# What are some of your favorite joyful tunes? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 26, 2006, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-of-your-favorite-joyful-tunes/366139 "2006-07-26T19:22:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![muzzynyc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b3f665/32.png) [@muzzynyc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muzzynyc)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2006, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-of-your-favorite-joyful-tunes/366139/1 "2006-07-26T19:22:57Z")
It’s summer and my I want my music joyful and summer-y. What songs/albums put a smile on your puss, start your toes or fingers a-tappin’, maybe even make you want to dance like a happy fool? ---
**Author:** ![muzzynyc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b3f665/32.png) [@muzzynyc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muzzynyc)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2006, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-of-your-favorite-joyful-tunes/366139/2 "2006-07-26T19:31:00Z")
A few from me: Erasure - Little Respect, Love to Hate You, etc. Cardigans - Lovefool Cornershop - Brimful of Asha Counting Crows - Einstein on the Beach Eels - Hey Man (Now You’re Really Livin’) ELO - Mr. Blue Sky Gomez - Girlshapedlovedrug Gorillaz - Feel Good, Inc. Imogen Heap - Goodnight and Go James - Laid Nelly Furtado - I’m Like A Bird Phoenix - Consolation Prizes Stars - Elevator Love Letter ---
**Author:** ![Surly\_Chick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@Surly\_Chick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Surly_Chick)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2006, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-of-your-favorite-joyful-tunes/366139/3 "2006-07-26T19:43:33Z")
Spirit in the Sky. When that come on the radio, I have to roll all the windows down and crank it up. Just because. And for sheer goofiness - Build me up, Buttercup. How can you _not_ be happy when you hear that? ---
**Author:** ![Boulter\_s\_Canary](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e79b87/32.png) [@Boulter\_s\_Canary](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boulter_s_Canary)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2006, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-of-your-favorite-joyful-tunes/366139/4 "2006-07-26T19:49:31Z")
The inevitable folky ones from me: _The Shouting End of Life_ and _When I’m Up I Can’t Get Down_ - Oysterband _Old Haslam’s Bits_ - Bluehorses _Sligo Maid_ - Steeleye Span ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2006, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-of-your-favorite-joyful-tunes/366139/5 "2006-07-26T20:19:10Z")
_Proud Mary_ by CCR, and of course, _Free Bird_, the perfect song for any occasion… ---
**Author:** ![Clockwork\_And\_Candy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b782af/32.png) [@Clockwork\_And\_Candy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clockwork_And_Candy)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2006, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-of-your-favorite-joyful-tunes/366139/6 "2006-07-26T20:37:44Z")
_Heaven is a Place on Earth_ - Belinda Carlisle _Summer Shunshine_ and _Breathless_ - The Corrs _Good Enough_ - Cyndi Lauper _Vacation_, _Our Lips Are Sealed_ and _This Town_ - The Go-Go’s _Come to Daddy_ - Aphex Twin _Like A Prayer_ and _Papa Don’t Preach_ - Madonna _Atomic_, _Rapture_ and _Hanging on the Telephone_ - Blondie _Roses are Red_ and _Dr. Jones_ - Aqua _Livin’ on a Prayer_ - Bon Jovi (And not in an in ironic sense, thank-you-very-much.) _Love My Way_ - Psychdelic Furs _Don’t You Want Me_ - The Human League _Sweet Dreams_, _Love is a Stranger_, _Who’s That Girl_ and _There Must Be an Angel_ - Eurythmics _99 luftbaloons_ - Nena _The Metro_ - Berlin _Don’t Stop Believin’_ - Journey _Private Eyes_ - Hall & Oates ---
**Author:** ![Clockwork\_And\_Candy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b782af/32.png) [@Clockwork\_And\_Candy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clockwork_And_Candy)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2006, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-of-your-favorite-joyful-tunes/366139/7 "2006-07-26T20:41:03Z")
OMG, I forgot _Safety Dance_ by Men Without Hats and _Come On Eileen_ by Dexy’s Midnight Runners. If either song comes on the radio, it just makes my day. ---
**Author:** ![Licentious\_Ectomorph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/5e9695/32.png) [@Licentious\_Ectomorph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Licentious_Ectomorph)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2006, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-of-your-favorite-joyful-tunes/366139/8 "2006-07-26T20:46:17Z")
Currently on heavy rotation in my CD player (as in, I listen to it dozens of times in a row) is _Dragonstea Din Tei_ (more commonly known as the “Numa Numa Song”) by Ozone . The lyrics are actually not all that happy, but it’s in Romanian and it’s such a dang infectious song, who cares? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![yellowval](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/919ad9/32.png) [@yellowval](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yellowval)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2006, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-of-your-favorite-joyful-tunes/366139/9 "2006-07-26T20:48:15Z")
You can never go wrong with a little Bob Marley in the summer. I was just listening to him earlier this afternoon. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Pixisis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f17d59/32.png) [@Pixisis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pixisis)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2006, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-of-your-favorite-joyful-tunes/366139/10 "2006-07-26T20:49:54Z")
