I need a Cheer-up mix, bad

December 15, 2008 10:08 AM

Having absolutely the worst month. I need a "times ain't so bad" slash "cheer me up" mix. For professional reasons, I wanted to keep this question anonymous...

So I was just informed after five years in my office that I'm losing my position due to 'restructuring'. My father was forced into retirement last month, and is trying to reboot his career entirely post-60, and lives in the rust belt. My brother had to go into the hospital on Thanksgiving Day where he found out he has a heart problem that will never go away, AND his insurance is claiming that they didn't actually cover him until December, so he's on the hook for the whole cost. And of course, the girl I was sort of seeing wants to just be friends, and I was just in a wedding where I was the only single member of the wedding party. I am having a really, really bad couple of weeks here.

I got the idea for a 'Times Ain't So Bad' mix to help my mood, but I've totally stalled, and that has only frustrated me further. I have considered the following tracks:

The Good Life - Kanye West (feat. T-Pain)
Everything's Gonna Be All Right - Bob Marley
(maybe) Happy/Sad - Pizzicato Five
(maybe) The Way I Am - Ingrid Michaelson
(maybe) Right Now - Van Halen

Can you help me out hive mind? I know it's a stupid little thing, but I really think it's the kind of thing that would do me a lot of good over the next few weeks. My friends and family have been incredibly supportive, but it's a lot of weight for one set of shoulders. Thanks, as always. AskMe is always the best.

posted by anonymous to media & arts (84 comments total)

Doing the Unstuck - The Cure
posted by The Whelk at 10:21 AM on December 15, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

On the edge of a cliff - The Streets

I hope everything works out for you.
posted by o0dano0o at 10:27 AM on December 15, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

Don't Worry, Be Happy
posted by trip and a half at 10:28 AM on December 15, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

It is cheesy, but when I need a pick me up, I listen to ABBA Gold (their greatest hits album). I like them completely and unironically, and just the opening measures of "Waterloo" lift my spirits.

They are also really great to dance to at 3am when you've been working for hours in an animation studio and you've still got hours of work to go, or really anytime someone with no rhythm at all needs something to dance to.
posted by ocherdraco at 10:29 AM on December 15, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

Nina Simone - Feeling good

Save Ferris - Come on Eileen
posted by prefpara at 10:33 AM on December 15, 2008

its extremely cliche - but REM's 'Everybody Hurts' never fails to put things in perspective for me. Put it on headphones, turn the volume up and close your eyes.

Other songs:

- 'Wise Up' by Aimee Mann
- 'Workers Song' by Dropkick Murphys (for work related stress)
posted by TheOtherGuy at 10:35 AM on December 15, 2008

Happy Days are Here Again by....I don't know.
posted by ian1977 at 10:38 AM on December 15, 2008

Louis Prima always puts me in a good mood.
posted by burntflowers at 10:41 AM on December 15, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

Quantic Soul Orchestra - Feeling Good
posted by cowbellemoo at 10:41 AM on December 15, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

OutKast Hey Ya!

Hope things improve.
posted by firstdrop at 10:42 AM on December 15, 2008 [3 favorites has favorites]

Just to Get By - Talib Kweli
posted by swngnmonk at 10:45 AM on December 15, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

Ooh Child (Things Are Going To Get Easier)

hang in there.
posted by micawber at 10:46 AM on December 15, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

Do Anything You Wanna Do
posted by micawber at 10:46 AM on December 15, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

Three Little Birds, by Bob Marley. I'm not sure if this is the same song you're thinking of with "Everything's Gonna Be All Right," though.
posted by CancerMan at 10:47 AM on December 15, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

Hush by Afroman (this might be his only song that is truly safe for work, that is if watching youtube videos of any kind is safe) Just remember, that trouble don't last always.
posted by caddis at 10:47 AM on December 15, 2008

Here Comes the Sun, the Beatles.
posted by Maisie Jay at 10:52 AM on December 15, 2008 [3 favorites has favorites]

Do You Realize - The Flaming Lips
posted by teraspawn at 10:55 AM on December 15, 2008 [2 favorites has favorites]

"littlest birds" by the Be Good Tanyas always cheers me up, and "people gonna talk" by James Hunter always makes me dance in my work chair.

On the flip side, you could listen to some Townes Van Zandt and be thankful you didn't have *his* demons to contend with. the whole "Our mother the mountain" album is spooooo-keeee.
posted by notsnot at 10:56 AM on December 15, 2008

Peter Gabriel's "Don't Give Up" was actually written expressly for this kind of thing -- it was about a miner's strike in the UK at the time.

