My cheer-up tunes:

Misty's Big Adventure: An 8 piece band from Birmingham with a great sense of the silly. I'd recommend any of their albums, but The Black Hole would probably be the ideal introduction. This is a non-album single which is a lot of fun:

Also, Julia Nunes. She's appeared on here before, a rather hyper young American who plays the ukulele and does multitracked youtube videos, like this one:

(Have a flick through her channel, there's loads of good ones on there.)

The ones that immediately spring to mind...

Hey ya by OutKast
Groove is in the Heart by DeeLite
Love Shack by B52s
Werewolves of London by Warren Zevon
I got you (I feel good) by James Brown
The theme from Shaft by Isaac Hayes

I Wish

Don't You Worry 'Bout A Thing

This song has lyrics that are more hopeful than happy but it never fails to pep me up and that's something when it comes from Mark Everett.

Master Blaster (Jammin')

Fingertips Pts 1 and 2

Stevie has a few, but Superstition is a big favorite of mine

As well as the following:

Spooky - Dusty Springfield
Destroyer - Frente (an angry but uplifting song; don't be sad, be angry!)
Use Me - Bill Withers (can't get away from the funky - what can I say?)

I don't know, stress makes me want to get uplifted rather than get mellow. Mellow makes me maudlin.

Have a nice weekend and hope the sun shines for you soon again!

Honeyroot - Where I Belong

When I had to wait alone for 20 minutes (it seemed like a lot longer) outside the doors to the operating theatre while the doctors prepared Ma Bisto for an emergency C-section this song kept playing over and over in my head. It calmed me down though at that specific moment in time the lyrics meant nothing to me.

to put a smile on your face:

HJH with Getting Better:

play it a few times and it will.

This should raise a giggle or two. If that fails something very loud works for me.

John Inman - Are You Being Served Sir?

Foo Fighters - Monkey Wrench

Josh Rouse - Street Lights

This guy effortlessly makes music that make you feel good about yourself, even when he sings of grey skies and sadness. Some songwriters just have it in their musical DNA to cut straight to the emotional chase without over-egging the pudding. Josh Rouse is that kind of songwriter. A true romantic.

...there's one particular Penguin Cafe Orchestra album that has a perfect blend of carefree happiness and a tinge of melancholy, but always lifts the spirits. I don't have PC audio at the mo but from memory it's this one (audio samples available):

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Penguin-Cafe-Orchestra/dp/B001AI93RM/ref=sr_1_3?...

And, of course, it features various instrumnents of the ukelele family.

Beatles - And Your Bird Can Sing outtake

Just thinking about this song cheered me up and this thread. Yeah, it's been one of those weeks for sure.

This is how I cheese my way back to happiness...

Irish Heartbeat is rollicking good stuff, guaranteed to left the spirits!

Jackson Five - I Want You Back
DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince - Summertime (OK know we are edging towards Winter, but just go with it...)

go wrong with Victor Borge, especially when there are Muppets around

James - Laid
Booker T & The MGs - Time Is Tight
Bob Marley - Three Little Birds
The Beatles - Twist And Shout
Lloyd Price - Stagger Lee
Big Joe Turner - Shake Rattle and Roll
Sam And Dave - You Don't Know Like I Know
Clint Eastwood And General Saint - Another One Bites The Dust
Ray Charles/Blues Brothers - Shake A Tail Feather
Haircut 100 - Love Plus One
The Beat - Ranking Full Stop
The Piranhas - Tom Hark
Van McCoy - The Hustle

REM - Stand
George Gershwin - Rhapsody In Blue

"Be Thankful for What You Got".

Always put it on when I'm getting mopey....

Said it before and I'll say it again - late 60s/early 70s bubblegum pop is the most joyous music known to man. Try "Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep" by Middle of the Road. Or "Yellow River" by Christie (sorry, Hannah, can't access Youtube at work, so you may have to find them on your own). Hollering along will make you feel better - singing ALWAYS works for me.

Also, if that fails - god forbid - the funniest piece of music I've ever heard is "Get Off Your Ass And Jam" by Funkadelic. It mainly consists of a bunch of mad, acid-addled funk musicians chanting:
"Shit! Goddam! Get Off Your Ass And Jam!" over and over again.

Kylie Minogue - Better the Devil You Know
Betty Boo - Doin' the Do
Teenage Fanclub - Sparky's Dream
George Harrison - Got My Mind Set On You
Michael Jackson - Thriller
Reef - Place Your Hands
Wham - Young Guns

Shit eating grins all round to banish the blues.

Any of the Keep It Unreal album will do but this (Blackpool Roll) will do the trick.

In a similar styleeee I present the following:

Chinese Man - Artichaut

The Bisto kids love this track. One of them has actually danced so hard to this she made herself sick.

Bing Crosby. Frank Sinatra. Cole Porter. Tuxedos. Champagne.

What else could be required?

(Casey Bill Weldon - You Just as Well Let Her Go)

The Hellset Orchestra

Flipron - Big Baboon (not on youtube)

Johnny Boy [fireworks sounds!!!]

Word blog cliche alert

Fiery Furnaces - Tropical Iceland (Avoid the dull as ditchwater album version)

"Love Of The Common Man"

"You're the prettiest cab driver I've ever met":

The crazed nonsense of this song makes me want to dance around like a fool:

And if the glittery vests and cowboy hats in this ridiculous video don't make you smile (not to mention dance) then I don't know what will!

Mr Partridge has the answer.

Keep your chin up girl.......it will stop drizzling soon and the sun will come out.

That's the rousing one. Another that cheers me up is Burt Bacharach singing (not one of his finest points but it works somehow) Hasbrook Heights

And when I'm really strung out, Reasonland by Solas and Mindy Smith always calms me down.

