One of my favorite ways to work my way out of a funk (or let's be honest, spend a Wednesday evening) is dancing around my apartment to my very, very diverse music collection. Music can get me out of foul mood, push me through that tough spot in my workout and generally convince me that I'm capable of superhuman feats. I mean, who hasn't imagined themselves engaging in a dance-off whenever they hear Madonna's Hung Up? No? Anybody?In addition to encouraging rampant ass-shaking, some of my favorite tunes are down right uplifting. May I present you with The Optimist Songbook?
The Fixer - Pearl Jam
sample lyrics:
When somethings dark, let me shed a little light on it
When somethings cold, let me put a little fire on it
If somethings old, I wanna put a bit of shine on it
When somethings gone, I wanna fight to get it back again
Fresh Air - Brother Ali
sample lyrics:
love the life I live, my laughter and my tears
I don't know where it's goin but I like it like it is
I'm surrounded by greatness, my loved ones are amazin
Sometimes I look in their faces and just think of the lives they're changin
Give It Up To Me - Shakira
sample lyrics:
You can have it all
Anything you want you can make it yours
Anything you want in the world
What you get is exactly what you give
Never really know until you try
If You Want to Sing Out - Cat Stevens
sample lyrics:
You can do what you want
The opportunity's on
And if you find a new way
You can do it today
You can make it all true
And you can make it undo
you see? its easy
You Get What You Give - New Radicals
sample lyrics:
But when the night is falling
And you cannot find a friend
You feel your tree is breaking
Just then
You've got the music in you
Don't let go
You've got the music in you
One dance left
This world is gonna pull through
Don't give up
Do You Realize - the Flaming Lips
sample lyrics:
And instead of saying all of your goodbyes -
let them know you realize that life goes fast
It's hard to make the good things last
Unwritten - Natasha Beddingfield
sample lyrics:
no one else
Can speak the words on your lips
Drench yourself in words unspoken
Live your life with arms wide open
Today is where your book begins
The rest is still unwritten
The Middle - Jimmy Eat World
sample lyrics:
So don't buy in.
Live right now.
Yeah, just be yourself.
It doesn't matter if it's good enough
For someone else.
What's your favorite feel-good song?
sample lyrics:
When somethings dark, let me shed a little light on it
When somethings cold, let me put a little fire on it
If somethings old, I wanna put a bit of shine on it
When somethings gone, I wanna fight to get it back again
Fresh Air - Brother Ali
sample lyrics:
love the life I live, my laughter and my tears
I don't know where it's goin but I like it like it is
I'm surrounded by greatness, my loved ones are amazin
Sometimes I look in their faces and just think of the lives they're changin
Give It Up To Me - Shakira
sample lyrics:
You can have it all
Anything you want you can make it yours
Anything you want in the world
What you get is exactly what you give
Never really know until you try
If You Want to Sing Out - Cat Stevens
sample lyrics:
You can do what you want
The opportunity's on
And if you find a new way
You can do it today
You can make it all true
And you can make it undo
you see? its easy
You Get What You Give - New Radicals
sample lyrics:
But when the night is falling
And you cannot find a friend
You feel your tree is breaking
Just then
You've got the music in you
Don't let go
You've got the music in you
One dance left
This world is gonna pull through
Don't give up
Do You Realize - the Flaming Lips
sample lyrics:
And instead of saying all of your goodbyes -
let them know you realize that life goes fast
It's hard to make the good things last
Unwritten - Natasha Beddingfield
sample lyrics:
no one else
Can speak the words on your lips
Drench yourself in words unspoken
Live your life with arms wide open
Today is where your book begins
The rest is still unwritten
The Middle - Jimmy Eat World
sample lyrics:
So don't buy in.
Live right now.
Yeah, just be yourself.
It doesn't matter if it's good enough
For someone else.
What's your favorite feel-good song?
31 comments:
"More Than a Feeling" always does it for me. Big 'ole headphones, spinning and jumping around my apartment...it's the cure for the everything blues.
"More than a Feeling" really has become one! I'd forgotten it til I saw Francine's comment, but it really pumps me up & makes me feel all is okay.
When I'm down, I always sing "Easy" by Cowboy Mouth-- Easy to bitch/easy to whine/easy to moan/easy to cry/easy to feel like there ain't nothing in your life/harder to work/harder to try/hard to be glad to be alive/but it's really worth it, if you give it a try...
Oooh I love that Pearl Jam song.
Times Like These by the Foos is a favourite of mine. It's one of those pick yourself up, dust yourself off and everything will be rosey again songs (well to me anyway).
Song Away by Hockey is a new favourite pick me up song - especially love the video clip.
Just wanted to thank you for the calendar - I received mine yesterday and it's absolutely awesome! I love the little random things to do!