The entire “Philadelphia Chickens” CD by Sandra Boynton and Michael Ford (and various well known performers) OK, so, it’s for kids. But it never fails to put a smile on my face ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2006, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-of-your-favorite-joyful-tunes/366139/11 "2006-07-26T21:21:18Z")
A bunch of Springsteen’s tunes make me feel like I am in an old beat-up Cadillac convertible, the top and windows are down, we’re on our way to the beach but are in the asphalt jungle and while there is some joy, there is a certainly level of hopelessness and desperation as well: Cadillac Ranch Sherry Darlin Ramrod I’m a Rocker Out on the Street Glory Days You Can Look (But You Better Not Touch) also Meat Loaf: Paradise by the Dashboard Light You Took the Words Right Out of My Mouth (it was a hot summer night) Neil Diamond: Desiree reminds me of the summer ---
**Author:** ![freckafree](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/freckafree/32/3050_2.png) [@freckafree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/freckafree)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2006, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-of-your-favorite-joyful-tunes/366139/12 "2006-07-26T21:31:52Z")
I absolutely lovethe whole “Bug Music” CD by Don Byron. Anyone who grew up with Loony Tunes will get a kick out of it. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2006, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-of-your-favorite-joyful-tunes/366139/13 "2006-07-26T21:34:22Z")
The notion of joyful songs makes me think Bossa Nova for some reason. Some specific songs/tunes: O Barquinho The Face I Love Summer Samba Chega De Saudade (No More Blues) Agua de Beber In fact, even when the mood of the song or the lyrics might suggest sadness or melancholy, Bossa Nova has an uplifting aspect. Another category that makes me feel joyful is Steel Pan music, much of which is in the Bossa Nova vein. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2006, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-of-your-favorite-joyful-tunes/366139/14 "2006-07-26T21:34:50Z")
Moved from IMHO to CS. ---
**Author:** ![Achren](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/898d66/32.png) [@Achren](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Achren)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2006, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-of-your-favorite-joyful-tunes/366139/15 "2006-07-26T21:54:18Z")
[QUOTE=Licentious Ectomorph] Currently on heavy rotation in my CD player (as in, I listen to it dozens of times in a row) is _Dragonstea Din Tei_ (more commonly known as the “Numa Numa Song”) by Ozone . The lyrics are actually not all that happy, but it’s in Romanian and it’s such a dang infectious song, who cares? 😃 [/QUOTE] I did a search on that name and found [this little article](http://www.alternet.org/columnists/story/38200/). My favourite bit is this: [QUOTE=Annalee Newitz] …the Numa Numa Dance will continue on its merry digital way. When I watch all those happy imitators bouncing to “Dragostea Din Tei” on their webcams I feel viscerally the utopian promise of global pop culture. I’m nodding along to a joyful tune in a language I rarely hear, and it’s been mashed-up, appropriated and reappropriated, our pleasure in it shared and reshared until it feels like everybody everywhere is doing the Numa Numa Dance along with me. [/QUOTE] ---
**Author:** ![Foldup\_Rabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/df788c/32.png) [@Foldup\_Rabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Foldup_Rabbit)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2006, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-of-your-favorite-joyful-tunes/366139/16 "2006-07-26T23:20:58Z")
“Mass Romantic” and “Electric Version”, the two first albums from **The New Pornographers** are usually described as happy, summertime music you can roll your windows down to. **Oh No! Oh My!**'s self-titled album might be a little dark in the lyrics, but the music is very shiny and happy. I also like **Frente** , **The Violent Femmes** and **Ted Leo** for my happy tunes. Oddly enough, the soundtrack to the video game **Katamari Damacy** is probably the most jubilant thing I’ve ever heard. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2006, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-of-your-favorite-joyful-tunes/366139/17 "2006-07-26T23:31:53Z")
The Ode to Joy, of course – the fourth movement of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony. Also, Rossini’s overturn to **The Barber of Seville**. **Rosalita** by Bruce Springsteen. ---
**Author:** ![muzzynyc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b3f665/32.png) [@muzzynyc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muzzynyc)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2006, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-of-your-favorite-joyful-tunes/366139/18 "2006-07-27T00:02:51Z")
[QUOTE=Foldup Rabbit] Oddly enough, the soundtrack to the video game **Katamari Damacy** is probably the most jubilant thing I’ve ever heard. [/QUOTE] I’ve actually got the soundtrack on my iPod. It’s fantastically surreal listening to it while bopping through Manhattan. I start thinking of things to roll up. ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2006, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-of-your-favorite-joyful-tunes/366139/19 "2006-07-27T03:04:21Z")
_It’s Raining Men_ (the Gerri Hallowell version) but only if you can get all the Filipinos in the car to do the dance, While passing through a security checkpoint. I am doing my bit to ensure Americans are thought as eccentric as the British. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2006, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-of-your-favorite-joyful-tunes/366139/20 "2006-07-27T03:16:00Z")
Anyone who doesn’t have their day lightened by hearing _Don’t Get Me Wrong_ by Pretenders has no soul. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-of-your-favorite-joyful-tunes/366139.md?page=2)