Informal poll: What song cheers you up the best?

[thatcrazycajun]

When the world truly seems like an endless shit sundae and no hope is evident for it getting any better, is there a particular song, or a band or artist, that you can listen to and instantly feel better about things? Please tell me here as both my Songbird and I could use a lift just now.

Comments

[baggette.livejournal.com]

My favorite things! Of course

[mdlbear]

Stan Rogers: "The Mary Ellen Carter"

[technoshaman.livejournal.com]

Knew you were gonna say that. I finally got to hear that last Jam.

Personally, the one that's been heavy on my internal playlist rotation lately is Vixy's latest (http://vixyish.livejournal.com/726358.html). The words are inspiring, the vocals soaring, and the cello.... *guh*.. :) Betsy and Raven can make even this stoic weak at the knees... and of course Tony is over there just rockin' out....

Also, the perennial favorite, Eagles, Take It Easy.

[ericavdg.livejournal.com]

That was my immediate answer, too. That song has gotten me through some very rough times.

[filkerdave.livejournal.com]

Renaissance, "Carpet of the Sun"

There's even a version on YouTube

[pocketnaomi.livejournal.com]

Simon and Garfunkel's "Bridge Over Troubled Water" has been one of mine since I was about twelve. I have a few others but they vary and I can't think of which belong to right now.

[technoshaman.livejournal.com]

*chuckles* I'm not surprised there. Heck, you probably saw'em live, and all three of you would've been a subway ride from home. :)

[pocketnaomi.livejournal.com]

Did see them live. A few times. The bridge they wrote that other song about went right over the island on which I grew up.

[technoshaman.livejournal.com]

A pretty groovy song indeed. :)

[lemmozine.livejournal.com]

I've been trying, since that song first came out, to get a picture in my mind of exactly how one would go about laying down like a bridge over troubled water, but it's just not working.

[ladymondegreen.livejournal.com]

Just about anything by Great Big Sea.

[anaisdjuna.livejournal.com]

Paul Simon's "Graceland" album is usually a pretty good one for me.

[anaisdjuna.livejournal.com]

I think hearing you sing the song about tacky holiday making would be cheery too :-)

You should skype her and sing it. Might do you both some good.

[barondave.livejournal.com]

Depends. Usually I just wallow in old favorites like Steeleye Span. Sometimes I bring out the really depressing songs to commiserate with: Neil Diamond, Patty Smith, et al. Depends what I feel like listening to on the headphones.

[redaxe.livejournal.com]

Some relentlessly upbeat music:

"Here Comes the Sun" - The Beatles

"Carpet of the Sun" - Renaissance

"(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding" - Nick Lowe (though best known by the Elvis Costello Cover)

Huge swathes of Steve Goodman's music, especially "Lincoln Park Pirates" and "The Auctioneer" (okay, that one's written by Leroy Van Dyke)

More huge swathes of Creedence Clearwater Revival/John Fogerty; "Lookin' Out My Back Door" particularly

Harry Chapin, "Circle" and "30,000 Pounds of Bananas" (well, maybe not so relentless, but the live versions with the [Geography] Sh*tkicking Choir and the four endings never fails to perk me up)

More swathes of music, by Jerry G and the Grateful D. "Goin' Down the Road Feelin' Bad", "US Blues", "Uncle John's Band", and an all-time top-five picker-upper, "Sugar Magnolia" stand out

"Crocodile Rock" - Elton JOhn

Much of the Moody Blues, as well. "Tuesday Afternoon", "Gemini Dream", and "I'm Just a Singer (in a Rock and Roll Band)" get me going

"My Baby Loves a Bunch of Authors" and King of Spain" - Moxy Fruvous. Oh, and also their "Green Eggs and Ham"

"The Mariner's Revenge Song" by the Decemberists. In a schadenfreude-y sea chanty way, of course.

More swathes, of Stan Rogers. "The Idiot" and "The Mary Ellen Carter" are the most likely to get my spirits out of the gutter

Bunches of Tom Smith, too. "...Peter Lorre" and "307 Ale" do great, and if you aren't picked up by "Rocket Ride", Jack, you dead.

Bruce Springsteen, of course. "Thunder Road" will do it for me almost every time; so will his versions of "This Land Is Your Land" (n.b.: so too will Woody's, or Pete's), "When The Saints Go Marching In", or "Buffalo Gals" from the live shows with the Seeger Sessions Band, or, with the E Street Band, "Cadilla Ranch", "Growin' Up", "Fire", and "Hungry Heart" (to name four of many)

"Boddhisatva" - Steely Dan

Richard Thompson. Live. "I Feel So Good", "Hots for the Smarts", "Turning of the Tide"...

"You Are the Sunshine of My Life" - Stevie Wonder

"Lawyers, Guns, and Money" and "Werewolves of Londinium" - Warren Zevon

ETA: These are just things that are on my MP3 player. I should look at my full collection. If there's anything here you don't have that you'd like to hear, just say so.

[ldwheeler.livejournal.com]

All the "sunny" Beatles songs: "Here Comes the Sun," "Good Day Sunshine," "I'll Follow the Sun" ...

Pretty much the entire Thirteen album by Vixy and Tony. (Including the more downbeat or tragic tracks like "Persephone" -- just the overall album structure and sequencing leaves me with a hopefulness and a joy.)

Selected U2 songs: "Beautiful Day," "All Because of You," "I Will Follow," "Gloria," "Trip Through Your Wires" ...

There are a number of groups that just radiate a joy in performing together, that lifts me up whenever I hear 'em. The Americana/folk trio Red Molly is one. Urban Tapestry, of course, is another.

Heh. And Bob Seger gets me boppin' and smilin'.

A lot of Celtic music works, too.

I find Phil Keaggy uplifting as well, but we likely would differ there due to differences in belief/faith. Though his instrumental work you might enjoy.

And finally, Vince Guaraldi's "Linus and Lucy." Gets me Snoopy-dancin'.

[partiallyclips.livejournal.com]

"Jessica" by the Allman Brothers

[kitanzi.livejournal.com]

"Ordinary Day" by Great Big Sea.

[lemmozine.livejournal.com]

Perhaps a surprise, given my negative outlook on the subject of religion, but almost any recording by Reverend Gary Davis is bound to pick me up a bit. And there's something about Scott Joplin rags on piano - I prefer either Joshua Rifkin or Max Morath playing - Joshua is gentler and more true to the intent of the artist, but Max has something going on with style and delivery. It's pretty hard to be sad listening to Joplin rags.

[terriwells.livejournal.com]

Just about anything by the Beach Boys.

[janeg.livejournal.com]

You Made Me So Very Happy by Blood Sweat and Tears - the opening song of our wedding reception. Sheep May Safely Graze (Bach) for relaxing when tense.

As others have said, just about anything by vixy and Tony, also just about anything by Seanan. Or Mary Crowell. Filk, especially live filk, gives me energy.

[ici1011.livejournal.com]

Living in Electric Dreams is my all time favorite mood buster. It's from the Electric Dreams soundtrack and it is so energetic. You can't help but get cheered up listening to it.
Hope things get better for you both.