To put a smile on your face love or exercise aren’t always necessary. Yes, both can alter your serotonin levels and change your mood but there’s something more that can give you that extra “hype”. And no, drugs aren’t the only thing that can keep your spirit high (hey, no shame, though). I’m talking about music.
Dr. Jacob Jolij, a cognitive neuroscientist from the Groninga University in Holland, did a research in which he found out that songs can put you in a good mood. The formula to know if a song can give you this “mood booster” lies on its rhythm. The main components of a feel-good tune are a high tempo of 150 beats per minute, which triggers a sense of energy; the musical key, which is the set of notes in certain scale, and the lyrics.
Music and its effects in human biochemistry have been studied before and these have always shown a relationship between rhythm and mood changes. Though addictive, we know music has its many perks and it rarely (if ever) can become toxic or destructive. Anytime, anywhere, music will always be there to make you feel better.
Dr. Jolij found the formula for the “perfect feel-good song”, so that’s why we’ve chosen some tracks that, after you listen to them, will lift up your spirit for sure.
1. “Don’t Stop Me Now” – Queen
«Don’t stop me now I’m having such a good time
I’m having a ball
Don’t stop me now
If you wanna have a good time just give me a call».
2. “Dancing Queen” – Abba
«You can dance
You can jive
Having the time of your life
Ooh, see that girl
Watch that scene
Dig in the dancing queen».
3. “Good Vibrations” – The Beach Boys
«Close my eyes, she’s somehow closer now
Softly smile, I know she must be kind
When I look in her eyes
She goes with me to a blossom world».
4. “Uptown Girl” – Billy Joel
«And when she knows
What she wants from her time
And when she wakes up
And makes up her mind».
5. “Eye Of The Tiger” – Survivor
«So many times, it happens too fast
You trade your passion for glory
Don’t lose your grip on the dreams of the past
You must fight just to keep them alive».
6. “I’m A Believer” – The Monkees
«Then I saw her face, now I’m a believer
Not a trace, of doubt in my mind
I’m in love, and I’m a believer
I couldn’t leave her if I tried».
7. “Girls Just Want To Have Fun” – Cyndi Lauper
«Some boys take a beautiful girl
And hide her away from the rest of the world
I wanna be the one to walk in the sun
Oh girls they wanna have fun
Oh girls just wanna have».
8. “Living On A Prayer” – Bon Jovi
«Woah, we’re half way there
Woah, livin’ on a prayer
Take my hand, we’ll make it I swear
Woah, livin’ on a prayer».
9. “I Will Survive” – Gloria Gaynor
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBR2G-iI3-I
«Oh no, not I, I will survive
Oh, as long as I know how to love, I know I’ll stay alive
I’ve got all my life to live
And I’ve got all my love to give and I’ll survive
I will survive, hey, hey».
10. “Walking On Sunshine” – Katrina & The Waves
«I used to think maybe you loved me, now I know that it’s true
And I don’t want to spend my whole life, just waiting for you
Now I don’t want you back for the weekend
Not back for a day, no no no
I said baby I just want you back
And I want you to stay (Oh yeah now!)».
—
Who needs love or exercise to be in a better mood when all you can do is to listen one of these songs? Make sure to have them at hand whenever you are feeling down or just for that extra daily “hype”!
Cover photo: @carolynn004
***
Don’t miss these:
Hold Your Head Up High: 10 Covers To Remind You That You Will Survive No Matter What
10 Songs I’m Saving For When I Get To Slow Dance With The Love Of My Life
7 Songs That Express The Painful Struggle Of Having To Leave Your Country
