Songs that bring me joy

Joy |joi| noun: a feeling of great pleasure and happiness caused by something exceptionally good or satisfying; keen delight; elation… a gladness not based on circumstance…

Joy is one of the most vulnerable feelings we as humans can ever experience in our lifetimes  It is the ability to experience gratitude without the fear of loss or resistance. For me and many other people, music is one the things that brings joy. It is scientifically proven that music can help to ease pain, reduce stress, elevate moods and many other things that can better us physically and emotionally. Below I have constructed a BIG list of songs that bring me joy. It’s a real mix of old and new, alternative, R&B, hip hop, rock and roll and some are just weird but these songs are ones that motivate me, make me want to dance, or remind of a specific event, or even bring about memories from a road trip or a concert. These are songs I can’t help but smile to, feel that feeling of happiness in my stomach, and ones that give me hope.  

1. Dancing Queen (1976) - ABBA

Dancing Queen is a song that a lot of people love to sing along and dance to, to forget their troubles and just lose themselves. Love for ABBA has resurfaced for our generation mostly thanks to the beautiful musical movies Mamma Mia (2008) and Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again (2018). The stories lift your heart and fuels the soul with many of ABBA’s greatest hits that your parents or grandparents used to definitely boogie down to in the 70s, including Mamma Mia, Waterloo, Fernando, Chiquitita, Take a Chance on Me, Voulez Vous, and many, many more amazing songs.

2. September (1978) – Earth, Wind & Fire

You can only play this song in September... Joking! This song is a classic and everyone loves it. It may be an older song that again, your grandparents would dance to at a disco, but it’s just a song that makes you feel good. Other great songs from Earth, Wind & Fire include Boogie Wonderland and Let’s Groove.

3. Let It Be (1968) – The Beatles

Another oldie, but a goldie. Let It Be is probably one of my favourite songs to listen to when I’m feeling down, when something has happened or theres something I can’t change, this song reminds me that it’s okay and to just let it happen and let it go. Some more beautiful songs by The Beatles involve Yesterday, Hey Jude, Let It Be, Here Comes the Sun and many others.

4. True To Your Heart (1998) – Stevie Wonder and 98°

This song was made for one of my favourite Disney movies, Mulan (1998) and it makes me so happy! It’s got great lyrics about letting your heart guide you in your decisions and the music is just so upbeat and positive. Stevie Wonder’s other songs are very much like this one, like I Just Called To Say I Love You, For Once In My Life, You Are The Sunshine of My Life, Superstition and more.

5. Don’t You Worry ‘Bout A Thing (2016) – Tori Kelly

Originally by Stevie Wonder, Tori Kelly covered this song for the animated film Sing in 2016 and she is unquestionably one of my favourite artists and this is one my favourite songs. It gives me that feeling of pure joy, and the message in its lyrics are ones of optimism. Some other songs from Tori Kelly that I love include Don’t Take Me Home, Nobody Love and Unbreakable Smile.

6. Bohemian Rhapsody (1975) – Queen

Queen, of course have some of the greatest songs of all time! This one in particular is a great one to learn and sing along to with friends. Other great hits include, We Will Rock You, We Are The Champions, and I Want To Break Free.

Here's an additional 40 songs:  

7. I Can See Clearly Now – Johnny Nash
8. Don’t Stop Believing – Journey
9. Shut Up and Dance – WALK THE MOON
10. Love Today – MIKA
11. Woke Up Late – Drax Project
12. Can’t Hold Us – Macklemore
13. All Night Long – Lionel Richie
14. Hips Don’t Lie – Shakira
15. Dog Days Are Over – Florence and the Machine
16. Valerie – Amy Winehouse
17. Gives You Hell – The All-American Rejects
18. Watermelon Sugar – Harry Styles
19. Adore You – Harry Styles
20. My Life Would Suck Without You – Kelly Clarkson
21. Finesse – Bruno Mars, Cardi B
22. Higher Love – Whitney Houston, Kygo
23. Make It Better – Anderson .Paak, Feat. Smokey Robinson
24. Loose Tonight – Hips
25. Wake Me Up – Avicii
26. Heroes – David Bowie
27. Let’s Dance – David Bowie
28. Still Falling For You – Ellie Goulding
29. Teenage Dirtbag – Wheatus
30. Somewhere Over The Rainbow – Israel Kamakawiwo’ole
31. I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For – U2
32. Stayin’ Alive – Bee Gees
33. Take Me Home, Country Road – John Denver
34. Red Red Wine – UB40
35. Crazy In Love – Beyonce
36. Simple Things – Miguel
37. Remember Me – Miguel (Coco)
38. Omen – Disclosure, Sam Smith
39. We Don’t Talk Anymore – Charlie Puth, Selena Gomez
40. Step Up – Samantha Jade
41. Cake by the Ocean – DNCE
42. Mr. Brightside – The Killers
43. Thnks fr th Mmrs – Fall Out Boy
44. I Write Sins Not Tragedies – Panic! At the Disco
45. Hymn for the Weekend – Coldplay
46. Cruel – Snakehips, Zayn

These are songs to sing your lungs out to, to dance to like no one is watching, when you’re on the bus and trying desperately to keep a poker face and not burst out into song, for when your feeling down these songs will lift you up. Do with these what you will, make a playlist, add to it, or even add to a playlist you already have and put it on when you feel blue, when you feel that life sucks a little bit and you need an escape, boogie away with these great songs and know that it'll all be okay. I hope they bring you joy as much as they do for me.