# Songs that make you smile **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 14, 2000, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-make-you-smile/22336 "2000-06-14T13:18:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![GreenEyes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f9ae1b/32.png) [@GreenEyes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreenEyes)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2000, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-make-you-smile/22336/41 "2000-06-15T16:59:04Z")
Saved The Best for Last… by Vanessa Williams ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2000, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-make-you-smile/22336/42 "2000-06-15T17:11:21Z")
Oh yeah…“Fishing Blues.” No matter WHO performs it…Taj Mahal, the Holy Modal Rounders, even the Lovin’ Spoonful. And Bob Dylan’s “Quinn the Eskimo,” because my son’s named after it. ---
**Author:** ![xelakann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/c67d28/32.png) [@xelakann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xelakann)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2000, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-make-you-smile/22336/43 "2000-06-15T17:24:45Z")
I was driving at sunset on some random mountain road about hour out of Missoula, MT. The scenery was breathtaking! I had my radio station on scan, because there was no clear station… then all of the sudden I got some local station and the song on the radio was “Wonderful world” by Louie Armstrong! I just sat there, driving in my car, looking out the window and thinking… “Wow, isn’t though!” 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2000, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-make-you-smile/22336/44 "2000-06-15T17:28:51Z")
That’s not me! But I’m a bit humbled that there’s so many potential people using a name I thought was a bit obscure! If you need a hint just let me know… -JC ---
**Author:** ![Gazoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ce73a5/32.png) [@Gazoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gazoo)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2000, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-make-you-smile/22336/45 "2000-06-15T17:44:41Z")
Mentioned already: -“Call me Al” and “Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes” by Paul Simon -“Romeo and Juliet” by Dire Straits -“Wonderful World” by Louis Armstrong -“Moondance” by Van Morrison Others: -“Ultimately Fine,” “Stangest Kind,” and “Good Work” by the BoDeans -“Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner,” “Werewolves of London,” and “Lawyers, Guns and Money” by Warren Zevon -"(Ghost) Riders in the Sky" by the Outlaws -“The Weight” by the Band -“Heard it in a Love Song” by Marshall Tucker Band (you know the one, everyone always sings it as “Purdy little love song…can’t be wrong.”) -“Wild World” by Cat Stevens - Anything by Louis Jordan -“Sunday Morning Coming” and “Boy Named Sue” by Johnny Cash -“Life’s Been Good” by Joe Walsh -“Cracklin’s Rosie” by Neil Diamond -“Thunder Road” by Bruce Springsteen ---
**Author:** ![Poirot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/47e85d/32.png) [@Poirot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Poirot)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2000, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-make-you-smile/22336/46 "2000-06-15T18:25:09Z")
I’m a sucker for “I can see clearly now, the rain is gone” Also “It’s getting better all the time” ---
**Author:** ![xizor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xizor/32/102_2.png) [@xizor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xizor)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2000, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-make-you-smile/22336/47 "2000-06-15T18:35:24Z")
> [@](#): > > \*\* > Dire Straits - Twistin’ by the Pool > \*\* Is this really Dire Straits? I thought it was Nick Lowe ---
**Author:** ![Milossarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Milossarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Milossarian)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2000, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-make-you-smile/22336/48 "2000-06-15T18:45:43Z")
Swiddles: Good calls on Everclear (love that band!) and the Femmes. Ditto on “Sedated.” Can’t believe this got so long without these two perfect tunes for this category: **Low Rider** by War **Spill the Wine** by Eric Burdon. ---
**Author:** ![jesuslynch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e99b99/32.png) [@jesuslynch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jesuslynch)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2000, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-make-you-smile/22336/49 "2000-06-15T18:52:06Z")
> [@](#): > > \*\* > **Spill the Wine** by Eric Burdon. > \*\* Heard this on the way home last Friday. Yeah, it makes me smile too. “To think that I, a long-haired sleeping gnome, could be the star of a hollywood movie. This really blew my mind.” ---
**Author:** ![JoltSucker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d2c977/32.png) [@JoltSucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JoltSucker)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2000, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-make-you-smile/22336/50 "2000-06-15T20:34:36Z")
**Ellen and ReservoirDog** : > [@](#): > > Ahem, that’s “Shiny Happy People” by REM, from “Out of Time.” > [@](#): > > Minor correction, JoltSucker. This song is actually by a band called Lit. Hey, I was having a Senior Moment. After all, I’m a 43 y.o. geezer (not to be confused with the band). I forget these things… ⭕rolleyes::p;);j ---
**Author:** ![ReservoirDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8edcca/32.png) [@ReservoirDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ReservoirDog)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2000, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-make-you-smile/22336/51 "2000-06-15T20:39:11Z")
> [@](#): > > \*\* > After all, I’m a 43 y.o. geezer (not to be confused with the band).\*\* Um… Weezer? ---