Cat Stevens' "Trouble" is a good wallow-y kind of song, while his "On The Road to Find Out" is nice and hopeful.

And I can't put my finger on exactly why, but the Faces' "Ooh La La" also cheers me up.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 11:00 AM on December 15, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

I find anything by the Beatles is good music to lift you up. I'd recommend Abbey Road specifically for this purpose, the whole album just has a sense of completeness after you've listened to the last song that it helps you forget your troubles and makes you feel content.

Also if you want happy sounding songs, try listening to some early Beatles, the sense of happiness and carefree-ness(?) is infectious.
posted by WilliamWallace at 11:04 AM on December 15, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

Junior Senior, Move Your Feet

Neil Young, Rockin' in the Free World

Chic, Le Freak
posted by ambient2 at 11:05 AM on December 15, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

Nina Simone - Ain't Got No
posted by salvia at 11:07 AM on December 15, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

As contradictory as it seems, I always get a huge mood lift when I crank The Smith's Louder than Bombs album and sing along. Your mileage may vary when you get to "Unloveable" or "Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want", but they never fail to cheer me.

Also the inkspots -- "Mama Don't Allow" always makes me grin real big. Hang in there!
posted by Barry B. Palindromer at 11:09 AM on December 15, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

There is probably no more uplifting a band than I'm From Barcelona, unless it's Polyphonic Spree, so if you're looking for happy-go-lucky music, I'd check them out. Architecture in Helsinki is also really fun.

"All the Latest Toughs" by Okkervil River is a good one for picking yourself up by your bootstraps and getting on with your life.
posted by scarykarrey at 11:11 AM on December 15, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

Oh, dunno if you can find it, but Donya, by Arash, has a great beat and interesting sounds. Persian guy with some bits from a hip-hop/rapper.
posted by ambient2 at 11:12 AM on December 15, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

I believe that bad things happen all at once for a reason. It's like ripping off a band-aid, you could drag it out slowly (have bad things happen over the course of like, 2 years) or just rip the thing off (have the world's most ungodly horrible month, but you know it'll only get better from there.) I had a week like this a couple years ago and you reach a point where it almost becomes funny in some sick way. At the end of said horrible week, my neighbor backed into my parked car and smashed out the entire driver side window. When I saw it I should have probably collapsed in tears, but instead i started laughing uncontrollably. It was just all too messed up for my brain to even contain anymore. It was the icing on the insanity cake. And sure enough, when the following week went by with nothing out of the ordinary happening, well, i practically felt like celebrating. You'll get there.

I realize that didn't answer your question :-) here are my answers-
Jimmy Eat World- A Praise Chorus (this is a particularly good song for New Years Eve for some reason)
Ben Folds- There's Always Someone Cooler Than You (a generally feel-good song)
Also . . . i really feel the best way for me to cheer up is to dip into goofy old songs that I used to love and know all the words to, but haven't listened to in years. Ace of Base comes to mind, personally. Nothing better than driving around, singing along to some dumb song that reminds you of a happier time in your life. like Tubthumping by Chumbawamba, or semicharmed life by third eye blind. i don't know if the lyrics even matter as much as the tempo.

the one song that really gets me back on track when i am feeling crappy about life is Come Downstairs and Say Hello by Guster. this one is kinda quiet and comes on slow, so i dont know if it would fit in your mix. maybe at the end. but people who like the band are OBSESSED with this magical song. I've heard of people using it as a wedding song. I use it to help me sleep when I am feeling troubled.
posted by lblair at 11:12 AM on December 15, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

Feelin' Good by Nina Simone.
posted by inatizzy at 11:12 AM on December 15, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

after rereading your post, i just wanted to reiterate that Come Downstairs and Say Hello (Guster) has a little hook in it about 'starting in a new direction.' you might find this particularly relevant as you move on from your job and your relationship. I highly recommend it!
posted by lblair at 11:16 AM on December 15, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

Five Stairsteps - Ooh Child always helps me out.

