Eric’s iMix: Happy Songs
Some people on a certain message board were making mix CDs for each other in a flagrant violation of copyright laws, and I got to thinking what I would include if I were to make a mix CD to send to all my friends. It should have a particular theme, I thought, and the theme I chose was: Happy Songs.
These are songs that make me happy. In most cases, it’s because they’re just so darn peppy that I always feel like dancing when I hear them. (Please note that I seldom dance in public. But I often WANT to.) Some of them even go a little beyond that, with moods and melodies that actually inspire me, in addition to being toe-tappers.
So here’s the track list for my mix CD. I’ve uploaded it as an iMix at iTunes (follow this link), where you can hear 30-second samples and download songs if you want to.
What tunes would you put on your Happy Songs iMix? Discuss.
1. “Bizarre Love Triangle,” New Order (1986). This is probably my favorite song from the 1980s New Wave movement. The mix of drums (OK, drum machines) and strings (OK, synthesized strings) is the very definition of dance-floor happiness. (There are extended versions, but I prefer the 3:51 original.)
2. “Hey Julie,” Fountains of Wayne (2003). One of the few songs on this list whose lyrics matter. (In most cases, it’s just the music I love.) Not only is the tune catchy and cute, but the lyrics are sweet and heartfelt, about this swell gal who helps make the guy’s life livable.
3. “Hey Ya,” Outkast (2003). Man, did this thing get overplayed in 2003 and 2004. But man, is it ever a fun song.
4. “All of Me,” Jon Schmidt (1991). This is a piano solo by Jon Schmidt, a Utah native whose music is somewhere between pop-rock and Mannheim Steamroller. Some of his compositions could be considered schmaltzy, but “All of Me” is a brilliant piece of work. After a tranquil opening, it launches into a rapid-fire barrage of harmonies and counter-rhythms, as catchy and energizing a song as I’ve ever heard. Every time I hear it, I catch some new rhythm or melody I hadn’t noticed before.
5. “Hourglass,” Squeeze (1987). I defy you not to tap your toes or bob your head. Oh, and sing along with the patter-y chorus.
6. “Starry Eyed Surprise,” Paul Oakenfold, vocals by Shifty Shellshock (2002). In this case, it’s not that the song makes me “happy,” exactly, but that it’s impossible for me not to boogie just a little when I hear it. When I used to do music for ComedySportz in Provo, I would often play this song as exit music after a show. As the audience filed out, I would always see many of them dancing as they did.
7. “Best of My Love,” the Emotions (1977). One year at the Sundance Film Festival’s low-key, super-fun awards ceremony, a technical glitch caused a delay in starting the show. To keep the energy up and everyone happy, they told us to stand up at our seats and dance (”Sun-dance,” get it?). This is the song they played, and sure enough, everyone danced, including Roger Ebert.
8. “Sing, Sing, Sing,” Benny Goodman (1937). You’ve definitely heard this swing tune, whether you know the name or not. It has lyrics, but the best recordings don’t use ‘em. Not only do I want to dance when I hear Goodman’s version, I want to be a bandleader, too.
9. “I’m the Man Who Loves You,” Wilco (2002). A little bluesy (what with all those 7th chords and the general structure), a little rock ‘n’ roll, even a little country. It feels groovy, you know? Oh, and the words are about a guy who is trying to put his feelings into a letter, but he can’t seem to do it. “If I could, you know I would just hold your hand and you’d understand I’m the man who loves you.” Beautiful.
10. “Walking on Sunshine,” Katrina and the Waves (1985). Overused? Overplayed? Yes. Ridiculously upbeat and shiny? You betcha!
11. “New York City,” They Might Be Giants (1996). I could put one of about 30 different TMBG songs on this list; the band is practically synonymous with fun, catchy tunes. But this one (a cover of a song by the defunct girl group Cub) is one of my favorites, with happy and sentimental lyrics about one of my favorite places in the world.
12. “In Between Days,” Ben Folds (2003). Another cover, this time of a song by the Cure. I like the original, but I love Ben Folds’ piano-tastic version. The syncopated rhythm of the main piano riff played against the steady beat of the drums is great.