**Author:** ![Edwardina](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Edwardina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Edwardina)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2000, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-make-you-smile/22336/52 "2000-06-15T20:49:06Z")
Hey, I just thought of one: “One Night In Bangkok” Is that what it’s called? Who sings that? Anyway, I just love the lyrics. It’s such a weird thing for a pop song to be about. I guess that just goes to show some of the weird things that make me smile . . . ---
**Author:** ![ricepad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b38774/32.png) [@ricepad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ricepad)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2000, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-make-you-smile/22336/53 "2000-06-15T20:52:15Z")
Almost anything by Elvis Costello… Oh, yeah…Endicott, by…by…dammit…KID CREOLE AND THE COCONUTS! That’s it… ---
**Author:** ![ricepad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b38774/32.png) [@ricepad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ricepad)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2000, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-make-you-smile/22336/54 "2000-06-15T21:22:28Z")
“One Night in Bankok” is from the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical “Chess”…and it’s by…um…lemme think for a second… ---
**Author:** ![JoltSucker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d2c977/32.png) [@JoltSucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JoltSucker)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2000, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-make-you-smile/22336/55 "2000-06-15T21:47:27Z")
> [@](#): > > Um… Weezer? Weezer, Geezer, whatever… I gotta go put my teeth back in, sonny… I’m an adult now! [The Pursuit of Happiness] ---
**Author:** ![Edwardina](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Edwardina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Edwardina)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2000, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-make-you-smile/22336/56 "2000-06-15T21:55:51Z")
> [@](#): > > \*\* > “One Night in Bankok” is from the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical “Chess”…and it’s by…um…lemme think for a second… > \*\* Now I’m embarrassed. I didn’t know there _was_ an Andrew Lloyd Weber musical “Chess.” Yeesh. I just used to hear it on the radio on Eighties at Eight! “I get my kicks above the waistline, Sunshine!” ---
**Author:** ![Catfood\_Purrito](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Catfood\_Purrito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Catfood_Purrito)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2000, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-make-you-smile/22336/57 "2000-06-16T02:03:26Z")
> [@](#): > > \*\* > “One Night in Bankok” is from the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical “Chess”…and it’s by…um…lemme think for a second… > \*\* Murray Head, whose brother is the guy who plays the Watcher on Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I think…or I could be smoking crack. You guys have some great choices! You’ve reminded me of a lot of songs that I love but I’ve forgotten about, and my mp3 collection thanks you. More that I’ve thought of: Son of a Preacher Man - Dusty Springfield Pepper - Butthole Surfers Levon - Elton John Bennie and the Jets - Elton John Basically anything by Elton John Lola - The Kinks Cover of the Rolling Stone - Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show I have to second Santa Monica by Everclear, Spill the Wine by Eric Burden and War, and American Music by the Violent Femmes (can’t believe I forgot that one!) ---
**Author:** ![Anti\_Pro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Anti\_Pro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anti_Pro)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2000, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-make-you-smile/22336/58 "2000-06-16T02:56:12Z")
“Do You Believe in Magic” by the Lovin’ Spoonful “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” Bobby McFerron “Sitting on the Dock of the Bay” Otis Redding “Old Time Rock N’Roll” Bob Seger “Dancing in The Dark” and “Born in the USA” by Springsteen and OF COURSE in honor of \*\* aha, (who’s been welcomed by practically EVERYONE!) \*\* “Western Union” by The Five Americans ---
**Author:** ![ricepad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b38774/32.png) [@ricepad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ricepad)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2000, 6:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-make-you-smile/22336/59 "2000-06-16T06:30:54Z")
One more…“Nellie The Elephant”, by The Toy Dolls. ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2000, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-make-you-smile/22336/60 "2000-06-16T13:28:40Z")
Everyone knows my weakness for goofy novelty songs of the 1910s and '20s (and my particular fondness for “Cohen Owes Me Ninety-Seven Dollars”). This one happened to be on my cassette player as I was getting ready this morning: “I’ve got a bimbo down on the bamboo isle! She’s waiting there for me, beneath a bamboo tree– Believe me, she’s got the other bimbos beat a mile, She dances gaily, daily– She’d be a hit with Barnum-Bailey! I’ll build a bungalo on the bamboo isle, 'Cause when I go again, I’ll stay awhile! I’ve seen wrecks, plenty of wrecks, Out on the deep blue sea– But, by heck, there never was a wreck Like the wreck she made of me! And all she wore was a great big Zulu smile– My little bimbo down on the bamboo isle!” –They just don’t write 'em like that anymore . . . [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-make-you-smile/22336.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-make-you-smile/22336.md?page=4)