-Clapton
I forgot Take A Walk On The Wild Side-Lou Reed
Me & Mr. Jones-Counting Crows
“Sexy and I Know It” – LMFAO
The “wiggle wiggle” bit NEVER fails to cheer me up.
A Million Miles Away–Plimsouls
Let’s See the Sun–Fleshtones
Hold On Hold On–Neko Case
Absolute Beginners–David Bowie
Stand–Sly & the Family Stone
Radio Free Europe–REM
Pumped Up Kicks–Foster the People
Kids–MGMT
King Kunta–Kendrik Lamarr
Jerome–Lykke Li
I’m with CW – this one’s hard for me! But then my head’s full of snot, so.
How about
Kiss – Prince
I Feel Fine, Money Can’t Buy Me Love – The Beatles (duh)
Village Green Preservation Society – The Kinks
September – Earth Wind and Fire
Deceptacon – Le Tigre
Erykah Badu’s cover of Stay by Chaka Khan
The Lemonheads’ cover of My Hero, Zero from School House Rock (which is in a commercial now?!?), also the Blind Melon cover of Three is the Magic Number
Anything by Biz Markie
Oh wait, forgot these:
Young Americans- Bowie (double duh)
Blondie – One Way or Another
Our Lips Are Sealed – The Go Go’s
Off the top of my head, songs that always bring a smile when they pop up in my playlist…
Rock with You – Michael Jackson
Love Cats – The Cure
Love is the Answer – England Dan and John Ford Coley
That’s Not My Name – The Ting Tings
Mr. Blue Sky – Jeff Lynne
Sir Duke – Steve Wonder
Top of the World – Shonen Knife
Uptown Funk – Bruno Mars
Great memory of “That’s Not My Name”…Working with a skeleton crew of employees at the cosmetic counter of a Macy’s on a very quiet night when that song came over the loudspeaker, and just like a TV commercial all 7 of us started to sing it and dance around! So much fun!
I Want You Back — Jackson Five
Girls With Guitars — Wynona Judd
I Wanna Be Your Lover — Prince
King of New York — Newsies
Me and Julio Down By the Schoolyard — Paul Simon
Bang Bang — Ariana Grande
Good Kisser — Usher
Ain’t Nothing Wrong With That — Robert Randolph and the Family Band
Can’t Hurry Love — The Supremes
You Can Do It — Ice Cube
Signed, Sealed, Delivered, I’m Yours — Stevie Wonder
Come On Over (All I Want Is You) — Christina Aguilera
Your Smiling Face — James Taylor
Valerie — Amy Winehouse
You Make My Dreams — Hall and Oates
Got To Get You Into My Life — The Beatles
Turtle Dove and the Crow — Mandolin Orange
What a fun prompt!
This is an excellent list to my way of thinking:).
I’m Happy Just to Dance with You – Beatles
12:51 – The Strokes
Whatever – Oasis
“Believe” by Flavour – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j5EVc1Ghr4Q
Suddenly I’m going to be listening to music all morning!
Mine are:
“Superman” REM
“Veronica” Elvis Costello
“Three Little Birds” Bob Marley
“Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy” The Andrews Sisters (I get a brain freeze, I love it so much)
“Swing That Tambourine” Kristoffer Ragnstam (Instant pick me up!)
Big Mouth Strikes Again–the Smiths
I think I’d still be working on my list three days from now, so I’ll just name two that popped into my head right away:
Aquarius Apocalyptic – Stop Light Observations
Turtles All the Way Down – Sturgill Simpson
Many excellent choices!
The most reliable musician to get me out of the blues is Stevie Wonder. “Ribbon in the Sky” has never failed yet. And there’s another one that works too … but I need more coffee.
Oh also… check out “Skokiaan” by Louis Armstrong. (I don’t know about the lyrics though. You’ve been warned. Not my department. Still wonderful musico imho.)
Wiki says it was a cover … so I should credit … the wildly beautiful music apparently came from one August Msarurgwa of Zimbabwe, says Wiki.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/August_Msarurgwa
Overjoyed. Phew.
True Affection by the Blow
and
Close to Me by the Cure
xo
I tend to turn to jpop when I want to smile.
I can recommend
Crystal Kay – Namida no saki ni (“Beyond the tears”)
https://youtu.be/1HvkZPy_TJc
Also, Bollywood!
“Dil Se Re” from A. R. Rahman (he did the Slumdog Millionaire soundtrack) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YwfCMvo19s8
Otherwise
Jay-Z – On to the Next One
Barcelona – Ed Sheeran
1963 – Rachael Yamagata
Signed, Sealed, Delivered – Stevie Wonder
Missing You – All Time Low (it’s upbeat, I promise!)
Counting to 100 – Matt Wertz
“Obvious Child” Pual Simon
“American Girl” Tom Petty
“Alex Chilton” Replacements
“Is it Worth It” Missy Elliott
“Just What I needed” The Cars
“Push It” salt n Pepa
“Sabatoge” Beastie Boys
“Rocks Off” Rolling Stones
“Timebomb” Old 97s
I second “Hey Ya”
Excellent list!
Pretty much any Old 97’s does it for me!!
“Shout to the Top” – The Style Council
Just Got Lucky – Jo Boxers
Breakout – Swing Out Sister
The Stack – White Reaper
Feel it All Around – Washed Out
Bad Boy – Dan Croll
On and On – Curtis Harding
Oh, way too many. Just a few –
When I Grow Up – Garbage. This is one of my anthems.
Rise Above – Black Flag. I play this on days that I have to do something I don’t want to do. I love it so much that I have it tattooed on my chest so I see it in the mirror in the morning (albeit backwards).
Ramones/Clash/Sex Pistols, basically any of the punk that I grew up with.
National Front Disco – Morrissey. Such a cheerful song on a grim topic!
Any kind of rock steady or reggae, like the Melodians or the Ethiopians. Right now my favorite song is What’s Wrong with You by the Bleechers from Lee Perry’s High Plains Drifters album. It’s got this weird little chorus that goes
“Boogeyman, boogeyman” that has nothing to do with the rest of the song, but it cracks me up.
Dramarama – Anything, Anything. A lost gem of the 80s.
Blondie – X Offender.
The Distillers – Dismantle Me.
Missy Elliott – Work It and Lose Control. The videos always cheer me up.
Anything by my two all-time favorites, Bowie and the Doors. And Morrissey too, I guess.
You guys have already covered a lot of songs that make me happy, but I’ll add…
Fembot – Robyn
Pulling Mussels From a Shell – Squeeze
Rudy Can’t Fail – The Clash
Danny Says – Ramones
Pretty much every Ramones song is a good time, but’s I LOVE “Danny Says.”
Squeeze songs always make me happy, even when they’re sad (Goodbye Girl). They’re just so brilliantly pop-y!
Freedom 90 — George Michael
Shiny Happy People — R.E.M.
Mayor of Simpleton — XTC
Go to Chelsea — Elvis Costello
Seether — Veruca Salt
Walking on Broken Glass — Annie Lennox
StrangeLove — Depeche Mode
Alex Chilton — The Replacements
Why Can’t I Be You — The Cure
Tomorrow People — Ziggly Marley
Heavy Metal Drummer — Wilco
OMG!!! I love “Heavy Metal Drummer”! In fact, I just requested it for Wilco’s set list for their next concert at The Beacon. 🙂
You Get What You Give-New Radicals
Going to queue it up riiight now…
Just about anything by jimmy Buffett but especially Changes in Latitude, Boat Drinks, and Fins
Jumpin’ Jack Flash (Rolling Stones)
Sweet Melissa (Allman Brothers)
Dream On (Aerosmith)
Ok I better stop now or I will need my own column…have a great day!! Oh wait can’t leave out Grateful Dead Scarlet Begonias!
“Love Shack” —B52s
“Goodbye to You” —Scandal
Oh! Forgot Goodbye to You. This one makes me do my little 80s dance in the mirror.
Train in Vain – The Clash
Our Lips Are Sealed – The Go-Go’s
Chains of Love – Erasure
Tenderness – General Public
Save It For Later – The English Beat
Freedom! ’90 – George Michael
REM – It’s The End Of The World As We Know It
Angels Wanna Wear My Red Shoes – Elvis Costello
Roam – The B52’s
ABC – Jackson Five
Brown Eyed Girl – Van Morrison
American Girl – Tom Petty
Take it Easy – The Eagles
The Harder they Come – Jimmy Cliff
Seconded. General Public. So under-rated today.
Tenderness! Yes!