Bob Marley, Redemption Song
"Kids" by MGMT. I've almost blown my speakers on it a few times. :)
Jade! Same! It almost makes me feel weepy I love it so hard. :)
Great list! I too picture myself in a dace-off when I hear Hung Up!!!
HAHAHA! Yes! Music is the best thing ever. Some hilarious songs to break it down to are;
High Voltage by The Electric Six
Short Skirt/Long Jacket by Cake
Dog Days Are Over by Florence + The Machine
Ecstasy or Send Me On My Way by Rusted Root
When You Gonna Learn by Jamiroquai
Starz In Their Eyes by Just Jack
and of course...
Weekapaug Groove by Phish!
ha ha have a groove out session with these tunes!
Swim by Jack's Mannequin. Amazing.
Say Hey (I Love You) by Michael Frente is v. good for dancing. And almost everything on 311's Uplift album is feel-good (the title is apt).
I just nick my mum's motown albums and twist about to some Isley Brothers for a while. Never fails!
Neopolitan dreams by Lisa Mitchell.
Ta da da da da da da!
One of the sweetest and happiest songs I've heard.
"make you feel that way," by blackalicious -
sample lyrics :
Christmas day when your mamma got your first bike... How your team felt winning championship games
Celebrate in a huddle dancing in this rain
Have a thought see a shooting star cross your screen
Put in hard work finally your living your dream
Deaf man get his hearing now in come vibes
Blind man get sight see his first sunrise
Dumb man speaking out, now he's load and clear
Earth through your chout smile so proud ya wear...
Making music that'll bump for a thousand years
Eating right feeling conscience like health is first
Said a prayer that's sincere and you felt it work
Times I feel I wanna shout, man it's real that way
When I'm thinking things that make you feel that way
always makes me smile :-)
here's the link to the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yMbYOkU7LyI
"Don't Stop Me Now" by Queen!
Two songs that never fail to make me want to move---Blinded by the Light by Manfred Mann and Jesse's Girl by Rick Springfield. :)
i love these! i was only familiar with the last two--so thanks for sharing the rest. :)
At the risk of sounding 2000 years old, Dan Fogelberg's "She Don't Look Back" works for me. I'm not a real heartbreaker, I just play one in my head.
Oh! No Regrets by Aesop Rock. OMG. Yes.
Unwritten and The Middle are two of my favourites..
But I'd have to add 'Steer' by Missy Higgins & 'Breathe' by Michelle Branch into the mix.
Btw, I love my new calendar. My birthday is in August which coincides with the 'Things I want for my birthday' list. Hehe :)
Keep doing good things xx
Aww I love this, Give it up to me by Shakira and Unwritten by Natasha Beddingfield are my favourites from your list.
Right now I'm stuck on:
Swing Tree by Discovery
I Am Not a Robot by Marina & the Diamonds.
Tik Tok by Kesha &
Don't Upset the Rhythm by the Noisettes
A couple of my all time favourite feel good songs are: The Party by Justice & Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa by Vampire Weekend.
=]
AH That's "Milk" at least that's her artist name...I love her artwork..so much going on but cool.
I LOVE your blog!! This is wonderful!
I really like Hall and Oates "You Make My Dreams Come True". I always dare myself not to let me be happy when I hear it but it is super contagious.
I Gotta Feeling - The Black Eyed Peas
Crack the Shutters - Snow Patrol
Tiny Dancer - Elton John
Roses are Red - Aqua
Born to Run - Springsteen
Rebel Rebel - David Bowie
I also have a very very soft spot for the versions of Hey Jude and I've Just Seen a Face in Across the Universe.
Also in some serious agreement with the New Radicals and Queen!
I have a playlist called 'happy sh*t'. I play it every time I need a joly of energy, as I can't listen to it without jumping around.
Key happy tracks:
1. Deceptacon, Le Tigre
2. Mushaboom, Feist
3. Be My Baby, Ronettes
4. LDN, Lily Allen
What a fabulous post. One of my go-to songs is Ordinary Day by Great Big Sea:
I’ve got a smile on my face, I’ve got four walls around me
The sun in the sky, the water surrounds me
I’ll win now but sometimes I’ll lose
I’ve been battered, but I’ll never bruise, it’s not so bad
And I say way-hey-hey, it’s just an ordinary day
And it’s all your state of mind
At the end of the day, you’ve just got to say
It’s all right.
LOve this post! Two of my playlists are (1) songs for a crappy day and (2) cheer up buttercup.
Music is such a great way to shake your booty and get that funk off!
-b-
Make sure you download 'Vitriol' by Bluejuice. All of their music is amazing, but that in particular is one of the most feelgood songs I have ever encountered. Awesome.
"What Are You Waiting For" by My Favorite Highway
"The Middle" by Jimmy Eat World is definitely my go to feel-good song!
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