Happy Music: More Than 200 Songs To Lift Your Mood

Looking for happy music? We’ve got you covered. Because we believe that music is universal and transformative. It can change your mood instantly and take you back in time to people, places, and things. Most importantly, it can make you smile. Happy songs can lift your spirits and make you forget your troubles. So, with that in mind, we compiled a list of tunes that will provide comfort and joy, no matter the circumstances.

Disco

Happy music? Well, disco is quite possibly the happiest music ever created. A musical genre all about getting on the dance floor, taking a chance and finding that special someone. When all else fails, the infectious grooves will put a smile on your face.

Diana Ross – Love Hangover

Thelma Houston – Don’t Leave Me This Way

Amii Stewart – Knock On Wood

Sylvester – You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)

Donna Summer – I Feel Love

Chic – Good Times

Sister Sledge – We Are Family

Michael Jackson – Don’t Stop Till You Get Enough

KC & The Sunshine Band – Get Down Tonight

Chic – Le Freak

Gloria Gaynor – I Will Survive

Bee Gees – Stayin’ Alive

Frankie Vallie & The Four Seasons – December 1963 (Oh What a Night)

France Jolie – Feel Like Dancing

McFadden & Whitehead – Ain’t No Stoppin’ Us Now

Stargard – Theme from “Which Way is Up”

Jimmy “Bo” Horne – Spank

ABBA – Dancing Queen

Electronic Muisic

There’s also plenty of happy music when it comes to electronic music. This music is made to dance to and lose yourself in the captivating and pulsating energy of the shimmering synthesized beats and rhythms. Whether listening to New Wave, 90’s house or today’s diverse array of artists, these songs urge you to escape simply by turning the volume up.

New Order – Bizarre Love Triangle

Black Box – Everybody, Everybody

The Bucketheads – The Bomb (These Sounds Fall Into My Mind)

Deee-Lite – Groove Is In The Heart

Madonna – Vogue

Technotronic – Pump Up The Jam

Hardrive – Deep Inside

Basement Jaxx – Red Alert

LCD Soundsystem – