by Emma Brodie
Over the past year, our world has been crazy, and things have been difficult for most people. We have been in our homes more this year than ever before due to the pandemic. One thing that has allowed me to keep a positive and lifted spirit during these times is through music. Music is a way to disconnect from your realities and connect with any emotion, artist, or genre you want.
Music as an Outlet
I’ve always used music as an outlet from the real world, whether it be as a six-year-old dramatically staring out the car window pretending I am in a Miley Cyrus music video, or as 20 year old listening to calm music when I study. There are endless platforms to stream music easily that even have premade playlists for different moods.
If you are ever bored, sad, lonely, happy, there is always a genre of music that will allow you to connect with yourself and your emotions. Music lets you create a space of mindfulness and can boost happiness and reduce anxiety, (even sad songs!)
Get Your Headphones!
I have always had a deep connection and am a fan of all genres of music from different time periods of which have created my music library. So, here are some songs that can automatically make me smile and want to dance, I hope they work for you too! Mind you, this list is in no particular order- use it as a checklist and listen to all 100 on our Spotify happy playlist!
- Man! I Feel Like a Woman!- Shania Twain
- Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da The Beatles
- The Tide is High- Atomic Kitten
- Valerie- Amy Winehouse
- 22- Taylor Swift
- Dancing Queen- ABBA
- I’m Coming Out- Diana Ross
- Pierre- Ryn Weaver
- Happier- Marshmello, Bastille
- Good Days- SZA
- Come On Eileen= Dexys Midnight Runners
- I Want You Back- Jackson 5
- Sweet Caroline- Neil Diamond
- I Wanna Dance with Somebody- Whitney Houston
- Move Your Feet- Junior Senior
- Stupid Love- Lady Gaga
- Don’t Start Now- Dua Lipa
- Physical- Dua Lipa
- This Is Real- Jax Jones & Ella Henderson
- Electric Love- Borns
- Dancing With Myself- Billy Idol
- Head & Heart- Joel Corry
- Forever- Chris Brown
- Waking Up In Vegas- Katy Perry
- Fire Burning- Sean Kingston
- Everytime We Touch- Cascada
- Electric Church- Mike Taylor
- Tubthumping- Chumbawamba
- Still Into You- Paramore
- Ain’t It Fun- Paramore
- Waka Waka- Shakira
- Let’s Get Loud- Jennifer Lopez
- Kiss Kiss- Chris Brown
- Girlfriend- Avril Lavigne
- You Make My Dreams (Come True)- Daryl Hall & John Oates
- Sweet Home Alabama- Lynyrd Skynyrd
- December, 1963- The Four Seasons
- Shut Up and Dance- WALK THE MOON
- Hey Ya!- Outkast
- Cigarette Daydreams- Cage The Elephant
- Don’t Stop- Foster The People
- The Middle- Jimmy Eat World
- Semi Charmed Life- Third Eye Blind
- New Soul- Yael Naim
- Hey Soul Sister- Train
- Banana Pancakes- Jack Johnson
- Better Together- Jack Johnson
- Unwritten- Natasha Bedingfield
- Don’t Worry Be Happy- Bobby McFerrin
- Rather Be- Clean Bandit, Jess Glynne
- Sugar- Maroon 5
- Shake It Off- Taylor Swift
- I’m Yours- Jason Mraz
- Haven’t Met You Yet- Michael Buble
- Blame It on Me- George Ezra
- Keep Your Head Up- Andy Grammar
- Geronimo-Sheppard
- This Will Be- Natalie Cole
- September- Earth, Wind & Fire
- Reflections- MisterWives
- Boom Clap- Charli XCX
- Anything Could Happen- Ellie Goulding
- Little Talks- Of Monsters and Men
- Mambo No. 5- Lou Bega
- Ho Hey- The Lumineers
- Life is a Highway- Rascal Flatts
- Wagon Wheel- Darius Rucker
- Only the Good Die Young- Billy Joel
- Everybody Talks- Neon Trees
- Brightside- The Killers
- Never Know- Jack Johnson
- Stuck Like Glue- Sugarland
- Hurricane- Bridgit Mendler
- Let it Be- The Beatles
- Here Comes the Sun- The Beatles
- Live While We’re Young- One Direction
- Shotgun- George Ezra
- Put Your Records On- Corinne Bailey Rae
- Accidentally in Love- Counting Crows
- Ain’t No Mountain High Enough- Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell
- All Summer Long- Kid Rock
- American Boy- Estelle & Kanye West
- Are You Gonna Be My Girl- Jet
- Axel F- Crazy Frog
- Baiana- Bakermat
- Banana Pancakes- Jack Johnson
- Beautiful Girls- Sean Kingston
- Big Yellow Taxi- Counting Crows
- Boom, Boom, Boom, Boom!!- Vengaboys
- Boss Bitch- Doja Cat
- Breakfast at Tiffany’s – Deep Blue Something
- Brick House0 the Commodores
- Brown Eyed Girl—Van Morrison
- Bust a Move- Young MC
- Call On Me- Eric Prydz
- Signed, Sealed, Delivered- Stevie Wonder
- My Girl- The Temptations
- Don’t Stop me Now- Queen
- Jessie’s Girl- Rick Springfield
- Come and Get Your Love- Redbone