Last week, I had the blues. This week, I’m focusing on cheery songs…
Last week was not so good for me. A bunch of stuff piled up, causing me to go into minor crisis mode. I found myself listening to the blues a bit, because sometimes a little musical empathy is good for the soul. As the week wore on, I decided to think about more positive things. I realized that cheery songs are better than the blues when it’s time to get over it and move on. So that’s what today’s post is about, cheery songs. And there are a lot of ’em!
Bobby McFerrin’s “Don’t Worry Be Happy” is an obvious entry…
“Don’t Worry Be Happy” is kind of the anthem for getting over yourself. This song was popular when I was a high school sophomore. It was a huge hit and Bobby McFerrin enjoyed some sudden fame as he was tapped to record the theme song for The Cosby Show during its fourth season on the air. In 1988, George H.W. Bush used the song in his run for president. Bobby McFerrin was notably upset since he neither gave permission for Bush to use “Don’t Worry Be Happy”, nor did he even plan to vote for Bush. But twenty-six years later, it’s still one of my go-to cheery songs.
A live video of Dr. John singing “Accentuate the Positive”.
“Accentuate The Positive” is another great song for chasing away the blues. This song is a classic, having been penned by Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer. It’s been covered by a whole lot of people, from Aretha Franklin to Bette Midler. I’m partial to Dr. John’s version, which has sort of a sassy New Orleans flair. I liked it even before New Orleans was devastated by Hurricane Katrina, but having seen that city bounce back in the years since that huge storm, I appreciate it even more.
Randy Newman’s “Happy Ending” from his musical, Faust, is another entry in my list of good cheery songs.
This song is included on the Faust’s 1995 soundtrack for his musical, Faust. On that album, he plays Faust, and at the very end of the album, he sings a song called “Happy Ending”. It’s about moving to Las Vegas, where they’ve got everything! It’s hard not to tap your toes to the jaunty rhythm and the lyrics are pretty funny, too. Randy Newman in general cracks me up, so a lot of his songs are a good bet for snapping me out of a mood. On the other hand, he’s done some bluesy songs, too.
“Let It Go” from Walt Disney’s Frozen is another song that begs listeners to cheer up.
I don’t generally get into Disney songs that much, since I don’t have kids and my days of watching Disney movies are long over. However, I can’t overlook “Let It Go”, an anthem from the movie Frozen. This is a song that will resonate with a lot of people who need to snap out of it.
Billy Joel’s “You’re Only Human (Second Wind)” is an anti-suicide song with a jaunty beat that begs listeners not to forget their “second wind”…
The melody is very spunky and the video is a bit silly, but the words are surprisingly moving. In fact, even as I smile at the video, I feel tears welling up in my eyes. Maybe it’s not one of the best cheery songs for me, but the message is definitely a consolation for many people.
“Always Look On The Bright Side of Life”… Yes, Monty Python is probably a better choice for me.
British humor always makes me giggle, so it’s probably best if I stick with silly songs by Monty Python when I need a mood booster. I love absurd humor, so as I recover from “Second Wind”, I can laugh at the guys in Monty Python as they hang around on their crosses. Blasphemous? Maybe it is… but it made me smile. As a matter of fact, listening to Monty Python Sings never fails to cheer me up.
Anyway, I’m hoping this week will be somewhat better for you and me. Cheers!