Sonic Sunday: Feelin' Good Part I

After bringing everyone down over the last two weeks with sad songs about lost love and lost summers, I've decided to switch gears. The next few editions of Sonic Sunday will be dedicated to songs that make me happy for one reason or another. These are the tunes that can always be relied on to pull me out of a funk or turn an already good mood into absolute elation.

So, turn those frowns upside down, and turn up your speakers! Time to get happy with this series' first five feel-good songs.

(I'm very happy with my fancy new music player, too!)

1. "Annie Get Your Gun," Squeeze - She's up over the moon/She whistles nonsense tunes/She wants drinks for everyone

I don't know what it is exactly about this song, but it is physically impossible for me to be sad when I hear it. I really don't know what it's about, but if I had to guess I would say it's about a girl who finds out she's not pregnant and goes out to celebrate. Of course, I could be way off on that. But it's not meant to be analyzed. It's meant to be belted out.

2. "Bron-Y-Aur Stomp," Led Zeppelin - As we walk down the country lanes, I'll be singing a song, hear me calling your name/Hear the wind within the trees, Telling Mother Nature 'bout you and me

Not many Led Zeppelin songs are described as "cute," but this is one of the cutest songs ever. It's a love song written by Robert Plant...to his DOG! Isn't that adorable? All together now, "Awwwww!"

3. "Head Over Heels," The Go-Go's - I waited so long, so long to play this part/And just remembered that I'd forgotten about my heart

This has always been my favorite Go-Go's song because it's just so damn upbeat. Charlotte Caffey's piano solo is pure joy. And then there are the hand claps. Hand claps are the key to a truly happy song. (You'll notice there are a bunch of them in "Bron-Y-Aur Stomp.")

4. "Nth Degree," Morningwood - Oh oh here we go, turn up the radio/Come on everybody, to the nth degree

The lyrics to this song are completely inconsequential. You will find no deep meaning here, just a killer beat and lots of spelling fun! And what child among us can keep from giggling when spelling out "morning wood?"

5. "Rockit," Gorillaz - I'm walking to the something, blah blah blah blah blah blah blah (collapse)/I'm drinking too much blah blah, blah blah blah blah blah blah (fall out)

Oddly enough, the lyrics to this song actually have more meaning than "Nth Degree," even though much of it literally consists of "blah blah blah." I haven't figured out what that meaning is yet, but I think it's either just Damon Albarn being Damon Albarn and making fun of empty pop music or maybe he just felt really "blah" when he wrote this and thought it wasn't necessary to change the lyrics. The song always cracks me up, and it must have that same effect on Damon, as you can hear him laugh in the middle of the first verse.

All of this great music can be purchased at Amazon:
Squeeze, 'Singles 45s and Under'Led Zeppelin, 'Led Zeppelin III'The Go-Go's, 'Return to the Valley of The Go-Go's'Morningwood, 'Morningwood'Gorillaz,'D-Sides'

Comments

Penny said…
ooo..I love that Go Go's song.
I'm going to play that right now on my ipod..
McGone said…
One of my absolute favorite Zeppelin songs. And "Bron-Y-Aur Stomp" reveals that Plant named his dog after a character in "Lord of the Rings." As if being the premiere Rock God wasn't enough, he tried to corner both the "sensitive musician" and "friend of the geek" markets in one song.
Claire said…
"Head Over Heels" is my favorite Go Gos song, too.
rachaelgking said…
YESSSSS. New walking to work playlist!
SOME EXCELLENT MUSIC THERE GIRL
Doc said…
As corny as this is going to sound dear, but you made my feckin' day!

I enjoyed your sad songs post, but I think this trumps it. Now I'm going to be tapping my toes all damn day.

I don't think there really has to be any deep meaning or message to a happy song and I think it works much better that way, as your list demonstrates. It is the connection that the listener makes to the music as opposed to the jist of the lyrics. For example, two happy songs for me are "Fairies Wear Boots" by Black Sabbath and "The Early Morning Rain" recorded by Bobby Bare. Neither one has a really happy message in the lyrics. The first is a drug induced hallucination and the second is about a drunk watching his woman climb aboard an airplane and leaving him. Not really happy topics, but every time I hear either one, it chases away the blues and puts a spring in my step, just like your Go Go's tune.

Thanks,
Doc
J.J. in L.A. said…
There's actually a band called Morningwood? Hahahaha!!!

My personal favorite 'happy song' is Light Up by Styx.

Liiight uuup, everybooody!
Join uuus in this...
Cel-e-bra-tion!

Ok, I'll stop now.
The Go-Gos are so underrated, and that is a great song. "Vacation" makes me even happier though.
I love the Go Go's "Our lips are sealed". Especially because I remember spying this geeky chick at a Jr high dance all zoned out singing the refrain "Our lips are sealed" as, "I'm on the ceiling".

I'll never forget it. And when I hear the song it makes me laugh because of it.
Anonymous said…
I just like looking a pretty women and of course a dancing Snoopy. RIP Charles M. Shulz
Nothing like a good rousing chorus of blah blah blahs to get the feelgoods going!
Alice said…
totally just spent a nice few mins jamming out to your music. thank you!
Gifted Typist said…
to this list I add, Walkin on Sunshine