# Pop Songs that always give you a lift? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 26, 2004, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-songs-that-always-give-you-a-lift/236598 "2004-03-26T17:31:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Magickly\_Delicious](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magickly\_Delicious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magickly_Delicious)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2004, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-songs-that-always-give-you-a-lift/236598/21 "2004-03-26T23:47:17Z")
“I’m Gonna Make you Love Me” by the Jayhawks, from their _Smile_ album. ---
**Author:** ![flamingbananas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f4b2a3/32.png) [@flamingbananas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flamingbananas)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2004, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-songs-that-always-give-you-a-lift/236598/22 "2004-03-27T00:40:41Z")
I vote for any songs on the Weezer albums. (Pinkerton etc.) I don’t know how “poppy” weezer is, but they certainly have good songs. A lot of Beatle songs are really good too. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2004, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-songs-that-always-give-you-a-lift/236598/23 "2004-03-27T00:56:34Z")
> [@Mr. Blue Sky](#): > > “Mr. Blue Sky” - The Electric Light Orchestra (duh!) Damn! I knew that **Mr. Blue Sky** was going to beat me to the punch on this one. It’s one of my favourite “happy” songs. A few other “oldies” come to mind: Four Seasons, “Oh, What a Night (December '63).” Martha and the Muffins, “Echo Beach.” Joni Mitchell, “Big Yellow Taxi.” (on preview, i see that **Nightwatch Trailer** got in early with this one) Carly Simon, “You’re So Vain.” (i think it’s really funny) The Monkees, “Daydream Believer.” The Hollies, “Bus Stop.” Sweet, “Ballroom Blitz.” Kenny Rogers and the First Edition, “Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In).” I think my love for the last song my be largely due to its association with The Dude in “The Big Leibowski.” ---
**Author:** ![jastu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/43a26b/32.png) [@jastu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jastu)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2004, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-songs-that-always-give-you-a-lift/236598/24 "2004-03-27T01:21:13Z")
Van Morrison’s, Brown Eyed Girl always makes puts me in a good mood. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2004, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-songs-that-always-give-you-a-lift/236598/25 "2004-03-27T02:09:55Z")
Moving this to Cafe Society. ---
**Author:** ![Gail](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Gail](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gail)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2004, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-songs-that-always-give-you-a-lift/236598/26 "2004-03-27T04:07:15Z")
I thought of more… “Tenderness” by General Public The Monkees have lots of cheerful pop songs…“Last Train to Clarksville”, “Pleasant Valley Sunday” to name a few. Simon and Garfunkel’s “59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin’ Groovy)” ---
**Author:** ![PastAllReason](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f07891/32.png) [@PastAllReason](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastAllReason)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2004, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-songs-that-always-give-you-a-lift/236598/27 "2004-03-27T04:07:49Z")
Santana and Rob Thomas, “Smooth”. When I hear it, I’ll turn up the radio and sing along. Even in traffic. ---
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2004, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-songs-that-always-give-you-a-lift/236598/28 "2004-03-27T04:13:05Z")
Someone’s gotta say it. _Hey ya_, OutKast. If you can keep from grooving, hell, if you can even stay in your chair, then you shouldn’t be listening to music anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2004, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-songs-that-always-give-you-a-lift/236598/29 "2004-03-27T04:21:47Z")
I was going to say “I’m Gonna Make You Love Me”, but surprisingly someone else beat me to it. So I’ll add “Smile” from the album of the same name from **The Jayhawks**. ---
**Author:** ![Scribble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scribble/32/3317_2.png) [@Scribble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scribble)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2004, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-songs-that-always-give-you-a-lift/236598/30 "2004-03-27T04:44:38Z")
I’m kind of surprised at all the people who say that “Big Yellow Taxi” gives them a lift. “Big Yellow Taxi” is not a happy song at all. I’ll second the nomination for “Hey Ya.” And I’ll say that the Pointer Sisters’ “Neutron Dance” is pretty hard to feel lousy to. So is “She’s a brick…house.” Lots of stuff by Stevie Wonder works pretty well, too. If you don’t find yourself groovin’ to _Songs in the Key of Life_, you should check your pulse. ---
**Author:** ![jackelope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a6a055/32.png) [@jackelope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackelope)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2004, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-songs-that-always-give-you-a-lift/236598/31 "2004-03-27T04:50:13Z")
It’s a little more obscure than most of these, but “It’s a Sunday” by The Incredible Moses Leroy always gets me singing. ---
