From disco bangers to indie rock satires, here are a dozen hits that can't fail to make you feel like it's 6pm on a Friday every day.
With natural disasters, political chaos and Celebs Go Dating back on our screens, we all need a random reason to be cheerful. That’s where happy songs come in, instant doses of sonic sunshine designed to left swipe the blues, lift the spirits and give you an endorphin boost. These classic songs that might not be all sweetness and light, but they sure make you smile…
Pharrell Williams, ‘Happy’ (2013)
Whooping away like all of his birthdays have come at once, Pharrell was clearly overjoyed he decided to record ‘Happy’, originally written for Cee Lo Green, himself. Turns out rooms with roofs have been vastly overestimated.
Happiest lyric: “Clap along if you feel like a room without a roof/Clap along if you feel that happiness is the truth”.
REM, ‘Shiny Happy People’ (1991)
REM’s sunniest, if not quite proudest moment, the irrepressible ‘Shiny Happy People’ became a bit of an albatross for Stipe and co., not exactly Black Lace in the poolside sing-along stakes. Nonetheless, they recorded a version for Sesame Street called ‘Furry Happy Monsters’, and the video – featuring guest vocalist Kate Pierson of the B-52’s – is pure joy.
Happiest lyric: “Shiny happy people holding hands/Shiny happy people laughing”.
