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As promised yesterday, here is my HAPPY Playlist. When life is bringing you down and you are finding the news and social media to be too depressing and causing you great anxiety, how about trying to create a HAPPY Playlist? My playlist here is 10 songs but you can easily add more and be sure to rotate out your songs when the mood dictates.

THE JOYOUS LIVING’S HAPPY PLAYLIST

1. Whole Lotta Woman (Kelly Clarkson)

I’m a whole lotta woman
(Anything I see I want, I get)
I’m a strong, bada$$ chick with class and confidence, yeah

Don’t these lyrics and the rhythm make you want to get up and dance? Don’t they make you feel strong and empowered, ladies?

2. Good Vibrations (The Beach Boys)

Ah my my, what a sensation!
Ah my my, what an elation!

Those harmonies! Those musical layers! That magical number that makes me feel like summer is just around the corner!

3. Dancing Queen (ABBA, Covered by Meryl Streep, Julie Walters and Christine Baranski)

Dancing queen
Feel the beat from the tambourine, oh yeah
You can dance
You can jive

While they are not the strongest vocally, Meryl Streep and her hilarious co-stars Julie Walters and Christine Baranski were exhilarating in Mamma Mia! the Movie. Their performance will always have me grinning from ear to ear.

4. Rock Island (The Music Man Cast)

Or a doggone thing, He’s just a bang beat, bell ringing,
Big haul, great go, neck-or-nothing, rip roarin’,
Every time a bull’s eye salesman,
That’s Professor Harold Hill, Harold Hill

Theatre fans will agree that Meredith Wilson’s opening number for The Music Man was genius. Wilson not only used his opening number to establish and setup the story (introducing characters, locations, and the plot) but he also used the music to set the physical scene of the train. It’s a true treat for any musical fan.

5. Reach (S Club 7)

We’ve got to all stick together
Good friends, there for each other
Never ever forget that
I’ve got you and you’ve got me, so

One of my favorite British bands, S Club 7, gives us a bubblegum flavored uptempo pop song about friendship and reaching for your dreams. Drenched in positivity, this is a must have on your Happy Playlist.

6. Barbie Girl (Aqua)

I might get some raised eyebrows for this one. But if you’re putting together a HAPPY Playlist, you have to consider adding this dance floor ditty that seems to get stuck in your head on repeat. And Lene Nystrøm has the perfect high pitched voice to mimic ‘Barbie’. It is so “insanely catchy” (AllMusic) that it’s been featured in the following lists:

• Best Number One of All Time (ranking #4)
• Most Awesomely Bad Songs… Ever (#32)
• VH1’s 100 Greatest One-Hit Wonders (#88)

on the other hand, Rolling Stone added it to their “20 Most Annoying Songs” list. Guess you either hate it or love it. I guess it’s how you interpret the lyrics. Are they to be taken as is or are they a criticism of our culture and the Barbie brand?

7. Simply Redeemed (Heather Headley)

I am a Christian
Do you know what that means?
It means I’m far from perfect
Simply redeemed
Bought with a purpose,

I could listen to Heather Headley (Disney’s AIDA and The Lion King) since the telephone book. She has one of those incredible voices that you could listen to day in and out. As the Christian number on my playlist – this one speaks to my soul and reminds me that “I am not perfect but simply redeemed”. When I feel so inconsequential and unworthy – He reminds me of His love for me thanks to Heather’s gorgeous rendition of Simply Redeemed.

8. I’m Still a Guy (Brad Paisley)

Scrub me down, dress me up, oh, but no matter what
Remember, I’m still a guy

I love Brad Paisley. He has to be one of my all time favorite contemporary/country male vocalists and he’s married to one of my favorite actresses, Kimberly Williams (Amish Grace, Father of the Bride). This song always gets a smile to twitch onto my lips. The tongue in cheek lyrics are clever and his not being afraid of the discussion on gender stereotypes is impressive.

9. Sunflower (Drew Sarich)

She wakes up first
Sends her prayers up to the sky
I rise to find I’m bathed in light
My Sunflower

Sadly this song is not available on Amazon but you can listen to it on YouTube for the time being. I love Drew’s voice since I first heard in as Rudolf in Frank Wildhorn’s Rudolf. I love this song because I like to imagine myself as the woman he sings of and her positive impact she has on the man. Also, sunflowers happen to be my ideal “happy” flower.

10. Little Bit Country, Little Bit of Rock ‘N’ Roll (Donny and Marie Osmond)

I’m a little bit country
And I’m a little bit rock ‘n’ roll
I’m a little bit of Memphis and Nashville
With a little bit of Motown in my soul

One of the first songs I think of when asked for a “happy” tune is this Donny and Marie Osmond classic. I first heard it with my friend David at an Osmond Christmas Concert at The Pantages Theatre. The audience were on their feet as soon as they heard the band start up. And after hearing it live, I often find myself tapping my toes humming this song. It’s a silly ditty that is sure to put a smile on your face and lighten the load your soul is carrying.