I can't believe no one suggested that.
So the weirdest thing: I wrote a whole post with an annotated happy songlist, and I swear to you I hit “publish.” But it didn’t. That was last Wednesday, and I really didn’t feel like rewriting that whole thing until now (amazing what a dull day will do). So.
I’m still finalizing the criteria for this playlist. I have listened to it a couple times now and every now and then the shuffle will hit on a song that I thought I wanted on the playlist, but when hearing it, I’m not sure. Case in point: The Gourds’ version of “Gin and Juice” really only needs to be listened to about once a week, or once every two weeks. A little of that song goes a long way.
I appreciate all your suggestions, too. A lot of them I had, so that was cool. Others I had, but didn’t think I wanted on this particular list. Some I knew but hadn’t considered, which was nice. And thanks to the emails from a couple people, I still have pages of potential songs to go through, so this is all far from over. As it stands now, I’ve got four hours of happy, and that ain’t bad. Now, I realize that my idea of “happy music” will differ from yours. There are songs on here with lyrics that really aren’t happy at all, but either the music is upbeat, or the overall feeling I get from the song is happy. Your mileage may vary, and all that.
Here then, is the Happy Song List so far, in the order that I currently have it shuffled:
“Carparts,” Long Winters
“Mayor of Simpleton,” XTC
“Birdhouse in Your Soul,” They Might Be Giants
“Faith,” George Michael
“Doing the Unstuck,” The Cure
“Diplo Rhythm,” Diplo Feat. Sandra Melody, Vybz Cartel & Pantera Os Danadinhos
Grey's Anatomy fans will recognize this song as the one that Cristina is brushing her teeth to when Burke walks in and they start goofy dancing together.
“Save it For Later,” English Beat
“Just Like Heaven,” The Cure
“Try a Little Tenderness,” The Commitments
To be honest, this song is on here because of the three movies it's associated with: Pretty in Pink, Bull Durham ("no one's got stress, they're wearing a dress!"), and of course, The Commitments.
“My Favourite Buildings,” Robyn Hitchcock
“Land of Canaan,” Indigo Girls
“Closer to Fine,” Indigo Girls
“We Got the Beat,” The Go-Gos
“Gin & Juice,” The Gourds
But I'm going to have to remove it.
“Smiley Faces,” Gnarls Barkley
I walk really well to this song.
“Alex Chilton,” The Replacements
Jangly guitars! Hand claps! Westerberg lyrics! Be still my heart.
“The Bleeding Heart Show,” The New Pornographers
This starts out slow, but it builds, and the ending is just sublime. It makes me so freakin' happy.
“Waitress in the Sky,” The Replacements
“Flesh Number One (Beatle Dennis),” Robyn Hitchcock & The Egyptians
“Freedom 90,” George Michael
“Feel Good Inc (Single Edit),” Gorillaz
Duh.
“Twin Cinema,” The New Pornographers
“Crazy,” Gnarls Barkley
“When the World is Running Down,” The Police
“Cecilia,” Simon & Garfunkel
“I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles),” The Proclaimers
Yes, even after that episode of How I Met Your Mother.
“Beverly Hills,” Weezer
“Come On Eileen,” Dexy’s Midnight Runners
“Kiss Me On The Bus,” The Replacements
“See A Little Light,” Bob Mould
“You’re the Wish You Are I Had,” XTC
“Take Your Mama Out,” Scissor Sisters
Because what's more happy than getting your mother jacked up on some cheap champagne to tell her you're gay?
“Shapes,” The Long Winters
“Tropicalia,” Beck
“Whole Wide World,” Wreckless Eric
“Beautiful Girl,” Robyn Hitchcock
“Walking on Sunshine,” Katrina and the Waves
“Get Ur Freak On,” Missy Elliot
“Punk Rock Girl,” Dead Milkmen
“Leave the Biker,” Fountains of Wayne
I love these lyrics.
“More Bounce,” Soul Kid #1
Carolyn had put this on a mix for me a long time ago and I totally forgot I had it and I can't believe I totally forgot because this song is perfect for a happy happy playlist.
“Cool as Kim Deal,” Dandy Warhols
“The Blues Are Still Blue,” Belle & Sebastian
“High Art, Local News,” The New Pornographers
“Girls Just Want to Have Fun,” Cyndi Lauper
“I Will Dare,” The Replacements
“Alone Again Or,” Calexico with Nicolai Dunger and his band
OK, so. I had heard this song about 5 months ago on KEXP and immediately knew I had heard it before, like in a movie, but I could not think of the movie. I bought the song because a) it's awesome and b) I hoped that if I heard it over and over I'd finally figure out what movie I was thinking of. I Googled, to no avail. I kept seeing Luke Wilson in my head when I heard the song, so I was stuck on the idea that I'd seen it in a Wes Anderson film, but none of those soundtracks listed it.
I finally figured out why. It's a cover! The song was originally recorded by Love, and it is indeed featured in Bottle Rocket, but the song was not included in the soundtrack. You have no idea how much better I feel for having figured it out.
“King of the Road,” Teddy Thompson & Rufus Wainwright
This song = awesome. Rufus = awesome. This cover? So awesome.
“Sons & Daughters,” The Decemberists
(The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes,” Elvis C.
“I Am Superman,” R.E.M.
“Laid,” James
“Head Over Heels,” Tears for Fears
“If I Can’t Change Your Mind,” Sugar
“Hell,” Squirrel Nut Zippers
“Baby Got Back,” Jonathan Coulton
If you haven't heard this cover, you are totally missing out. Now available via iTunes.
“Kiss,” Prince
“Here Comes Your Man,” The Pixies
“No Sissies,” Hawksley Workman
“I Believe,” R.E.M.
