Whenever you feel discouraged, sad, or just in a funk, plug in your headphones and listen to these upbeat songs. You’ll feel better in no time!
People turn to music when they feel any emotion in an extreme state. Some people use it to just balance out their emotions. It’s around us everywhere we go, and there’s a reason why.
There’s evidence of music’s presence up to 60,000 years ago. Granted, this form of music probably meant clapping and dancing around a fire. Cave drawing and evidence of utensils indicate music would have also been present during these times.
This shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone, really. Music is a form of expression understood across nations. Despite language barriers, we all feel what music tries to tell us. [Read: 7 ways to make dating a music lover more fun!]
The psychology behind happy music and happy people
There really is a reason why people who listen to a lot of happy music seem to be happier individuals. Music affects your brain by changing the way you perceive the world around you. If you listen to a happy song, you become more likely to recognize and notice happy things.
If you drown yourself in sad, depressing songs, the world around you becomes dim and dreary itself. This causes upset feelings and a bad mood even if you don’t have a reason to be.
Get out of that funk with music!
We all go through trying times in our lives. We get upset and sometimes have a hard time getting out of that bad mood. If you’re like me and prefer to be in a good mood all the time, listening to these upbeat songs lifts your spirits and gets you smiling in no time. [Read: Moving on! 9 upbeat songs to get over your lost love]
1. Walking on Sunshine – Katrina and the Waves. This song literally makes you feel like walking on sunshine. Listen to it and feel a LOT better.
2. I Feel Good – James Brown. A classic everyone should know—even today’s youth.
3. Good Vibrations – The Beach Boys. Is there anything from the Beach Boys that won’t make you happy?
4. Pour Some Sugar on Me – Def Leppard. Am I the only one who gets insanely and irrationally pumped up when I hear this song? Yeah? Okay. Well, it might help you out too.
5. Island in the Sun – Weezer. Try listening to this song without swaying to the happy beat.
6. Bennie and the Jets – Elton John. Is anyone else having flashbacks to 27 Dresses? When they get on the bar and jam out to this song after being doused in rain? Yeah. It’s a powerful mood booster.
7. Jessie’s Girl – Rick Springfield. Another classic with the ability to start everyone singing along.
8. Tubthumping (I Get Knocked Down) – Chumbawamba. “I get knocked down! But I get up again!” If you’re not chanting that phrase by the end of the song . . . all hope is lost. [Read: How to be happy in life and live life to the fullest]
9. Daylight – Matt and Kim. Not smiling when this song plays is a challenge.
10. I Want You Back – Jackson 5. Singing to this song instantly makes you feel better about any situation.
11. Kung Fu Fighting – Carl Douglas. I’m not sure the exact purpose of this song, but it really has the ability to get you in a kung fu fighting, happy mood.
12. Spirit in the Sky – Norman Greenbaum. Simple, subtle, and very effective.
13. Stacy’s Mom – Fountains of Wayne. Didn’t we all have a friend named Stacy we blasted this song and sang along for? One of the best!
14. Hey Ya! – Outkast. We might not know all the lyrics, but we know the important ones and they are what get us in an awesome mood.
15. I Love Rock ‘n Roll – Joan Jett. Just listen to this song if you’re feeling down. I promise you’ll feel better once it’s over. [Read: 16 things you need to give up to have a happier life]
16. Any Way You Want it – Journey. If you want to feel happier, that’s the way you need it.
17. Build Me Up Buttercup – The Foundations. The beat alone creates uncontrollable dancing and happy feelings.
18. All Star – Smash Mouth. Because you are a rock star. So get your show on, get paid.
20. I’m a Believer – The Monkees. Then you listened to this soooong. And now you’re a believerrrr! *Typing how the song sounds isn’t nearly as effective as actually listening to it. So give it a try!*
21. Don’t Stop Believin’ – Journey. I don’t know a single person in a bad mood after listening and singing along to this song.
22. Put Your Records On – Corinne Bailey Rae. This is a slower jam song, but it’ll have you swaying to the beat and smiling without even realizing it.
23. F*ck You – Cee Lo Green. This one is especially great if you’re in a bad mood because of a particular person. [Read: How to get over hate and anger when it’s just not worth it]
24. Semi-Charmed Life – Third Eye Blind. If you’re ready to get pumped up and in a great mood, this song can do the job perfectly.
25. Hot in Here – Nelly. While this one may be inappropriate for smaller ears, it’s perfect for yours and making you feel happy.
26. I’m Yours – Jason Mraz. Definitely a slower and calmer song, but it works just the same at turning that frown upside down.
27. The Lazy Song – Bruno Mars. Because sometimes hearing it’s okay to be lazy and do nothing is exactly what you need to hear to perk you up.
28. Best Day of My Life – American Authors. Why not make today, the day you’re most upset, the best day of your life? With the help of the American Authors, you can do just that.
29. Smile – Uncle Cracker. The name itself describes what this song makes you do.
30. Happy – Pharrell Williams. Another accurate song title. Sing along, let go, and just be happy.
31. Call Me Maybe – Carly Rae Jepsen. If you’re not someone who gets super annoyed by this once overplayed song, it definitely owns the ability to make you happy.
32. Ball Cap – Glen Templeton. For those of you country lovers out there, this one’s for you. The upbeat tempo and mood of the song uplift the spirits.
33. Brown Eyed Girl – Van Morrison. Now, this could just be because I’m a brown eyed girl and this is basically the only song that mentions one of us, but the power to make me feel better even on my worst days requires a listen.
34. Life’s a Dance – John Michael Montgomery. This one is great for making you think about the bad situation you’re in and flipping it so you don’t see it as being that bad.
35. Thanks for the Memories – Fall Out Boy. This song is more intense than many of the other ones listed here. However, even if the lyrics are about a somewhat dreadful topic, this song—and singing along to it—always seems to put me in a great mood. [Read: How to get over your first love with a happy memory]
36. In Love With a Girl – Gavin DeGraw. Happy message, happy beat, and happy you.
37. Keep Your Head Up – Andy Grammer. If you need a literal song to get you out of that funk, this is the one for you.
38. I Don’t Have to be Me ‘Til Monday – Steve Azar. Another country one for all those who appreciate this genre. This song makes you forget what’s bothering you so you return to being happy.
39. Sugar We’re Going Down – Fall Out Boy. Another Fall Out Boy tune to push you out of bed and moving!
40. Roar – Katy Perry. Roar gives you the motivation and strength you need to push past whatever’s going on in your life and be happy with what you have. [Read: 22 throwback songs that every generation will enjoy]
Plugging in your headphones and getting lost in the lyrics and music of these upbeat songs help you cope when you’re in a bad mindset. If you really want to feel better, these upbeat songs help you get started.