13. “Do Your Thing,” Basement Jaxx (2003). Some of the best dance songs are about dancing. (See also: “Starry Eyed Surprise.”) This one says the best way to get happy is to shake your money-maker (or words to that effect). It’s the piano-heavy sample that makes it a stand-out, though.
14. “Right Back Where We Started From,” Maxine Nightingale (1976). You hear this one a lot in movies. It’s a good all-purpose feel-good happy song.
15. “We Close Our Eyes,” Oingo Boingo (1987). I’m not a huge fan of Oingo Boingo’s particular brand of ’80s synthesized merriment, but this song’s hummable tune and earnest lyrics always put a smile on my face.
16. “You Got It,” Roy Orbison (1988). Orbison’s career spanned 30 years, and this was one of the last songs he recorded. The lyrics are simply sweet (”Anything you want, you got it”), and the chord progression in the chorus gives the song an added plaintiveness.
17. “Friday I’m in Love,” The Cure (1992). The Cure is most famous, and rightfully so, for being depressing. But this song is just the opposite: One of the things I like best about it is that the upbeat tempo never stops, not for a bridge, not for a coda, never. It starts happy, and it’s happy for the whole 3 1/2 minutes. It perfectly captures the thrilling feeling of being in love.
18. “Endicott,” Kid Creole & the Coconuts (1985). This delightful island-tinged dance tune came to my attention when the video for it was featured in a Dr. Demento TV special many years ago. (It’s not a particularly “funny” song, but it is lighthearted.) It’s the bass line that makes your bootie shake.
19. “Murder (or a Heart Attack),” Old 97s (1999). More relentlessly peppy music. Just fun.
20. “Mr. Brightside (Jacques Lu Cont’s Thin White Duke Mix),” The Killers (2005). Jacques Lu Cont is a producer and DJ whose real name is Stuart Price. The Killers’ album version of this song is great, but this 9-minute remix expands on it in amazing ways, somehow making it feel introspective, anthemic and hopeful all at once. (The 30-second sample iTunes uses doesn’t accurately represent the song, though, because the drums haven’t kicked in yet.)
October 12th, 2006 at 2:20 pm
As you know, I LOVE Endicott, and I’m so happy you mentioned it.
The two that come to mind when I think of happy songs are old ones that most of you have never heard of: “98.6″ by Keith, from about 1966, and “You Know What I Mean” by The Turtles, from about that same time. They just make me smile and feel all warm inside and bounce my head around. I think I’ll go home and listen to the CDs that I bought legally that have those songs on them.
October 12th, 2006 at 3:13 pm
I just wanted to point out that according to copyright law, it is perfectly leagal to make copies of sound recordings as long as those recordings are non-commercial and made on an analog or digital recording device. The NET act of 1997 was passed at the prompting of the recording industry that defines non-commercial as something akin to gaining no value from it. So you can make a music mix, and even give it to someone, but you can’t trade it for anything - another mix, a snack, a smile. The recording industry insists that if you enjoy the music then is has value, so you can’t copy any music. But if you don’t like the music, you can copy it all you want, I guess.
I could go on and on about the stupid laws that congress has passed due to the lobby of the music industry. They can’t make the law simple. They have to get as much cash from the consumer as they can. But those complicated laws often produce loopholes that they have to fix with more complicated and twisted laws. Oh well.
October 12th, 2006 at 3:23 pm
# 19) Object of song: his cat!
Thanks, Eric - I am definitely going to sample some of these!
I might add these to your list:
Dirty on Purpose - All New Friends
Morningwood - To the Nth Degree
Hoku - Perfect Day
Grits - Here We Go
October 12th, 2006 at 3:53 pm
I like most of those songs. Thanks for the mix idea!
October 12th, 2006 at 4:28 pm
Here are some songs I want to put on a dance/exercise playlist:
“Happy Feet” by 8 1/2 Souvenirs
“You Only Live Once” and “Juicebox” by the Strokes
“It’s Raining Men” cover by Gerri Halliwell
“I Drove All Night” cover by Celine Dion
“We Can” by Leann Rimes
There are plenty more I can’t think of at the moment, but those ones always make me smile and help me feel motivated.
October 13th, 2006 at 7:34 am
I love the Wilco and TMBG songs as well.
