Top Ten Mood-Improving Songs

Naturally, this list will be a subjective one meant to inspire discourse. I think that everyone listens to music that makes them feel specific emotions even if they only do so on an unconscious level. Sure, you can listen to music for the technique of a player or for the beat you can dance to, but unless you are an android or a Glee cast member then you probably just listen to music that makes you think about where you are in life more than anything. Unless you are one of those who thinks that "heavy" music isn't a good thing because it'll "bring you down." In that case you can call me a contrarian. There is no greater mental therapy than to confront negative emotions with a sense of understanding and gradually turn them into positive emotions. Music by itself can't do that, but it can help be a catalyst. When we are finished with our silent ruminations we want to start feeling "happy." Well, music can help with that, too. I think we all have a list of songs we listen to when we want to be happy or to mentally reinforce our own sense of happiness. Again, think about why you listen to the songs you do and just when you listen to them. What are the songs that make you happy? And more importantly, do you actually like most of the songs that make you happy or do you avoid them because they don't fit your ideal genre or because they are too embarrassing to listen to in public? These are important things to know. As for what songs make you happy... if you don't break out into big shit-eating grin every time you play that a certain song then that one probably doesn't fit the bill. 

Here's the list of songs that make me happy. 

Rosalita (Come Out Tonight) - Bruce Springsteen - There are a few Boss songs that could be here, but this song just worms into my head even though I have no idea what the hell he's saying half the time. This Song + Me = Instant Smile. 

I'm the Man - Anthrax - I am not a big rap fan, but I am a fan of being goofy. This song is certainly my goofy fix. 

Change the World - V6 - I have a rule about pop music. I only really like it if it is sung in a language I can't understand and accompanied by Japanese animation. Perhaps this is because my distaste for modern American music is so strong that I have to outsource my fix for pop music. 

Born to be Wild - Ozzy Osbourne (featuring Miss Piggy) - Oh, yeah, I know my day is made when I start it off with this one while eating some eggs and bacon. Especially the bacon. Although it sounds like maybe Miss Piggy is a little too happy to be singing with Ozzy at times. I bet Kermit was pissed. 

Never Gonna Stop (The Red, Red Kroovy) - Rob Zombie - Not sure what a kroovy is or why it is red, but this is a hard rocker that makes me think of spending a day at the beach. 

Happy Crescent - Nakagawa Kanon - Okay, so I credited the song to an anime character. Technically, she does sing it in the show, but the true singer is Kanon's voice actress. 

Cha La Head Cha La - Kageyama Hironobu - This one took a bit to grow on me because I was so accustomed to hearing the Funimation English dub opening, but after a while it's tough to not want to listen to it. 

Oops, I Did It Again - Children of Bodom - Pop songs covered as metal songs make for a great combination. The only thing that could be better is if it were sung in German or Japanese and accompanied with a Japanese animated video. 

Braineaters - The Misfits -  Almost a minute about eating brains. A minute spent well, my friends. 

Yellow Submarine - The Beatles - Yeah, this isn't their best song, but that isn't what this list is about. This is about just being happy. The Long and Winding Road is great if I want to get hopelessly depressed, but Yellow Submarine is the one I turn to for that smile.