“Hey, Good Lookin'” – Ray Charles
“Here comes the Sun” – Beatles
“I Wish” – Stevie Wonder
I don’t think this has been mentioned – whenever Blue Sky by Patti Griffin comes on I turn up the music and roll down the windows and sing along loudly.
Here Comes Your Man. Can’t beat it.
“Car Wash” by Rose Royce
Yes! And the movie was great, too!
Come On Eileen – Dexy’s Midnight Runners and Veronica by Elivis Costello
U2 Beautiful Day
Salt n Pepa Whatta Man
The Kinks Better Things
Springsteen Born to Run
Madonna Holiday
Husker Du These Important Years
Ooh also:
Prince, Baby I’m a Star
Naked Eyes, Always Something There to Remind Me
This is so fun to read through… two off the top of my head:
Color Me Impressed – The Replacements
Harness Your Hopes – Pavement
Two great ones!
Just Like Heaven – The Cure
Lonely Town – Brandon Flowers
Beneath the Blue Sky – The Go-Go’s
The Sun Always Shines on TV – a-ha
A Little Respect – Erasure
Enjoy the Silence – Depeche Mode
Happy Together – The Turtles
London Calling by The Clash.
Yell out, “I live by the river!” See? Don’t you feel better?
Yes to Elvis C and his brilliant way with lyrics (“You swore you’d stand by me in the middle of chapter 3, but you were up to your old tricks by chapters 4,5, and 6”!).
My happy songs:
99 Luftballoons – Nena
Pull Up to the Bumper — Grace Jones
I See You Baby (Shakin’ that ass!)–Fatboy Slim
That’s When I Reach For My Revolver — Mission of Burma
Volare — Domenico Modugno
and my fave of all time:
Sheena Was A Punk Rocker — The Ramones
“Ophelia” by The Band (version from The Last Waltz). Check it out on youtube, watch Levon Helm tear it up.
Oh my there are so many but for me it’s an Australian classic (which is probably taking some liberities): ‘Better the devil you know’ by Kylie Minogue 🙂
Plastic Bertrand’s Ça Plan pour Moi.
Somewhere Over the Rainbow by Israel Kamakawiwo’Ole
The Chords – Sh-boom
Ray Charles – Hit the Road Jack
The Lovin’ Spoonful – Do you believe in magic, Daydream, Rain on the Roof
The Rascals – It’s a beautiful Morning
Marshall Crenshaw – Rockin’ Around in NYC
The Silos – Mary’s getting married
Lately, it’s been Shine on Me — Dan Auerbach
Ones that I come back to over the years
I know what I know – Paul Simon
We Found Love – Rihanna
Rebellion (Lies) – Arcade Fire
Blow it Out – The Features
Hotel Yorba – The White Stripes
To Be You (Is to be Sad, Is to be High) – Ryan Adams
Gardenhead / Leave me Alone – Neutral Milk Hotel
Blister in the Sun – Violent Femmes
The Rat – The Walkmen
Everybody Wants to Rule the World by Tears for Fears
Let’s Groove by Earth Wind and Fire
Anything by Saint Motel
Wishing by Flock of Seagulls
It’s My Life by Talk Talk
X – I Must Not Think Bad Thoughts
Patti Smith – Gloria
Bowie – Rock & Roll Suicide
Rolling Stones – Happy
Herb Alpert – Spanish Flea
Talking Heads – And She Was
Single ladies-Beyoncé
Everything she wants-WHAM!
I wanna get next to you-Rose Royce
Baby I’m a star-Prince
Summer wind-Sinatra
Summer Wind is a beautiful song! One of my all-time favorites.
Oh and – Modern Love by Bowie.
Just reading these cheered me up.
This is going to sound weird, but “Loser” by Beck makes me happy. At the time it came out I was stuck in a bad job situation. Singing it at the top of my lungs in the car really helped.
I never, ever get tired of hearing that song. The lyrics alone, LOL! (In the time of chimpanzees I was a monkey . . . )
Windy – The Association
Lights – Journey
Got a Feeling – The Beatles
Volcano – Jimmy Buffet
Second Hand News – Fleetwood Mac
I’m In Love With a Girl—Big Star
I Melt With You—Modern English
I Need Love—Sam Phillips
Save It For Later—The (English) Beat
Just Like Heaven—The Cure
Tempted—Squeeze
Girlfriend—Matthew Sweet
500 Miles—The Proclaimers
Back On The Chain Gang—Pretenders
Whenever You’re on My Mind—Marshall Crenshaw
I acknowledge that the lyrics aren’t always cheerful, but a great hook gets me every time.
