If you’re having a great day or need a pick-me-up to get there, these upbeat songs will definitely put a spring in your step!
Catchy melodies and buoyant lyrics are the groundwork of every song on this list, and each of them builds uniquely around themes of love, self-confidence, or gratitude. This playlist of the best happy songs is perfect for a mini-dance party or a cruising road trip and will bring a smile to your face.
Contents
- Good Life – One Republic
- Valerie – The Zutons
- Good as Hell – Lizzo
- Can’t Stop the Feeling! – Justin Timberlake
- Girls Like You – Maroon 5 ft. Cardi B
- Sunday Candy – Donnie Trumpet & the Social Experiment
- Toast – Koffee
- Let’s Go Crazy – Prince
- Dynamite – BTS
- Lonely Boy – The Black Keys
- Walking on Sunshine – Katrina and the Waves
- I Gotta Feeling – The Black Eyed Peas
- Happy – Pharrell Williams
- I Got You (I Feel Good) – James Brown & The Famous Flames
- Don’t Worry, Be Happy – Bobby McFerrin
- Hymn for the Weekend – Coldplay
Good Life – One Republic
Inspired by a trip to London, this song appreciates being alive. The lyrics take the narrator through the streets of London, reflecting on his travels and the hardships he’s overcome. This song’s optimistic outlook and addictive melodies have us reflecting on our own lives, realizing that this, indeed, is the ‘Good Life.’
Related: This song features on our playlist of songs that make people happy.
Valerie – The Zutons
Dave McCabe, the lead singer of The Zutons, wrote this song for his friend Valerie, who was having a rough time after being caught driving under the influence. The clapping rhythm and bright vocals do their best to lift her spirits, showing the listener just how much he loves her in the process. Fun Fact: Amy Winehouse and Mark Ronson covered this song together!
Related: Find this name and others on our playlist of songs named after women.
Good as Hell – Lizzo
Lizzo is the queen of empowering songs, delivering top-tier self-love anthems left and right. From powerful belting to a glass-shattering head voice, Lizzo’s incredible range shines in ‘Good as Hell.’ In this upbeat tune, she celebrates her confidence and prioritizes self-care, encouraging her listeners to know their worth and do the same.
Related: Feel like Lizzo when you listen to these songs for confidence.
Can’t Stop the Feeling! – Justin Timberlake
Get on your feet and dance to the snappy ‘Can’t Stop the Feeling!,’ a pop tune Justin Timberlake wrote for the movie Trolls. The melodies in this song are great to get yourself moving, and the transitions perfectly build anticipation for the beat drop. This is one of those feel-good songs you just can’t help but love.
Related: Enhance your party with these songs about dancing.
Girls Like You – Maroon 5 ft. Cardi B
Girls Like You’ takes place after a hard time in a relationship is resolved and follows Adam Levine as he appreciates how lucky he is that this girl stayed with him. Cardi B’s verse adds to the song by representing the girl’s perspective, who is also grateful for the relationship. The different melodies and sections of the song follow a pop form, creating that classic catchy love song.
Related: Show your loyalty with these sticking together songs.
Sunday Candy – Donnie Trumpet & the Social Experiment
‘Sunday Candy’ follows the narrator’s appreciation for his grandma, who was instrumental in his loving upbringing and introduction to religious faith. Chance the Rapper and Jamila Woods’ vocals compliment each other beautifully, emulating a worship song with modern pop elements. The narrator gets his “Sunday candy” from his grandma at church, and we can get ours from this song.
Related: Sunday, funday! Check out the best Sunday songs.
Toast – Koffee
This song combines reggae and pop to create a memorable track about the importance of gratitude. Koffee’s vocal style in this song delivers lyrics quickly, adding to the rhythmic ambiance started by the drums. With lines like “gratitude is a must,” “blessings upon me,” and “we give thanks,” it’s impossible not to feel some appreciation for life.
Related: Be grateful with these thankful songs.
