Music is a powerful force that can either depress you or lift you up straight out of a funk. From upbeat vibes to dancing in the moonlight, these songs are guaranteed to do just that. I love them and put them on whenever I need to get out of a foul mood. Please give them a listen and start on a high note today!
1. Electric Light Orchestra — Mr. Blue Sky
Electric Light Orchestra’s “Mr. Blue Sky” is one of the most upbeat, feel-good songs ever made. While people in 1977 enjoyed the song as it was released, millions of Marvel fans were introduced to it in The Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2.
Lyrics: “Sun is shinin’ in the sky. There ain’t a cloud in sight. It’s stopped rainin’; everybody’s in the play. And don’t you know? It’s a beautiful new day? Hey. Runnin’ down the avenue. See how the sun shines brightly in the city.
On the streets where once was pity. Mr. Blue Sky is living here today, hey. Mr. Blue Sky, please tell us why. You had to hide away for so long (so long). Where did we go wrong?”
2. Earth, Wind, & Fire — September
Earth, Wind, & Fire’s “September” is a feel-good song that makes anyone want to boogie. It’s impossible to listen to this song without moving your body in some way.
Lyrics: “Do you remember. The 21st night of September? Love was changin’ the minds of pretenders. While chasin’ the clouds away. Our hearts were ringin’. In the key that our souls were singin’.
As we danced in the night, remember how the stars stole the night away? Oh, yeah. Hey, hey, hey. Ba-dee-ya, say, do you remember? Ba-dee-ya, dancin’ in September. Ba-dee-ya never was a cloudy day.”
3. Michael Jackson — Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough
Michael Jackson’s 1979 hit “Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough” demands you to bounce around to the beat. It’s impossible not to feel happy when you put on this song.
Lyrics: “Lovely is the feelin’ now. Fever, temperatures risin’ now. Power (oh power) is the force, the vow. That makes it happen. It asks no questions why (ooh). So get closer (closer now. To my body now. Just love me. ‘Til you don’t know how (ooh). Keep on with the force; don’t stop. Don’t stop ’til you get enough.”
4. Mungo Jerry — In The Summertime
Mungo Jerry’s “In the Summertime” was one of my dad’s favorites. So I grew up hearing it as one of the only songs he excitedly sang every time it came on the oldies radio station. My sister and I bounced around with him, and it’s always been feel-good vibes.
Lyrics: “In the summertime, when the weather is high. You can stretch right up and touch the sky when the weather’s fine — you got women, you got women on your mind. Have a drink, have a drive.
Go out and see what you can find. If her daddy’s rich, take her out for a meal. If her daddy’s poor, just do what you feel. Speed along the lane, do a ton or a ton, and twenty-five. When the sun goes down, you can make it, make it good in a lay-by.”
5. Bee Gees — You Should Be Dancing
I absolutely adore The Bee Gees and can vibe with every one of their songs. However, “You Should Be Dancing” is undeniably catchy. It’s the backdrop to one of the most iconic dances in history — John Travolta in Saturday Night Fever and begs you to move with it.
If you let yourself, I bet you notice yourself feeling happy in no time. Although, I must admit, until I grabbed the lyrics for you, I had no idea what they were saying!
Lyrics: “My baby moves at midnight. Goes right on ’til the dawn. My woman takes me higher. My woman keeps me warm. What you doin’ on your bed on your back? Ah. What you doin’ on your bed on your back? Ah. You should be dancing, yeah. Dancing, yeah.”
6. Johnny Nash — I Can See Clearly Now
Johnny Nash’s “I Can See Clearly Now” is a joyous, upbeat, feel-good song with a powerful message of overcoming obstacles. It’s easily one of the happiest songs in music history and still an enjoyable listen today.
Lyrics: “I can see clearly now the rain is gone. I can see all obstacles in my way. Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind. It’s gonna be a bright (bright) Bright (bright) sunshiny day. It’s gonna be a bright (bright) Bright (bright) sunshiny day.
Oh, yes, I can make it now the pain is gone. All of the bad feelings have disappeared. Here is that rainbow I’ve been praying for
It’s gonna be a bright (bright) Bright (bright) sunshiny day.”
7. Queen — Don’t Stop Me Now
QUEEN! The legendary Queen delivers with “Don’t Stop Me Now.” It’s a happy, upbeat, and all-around feel-good song. I love “We Are the Champions,” and believe that to be an uplifting mood boost too!
Lyrics: “Tonight, I’m gonna have myself a real good time. I feel alive, and the world I’ll turn it inside out, yeah. I’m floating around in ecstasy. So, (don’t stop me now) (Don’t stop me) ‘Cause I’m having a good time, having a good time. I’m a shooting star leaping through the sky like a tiger.
Defying the laws of gravity. I’m a racing car passing by like Lady Godiva. I’m gonna go, go, go, there’s no stopping me. I’m burnin’ through the sky, yeah. 200 degrees. That’s why they call me Mister Fahrenheit. I’m traveling at the speed of light. I wanna make a supersonic man out of you.”
8. Fatboy Slim ft. Bootsy Collins — Weapon Of Choice
And now, to go entirely off the theme of the songs on this list, “Weapon of Choice” is a whole mood. What is the difference between this song and the others? The music is excellent, but the video features the legendary Christopher Walken dancing around a deserted hotel lobby and is guaranteed to make fans of the man giddy.
I’ll never forget my mother calling me to tell me she accidentally stumbled on the video. I couldn’t believe she would be anywhere near a Fatboy Slim song, but she watched the video dozens of times, laughing her behind off. Good times. Cherish those moments while they’re here.
Sober Healing Fan Favorites
- MTV Classics: 10 of the Most Watched Music Videos of the Late and Great 80s
- 15 Famous Songs That Music Fans Voted as the Saddest — Do You Agree?
Elizabeth Ervin is the owner of Sober Healing. She is a freelance writer passionate about opioid recovery and has celebrated breaking free since 09-27-2013. She advocates for mental health awareness and encourages others to embrace healing, recovery, and spirituality.