Fun question! These came to mind immediately, though not remotely contemporary…
This Old Heart of Mine- The Isley Brothers
I Want You Back- Jackson Five
Wouldn’t it Be Nice- Beach Boys
Bennie and the Jets- Elton John
MrBlue Sky- Electric Light Orchestra
The Oogum Boogum Song – Brenton Wood
And seconding the already mentioned: Tenderness, Friday I’m
In Love, Can I Kick It, and Freedom 90!
Crazy Little Thing Called Love – Queen
Our House – Madness
Jah Glory – Third World
And pretty much anything ABBA. Cheesy, aye, but I’m old enough to claim authentic memories.
And yes, yes to those above who mentioned Love Shack, Car Wash, It’s Raining Men and Come on Eileen, all on my happy playlist.
This is brilliant fun, Kim!
This is going to be the BEST PLAYLIST EVER.
A tiny snippet of my favs.
No Sleep til Brooklyn: Beastie Boys
Chain of Fools: Little Ceasar
Let it Whip: Dazz Band
Missionary Man: Eurythmics
Tusk: Fleetwood Mac
Suicide Blonde: INXS
Better be Good to Me: Tina Turner
Don’t Leave me this Way: Thelma Houston
Change: Lisa Stansfield
Are Ya Gonna Go My Way: Lenny Kravitz
Solsbury Hill: Peter Gabriel
Fire Woman: The Cult
Oh gah – these gotta be on my list too!
Neutron Dance – Pointer Sisters
Partyman (from his Batman Soundtrack)- Prince
Livin’ on the Edge – Aerosmith
Can Hardly Wait- The Mats
Something Else- Sid Vicious
New Sensation- INXS
Let’s Go Crazy- Prince
Square Biz- Teena Marie
Beyonce’s Lemonade kept me alive during my divorce. I don’t know if it put a smile on my face, but it sure put some punch in my ass-kicking and gave me some language for all the emotions I was experiencing.
“Who the fuck do you think I is?
You ain’t married to no average bitch, boy
You can watch my fat ass twist, boy
As I bounce to the next dick, boy
And keep your money, I got my own
Keep a bigger smile on my face being alone
Bad motherfucker, God complex”
So fun to read all of these- one that always makes me happy when i hear it:
5 Years Time -Noah and the Whale
love this list, thank you! there are just so many different ways to get in a good mood…
Red Balloon – Charli XCX
Baby, I love you – Aretha
Every Ghetto, Every City – Lauryn Hill (pretty much anything Lauryn Hill)
We Can’t Stop – Miley Cyrus
As – Stevie Wonder
Boys Don’t Cry – The Cure
Feelin’ Alright – Joe Cocker
Formation – Beyonce
I Gotta Feeling – The Black Eyed Peas
The Things That I Used To Do – Stevie Ray Vaughan
Instant Karma – John Lennon
Get Ur Freak On – Missy Elliot
Hips Don’t Lie – Shakira
Wild Thoughts – DJ Khaled
Daddy, I’m Fine – Sinead O’Connor
Aaahhhh I could go on all day!
I forgot to add my main man…
KISS – PRINCE
although…
i’d rather have a good cry and blast some PURPLE RAIN 😉
Going to come back to these comments later when I’m making a playlist for spin classes I teach!
For me it’s anything by Jo Dee Messina, Shakira, or Jenny Lewis,
Walking on Sunshine -Katrina and the Waves
Turning Japanese-The Vapors
Just Like Heaven -The Cure
Mr. Brightside – The Killers
Three Little Birds -Bob Marley
Train in Vain – The Clash
Holiday -Green Day
Yes, yes, yes to so many of the above! Just want to add
The Allman Brothers – Revival
Reasons Not to Be an Idiot – Frank Turner
Good Noise – John Gorka
Brighter Than the Sun- Colbie Caillat
What Do You Love More Than Love Dar Williams
The Great Unknown – Jukebox the Ghost
Pinch Me – BareNaked Ladies
Cat Stevens – If You Want to Sing Out
Best Day Ever – Sponge Bob the Movie Soundtrack (impossible to cry to without laughing)
My daughter and I sing “Best Day Ever” whenever we’re….you guessed it…”Wearing a striped sweater”! Lol!