Let’s Go Crazy – Prince
This song’s electric synths and driving beat are sure to bring you relief from any negative thoughts you’re having. Prince begins the song by speaking melodically, encouraging us to live our lives well to get to a paradisiacal afterlife. Prince’s energetic vocals and insane guitar riffs make this song a hallmark of optimism.
Related: Head over to our playlist of heaven songs.
Dynamite – BTS
This song will light you up like dynamite with its funk-soul rhythm and retro feel. ‘Dynamite’ shot to the top of the Billboard Top 100 and stayed there for three weeks, becoming an instant classic of BTS’s discography. With lyrics like “I’m in the stars tonight” and “shining through the city,” this song will have you floating.
Related: Ignite a flame with the best songs about fire.
Lonely Boy – The Black Keys
Don’t be fooled by the title of this song! ‘Lonely Boy’ celebrates being lonely while waiting on a relationship to become official. It’s anticipatory, it’s exciting, and it’s a commitment to loving someone no matter the label. The stacked vocals in the chorus add to the song’s emotion, and the fast-paced rhythm and gritty guitar make this a perfect song for driving with the windows down.
Related: Want some sad tunes? Here’s a playlist of sad songs about being alone.
Walking on Sunshine – Katrina and the Waves
Horns, a quick beat, and energetic vocals get you up and dancing to ‘Walking on Sunshine’ by Katrina and the Waves. This song has been used in quite a few films and sounds like a perfect song for opening credits or montage scenes. Having fallen in love, writer Kimberly Rew feels like the sun itself is the ground beneath her. It’s certainly one of the classic happy songs!
Related: Brighten your life with the best songs about the sun.
I Gotta Feeling – The Black Eyed Peas
Nostalgic doesn’t even begin to cover the feelings this song evokes. ‘I Gotta Feeling’ takes you right back to the simple times of the early 2010s. This song looks forward to the night, confident that something magical will happen. A great song to start your day with, ‘I Gotta Feeling’ will have you feeling hopeful about the promising night to come.
Related: You can hear this song on our playlist of good times songs.
Happy – Pharrell Williams
Aptly named, ‘Happy’ is a joyful song written by Pharrell Williams for the Despicable Me 2 soundtrack, and appears in the movie after the main character, Gru, falls in love. An instant hit and inescapable earworm, this song celebrates feeling good. Its simplicity is a relief, and its catchy chorus is addictive and will make you want to hit the dance floor. It’s no wonder the song soon became a classic mood-lifter.
Related: Throwing a party? You’ll love our playlist of the best party songs.
I Got You (I Feel Good) – James Brown & The Famous Flames
The opening vocal adlib and the first line of this song immediately get you into a beaming mood. ‘I Got You (I Feel Good)’ is about being happy while you’re with someone you love. The repetition of “I feel good” will have you feeling joyous, just like vocalist James Brown. This sax-heavy tune is one of Brown’s most popular songs and has been used in several movies and TV shows.
Related: See our playlist of the best songs about feeling good.
Don’t Worry, Be Happy – Bobby McFerrin
A must-listen anytime you’re relaxing by the pool or on the beach, this peaceful song and its swaying rhythm create calming energy for you to ease into. Naming various problems and following them up with “don’t worry, be happy” reminds us not to place so much weight on trivial problems because life tends to turn out okay. The song’s whistling “ooh’s” has a soothing melody, and Bobby McFerrin’s conversational tone makes it feel like you’re listening to a friend.
Related: We’re hoping you’ll love these songs about feeling hopeful.
Hymn for the Weekend – Coldplay
‘Hymn for the Weekend’ details that feeling of being saved by love. It’s like angels have been sent from above, and now the love takes you higher and higher every day. Beyoncé is featured in this song, and her angelic vocals mirror the heavenly imagery present in the lyrics. As the song talks about getting higher, the melodies and instrumentation build, giving us a track that is both lyrically and sonically fulfilling.
Related: Is it Friday yet!? Listen to these weekend songs.
More of the best happy songs:
- I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me) – Whitney Houston
- Dancing Queen – ABBA
- Uptown Funk – Bruno Mars
- Good Vibrations – The Beach Boys
- 22 – Taylor Swift
- Lovely Day – Bill Withers