Thinking of you, Hannah and wishing you all the best

this was easy (not!). Straight to youtube to find Heavenly Day by Picture House and...it's not there?? Blimey. Okay, don't panic NB, do it yourself. So, with pictures of a most memorable day in Boston (starting with a jet-lagged early start to watch the sunrise over Boston Harbour) and the song that blasted out at our wedding 11 years ago, here is Ireland's finest, Picture House and Heavenly Day. Chin up, chuck.

I'm not even a Blur fan but that song hits the spot in difficult times.

All the best Hannah.

up every time, and has been making me laugh since I was about 10.

Your wonderful suggestions have been soundtracking my morning and they've been a huge lift. What a wonderful mix of new discoveries and old favourites; often just seeing the songs you'd suggested made me grin before I'd even played them.

Thanks too for your sweet comments and good wishes. All very much appreciated.

Hope you all have lovely weekends xxxx

Devendra Banhart's oddness always seems to cheer me up. My kids love this. Not sure about Mr Banhart's dual beard though (see video)

The other day I was having an awful day at work, which seemed to be fixed instantly by Spiritualized's 'Ladies and Gentlemen we are floating in space' Elvis mix appearing on my iPod

Try 'Baby Got Back' by Sir Mixalot.

It's almost impossible to slump a shoulder when a reggae orchestra do a ska refit of the Beverly Hillbillies theme

Just joyous...

For mellow shoulder-soothers try the Lazy Sunday mixes here
http://planetmondo.blogspot.com/search/label/lazy%20sunday

At the risk of sounding a bit pseud, I would go for 'West End Blues' by Louis Armstrong. This track is the most uplifting one I know and can be listened to over and over. For added relief take with 'No pappa no', 'St James Infirmary' and 'Muggles'.

Cheered me up.

by Millie is total effervesence.
Da Doo Ron Ron also gets my pulses racing every time.
Both make me glad to be alive.

This one always puts a smile back on my face, hope it does the same for you...

Mrs Law always recommends it most highly. And a fine tune it is as well.

...for extra cheer, I give you Cheryl Lynn - Got To Be Real:

I'll echoe Hannah's remarks above that simply thinking of these songs can bring a smile. And for another of those exuberant songs with I slightly sad core, Nick Lowe - Cruel To Be Kind:

The Cat Empire, killer horns (phnarr phnarr).

Hello :

Days Like These :

...say I'm in love with a stripper, yo.

Just heard this for the first time in yonks and it cheered me up no end. Feel better, Hannah.

xxx

The Go! Team - Bottle Rocket
The Chills - Heavenly Pop Hit
Daniel Johnston - Fish

Such an under the Radar Talent..been listening to this non-stop for a few weeks.

Monkey Man - Toots & The Maytals
One Eye Enos - Toots & The Maytals
Longshot Kick De Bucket - The Pioneers
Guns Of Navarone - The Skatelites
Dreader The Dread - Honey Boy Martin
Double Barrel - Dave & Ansel Collins
Jumping With Mr Lee - Val Bennett

Can't say enough about this band....kind of like hearing the Smiths for the first time.

Clearly Mmmmbop by Hanson
All Around the Wordl by Oasis

and this...

which is the theme song to a Japanese anime, based on a really great manga called Love Hina. The Japanese lyrics are actually really nice, but here's an English translation:

On the roof, looking at the sky, the sun's light is warm and gentle
When I look at the sky my whole body is filled with energy
That's so wonderful! I'm alive
I can't quit it! I can't give up
Good bye to the bewildered yesterday
My feelings are springing up
I can bring them up many times, let a flower blossom
Memories are sweet hiding places
Live to see another day
One day a blessing will come, stretch out your hands
The sunlight that swims the sky over the roof is glorious
When i look up at the sky, happiness fills my body
That's so wonderful! i am living
I can't quit it! i can't give up
Daily life is like an angry wave
A cycle of heaven and hell
I can bring it up many times, let a flower blossom
Run, run until you find love
If I were to suffer, let it continue
One day a blessing will come, stretch out your hands
Goodbye to the bewildered yesterday
My feelings are springing up
I can bring them up many times, let a flower blossom
Memories are sweet hiding places
Live to see another day
One day a blessing will come, stretch out your hands
Stretch out your hands, rise up both your hands!

specifically the Fellini film score music.

Here are two examples.

I always find Nino's Fellini scores uplifting and life-affirming and beautiful and funny at the same time.

Here's the main title theme from Amarcord, the original orchestral version -

and here's the late Jaki Byard's solo piano take on the same music.

I hope you can find the time to listen to these and cheer yourself up!

...I emerged from a small funk. Been a bit down, what with one thing and another. And what did it for me was The National album "High Violet".

I love that record, but haven't listened to it for a while, and I won't pretend that it's a happy or cheerful thing. But what it emphatically is, is beautiful. It's immersive, full of light and shade and texture, and is one of those records - all too rare - that you can just close your eyes and sink into.

Which is precisely what I did on my way in to work this morning. And you know what? To coin an unpoetic simile, it was like the hot air blowers slowly and incrementally defogging the windscreen. I feel so much better now.

Funny thing, music, innit?

My recommendation

Don't Bang The Drum: The Waterboys (must be played REALLY loud)

Deep breath, whatever it is will sort itself out.

I really appreciate the wonderful songs, the stories that go with them and your messages.

Things are slowly starting to get better, pieces starting to fall into place.Suspect the worst is yet to come, but I feel more positive about just getting on with it and protecting my daughters.

Anyway. I've been finding this song hugely theraputic in the last few days:

(Cherry Ghost "People Help the People")

Hannah xxx