I feel for you, hopefully things'll get better.
posted by rube goldberg at 11:19 AM on December 15, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

Seems like R.E.M.'s "It's the End of the World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)" would be a natural for this. More obscurely, Todd Rundgren's "Time Heals."
posted by aught at 11:19 AM on December 15, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

This one-hit wonder from the 90's always cheers me up: You Get What You Give by the New Radicals.
posted by rachaelfaith at 11:24 AM on December 15, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

Float On - Modest Mouse ("Bad news comes - don't you worry even when it lands / Good news will work its way to all them plans / We both got fired on exactly the same day / Well, we'll float on, good news is on the way")

Feeling Good - cover by Muse

I'm Feelin Good - REO Speedwagon ("Lately things just ain't been going quite like they should / Quite like they should, but I still feel good")

Don't Dream It's Over - Crowded House

Let Go - Frou Frou

Don't Panic - Coldplay

Everything Will Flow - Suede

The Middle - Jimmy Eat World ("Just try your best / Try everything you can / And don't you worry what they tell themselves when you're away")

High - Lighthouse Family
posted by hellopanda at 11:29 AM on December 15, 2008 [2 favorites has favorites]

Sorry to hear about all the troubles in your life -- I looked at my iTunes music that had the "happy" tag and here are some ideas. Some are happy-themed, some are just plain bouncy. I'm starring the ones that should be esp. helpful.

"16 Military Wives" -- the Decemberists
*** "Rooftops" -- Lostprophets
"Mars Loves Venus" The Brunettes
"Ma-Ya-Hi" -- The Ozone
"Jump" -- Van Halen
***"Independence Day" -- Melanie C.
"Hotel Song" -- Regina Spektor
"Geek in the Pink" -- Jason Mraz
"Cecilia" -- Simon & Garfunkel
"Bubble Toes" -- Jack Johnson

And kudos on deliberately choosing upbeat music -- when I get into a funk, I tend toward music that exacerbates my grief instead of assuaging it. You're wiser than that!
posted by fantine at 11:38 AM on December 15, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

"Let Go" by Homegrown is a good one for reminding yourself to breathe through stuff you can't control.

"Feeling So Real" by Moby always cheers me up for some reason, perhaps because it feels SO HIGH ENERGY that I can't stop shuffling my feet to it.

"Today I Hate Everyone" by The Killjoys is excellent when you want to feel okay about NOT feeling great.
posted by VioletU at 11:41 AM on December 15, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

Proclaim Your Joy by Mark Eitzel
Back When I Was 4 by Jeffrey Lewis
Cub -- New York City
Challenge Club -- Let's All Get Rowdy This Christmas


If you like weird happy songs MeMail me your address and I'll send you a copy of my MeFi Swap CD which is all strange lowfi cheerful pop that will make you chortle with confusion.
posted by Potomac Avenue at 11:44 AM on December 15, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

I Love You, Ono by Stereo Total.
posted by electroboy at 11:44 AM on December 15, 2008

Oh and Loggins and Messina FTW!

Can you I self-medicate with youtube a lot?
posted by Potomac Avenue at 11:51 AM on December 15, 2008

Damn, ok for real last one.

Tilly and the Wall: BEAT CONTROL
posted by Potomac Avenue at 11:53 AM on December 15, 2008 [2 favorites has favorites]

I've had rough times of late, and I make this suggestion only because I love it, and however dark the humor may be, it always makes me feel better:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WlBiLNN1NhQ

Always Look on the Bright Side of Life - Monty Python
posted by Ponderance at 11:55 AM on December 15, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

The Reason - Hoobastank

Running - Evermore
posted by MatJ at 12:03 PM on December 15, 2008

Get your nerd on with Pulled Up by Talking Heads.

And make sure to sing along! You'll be laughing your guts out by the end of it.
posted by hangashore at 12:18 PM on December 15, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

Here's kind of an odd mix of songs that help cheer me up:

Blue Skies by Willie Nelson
Ordinary Day by Great Big Sea
No Worries by Simon Webbe
Spanish Pipedream by John Prine
The Polyphonic Spree
posted by triggerfinger at 12:19 PM on December 15, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

This is an awesome question that couldn't have been asked at a more appropriate time.

