Happiness & Sunshine: 50 Songs to Boost Your Spirits

Photo taken from the video from Outkasts breakout hit Hey Ya! (Credit: http://songmango.com/hey-ya-song-by-outkast-review/)

Photo taken from the video from Outkast’s breakout hit “Hey Ya!” (Credit: http://songmango.com/hey-ya-song-by-outkast-review/)

Everybody loves the sunshine. Unless you are more of a rainy day person, to which I have no real answer to. This playlist is targeted towards those of us that enjoy the sun’s warm rays, or just anyone in good spirits.

Containing 50 songs from the likes of Bruno Mars, Michael Jackson, and even Bob Marley, this playlist has an array of feel-good songs meant to put you in a comforting place.

The playlist kicks off with the infectious single “Happy” by Pharell from the Despicable Me 2 soundtrack. Do not let the radio’s overplaying of this hit distract you from the fact that it is a good song; a great song, in fact. The hook is infectious and is likely to have you singing about “clapping along” without you noticing it.

Single artwork for Pharell’s 2014 smash hit “Happy” (Cred: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Happy_(Pharrell_Williams_song)
Artwork for Andre 3000’s 2003 LP “The Love Below” (Credit: http://www.kanyetothe.com/forum/index.php?topic=3602177.0)

Another standout from this playlist is Outkast’s “Hey Ya!”. This song was one of, if not the biggest song of the 2000s, and it is pretty obvious why. The song is such an ear worm, with the deceptively simple hook and an instrumental that openly invites you to dance along.

“September” by Earth, Wind, & Fire is an oldie and most definitely a goodie. It is an iconic hit that oozes 70’s disco culture, and has the ability to make the listener nostalgic about an era they make never have experienced.

Lastly, Kendrick Lamar’s “i” is a positive track about “loving yourself,” as the hook explains. Released as a single in late 2014 for his 2015 album “To Pimp A Butterfly”, I see Kendrick Lamar departing from the hood narrative of his 2012 album “Good kid, m.A.A.d City” and allowing himself to completely love himself despite the negativity he was surrounded with in the streets of Compton.

I hope you enjoy the following playlist as much as I do.