JENN McKINLAY: Occasionally, I get into a MOOD for no good reason at all. It’s more than just the blues, which can be alleviated by a snack. No, this is a much deeper darker sort of mood. I believe Truman Capote called it the “mean reds” in Breakfast at Tiiffany’s. When this darkness comes upon me, there is usually only one cure. Music. I mean I could take a nap but then I risk not getting my work done, so music it is! While most 80's tunes can cheer me up, yes, even a good Rickroll (as a prank, of course) my go-to tune is: There She Goes by the The La’s
How about you, Reds? What’s your go-to song for mood elevation?
RHYS BOWEN: The sound track of Mama Mia is my go-to for driving and mood improving. And singing along loudly! But I can’t have music on when I’m writing. I have to have silence.
HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN: I put on Defying Gravity. That ALWAYS works. And Nessun Dorma. Sometimes Warren Zevon’s Lawyers, Guns and Money, because it always makes me laugh. Nobody's Side from Chess. (It’s so nice and bitter and cynical!) And I Can Do That, from A Chorus Line.
There are SO many!
HALLIE EPHRON: What a great question! Top of my list would Paul Simon Diamonds on the Soles of her Shoes. And then anything on my ancient album of Harry Belafonte gets me dancing around the room. (And I’m with Hank on Defying Gravity. I heard it first at the show on Broadway and it brought the house (and the curtain) down.)
JULIA SPENCER-FLEMING: No doubt for me, it’s Tubthumping, by Chumbawamba. I don’t know if they did anything else, but really, after recording that masterpiece, why would you need anything else?
If I have to get up early in the morning and I’m dragging and play 9 to 5 by the one and only Dolly Parton. Just the first bars with that heartbeat bass line and I’m dancing across the bedroom floor. And speaking of 1980s movies about New York, the best overall mood lifter in the world is Carly Simon’s Let the River Run. Just hearing it makes me want to put on a teeny-tiny skirt and a blazer with big ole shoulder pads and dance my heels off.
LUCY BURDETTE: Lots of good ones here already–for me it would be something Motown. Maybe Your Love Keeps Liftin’ Me, or My Girl, or You Keep Me Hangin’ On. It’s not that they’re all cheerful songs, but I they call for lip-syncing and dancing and I answer the call!
DEBORAH CROMBIE: Hallie, I LOVE Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes–that was going to be one of my top picks. I had my musician characters do a cover of it, along with another pick, Chuck E.’s in Love by Rickie Lee Jones. Which segues right into Corrine Bailey Rae’s Put Your Records On. I dare anyone not to perk up after those three! Sunday Morning by Maroon 5 will have you smiling and tapping your feet even on the first few bars. (And look at thirty-year-old Adam Levine in the video!) Last but not least on the pop/rock front is Crosby, Stills, and Nash’s Suite Judy Blue Eyes–singing along to that has got to release massive endorphins in your brain..
And for something more 2026, Olivia Dean’s Man I Need. She’s so good.
For classical, any Bach chamber music, or a rousing sing-along to the Hallelujah chorus from Beethoven’s 9th.
This might be the happiest post I've ever put up -- the songs had me GROOVIN'!!!! How about you, Readers? What's your go-to happy tune?
"Defying Gravity" is great as is Beethoven's "Ode to Joy" and Handel's "Messiah" . . . .
ReplyDeleteBack in the days when Ally McBeal was on the air there was this thing about having a personal "theme song" and it was really more oriented toward pop music, but Ode to Joy was what I claimed. That piece of music just speaks to my soul!
DeleteSO agree!
DeleteSo many great suggestions! Recently I've been listening to/watching three happy-themed songs with Ida Rose. "Don't Worry, Be Happy" has a hilarious video that includes Robin Williams at his physical-humor best. "Three Little Birds" by Bob Marley is slower and delightful. And "Happy" by Pharrell Williams has snippets of all kinds of people dancing.
ReplyDeleteOh, but not while I'm writing. I'm with Rhys on needing silence for that.
DeleteI share your love of music with a Caribbean feel to it!
DeleteLove "Happy", Edith. What a great choice.
DeleteSame here. I take off my cochlear implant speech processors so I can have quiet time while focusing on my writing. And I remember the don’t worry be happy song. Catchy phrase.
