12 Songs That’ll Brighten Up The Most Mediocre Of Moods

1. I Try – Macy Gray

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYIW6MTigGQ&w=960&h=720%5D

There’s something magical about a song that is not only good, but can bring literally anyone and everyone together. While I can’t find a link to prove it, studies do indeed show that every human who has ever heard this song has found themselves, at one point, unexpectedly belting out the chorus in the shower.

2. Bang On The Drum All Day – Todd Rundgren 

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1YB8oOLsjw&w=960&h=720%5D

A classic anti-work anthem, and reminder that no matter where you may be, there is always time for some meditative procrastination.

My love for this song may be a little biased by my freshman year floormate (who would routinely blast this song and start banging a wiffle ball bat against the wall), but then again, it’s the type of song that inspires truly memories as legendary as that.

3. Buy U A Drank – T Pain ft. Young Joc

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKRefDJiv3o&w=960&h=720%5D

A catchy, feel-good song that’ll transfer you from your miserable mood dungeon to that one night where, for a just a few hours, everything transpired perfectly.

If you haven’t yet heard T Pain belt this song out sans autotune, you’re in for quite a treat.

4. Knee Deep – Zac Brown Brand ft. Jimmy Buffet

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9n5G0qFBsHM&w=1280&h=720%5D

I’m not super well versed in the Zac Brown Band’s discography, but every song of his I’ve listened to generally involves kicking back in an outdoor location, enjoying a cold beer, and temporarily putting aside pressing concerns because worries are distracting when you’re trying to enjoy life.

Obviously an oversimplification, but this awesome mindset certainly deserves a shoutout on a playlist like this one.

5. Blank Space –  Taylor Swift (Vitamin String Quartet Cover)

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yrcd-o4eu1M&w=1280&h=720%5D

There’s something really nice about the string version of T-Swifts mega-hit. Either that, or it’s the only way to listen to this song on spotify.

6. Truffles – Wheatus

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NddL07xCH7I&w=960&h=720%5D

This song is like a twitter feud before twitter feuds existed — just one guy ruthlessly calling someone else out, in a sort of therapeutic, no-holds barred sort of way.

Play this instead of taking your bitterness out on an actual person.

7. Piano Man – Billy Joel

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gxEPV4kolz0&w=960&h=720%5D

There are countless amounts of great articles (and I imagine, books) written about the captivating essence of Piano Man, but I’ve always thought it does an amazing job of capturing one of life’s most universal truths; we’re all in this alone, and because of that we’re sorta-kinda also in this together.

8. Love Today – MIKA

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWiccrTB4LM&w=1280&h=720%5D

I’m not the most gifted singer. When I encounter other not-so gifted singer, I remember that the collectively singing talent all got transferred to MIKA.

You can’t be in a sarcastic mood when listening to this song, because it’s genuine and filled with an almost innocent essence of positivity. Basically, listen to this song when you’re away from the internet.

9. Clique – Kanye West, Jay-Z, Big Sean

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FOrLNHbEzMg&w=1280&h=720%5D

To piggyback off of the last point, spending too much time immersed in the hubs of our digital age can easily contribute to feelings of worthlessness. Everyone is doing better than you on instagram, and “everyone” is getting cool jobs and taking cool trips to a destination you’ll never get to. Clique reminds you that you’re the boss.

10. The Impression That I Get – The Mighty Mighty Bosstones

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NIGMUAMevH0&w=960&h=720%5D

I’ve always found this to be the perfect “blast through your headphones at work song song” — because even if someone overhears you listening to The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, there is approximately a 0% chance they’ll be annoyed.

11. Seek Bromance – Tim Berg

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jrd25gjyDhE&w=1280&h=720%5D

This song is from 2010, when Tim Berg (better known as Avicii) was on the cusp of becoming an international superstar. The song has a rare energy that I think can only be captured by a specific moment — to me, it’s equivalent to that fleeting moment when you leave work on a Friday and for about three seconds, the entire world is just there for the taking.

12. Jack Sparrow – The Lonely Island, Michael Bolton

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GI6CfKcMhjY&w=1280&h=720%5D

Nothing defies mediocrity quite like The Lonely Island, Michael Bolton, and their musical tribute to one of the 2000s most revered movie characters.