From the ancient drumbeats our ancestors used to the advanced music and streaming services of today, music has held an undeniable effect on the human psyche since the beginning. How is it that sound sequences and rhythms can affect us so much? Follow along for a quick rundown of what makes music so powerful for humans, and our ultimate Happiness Playlist.
The Power of Music
Many studies have been conducted over the years to try and further understand what it is about music that touches us so. With that research, many interesting things have been discovered to help unravel the mystery. One such truth research has uncovered is that people tend to prefer music that is reflective of the mood that they are currently experiencing.
Another fact that research has revealed is that regularly listening to one type of music will typically make someone begin to exhibit a disposition that is more like that of that particular type of music. So, for example, if someone listens to a very upbeat and joyous kind of playlist for several weeks, they are very likely to start to exhibit more of a joyous and upbeat character. Likewise, regularly listening to sad tunes can start to bring the listener down.
Music and Medicine
Further demonstrating the power of music, a 2015 study observed those who were due for various types of surgeries and that would listen to music before, during, or after their procedures. The study found that these people would actually go on to experience less pain and less anxiety than people who were not listening to music around procedure time. Furthermore, these same music-listeners would require less pain medication while in post-surgery recovery.
Some of the world’s leading psychologists have pinned a number of factors that make us so sensitive to music and various types of songs and sounds we hear. Music can emotionally mimic us. It put off what are referred to as “action tendencies” which evoke feelings of action in us through rhythm, beats, and the use of timing. It is also powerful in evoking memories, anticipation, pleasurable stimuli, and even the further development of personal identity.
Your Happiness Playlist
So, in the spirit of improving mood and feeling good by way of the magic of music, we’ve put together a playlist of some great upbeat, happy, and very encouraging songs. Here are 25 picks that are sure to help lift you up and keep you up.
- Florence and the Machine – Dog Days are Over
- Beautiful Small Machines – Counting Back to 1
- Whitney Houston – I Wanna Dance With Somebody
- Cyndi Lauper – Girls Just Want to Have Fun
- Wham! – Wake Me Up Before You Go
- Beach Boys – I Get Around
- Imagine Dragons – On Top of the World
- American Authors – Best Day of my Life
- Matt and Kim – Daylight
- Black Eyed Peas – Labor Day
- Katrina and the Waves – Walking on Sunshine
- Pharrell Williams – Happy
- Hall & Oates – You Make My Dreams Come True
- Stevie Wonder – Isn’t She Lovely
- Sugar Ray – Every Morning
- Ace of Base – The Sign
- Avicii – The Days
- Prince and the Revolution – Let’s Go Crazy
- James Brown – I Got You
- Lizzo – Good as Hell
- Animal Collective – My Girls
- Bobby McFerrin – Don’t Worry Be Happy
- Beck – Mixed Bizness
- Bob Marley – Three Little Birds
- The Flaming Lips – She Don’t Use Jelly
We hope these upbeat jams help get you through the week!
8 thoughts on “Your Happiness Playlist: 25 Songs to Lift Your Spirits and Improve Your Mood”
I love these songs! I’m going to make a playlist to get me moving on my daily walks.
These are great picks! I agree that music has a powerful effect on our mood. This list already has my feet tapping.
I love every single one of these songs. This IS a super happy playlist, and I love it. Time to go boot up Spotify!
Oh, I love this list. Music has the power to dramatically change your mood. This kind of playlist is exactly the thing I love to listen to when my day is feeling heavy.
I’m always looking for good playlists for exercise and for tidying up around the house – this one is perfect! Love that it’s a mix of genres and music from various decades, and that you included Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go, because Wham! always makes me happy 🙂
Thanks for the list of songs. Songs are an integral part of my life since I am a trained singer and love hearing different types of music. Will check out the songs you have suggested, have heard some of them.
I know some song in this list (Stevie Wonder, Whitney Houston, Avicii, Ace of Base) Imagine Dragon) . I will check the others. Never heard before. I always love to listen a song for booster my mood.
I am proud to say that I know every single song on this list! Great list of song choices that definitely make me happy!