DeleteDiana
My daughter was organizing director for the coordinated Democratic campaign in Maine. She has been working 24/7 with only a few days off since she was hired August 1. In the last two weeks she has repeatedly fallen asleep in her clothes. Yesterday I sent her the clip from her favorite childhood movie, SECRETARIAT, when he wins the Belmont Stakes -- and thus the Triple Crown -- at the end and they play OH HAPPY DAY. (Selden)
ReplyDeleteSelden, I bet she is acquainted with my cousin Jason. He's been campaigning for his friend Kiernan in Maine.
DeleteSelden, tell your daughter thank you for all her hard work! What an effort, and what a reward!
DeleteEverybody worked so hard, everywhere, but I thought those 20-something kids in Maine were incredible. The last week of October they knocked 49,000 doors! I realize belatedly that I have strayed into politics. I'm sorry.
DeleteJulia, YES to Carly Simon's Let the River Run. Another great pick-me-up 80s song for me is Springsteen's Hungry Heart. Jump up and dance! (Selden)
And Thunder Road!
DeleteWe had so many young people come through our neighborhood -- the kids are all right!
DeleteI confess that I am sometimes in the mood for music, but I don't think, "I am in a mood so I need music."
ReplyDeleteHere are some uplifting favorites:
Blue Sky by the Allman Brothers
Uncle John's Band by the Greatful Dead
Different Drum by The Stone Ponies (Linda Ronstat)
Jumping Jack Flash by the Rolling Stones
Cheeseburger in Paradise by Jimmy Buffet
Good Vibrations by the Beach Boys
Delta Lady by Joe Cocker
Classical mood lifters include Beethoven Sonatas and Mozart anything.
Love pretty much anything by the Grateful Dead!
DeleteEspecially Ripple :)
DeleteGreat suggestions, and some new vibe music to me! When I get the mean reds - anything by Jimmy Buffett will do the trick. Like Rhys and Edith, full on silence while I'm working, though.
ReplyDeleteJimmmmmmy! Hub and I used to go see him every time he came through Phoenix. Unofficial Parrotheads :)
DeleteFor me, it isn't so much the song as it is the group singing the songs. When I'm in a funk or otherwise bummed out, I listen to Pentatonix. Those folks are so mega-talented, together and individually, that it erases everything except the perfection of five folks doing what they love. -- Victoria
ReplyDeleteThey are SO great!
DeleteFirst, as a HUGE Warren Zevon fan I'm over the moon that Hank loves at least one of his songs.
ReplyDeleteAs for me, I don't really think I listen to music as a means to elevate me out of a mood. But back when I was coaching, I would pick 3-5 songs that I would listen to for the whole season. This would happen as a means of pumping me up to get ready for a long day at the gym coaching games and otherwise being there all day for the ones I wasn't coaching. I don't remember all of the songs but I know that one of them was the song "Cannonball" by the band GMT (it featured guitarist/vocalist Bernie Torme, bassist John McCoy and drummer Robin Guy). I happened to have reviewed a DVD that as a bonus feature included the video for this song and I really got into it. Both Torme and McCoy saw my review and contacted me. I exchanged a few emails with McCoy but with Torme there were a few months of back and forth emails. So when it came time to pick one season's songs, that one was at the top of the list.
SO cool, Jay. And Werewolves of London.
DeleteJay i hadn't heard of Warren Zevon and being curious I looked him up and listed to Werewolves of London (Hank mentioned it). Anyway I also learned "Bob Dylan unexpectedly visited Zevon in the studio during the recording of Zevon's 1987 album Sentimental Hygiene, where Dylan contributed harmonica to the track 'The Factory' ". Dylan was a huge fan of his.
DeleteOh, I think I’ll make a playlist of all these songs I’m happier just thinking about them! ! When I was working, if I had a home office day I’d put on KCSM jazz ( online). Alyssa Clancy used to be the morning DJ and her music always helped when writing reports and putting together book orders. If I have things to do around the house and am alone ABBA’s greatest hits (Waterloo on replay) and a Janis Joplin CD get me going.
ReplyDeleteDancing Queen is my ABBA fave.