Ooh—how could I have forgotten some XTC. Love On a Farmboy’s Wages, Senses Working Overtime…so many options.
Ooh, how could I have forgotten XTC—Love On a Farmboy’s Wages, Senses Working Overtime. So many good ones.
Pyscho Killer by Talking Heads always makes me smile.
So many great tunes already mentioned, but I thought of a few that make me happy:
Hoodoo Voodoo – Billy Bragg and Wilco
Dancing Queen – Abba
Pedestrian at Best -Courtney Barnett
Get it On – Marc Bolan & T Rex
Head Over Heels – JD McPherson
I’m Shipping Up to Boston – Dropkick Murphys
Take Me Out – Frank Ferdinand
Walking on a Dream – Empire of the Sun
Free Man in Paris – Joni Mitchell
Free Man in Paris! So good!!
Pedestrian at Best is on constant repeat over here… such a great lyricist. Love her.
Just a few off the top of my head:
I’m Too Sexy—Right, Said Fred
High—Sir Sly
Eat to the Beat—Blondie
Born Again Teen—Lucius
So, so many already mentioned but also:
I Love You, Suzanne – Lou Reed
You’re Gonna Make It After All – Joan Jett
Fat Bottomed Girls – Queen
Late in the evening – Paul Simon
Pretty much anything by Stevie Wonder
I totally forgot one of my and my family’s favorites: “Ripple” – The Grateful Dead
How could I forget “Sing Songs Along” by Tilly and the Wall? So much found to shout “Let is be free!” over and over at the end.
Cynical Girl–Marshall Crenshaw (I am the cynical girl)
Scatterlings of Africa–Juluka
Three Little Birds–Bob Marley
I Knew the Bride–Dave Edmunds
I’m Looking Through You–Beatles
I Wanna Be Sedated–Ramones
Girlfriend In a Coma–Smiths
Still the Night–BoDeans
This Must Be the Place–Talking Heads
Every Day I Write the Book–Elvis Costello
Folsom Prison Blues–Johnny Cash
The Bottom Line–Big Audio Dynamite
Punk Rock Girl–Dead Milkmen
Stop the Love You Save–Jackson Five
Genius of Love–Tom Tom Club
You Can’t Judge a Book By the Cover–The Strypes (live version is the BEST!)
I love this prompt–reading the responses made me so happy! For a few minutes I stopped thinking about the daily horrors–big and small–of the past year. Thanks, GOACAs! 💋
Wait, one more–
I Will–Beatles (so romantic and sweet!)
“Break Out”, Swing Out Sister
“It’s Not Unusual”, Tom Jones
“And When I Die”, Blood Sweat and Tears
I had to chime in again. I LOVE Psycho Killer by Talking Heads. I crank the volume when I’m driving and song comes on radio.
Also, Beck’s new album is fabulous. Two songs, in particular, are so tremendous … “Wow” and “Dreams.”
The new-ish Bruno Mars album, specifically 24K Magic and Perm.
gets me up and dancing and just happy.
Bonus is watching a performance of each on video.
LOVE him!
My personal theme song is Two Gunslingers by Tom Petty. First, it is an anti-gun song (at least in my mind) and second, that refrain: I’m taking control of my life! Playing that song (and that whole album actually) helps me, always. Right now I have St Vincent’s new album Masseduction on constant replay. “Las Ageless” is just so great
Can’t Hardly Wait – The Replacements
Teenage Kicks – The Undertones
Yakety Sax – Boots Randolph. I dare anyone not to smile when this comes on.
So, I was procrastinating doing some work–and I was so inspired by all of these fabulous song choices–that I created a Google Music playlist and made it public. I also added a few of my own happy-making songs. I’m not sure if my link will appear in this comment, but you can also search for the playlist by name in Google Music: GOACA Happy Mix Fall 2017. https://play.google.com/music/playlist/AMaBXylyk_1YH4zC8aJTmAxNecVZz6E4gRzYjOO3qudTXXO9GoQqV8VP_VC8G52KipfpWL_Rvq8HXhyjje251cC24fg7_lLH-g%3D%3D
I Can See Clearly Now by Johnny Nash. Was and is my sober (22 years) anthem!