Staying indoors during the COVID-19 pandemic can impact our mental health, and according to professors at the Berkley College of Music, music can have a positive impact on our lives. Here is a list of songs that will put anyone in a happy mood.
"Speed Queen" by Thunderpussy- The all-female rock n' roll band from Seattle, WA, released the firey Runways-like song in 2017. "Speed Queen" was produced by Sylvia Massy, who worked with Tool, Prince, Johnny Cash and the Red Hot Chili Peppers. "If Thor's Hammer of the Gods from "Immigrant Song" landed in the hands of four wise, willful, and wild women? Well, it would sound something like Thunderpussy," said the band.
"Love on top" by Beyonce-This octave changing love song from Beyonce's fourth studio album, 4 has this R&B sound that is reminiscent of Etta James or Aretha Franklin.
"The Other Side" by Justin Timberlake and SZA (Trolls World Tour soundtrack)- Timberlake, who was the executive producer of the soundtrack, shows his signature funk-pop style in this positive, energetic song. SZA's silky smooth vocals and style give this song a 70s disco-like feel.
"Lights Up" Harry Styles- Styles' first single from his debut self-titled album, is a mellow song with a feeling of freedom. Lyrics like "Shine, step into the light/ Shine, so bright sometimes" is a melodic daydreaming bliss that is a perfect song to listen to on a beautiful warm evening.
"Don't You Forget About Me" Simple Minds-This melodic synth-pop song was Simple Minds' first number one hit in the US, thanks to the John Hughes directed movie, "The Breakfast Club." Writer of Spin magazine, John Leland, said, "' Don't You Forget About Me,' a romantic and melancholy dance track, therefore cuts ice both in the living room and on the dance floor."
"Mr. Brightside" The Killers- It is one of the biggest hits from their first album, Hot Fuss. This upbeat tune instantly brings nostalgia to every millennial's pop/punk phase.
"Caution" The Killers-In a world with COVID-19, this song is a breath of fresh air that gives freedom and hope to everyone worldwide.
"Running Up That Hill" Meg Meyers-Originally sung and produced by 80s singer/songwriter, Kate Bush, this version by Meg Myers is much deeper than Bush's original song. Myers' alto sound and slower tempo emphasizes more on the lyrics. She illustrates struggle and her search for a higher power. In addition to that, the song's album cover has part of Michelangelo's illustration of the "Creation of Adam" painting. It signifies God's gift of life.
"I Wish" by Stevie Wonder is a groovy Motown classic! Wonder talks about a young boy's childhood tales. This funk tune will get everyone dancing on their feet.
"Old Time Rock & Roll" by Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band- The classic rock hit was released in 1979 but became a global hit in the movie "Risky Business," featuring Tom Cruise. This feel-good song is just one that "soothes the soul."
"Friday I'm In Love" by The Cure- The bubbly harmonic pop tune from The Cure's Wish album was a chart-topping hit in the early 90s. Lead singer Robert Smith told Rolling Stone that while writing the song, he thought he stole the chord progression from someone else. "I mean, 'Friday I'm In Love' is not a work of genius, it was almost a calculated song," Smith told NME in 2008. "It's a really good chord progression, I couldn't believe no one else had used it and I asked so many people at the time. I was getting drug paranoia anyway: 'I must have stolen this from somewhere, I can't possibly have come up with this.'"
"The Man" The Killers-Lead singer Brandon Flowers' masculine attitude gives this disco-like song a John Travolta "Saturday Night Fever" vibe. The song is the first single off of their fifth studio album, "Wonderful Wonderful." Flowers paints a vivid picture of his past arrogant attitude. It is a confident booster that will you want to sing, "'Cause baby I'm gifted/ You see what I mean?/ USDA certified lean."
"Round the Bend" Justin Townes Earle-"Round the Bend" is a country song with a dash of rock n' roll. Although lyrically, this song is not a "happy" song, but the gritty guitar licks and Memphis-like blues lyrics give this southern rock song a cheery track to listen to while cruising on an open road.
"Slide" by HER ft. YG-This mellow dance song is HER's latest single. HER's sultry vocals instantly set the chill-out tone in this ride-or-die-type of love song.
"Don't Slack" by Anderson. Paak and Justin Timberlake-It is another one of the latest songs to drop from the Trolls World Tour soundtrack. This feel-good southern funk toe-tapper is a song that will put anyone in a positive mood.
"Blinding Lights" is The Weekend's second single from his fourth studio album, After Hours. Even though the lyrics may not be about a happy relationship, the 80s synth-pop melody is a daydreaming bliss that instantly sounds like an unreleased song from the Stranger Things soundtrack.
"Give yourself a try" by The 1975. It is so hard to choose any 1975 song, considering most of their upbeat songs can put anyone in a feel-good mood despite their lyrics being about lead singer Matty Healy's struggle with addiction. "Give Yourself a Try" is an uplifting song about making it through your 20s. The lyrics and the revolving guitar riff almost feels like a continuation of "Disorder" by Joy Division. Although it is not a sample, the guitar riff to this song and the guitar riff to "Disorder" has an eerily similar sound.
"Don't Stop Me Now" Queen- The 1978 hit is a track off of Queen's album Jazz. It is a brilliant theatrical, energetic, and electrifying track. "People use it as this personal anthem, and it's so catchy to begin with and it can be used in so many different scenarios," said Sirus XM DJ, Rachel Steel. "It fits everything, from your baby learning how to walk to an 80-year-old running a marathon and that has helped it stay relevant through all these years."
"Nights" by Snow the Product Ft. W. Darling- The electronic R&B/pop song is from Snow's 2016 EP, Half Way There Part 1. The hip-hop star shows off her versatile musical ability in this mellow summertime pop hit. In addition to Snow's verses, W. Darling's angelic vocals in the chorus add balance to the song. "Nights" makes anyone want to out and party.
"Number One Fan" MUNA- The catchy and empowering indie-pop song was released in 2017 by electronic trio, MUNA. "Number One Fan [is] a song about recognizing the negative voices in your head and learning to speak back to them," the band said in a press release. "It's a joyful and surprising experience to recognize that, just as we can all be our own biggest haters, we can also decide to be our own biggest fans."
"Rolling 7s" Dirty Honey-Dirty Honey, a rock n' roll band from Baltimore, MD, released their second chart-topping single "Rolling 7s" in 2019 from their self-titled debut EP. The group consists of Marc LaBelle, guitaristJohn Notto, bassist Justin Smolian and drummer Corey Coverstone.LaBelle's Axl Rose-like vocals and the band's 70s rock influence is evident throughout the EP. The song is a mixture of "Possum Kingdom" by Toadies and "Love on the Elevator" by Aerosmith.
"White Butterfly" Dorothy-The song is a soul-searching song of Dorothy Martin's spiritual transformation. "White Butterfly" is from her second album, 28 Days in the Valley. Her alto and blues-like tone adds emotion to the song. The Eddie Vedder vocal influence is blatantly evident when she sings "Ten long years dragging this shame around/ Taking its toll, weighing me down/ Well, I walked into a church/ Looking for a better way to hold my head up high.
"Primadonna Like Me" The Struts-This high-energy Van Halen-like tune from their second album, Young and Dangerous is a song about lead singer, Luke Spiller's alter ego. "It's this completely deluded guy running around his small town, all dressed to the nines – a full-on 21st century dandy going around saying, 'Don't you know who I think I am," said Spiller.
"Batdance" Prince-The multi-genre track is a brilliantly constructed song that includes snippets from Tim Burton's 1989 "Batman" film. This electric dance tune became an international hit.
