# Help me put together a playlist of upbeat songs for a terminally ill friend **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 4, 2012, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-put-together-a-playlist-of-upbeat-songs-for-a-terminally-ill-friend/633691 "2012-09-04T22:53:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Zabali\_Clawbane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/ecd19e/32.png) [@Zabali\_Clawbane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zabali_Clawbane)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2012, 11:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-put-together-a-playlist-of-upbeat-songs-for-a-terminally-ill-friend/633691/21 "2012-09-06T11:02:49Z")
> [@getitrite](#): > > This one has help me, sorry that your friend also has cancer. > Celtic Women - Oronicco flow who couldn’t use some sail away music. Enya did Orinoco Flow orginally… ---
**Author:** ![Coustralee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Coustralee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coustralee)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2012, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-put-together-a-playlist-of-upbeat-songs-for-a-terminally-ill-friend/633691/22 "2012-09-06T14:40:41Z")
America is pretty safe… maybe some stuff by The Band ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2012, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-put-together-a-playlist-of-upbeat-songs-for-a-terminally-ill-friend/633691/23 "2012-09-06T14:55:43Z")
> [@Coustralee](#): > > maybe some stuff by The Band They weren’t always the most uplifting, but there are some good choices there- The Weight, Life Is A Carnival, Up on Cripple Creek, and Rag Mama Rag would all work for starters. ---
**Author:** ![ministryman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f6c823/32.png) [@ministryman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ministryman)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2012, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-put-together-a-playlist-of-upbeat-songs-for-a-terminally-ill-friend/633691/24 "2012-09-06T18:23:59Z")
I am praying for your friend and you and your families. All of the classic rock songs I had in mind were taken, and I was too lazy to read the 23 posts ahead of this. How about: Katrina and the Waves - Walking on Sunshine ---
**Author:** ![Zabali\_Clawbane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/ecd19e/32.png) [@Zabali\_Clawbane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zabali_Clawbane)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2012, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-put-together-a-playlist-of-upbeat-songs-for-a-terminally-ill-friend/633691/25 "2012-09-06T20:57:26Z")
> [@ministryman](#): > > I am praying for your friend and you and your families. > > All of the classic rock songs I had in mind were taken, and I was too lazy to read the 23 posts ahead of this. > > How about: > > Katrina and the Waves - Walking on Sunshine Good one! 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2012, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-put-together-a-playlist-of-upbeat-songs-for-a-terminally-ill-friend/633691/26 "2012-09-06T22:28:40Z")
Suite Judy Blue Eyes - Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young ---
**Author:** ![Silver\_Tyger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/fbc32d/32.png) [@Silver\_Tyger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_Tyger)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2012, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-put-together-a-playlist-of-upbeat-songs-for-a-terminally-ill-friend/633691/27 "2012-09-06T23:58:19Z")
> [@Zebra](#): > > Try some Japanese bubblegum pop. Heck, American bubblegum. The Archies, 1910 Fruitgum Company, Ohio Express, and Tommy Roe. All 60s and early 70s. It’s pretty mindless, but it’s catchy and light. Modern, but fun: Smile.dk is a Swedish bubblegum group. They did Caramelldansen, which you may have heard of. ---
**Author:** ![Oceanlady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/b2d939/32.png) [@Oceanlady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oceanlady)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2012, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-put-together-a-playlist-of-upbeat-songs-for-a-terminally-ill-friend/633691/28 "2012-09-09T20:20:11Z")
Love Shack - B52’s Jammin’ - Bob Marley Miss Hesitation - Jesse Colin Young Groovin’ and A Beautiful Morning by The Rascals ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2012, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-put-together-a-playlist-of-upbeat-songs-for-a-terminally-ill-friend/633691/29 "2012-09-09T23:57:18Z")
[Sit Down](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGmhLoyZAe0) by James [Better Things](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RoOIPvopKrc) by the Kinks ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2012, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-put-together-a-playlist-of-upbeat-songs-for-a-terminally-ill-friend/633691/30 "2012-09-10T01:04:32Z")
“Starman” by David Bowie “Let Your Love Flow” by the Bellamy Brothers “Along Comes Mary” by The Association “Long Cool Woman” and “Bus Stop” by The Hollies “Play That Funky Music” by Wild Cherry “Bang the Drum All Day” by Todd Rundgren ---
**Author:** ![Mixolydian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/da6949/32.png) [@Mixolydian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mixolydian)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2012, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-put-together-a-playlist-of-upbeat-songs-for-a-terminally-ill-friend/633691/31 "2012-09-10T04:26:36Z")
The Who Going Mobile Happy Jack Relay Blue, Red & Grey Rough Mix (PT Solo with Ronnie Lane) The Stones are blues-based, so not much comes to mind that’s entirely uplifting, but… Grateful Dead Franklin’s Tower Eyes of the World Ripple(!) ---