Anything Mika (specifically "Love Today") cheers the hell out of me :)
posted by i_am_a_fiesta at 12:20 PM on December 15, 2008

Mr. Blue Sky - ELO
Wraith pinned to the mist (and other games) - Of Montreal
Hybrid Moments - The Misfits
The Final Countdown - Europe
Anything by VCR, or pretty much anything from the Katamari Damacy soundtrack
posted by taraza at 12:26 PM on December 15, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

"Better Things" by the Kinks always does it for me.
posted by nomad73 at 12:44 PM on December 15, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

Lot of excellent suggestions here. I will confirm that "Float On" is the greatest cheer-up song of all time, and submit my own in the form of the entire album New Magnetic Wonder by The Apples in Stereo. For song suggestions, I'd go with Can You Feel It? and Skyway, but really, the first four songs on that record are one big block of psychedelic bubblegum indie rock awesomeness.
posted by abcde at 12:47 PM on December 15, 2008

Birdhouse In Your Soul - They Might Be Giants
The Laws Have Changed - The New Pornographers
Ghost of Corporate Future - Regina Spektor
Phantasies - Stephen Malkmus
Polaroids from Mars - Tullycraft
Anything by The Chinkees (though try She's My Friend or At The Market for an introduction)

Also these flash animations never fail to cheer me up, and you might be able to find the songs they use in them as well.
posted by NoraReed at 12:48 PM on December 15, 2008 [2 favorites has favorites]

seconding the katamari damacy soundtrack recommendation -- that music is so happy it almost gives me a toothache. also, Rhymefest is usually a lot of fun to listen to: in particular, "Build Me Up" is ridiculous.

hope life gets better!
posted by Chionophilia at 1:01 PM on December 15, 2008

In no particular order

• Rock Plaza Central - My Children Be Joyful
• Joe Purdy - Wash Away
• Weakerthans - Aside
• Bright Eyes - Bowl of Oranges
• Beth Orton - Pass in Time
• New Pornographers - Use It
• Marley - No Woman No Cry
• Bloc Party - Here We Are
• Múm - Kostrzyn
• Besh o Drom - Tortapapir
• Ben Folds Five - Air
• Verve - Lucky Man
• Ani Difranco - Little Plastic Castle
• Lisa Gerrard - Now We Are Free
• Dead Can Dance - Rakim

posted by regicide is good for you at 1:05 PM on December 15, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

This should do the trick (or you're dead)
posted by merocet at 1:10 PM on December 15, 2008

Janet Jackson Alright
Replacements Alex Chilton always cheers me up
Cut Copy Lights and Music
Hercules & Love Affair Blind (I dunno if the lyrics are cheerful or not, but.. DISCO!)
T.I. No Matter What
Cosign --> Talib Kweli "Just to Get By"
Mary J Blige Family Affair
Yeasayer 2080
Mountain Goats This Year (not wild about the video but great song..)

oh, and A.R.E. Weapons Don't Be Scared is a completely stupid but great and hilarious song.
posted by citron at 1:19 PM on December 15, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

The Clash:
I'm Not Down
Train in Vain
posted by coevals at 1:34 PM on December 15, 2008 [2 favorites has favorites]

Just took a look at my "unambiguously happy" playlist. Some of the best:

Nice Weather for Ducks by Lemon Jelly (side note: had never watched the video before, it's particularly amazing around 2:45)

New Soul by Yael Naim

Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa by Vampire Weekend

Get Better by Mates of State

Brimful of Asha by Cornershop

and definitely Love Train by The O'Jays
posted by rebekah at 1:45 PM on December 15, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

This thread gives me all sorts of chills. (Yes, I am super cheesy.) Couple of contributions from me:

Brahms Requiem, mvt. 5 ("And ye now therefore have sorrow") is a beauty-fest. Not peppy, but REALLY uplifting.

Elbow: Ribcage
posted by nosila at 1:47 PM on December 15, 2008

Badly Drawn Boy - Year of the rat
posted by hellojed at 1:57 PM on December 15, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

Let It Be has comforted me when I've been in a rough patch.
posted by marsha56 at 2:00 PM on December 15, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

Steal My Sunshine - Len
Loaded - Primal Scream
Groove is in the Heart - Dee-lite
posted by j at 2:24 PM on December 15, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

Rudie Can't Fail - The Clash
posted by Andy's Gross Wart at 2:42 PM on December 15, 2008 [2 favorites has favorites]

I really love booking into a karaoke bar and just belting out the crappiest, tackiest songs for a couple of hours. Preferably with close friends. Take care.

If I ever lose my faith - Sting did wonders for me when I was under a lot of stress at one point.
posted by wingless_angel at 3:09 PM on December 15, 2008

What about fun or funny songs? Always uplifting for me and at least spawns a laugh or two.