**Author:** ![Beauty\_Personified](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e480ec/32.png) [@Beauty\_Personified](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beauty_Personified)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2004, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-songs-that-always-give-you-a-lift/236598/32 "2004-03-27T05:04:23Z")
**"The Safety Dance"** by **Men Without Hats** is great, but you should listen to all of their stuff. Very upbeat, even their slower tunes. **“On Tuesday”** is a good example. **"Oh, Pretty Woman"** , by one of the greatest voices in pop/rock music history - **Roy Orbison**. For someone renowned for his sad, sad songs, the ending to “Pretty Woman” is very uplifting. Looking at my very limited music collection… **"All I Wanna Do"** , **“A Change”** , and **“Soak Up The Sun”** by **Sheryl Crow** **"Ready To Go"** by **Republica** **"Long Way To Go"** by **Alice Cooper** **"We’re Not Gonna Take It"** by **Twisted Sister** **"The Touch"** by **Stan Bush** (from _Transformers: The Movie_) Okay, I’m not going to bother breaking out my old cassette collection. Anyhoo… ---
**Author:** ![Doomtrain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/0ea827/32.png) [@Doomtrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doomtrain)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2004, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-songs-that-always-give-you-a-lift/236598/33 "2004-03-27T05:14:11Z")
> [@Monkeytoes](#): > > Hmm. Not sure if this is “inspirational” so much as motivational, but I’ve always found “Walking on Sunshine” by Katrina and the Waves to be a happy, get-out-there kind of song. Yes, this is a happy, get-out-there kinda song, but if you subject other people to it, they have the right to beat you with a sock… 😃 If someone’s going to mention _Come on Eileen_, let me suggest the cover version by Save Ferris. It’s like the original, but with more horns. Actually, just about everything from _It Means Everything_ is pick-me-uppy. I _think_ it was Reel Big Fish that did a cover of _Hungry Like The Wolf_, either way, it’s got a funky, swing-kinda groove on the verses and a peppy ska groove on the chorus. Continuing on the 80s theme, I suggest _Panama_ AND _Jump_ by Van Halen, just to get you up and going. ---
**Author:** ![Yookeroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yookeroo/32/323_2.png) [@Yookeroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yookeroo)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2004, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-songs-that-always-give-you-a-lift/236598/34 "2004-03-27T06:22:18Z")
Anything by the Polyphonic Spree ---
**Author:** ![Lazlo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lazlo/32/9678_2.png) [@Lazlo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lazlo)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2004, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-songs-that-always-give-you-a-lift/236598/35 "2004-03-27T13:09:16Z")
_ **Don’t Stop** _ by the **Rolling Stones** _ **Sunset Strip Bitch** _ by **Eve 6** _ **Play it Loud** _ by **MxPx** _ **Steal My Sunshine** _ by **Len** _ **Gimme Some Lovin’** _ by **The Spencer Davis Group** _ **Move Your Feet** _ by **Junior Senior** **GMRyujin** , I’ve been wondering who did that _Hungy Like the Wolf_ cover. I love that version! ---
**Author:** ![Mal\_Adroit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df788c/32.png) [@Mal\_Adroit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mal_Adroit)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2004, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-songs-that-always-give-you-a-lift/236598/36 "2004-03-27T14:36:59Z")
> [@kath94](#): > > I don’t know why, but I just LOVE 70’s pop and late-60’s pop. Me too! I have been such a 60’s-pop jag lately, I’m starting to rummage through those bargain bin oldies compilations at the CD store, lol. As for the OP, I would nominate just about anything by my new favorite “old” band, Lovin’ Spoonful. “Daydream,” “Did You Ever Have to Make Up Your Mind,” “Rain on the Roof,” “Do You Believe in Magic”. . . you just want to skip down the street and start kissin puppies when you hear these fuckers. I realize that may not be a selling point for some -Skipping, Puppy Kissin Bastard ---
**Author:** ![Rico](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rico/32/3582_2.png) [@Rico](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rico)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2004, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-songs-that-always-give-you-a-lift/236598/37 "2004-03-27T15:56:54Z")
I have what I term _driving songs_. The type of song that when it comes on the radio or on the CD, you just want to roll down the windows and speed up to about 90-100 MPH. Two I can think of from this category are: **Radar Love** by _Golden Earring_. and **Green-Eyed Lady** by _Sugarloaf_. The latter has one of the most awesome Hammond B-3 organ solos in the middle - even better if you listen to the 6 minute album version and stay away from the radio edit version. ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2004, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-songs-that-always-give-you-a-lift/236598/38 "2004-03-27T17:10:26Z")
Thanks so much, these are all good. Some I don’t know, I ain’t exactly hip, but rest assured, if you recommended it I’ll be listening to it. Oh yeah, and don’t stop, keep them coming, by all means… Peace ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2004, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-songs-that-always-give-you-a-lift/236598/39 "2004-03-27T17:27:52Z")
> [@TOTBP](#): > > **"The Safety Dance"** by **Men Without Hats** is great. EXCELLENT happy song. ---
**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:** [March 27, 2004, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-songs-that-always-give-you-a-lift/236598/40 "2004-03-27T17:33:53Z")
The song that instantly cheers me up no matter what? “Rock You Like a Hurricane” by the **Scorpions**. When I first heard the song, I thought they were saying, “Here I am, raunchy like a hurricane.” I still sing it like that sometimes. 😃 Others that fill me with glee: “500 Miles,” **The Proclaimers** “Concrete and Clay,” er, can’t remember the band, er… **Unit Four plus Two**. If anyone loves 60’s pop and doesn’t know this one, try it. “Ragdoll,” **Aerosmith** “What’s Up,” **Four Non Blondes** (already mentioned on this thread) “Moondance,” **Van Morrison** “Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead,” **Crash Test Dummies**. Not really a cheerful song, but sung in a cheerful way. “L-O-V-E,” **Nat “King” Cole** “Blue Skies,” sung by almost anyone Someone mentioned “China Grove.” We had to play that in marching band every freaking day. Hate is too mild a word for my feelings about that song! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-songs-that-always-give-you-a-lift/236598.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-songs-that-always-give-you-a-lift/236598.md?page=3)