October 13th, 2006 at 10:27 am
From that entire list I had actually heard 3 songs: Starry Eyed Surprise, Walking on Sunshine, and Hey Ya. I like all 3 songs but Hey Ya is the only one that I listen to consistently. I acquired the mix of Mr bightside as I really enjoyed the original and the mix is very cool. I’ve been listening to it all day.
October 13th, 2006 at 10:37 am
Wow, Eric. I guess we have never talked about music. I didn’t realize you had such electic taste. I’m impressed, and I’m going to check some of these out, for sure.
The one that I totally would add here (even though it is misanthropic-yet-in-a-disarming-way) is “Chewing Gum” by Annie. It harks back to the best of Tom Tom Club.
October 13th, 2006 at 9:34 pm
Great choices Eric! I must strongly suggest you add Junior Senior’s “Move Your Feet” to that list, or at the very least download and listen to that amazing track. You said the best dance songs are usually about dancing and you were right, and this song fits that perfectly, on top of being a VERY diliriously happy peppy song!
October 13th, 2006 at 9:40 pm
*deliriously. And also what I really meant was ANYTHING by Junior Senior.
October 14th, 2006 at 9:14 am
“I Don’t Feel Like Dancin’,” on the Scissor Sisters’ new album, is another fantastic dancing song about dancing–or, in this case, about not dancing. And of course, like Lauren, what I really mean is ANYTHING by the Scissor Sisters is fantastic.
October 15th, 2006 at 6:05 pm
Hmmm… this is I am one of the October mix makers on that message board, and it took me a while to decide what my theme was going to be. I was going back and forth between a mix called “Happy Hour,” which was basically the same idea you just posted here (except mine would have been accompanied by cover art of a little fairy sitting on the rim of a martini glass), and something else.
I went with the something else, and “Starry-Eyed Surprise” is on it. Had I gone with Happy Hour, “Hey Ya” and “Walking on Sunshine” were both in the playlist. There would also have been The Cure but I would have substituted “Mint Car” for “Friday I’m in Love.”
A few other selections:
“The Tide is High” - Blondie
“Shelley” - Dance Hall Crashers
“Short Skirt, Long Jacket” - Cake
“You Can Call Me Al” - Paul Simon
“Feel Good Inc.” - Gorillaz
“Runaround” - Blues Traveler
“She Don’t Use Jelly” - The Flaming Lips
October 16th, 2006 at 2:15 pm
“We Close Our Eyes” is one of my all-time favorites.
Less “feel good” but more “sing out loud and dance with the kids” is “Belly of the Whale” by Burning Sensations.
“Hey ya” is fun but has a some lyrics that are a little awkward to listen to around the kids.
October 17th, 2006 at 1:07 pm
The two songs I’ve actually heard of on your list–”Friday, I’m in Love” and “Murder(Or a Heart Attack)”– would definitely be included on my “Happy Songs” CD. Well chosen.
October 18th, 2006 at 8:53 pm
Ah, finally, another soul who appreciates Fountains of Wayne. I must say, now I love you. Great list.
October 19th, 2006 at 2:04 pm
Thanks for introducing me to a whole bunch of really cool music! I think I need to download everything by Fountains of Wayne now.
Some songs that are on my happy list:
“Penelope” by Great Big Sea
I love pretty much everything in this group’s peppy acoustic folk rock style, but this is a particularly great one, about a Jamaican woman who really wants to go to America, but once she gets there just wants to go back to “the market, under the coconut trees.” I sing along every time.
“Ugly Day” by Five Iron Frenzy
A lot of FIF’s stuff is on my happy list, but this is a particularly sweet one, a guy singing to the girl he likes about how blue skies aren’t enough. Upbeat, slightly wild ska.
“Alarm Clock” by The W’s
Particularly fluffy swing–this group was a hit for about five minutes when I was thirteen. I like this one for the ridiculous lyrics.
“Still Rock and Roll to Me” by Billy Joel
Because honestly, how can this song NOT be on your happy list?
June 5th, 2007 at 3:39 pm
for the “walking on a sunshine” a much better version that is even more upbeat is by Five iron Frenzy it is 4 times as good