How about most everything from Jonathan Coulton or Jill Sobule. Although I would point out that some of their songs can be kind of dour, but I was thinking of stuff like:

Jonathan Coulton
"Skullcrusher Mountain" or a bonus WoW version which is kind of funny if hard to see sometimes.
"I Crush Everything" (Ok this may be a little sad, but it's also funny)

Jill Sobule
"I Kissed A Girl"
"Underdog Victorious"
posted by elendil71 at 3:09 PM on December 15, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

All Youtube:
Daniel Johnston - Monster Inside of Me
Daniel Johnston - True Love Will Find You in the End
The Shins - Know Your Onion
Cat Stevens - Morning Has Broken
posted by schyler523 at 3:20 PM on December 15, 2008

I forgot M. Ward: Poison Cup and Right in the Head.

I find the entire Roxy Music eponymous album uplifting: 2HB, Virginia Plain, and "Remake/Remodel" are some highlights, but I like If There is Something best.

T. Rex can be uplifting too: Cosmic Dancer got me through some stuff...and Children of the Revolution makes shivers go down my spine.
posted by schyler523 at 3:42 PM on December 15, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

phoenix - if i ever feel better
the cure - mint car
belle & sebastian - get me away from here i'm dying
the postal service - such great heights
the good life - always a bridesmaid
new end original - lukewarm
voxtrot - start of something
posted by jus7brea7he at 5:11 PM on December 15, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

I found Coldplay - Lost inspirational in the same way Batman's ejects out of the Tumbler in the batpod (The Dark Knight). They did not give up.

"Just because I'm losing...doesn't mean I've lost!" - lyric from Lost. The beat is catchy too.

Also,

Seether - Rise above this, though if you read into it, it's actually a melancholy song.
posted by abdulf at 5:25 PM on December 15, 2008 [2 favorites has favorites]

"I'm Still Standing" - Elton John
"I'm Gonna Be Alright" - Jennifer Lopez
"Survivor" - Destiny's Child
posted by SisterHavana at 5:33 PM on December 15, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

I love this thread!

For me, it's all about the cheese.

Johnnny Nash - I can see clearly now.
Louis Armstrong - What a wonderful world.
Julie Andrews - My Favourite Things.
Elvis - Viva Las Vegas.
Eartha Kitt - I want to be Evil.
Peggy Lee - Hey Big Spender.
Doris Day - Che sera sera.
Bert and Ernie - Rubber Duckie. I defy you to be sad! I DEFY you!


And the 80s...
Michael Jackson - Blame it on the boogie
Nick Cave - Black Betty.
Bananarama - Venus.
Dead or Alive - You spin me round (right round like a record baby).
Radio Birdman - Aloha Steve and Danno.
Squeeze - Cool for Cats. On TOTP, no less!


And then there's the break-up cheer-up standards...
Abba - Gimme Gimme Gimme (A Man After Midnight).
Weather Girls - It's raining men.
Gloria Gaynor - I will survive.
Divine - It's a close call here but I'm so beautiful just edges out You think you're a man in the cheery-up stakes, I think.
The Mary Tyler Moore Show Theme (You might just make it after all).
Tammy Wynette - Stand by your maaaaaaaaaan. Oh, the irony.
Dionne Warwick doing Burt Bacharach - There is always something there to remind me.
Carly Simon - You're so vain.

Sometimes too going the other way and wallowing in (yet more) melancholy/trashy country music has the perverse effect of making me feel heaps better.

Leonard Cohen - Hallelujah
Nick Cave - The Ship Song
Serge Gainsbourg - Bonnie and Clyde.
The White Stripes version of Jolene.
Marty Robbins - El Paso.
The Eagles - Desperado. Here performed by ''a lovely lady - Linda Rondstat''! Sweet.
The Killers covering Ruby (don't take your love to town).
Johnny Cash - Ring of Fire. Love is, indeed, a burning thing.
Elvis Costello - Don't let me be misunderstood.
And of course, The Gambler. If watching Kenny and teh Muppets doesn't cheer you up, nothing will. Nothing!
posted by t0astie at 5:35 PM on December 15, 2008 [3 favorites has favorites]

And I must, I simply must, give mention to the Roller Boogie Audio Successory email.

Roller Boogie to your inbox, daily. Oh! Yes.

The direct link isn't working for me just now, so here is the Swiss Miss post I found it at.

