Come On Get Happy!

For some reason today, perhaps the huge amounts of Benadryl I'm on, I started thinking about how just a simple song can make me so happy. It's odd how a song can sometimes pull you out of the deepest hole (that's a metaphorical hole I'm talking about , you dirty birdies!). I am usually drawn to dark and tragic songs, for the most part, but every once in a while a song comes along that is stronger than my deep and passionate love of misery. So, today at work I started a list of such songs. It was either that or, you know, work...and who the hell wants to do that!?

Originally I wanted to keep with the whole "5 Essential" motif, but in this case there was no way to just pick five...sorry Jo. Now, I must warn you, this list is a really weird mix of styles and eras. In one of his books (can't remember which one right now because...well, the vasts amounts of Benadryl) Chuck Klosterman wrote that he believes that people who like all kinds of music styles don't really love music. Much as I love him (and want to marry and have his nerdy, bespectacled babies) I disagree completely with his view. I think if you are lucky enough to be a person that has a visceral, involuntary emotional reaction to music, you don't pick what genre it is...you just feel! Wow, that was me trying to be deep, I promise it won't happen again. So here they are, my....

Essential 10- Happy Songs!

1. Come on Eileen (Dexy's Midnight Runners)

Shall we start with the cheese platter? Why not! I know this song is a big hunk of unpasteurized cheese but I can't help it. I love it! Maybe it has something to do with the fact that it takes me right back to my childhood, maybe it's the thought of those scruffy lads in their overalls which as a child I imagined was what everyone in England looked like,or maybe it's the fact that I don't think there are more than three people in the world that can actually sing all the words, whatever it is, it works!

2.. Chelsea Morning (Joni Mitchell)

This song could bring you out of a catatonic depression! It has some of the loveliest imagery that you have ever heard...plus for someone like me, someone who is deeply and helplessly in love with England it's like mainlining a ray of sunshine! "Oh won't you stay,we'll put on the day and we'll wear it 'till the night comes" Yes Joni...I'll stay!

3. Combination of the Two (Big Brother & the Holding Company /aka The band that Janis Joplin used to sing with)

This song is just infectious and fun. To this day I have no idea what the hell this song is about and I don't care! Just give me some more of that Janis whaling and I'm a happy camper!

4. Buckets of Rain (Bob Dylan)

"Buckets of moonbeams in my hands, you got all the lovin' honey baby I can stand" Need I say more? Most beautiful love song ever!

5. Just Like Heaven (The Cure)

I love this band to an almost illegal degree. They are not known for being a happy-go-lucky gang, but this song fills you up with joy and makes you want to spin around in place like a kid! And there's the small fact that Robert Smith is SEX!

6. The Village Green Preservation Society (Kate Rusby's version)

This song is not only lovely and warm but her voice is so beautiful she could sing the phone book and still make me smile. Whenever I hear the opening chords I get a little thrill...love it so much it hurts my heart.

7. Enchanted (Stevie Nicks)

I could write a list of JUST Stevie Nicks songs that I love (Hmm..perhaps I will) Her music is usually a lot darker and mysterious but this is a light hearted, toe tapping, scarf twirling ditty if I ever heard one!

8. Tennessee Homesick Blues (Dolly Parton)

I don't care who you are or where you come from, this song will make you want to move to a shack in the Appalachian mountains and sleep in a bed with twelve of your siblings!

9. Dreaming (Blondie)

It was extremely hard to pick just one Blondie song. There are SO many that make me want to strap on some boot skates and go to the roller-disco (Damn I'm fucking old!) But I had to go with this one above all the others. Some of the greatest lyrics, and Debbie is just the coolest rock bitch that has ever lived!

10. Long Time Ago (Concrete Blonde)

Not only does this song ROCK, and Johnnette Napolitano has a kick ass voice, these lyrics are hilarious and sooooo fun to sing along to! Sure to make you get up and thrash about the room as you sing at the top of your lungs.

If you haven't heard these you MUST! I 'm now thinking of about 30 more songs I could add but I'll leave that for the sequel ;)