War, recession, unemployment, Glenn Beck … with such darkness surrounding this day and age, how will we ever see the sun? Sometimes all it takes is a song.
1. “Fisherman’s Blues,” The Waterboys
There’s nothing bluesy about “Fisherman’s Blues,” and despite the longing in the lyrics, it’s a song that makes you want to smile.
2. “Just For Me,” Blues Traveler
Blues Traveler knows a thing or two about struggles, but they also know how to put it in perspective and how to celebrate with music.
3. “Headlong,” Queen
“There used to be a man with a stick in his hand/there used to be a woman with a hotdog stand!” So goes the lyrics to 1991’s “Headlong,” an oft-overlooked rockin’ tune by Queen. What does it mean? Who cares, just boogie down, man!
4. “There’s Always Someone Cooler Than You,” Ben Folds
Although it sounds like a put-down, “There’s Always Someone Cooler Than You” is the furthest thing from it. This song is about the joy that can be found simply by letting go.
5. “Top of the World,” Shonen Knife
If you’re going to sing a super-happy fun song by The Carpenters, you ought to be part of an all-girl punk band from Osaka, blaring it away with a heavy Japanese inflection. Only then does “Top of the World” achieve its fullest flower.
Discuss: What do you play to make you feel better?
Here’s a few off the top of my head:
-Most of the tracks on We Are Pilots, Shiny Toy Guns
-”Geek in the Pink”, Jason Mraz (“Wordplay” and “You and I Both”, as well as some others of his, are also good)
-”Flathead”, the Fratellis (I rediscovered this one when we did the Scottish list; makes me bob my head spontaneously, and also brings visions of the Headcrusher by virtue of the title)
-”Island in the Sun”, Weezer (more spontaneous head-bobbing)
-”No Surprises”, Radiohead (this is not a happy song, but makes me smile in a cynical sort of way. A strange choice, I know, but as you are aware, I’m kind of a strange girl.)
And in the “try listening to this and not smiling” category:
-”Hockey Song”, Jughead (I mean, come on, what’s funnier than a rapid-fire list of every type of hockey imaginable?)
-”They Don’t Know”, Tracey Ullman (Especially in conjunction with the video, in which she is wheeling a cart around a supermarket with a picture of Paul McCartney in it)
I too love “Fisherman’s Blues”. It’s interesting that it is surrounded by the exquisite melancholy of Elliott Smith tunes on the Good Will Hunting soundtrack.
And so, in conclusion, “Whoa, whoa, pull the bus over to the side of the pretentiousness highway. I want the shiny people over here, and the happy people over here.” Thank you, Denis Leary.
P.S. That smily face is creeping me out a little bit.
“Hum” – The Sheila Divine
“Jump Rope” and “Should be Loved” – Blue October
“He’s a Rebel” – The Crystals
“Modern Love” – David Bowie
“Nasty Girl” – Nitty (no, seriously)
“She Bop” – Cyndi Lauper
Anything by Me First & the Gimme Gimmes
But is he? Is he REALLY a rebel?
He’s not a rebel, no no no, he’s not a rebel, no no no, he’s not a rebel, no no no, to me.
P-Funk never fails to lift me out of a gloom, particularly stuff like “One Nation Under a Groove” and “(Not Just) Knee Deep.”
And no matter the suicidal melancholy behind it, the Gin Blossoms’ “Found Out About You” has a similar effect on me.
also,
The Jam – “Town Called Malice”
Gomez – “See The World”
Ben Folds Five – “Philosophy”
Nicole Atkins – “Maybe Tonight”
Island In The Sun, definitely Kate!
And who is there no ‘Don’t Worry Be Happy?’