So after being buried under a pile of work and resorting to communicating with monosyllabic grunting last week I thought that this week would be a good chance for a Happy Songs Top 5. I don’t want happy songs per se rather I want songs that make you feel happy. Not what you put on when you want to drown your sorrows with music and whiskey but those tracks you put on when you need a boost. So this Top 5 is all about where you get your musical caffeine or heck your musical amphetamine. I dug deep for mine and some of the tracks may make you question my sanity. I can assure you that questioning my sanity will do you no good as I am right out of my tiny little mind…
Track Archive
AUTOPSY IV’S ANSWERS: When I am in need of a pick me up I go straight for the nostalgia pulling songs from my past that have some pretty kick ass memories saddled to them. Playing them results in me smiling and toasting virtual beers with random versions of me from the past. Here are a few:
The Freestylers – Dancehall Vibes (feat. Tenor Vibe)
The Amazing Rhythm Aces – The End Is Not In Sight (The Cowboy Tune)
They Might Be Giants – 32 Footsteps
Dead Milkmen – I Am The Walrus
Murray Head – One Night In Bangkok
romeosidvicious
Hmmm….happy….I think I can come up with a few.
Robert Randolph & The Family Band – Ain’t Nothing Wrong With That
If you can’t get up and shake your ass to this and smile, well you might want to check your heart rate.
Darrell Scott – Great Day To Be Alive
Same song recorded by Travis Tritt, but Darrell Scott wrote it. I like Scott’s version better.
Charlie Robison – Good Times
This song just gushes happiness. I find myself listening to this when I’m cleaning, helps me enjoy what I’m doing and makes me smile.
The Gourds – Lower 48
This song just makes me laugh. That’s about it.
Gov’t Mule – 32/20 Blues
Always a good song to listen to when you’re in a good mood. At least I think so.
That whole Mudhoney album, Piece of Cake, is one giant happy song for me. Ritzville, Suck You Dry, and Acetone are highlights, but the whole thing is awesome start-to-finish.
Oh Bondage Up Yours makes me happy as well. I think it’s the horns.
The Band – Up on Cripple Creek
Black Flag – Six Pack
Operation Ivy – Sound System
Sloppy Seconds – I Don’t Wanna Be a Homosexual
Screeching Weasel – I Wanna Be a Homosexual
I’m not sure what this list says but I know all of these songs will make me smile. Some of them its about the song and some are about the memories but it’s happy either way.
Ween – Waving My Dick in the Wind
Lucero – All Sewn Up
Sublime – 5446 Thats My Number/ Ball And Chain
Pedals on our Pirate Ship – Reinventing Bryan Adams
Tim Barry – Cmon Quinn
These are all songs I love to crank in my car.
Honorable mentions: The Takers, Cory Branan, Have Gun Will Travel, Mamas and the Papas, Cake, 2 Cow Garage, Mad Caddies, Tom Petty, DTR, Tenacious D, Flight of the Conchords, Liz Phair, Pixies and Micahel Jackson
Nick:
Operation Ivy – Sound System
Sloppy Seconds – I Don’t Wanna Be a Homosexual
Screeching Weasel – I Wanna Be a Homosexual
That makes me think of High School, jealous of your picks. I <3 Sloppy Seconds – Candy Man
Marshall Tucker Band- “Can’t You See”
Led Zeppelin- “Ramble On”
Robert Earl Keen- “Something I do” Now this is a newer one but I would really tell anyone especially visitors here to give this a listen.. Robert at his best..
Scandal featuring Patty Smyth- “The Warrior”
Weezer- “Undone-The Sweater Song”
hmmm – yet another interesting and insightful top5:
Elvis Costello – Oliver’s Army
Bad Religion – Kerosene
Bob Marley – Easy Skanking
The Connells – Stone Cold Yesterday
Drive By Truckers – Sink Hole
Brandon — man, I had forgotten all about ‘The Warrior’, that is a good happy song!!
and haley … good call on the Ween, although mine would be the more obligitory “Push th’ Little Daises” – but really take your pick…
1. “Let the Sunshine In” – Screeching Weasel
Whether in 9th grade trying to figure shit out or last week trying to figure shit out, this song is like a spoonful of sugar.
2. “It’s a Fact” – The Vandals
Good song to crank when you feel like you just can’t win.
3. “Constructive Summer” – The Hold Steady
4. “Out the Window” – The Violent Femmes
5. “Heads Will Roll” – The Yeah Yeah Yeahs
I rock out like a college girl on her way to spring break when this song comes on. I think I’ve even referred to it as “my jam.”
Haley
those are high school for sure. everyone always put the Sloppy Seconds and Screeching Weasel songs back to back on tapes.
Larry
argh how’d I forget the Vandals and The Violent Femmes
real quick-like:
1, Home for Supper -Hoots n Hell Mouth
2, Lookout Mt. -DBTs
3, You!Me!Dancing! -Los Campisinos
4, Tell the King the Killer is here -Ronny Elliott
5, Patience for the Ride -Centro-matic
My answer to this one would be exactly the same as my answer to the High School Top 5, haha! Happy, sunny days always make me go straight for the skate/pop/ska/punk songs. And after reading some of the comments, I see I’m not the only one
Some of my old favourites: Less than Jake, Mad Caddies, Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Lagwagon, No Use For A Name, Descendents, All, Vandals, Op Ivy, Good Riddance, Pulley, Screeching Weasel…yup, pretty much high school.
Pretty new to this awesome blog. Love it!!!
Bran van 3000 “Drinking in L.A.
Rainmakers “Long Gone Long”
Mungos Hi Fi “Dubplate fi dem”
Wiley”Pick yourself up”
The Men They Couldnt Hang “Rain Steam and Speed”
Happy songs = power pop!
eels – Mr E’s Beautiful Blues
Nada Surf – Happy Kid
Matthew Sweet – I’ve Been Waiting
Paul Westerberg – Waiting For Somebody
Ben Kweller – Commerce, TX
Blues Traveler – Hook (just because singing along takes enough concentration that I forget about whatever it is that’s bringing me down)
Pete Yorn – For Nancy (‘Cause it Already Is)
Miniature Tigers – The Wolf
Sam The Sham Lyrics – Li’l Red Riding Hood
Franz Ferdinand – Walk Away
Note: I’m sure there are songs that make me a whole lot happier. I’m just coming out of a breakup. A repeat breakup. It’s coloring everything for the day, but I’m sure I’ll be fine by Wednesday. Friday, at the latest. Or July.
My boss went to Bangkok for vacation. When he got back we were telling him he looked so relaxed. He started talking about this night in Bangkok and then stopped realizing he shouldn’t tell us anymore. I’m glad he didn’t. It must be fun. Vegas has nothing on Bangkok.