The actual daily mail is still working (I got my successory and boogied as usual this morning) so maybe just try tomorrow. You. Will. Not. Regret.
posted by t0astie at 5:51 PM on December 15, 2008

dude just download girl talks 'feed the animals'. its not specifically songs to cheer you up but you cant help smiling and bopping...
posted by fumbducker at 5:58 PM on December 15, 2008

might be nsfw though..
posted by fumbducker at 5:59 PM on December 15, 2008

When I'm in a bad mood, listening to "everything is alright" songs doesn't cheer me up. Have you considered listening to songs that are just funny, either intentionally or unintentionally? Things like "Monster Mash" or "Rock Lobster" or "Beer for My Horses" or "What is Love" make it difficult to stay upset for long. I also listen to horrible stuff like Kevin Federline's "Popozao."

And, of course, Punch 'Em in the Dick.
posted by Nattie at 6:31 PM on December 15, 2008

Two songs that always put me in a good mood:
Awakening, Switchfoot
In a Big Country, Face to Face cover
posted by geekchic at 6:54 PM on December 15, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

Here are some happy songs:

+1 on "Doing The Unstuck" by The Cure
+1 on "This year" by The Mountain Goats
"Go Places" by The New Pornographers
"The Opposite Of Hallelujah" by Jens Lekman
"Ana Ng" by TMBG
"I'll Be You" by The Replacements
"Heart" or "Elevator Love Letter" by Stars

"All The Rage" or "Just About Glad" by Elvis Costello always cheer me up - they're more about saying "so there" than being perky. I mean, check out these lyrics from "Just About Glad":

I'm just about glad
That we never did that thing we were going to do
I'm just about glad I can look you in the eye
But I can't say the same for you
And though the passion still flutters and flickers
It never got into our knickers
posted by jacquilinala at 7:14 PM on December 15, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

This Will Be Our Year by the Zombies.
posted by piratebowling at 7:42 PM on December 15, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

Better Things, Fountains of Wayne (Kinks cover; it's on iTunes). I have been listening to this A LOT recently.
What's So Funny About Peace Love and Understanding, Elvis Costello
Feelin' Stronger Every Day, Chicago
posted by stargell at 7:52 PM on December 15, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

Mellow & slowly cheering: Gabe Dixon Band - "All Will Be Well".

For booty-shaking & taking your mind off things, I second Girl Talk - Feed The Animals.
posted by knile at 8:05 PM on December 15, 2008

n'thing This will be Our Year-it really is one of the most hopeful pop songs ever.

That's the Way of the World by Earth, Wind, & Fire

My Beautiful Balloon--The 5th Dimension. the Ne Plus Ultra of smile-inducing cheese.

Also, a last one for good measure: Step in Time
posted by Chrischris at 8:27 PM on December 15, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

Thank you all. I needed this too.
posted by wv kay in ga at 10:23 PM on December 15, 2008

Oh awesome question - I always make 'happy' mixtapes when things aren't going right.

I like:

Love You - Free Design
Extraordinary Machine - Fiona Apple
Express Yourself - Charles Wright and the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band
All Star - Smash Mouth
Up To The Limit - Goose
This is The Day - The The
Higher Ground - Stevie Wonder
Rome Wasn't Built in a Day - Morcheeba
If She Wants Me - Belle & Sebastian

Oooh! Hakuna Matata?

Oh and Adele's 'Right As Rain' could be on the money too.

Good luck!
posted by Emilyisnow at 11:16 PM on December 15, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

Ha Ha Ha
flipper still rules ok!
posted by citron at 12:22 AM on December 16, 2008

Jon McLaughlin - Just Give It Time
Avenue Q - For Now (Finale)
posted by Arasithil at 4:25 AM on December 16, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

Anything from Cloud Cult - Feel Good Ghosts is pretty good for a pick-me up. I'm having the same type of month and trying to wait it out by listening to as much good music as I can and thinking positive (I'm healthy and alive at least). My favorite on the album is Journey of the Featherless.
posted by getmetoSF at 11:14 AM on December 17, 2008

Amanda Marshall - I'll Be Okay (ignore the Grey's Anatomy video, just listen to the audio)
posted by WCityMike at 4:28 PM on December 18, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

a few of my favourite uplifters ....

Silverchair - Straight Lines
Filter - Take a Picture
Rolling Stones - You can't always get what you want
The Verve - Bittersweet Symphony
K's Choice - Believe
U2 - Beautiful Day
Foo Fighters - My Hero

posted by vaneska at 2:58 AM on December 21, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

*smacks forehead* "Beautiful Day!" I knew I was forgetting one!

It's that last set of lyrics that work best for me: "What you don't have, you don't need it now, what you don't know you can feel somehow..." it seems to get me very Zen.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 9:09 AM on December 22, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]