DeleteWhenever I am in a super-bad mood, Tommy Makem's GENTLE ANNIE reminds me that love has a place in this world.
ReplyDeleteAnd whenever current politics seems too much to bear, there's always Randy Rainbow.
Randy Rainbow ALWAYS makes me laugh!
DeleteOh Reds, you have such wonderful taste in music! Among those you listed, I especially share the love for Mama Mia, Nobody's Side, Diamonds on the Souls of Her Shoes, 9 to 5 and My Girl, plus a few of the commenters' choices above.
ReplyDeleteOthers on my personal list include Black Water by the Doobie Brothers, Come Dancing by The Kinks, Sultans of Swing by Dire Straits... One really esoteric love of mine is a CD called Suite for Flute & Jazz Piano by Claude Bolling and Jean Pierre Rampal. It is the only one of all those mentioned that I can actually have on while I do something productive, like writing, as it is instrumental and somehow it is the lyrics that seem to pull me away from my task usually. If I gave it five minutes more thought I know I would double this list, but noobody needs all that!
I love snything flute! Im going yo find this
DeleteLove that you're a fan of Nobody's Side, too!
DeleteHank, One Night in Bangkok is another great song from that show! (This is Susan, but I can't get blogger to recognize me from my phone.)
DeleteEarly Rolling Stones songs, like "Satisfaction" or "Honky Tonk Women" get my out of a bad mood. Or Joan Baez ballads from her first albums, like "Silver Dagger" and "John Riley." The Joan Baez songs sound mournful at times, but they still make happy!
ReplyDeleteBy the way, I have to comment as "Anonymous" and enter my name. I'm not sure how I got off the regulars list, but I've just tried resubscribing. Can anyone advise?
DeleteKim, my Rolling Stones pick me up song is Beast of Burden from Some Girls.
DeleteI don't know how to fix the sign in! Maybe someone else can advise.
Kim: If I use a different, or possibly updated, device than the one I originally signed in with, I have to add my name when I'm listed as anonymous. I have no idea how to fix it.
DeleteOh, how about You Can't Always Get What You Want? A TRUE anthem!!!
DeleteEdith – although ‘Don’t Worry, be Happy’ is a really bad ear worm for me, it has been my theme all my life, except – we always said Don’t Worry be Hoppy! (I think there was a cartoon of that at one point.) While we were on the cancer trail, and when my brother was overseas, I would often end the notes with Don’t worry, be hoppy, which meant we will cope and you enjoy yourself as there is no reason to come home. (Sometimes, I lied…)
ReplyDeleteAs for a song that I would choose – I don’t know. There are many pieces of music that make me just have to sit still and be in the moment. On the other hand, there is a local (Halifax, NS) morning programme on the weekends 6-9, where all the music is chosen by the audience. Talk about eclectic! You can go from fiddle music to Rita MacNeil to Eric Idle or “Have You Got Any News of the Iceberg?” – to songs from musicals or opera. Many a morning, I am half-asleep listening with one ear, half awake and then wake up with a chuckle – and in a great mood. It often includes an earworm for the rest of the day.
That show sounds great, Margo, and we are big hops fans in this house! I harvested a big bag from the vines on the deck, but now the Resident Insomniac says he doesn't want a soporific pillow, after all. Alas.
DeleteI am sitting here laughing because – my hoppy was a rabbit! Google ‘Don’t worry, be hoppy – rabbit’ and you will see what I mean. I never associated it even once with beer – or hops.
DeleteAs for the Sunday show – It is Weekend Mornings with Bill Roach – Halifax NS CBC Radio 1. There is also another one on at the same time from Manitoba and as Bill suggests, it too is good, just not the same. It must be easily able to get if you are podcast or internet savvy, because lots of people from Maine and other parts of the US, and Europe follow it as it plays. They often play the contest which runs at 10 to the hour. Let me say that I can never identify the piece of music from 2-3 notes!
Anything from my 'younger days', Allman Brothers, Bruce, Eagles, Doobie Brothers - you get the picture, but sing along with anything Motown !