**Author:** ![JpnDude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/838e76/32.png) [@JpnDude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JpnDude)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2012, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-put-together-a-playlist-of-upbeat-songs-for-a-terminally-ill-friend/633691/32 "2012-09-10T04:34:30Z")
“[You’re a Friend of Mine](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1x6wTW3GbfU)” - Clarence Clemons and Jackson Browne ---
**Author:** ![Accidental\_Martyr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ce7236/32.png) [@Accidental\_Martyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Accidental_Martyr)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2012, 7:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-put-together-a-playlist-of-upbeat-songs-for-a-terminally-ill-friend/633691/33 "2012-09-14T07:37:55Z")
Not classic rock, but I recently heard this song in a movie and had to look it up. “Home” by Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/DHEOF_rcND8/maxresdefault.jpg "Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros - Home (Official Video)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHEOF_rcND8) ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2012, 8:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-put-together-a-playlist-of-upbeat-songs-for-a-terminally-ill-friend/633691/34 "2012-09-14T08:53:32Z")
Not Classic Rock, but [Miriam Makeba’s Pata Pata](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFc3-MjDMLk) is upbeat as all get-go. Warning: I had it as an occasional earworm for _years_ after having heard it only once and despite not having understood a word of the lyrics. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2012, 10:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-put-together-a-playlist-of-upbeat-songs-for-a-terminally-ill-friend/633691/35 "2012-09-14T10:30:46Z")
No love for Joni’s _Carey_ and _Raised on Robbery_? B-52s - Rock Lobster, Keep This Party Going, Ian Drury - Sex and Drugs and Rock & Roll ABBA - _Dancing Queen_, _I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do_ AC/DC - Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap Jackie DeShannon - Put A Little Love In Your Heart The Allman Brothers Band - Blue Sky The Association - Everything That Touches You Atlanta Rhythm Section - Champagne Jam The Beach Boys - Good Vibrations, Fun fun fun, the Sloop John B., Surfin’ USA Billy Joel – It’s Still Rock ‘n Roll to Me, Just the Way You Are Black-Eyed Peas – Pump It! Blondie – Call Me, Dreaming, One Way or Another Blood Sweat and Tears – You’ve Made Me so Very Happy Bob Marley – Jammin’ Bobby Day – Rockin’ Robin Boston – More Than a Feeling Bruce Springsteen – Dancing in the Dark Buddy Holly – Every Day ---
**Author:** ![PaperBlob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/58956e/32.png) [@PaperBlob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PaperBlob)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2012, 11:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-put-together-a-playlist-of-upbeat-songs-for-a-terminally-ill-friend/633691/36 "2012-09-14T11:22:40Z")
Seconding **Jessica** by the Allman Brothers. **Don’t Look Back** by Boston has always cheered me up when I’m down. **You’re My Best Friend** and **Crazy Little Thing Called Love** by Queen always make me want to happily sing along. Best of luck to your friend - I hope he beats the odds. ---
**Author:** ![stolatt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@stolatt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stolatt)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2012, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-put-together-a-playlist-of-upbeat-songs-for-a-terminally-ill-friend/633691/37 "2012-09-14T12:14:11Z")
Springsteen - She’s the One Marvin Gaye - Got to Give It Up Jet - Are you gonna be my girl Tom Petty - American Girl Styx - Lights. Cheeserific. J Geils - Give it to me, Whammer Jammer, Wild Man Mott the Hoople - All the young dudes John Lee Hooker - Shake it Frampton - Something’s Happening. Lots of sunny guitar riffs Brothers Johnson - Strawberry Letter 22 Southern Culture on the Skids - Camel Walk. You’ll laugh. Robert Plant - In the mood Wings - 1985 Ram Jam - Black betty Who - Baba O’Reilly (of course!), Guitar and Pen, 5:15 You’re a good friend, Charlie Brown. ---
**Author:** ![Helena330](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/helena330/32/531_2.png) [@Helena330](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helena330)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2012, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-put-together-a-playlist-of-upbeat-songs-for-a-terminally-ill-friend/633691/38 "2012-09-14T16:29:58Z")
I’m so sorry about your friend! I really hope he can beat this. You’re a good friend to stand by him like-I’ve seen sad cases where “friends” abandon sick people. I know you’re not necessarily looking for “message” songs, but I ended up with a bunch: Don’t Stop - Fleetwood Mac Unity - Shinedown (LOVING this song lately) Pat Benatar-Hit Me With Your Best Shot ZZ Top - Most of the Eliminator album Maybe Kelly Clarkson’s Stronger. It’s an upbeat message for the rest of us, but the repeated line, “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger” might hit a little too close to home right now. However if he can handle it, might be a great anthem for him although nothing near classic rock! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-put-together-a-playlist-of-upbeat-songs-for-a-terminally-ill-friend/633691.md?page=1)