ReplyDeleteLove the Allman Bros :)
DeleteThis is such a fun one! I love reading the variety of music that reaches us all! I’m a musician (classical, bluegrass, and traditional/world music) and I love aaaallllll the genres. And I am not ashamed to admit that I am immediately recalibrated when I go to my disco and funk playlist. The BeeGees, Earth Wind and Fire, Donna Summers, Diana Ross— really any disco song causes spontaneous dancing, which immediately improves my mood. It’s likely reminiscent of happy childhood days (I am a 70s child) dancing with my mother in the kitchen to her favorite songs of the era.
ReplyDeleteI Will Survive by Gaynor was an anthem for me and my college roomies. Also, I had a friend who loved The Bee Gees, although they were long gone when we came of age.
DeleteGreat topic, Jenn! For me it was Don't You Want Somebody to Love? by Jefferson Airplane. Now it's more Africa by Toto. I've been listening to Yacht Rock in the car and there are so many sings that I don't remember or that aren't familiar to me at all.
ReplyDeleteThere are so many more: People Are Crazy by Billy Currington, anything by the Stones, the Beach Boys, especially Sloop John B, the early Beatles.
I was having dinner in a restaurant with the hub (fortunately we were the only ones in the restaurant at the time) - because Don't You Wanty Somebody to Love by Jefferson Airplane came on and I just had to start singing along -- although quietly!! Love that song!
DeleteYes, great song!
DeleteCannot help but sing along to that!
DeleteSome fun choices! My middle daughter made me a New House Jamz Spotify playlist when we first moved seven years ago. It has so many great tunes, most of which I had never heard of. But it makes me happy because she took the time to put it together for me, and that she knew what I would like.
ReplyDeleteDepending on the reason for the Mood, I like Pink Martini, especially the Storm Large version of Amodo Mio, which I saw her perform at Music Hall. That second note: shivers! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sCbzWiJLVhk Hang On Little Tomato is another bouncy song from Pink Martini; I prefer the version sung by China Forbes, who cofounded the group with her Harvard classmate, Thomas Lauderdale.
Linda Ronstadt, almost every one of her songs, can get me singing at the top of my lungs, especially her Gershwin catalog. And who could be sad with any song by Bruno Mars, especially his Uptown Funk? My oldest daughter and my grandson and I were in her car once when it came on the radio, and we were literally rocking the car singing along.
I love Bruno!!! And Ronstadt is a Tucson gal. We love her.
DeleteAnything by Aretha Franklin !!! R.e.s.p.e.c.t.
ReplyDeleteRolling Stones, the Beach Boys, the Eagles, Jimi Hendrix, Bruno Mars, Queen (Dancing Girl)
and like Lucy - love anything Motown.
Bruno Mars!!!!!!!!!
DeleteUptown FUnk!
DeleteNot that long ago I had an overwhelming desire to listen to Neil Diamond and that's been my go-to lately for a pick-me-up. Especially Forever in Blue Jeans. It just feels so happy.
ReplyDeleteNod to the Diamond. I love it.
DeleteMy kitchen floor-mopping fav: "Light My Fire" by the Doors or Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture.
ReplyDeleteI'm with you Margaret. Like most women, I need some motivation to clean the house. The Talking Heads' Stop Making Sense CD always get the job done! But I'm singing along with all the other suggestions too. And 50's music helped get painting some rooms done. Love Buddy Holly!
DeleteJenn, this is a tough question for me. Though there are some Deaf people who enjoy and love music, it is kind of foreign to me as a deaf person. A family story is that I LOVED music before I was stricken with meningitis. I loved children's music that was popular the first 18 months of my life. With the advent of captions, I could follow the songs in movies like Mary Poppins and I loved the lyrics. Growing up, when there was dancing classes, I know there was music accompanying the dance classes. With my hearing aids, they were white noise. With my cochlear implants in the last 25 years, I can hear the nuances of different music.
ReplyDeleteDiana
Diana, I imagine that it is a weird question for you. So, let me fix it. What do you do when you're in a bad mood to lift your spirits?
DeleteJenn, thank you. When I’m in a bad mood, I watch movies or read a novel. One of my favorites is The Holiday with Jack Black, Kate winslet, Jude law and Cameron Diaz.
DeleteDiana
From Lois: Reds, can you just imagine the party we would have sharing the DJ responsibilities? I love so many of your picks, simply reading them put a fat smile on this girl’s face. My mood lifters include a few Atlanta Rhythm Section hits (So Into You, Give Me A Piece of Rock, Champagne Jam) but the song that makes me jump up and dance at any wedding is B-52s Love Shack.
ReplyDeleteLois: You're speaking my language there! Love the B-52s and REM, all the 80's really.
DeleteWe need to put together a JRW Spotify playlist! Of course, I have no idea how to do so, so we'd have to consult Youngest... :-)
ReplyDeleteBrilliant! Love to have that, truly.
DeleteLove it!
DeleteGood Vibrations by the Beach Boys is one that can pick me up. I love the slow/fast throughout the piece. Plus its a happy memory from high school.
ReplyDeleteGod Only Knows -- if I want to cry.
DeleteIt depends on what I need at the time. Different issues or moods affect the type of music I want or the person performing. Music has always been very important to me in a wide variety of formats from classical to popular, Broadway shows to instrumental to vocal performances. It has been an integral part of my life and has provided me with ways of uplifting my spirits when I have needed it the most.
ReplyDeleteRhapsody in Blue, This is my Beloved from Kismet, several different songs from Carousel such as if I loved You. 42nd Street from the musical of the same name sung by Jerry Orbach. Au Fond du Temple Saint from the Pearl Fishers particularly the duet sung by Jussi Bjoerling and Robert Merrill, E Lucevan le Stelle from Tosca also sung by Jussi Bjoerling.
Performers include Richard Kiley, Audra McDonald ,Sarah Vaughan, Wynton Marsalis, Jascha Heifetz, Itzhak Perlman, Hilary Hahn
Many violin pieces such as the Scottish Fantasy by Max Bruch, sometimes a Bach partita.
We played Rhapsody in Blue in marching band and we drilled it so much (East Coast Champions 1985) I can still hear it in my head, clear as day.
DeleteOh, I forgot The Obvious Child by Paul Simon. SO great. And Graceland. Julia, make sure to add these to the playlist!
ReplyDeleteOhe more--Hopelessly Devoted!
ReplyDeleteDefinitely Motown. Eric Burden singing "We gotta get out of this place, if it's the last thing we ever do." Beach Boys "Help Me Rhonda." Rolling Stones "Paint it Black." "American Pie." Tom Jones singing What's new Pussycat. And happy music from Bob Wills or Asleep at the Wheel.
ReplyDeleteYou and Lucy are clearly our Motown Girls.
Delete“I Could Have Danced All Night” from My Fair Lady…my first live theater experience (on Broadway), mesmerized by the twirling green skirt of Liza Doolittle at that Saturday matinee. All these years later my imagination dances around…spreading my wings, doing things I’d never done before. Elisabeth
ReplyDeleteI was obsessed with My Fair Lady as a teen. Love it.
DeleteSo much fun listening to all these songs! Jenn, thanks for putting in all the links. And, Julia, I am now a fan of Chumbawamba. Who knew? I need that playlist!
ReplyDeleteMy music TBL (to be listened?) is staggering right now.
DeleteSorry for the delay in chiming in. I am trying to help a feral cat with a sinus condition, because of course I am. LOL. Back soon!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great great topic, and terrific ideas. Gotta get me a list of these.
ReplyDeleteMeanwhile, my go-to cheering up video is Kate and Anna McGarrigle singing the Log Driver's Waltz, from NFB
https://www.nfb.ca/film/log_drivers_waltz/
Oh, I'm going to go listen! TY
DeleteOh, I LOVE them! Thank you for reminding me!
DeleteThat was so much fun! Thank you.
ReplyDeleteGalileo by the Indigo Girls (this is the video I love, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oCbjGH2gO6Y).
ReplyDeleteCan't Stop the Feeling by Justin Timberlake. I'm not a big fan of his, but I played and sang to this song every morning I took Ashley and the kids to Universal and Harry Potter, our wake-up song (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ru0K8uYEZWw)
Shut Up and Dance by Walk the Moon (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6JCLY0Rlx6Q)
Dancing Queen by Abba (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFrGuyw1V8s)
Piano Jazz Summertime by Prince (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7OF3LOPAbe4)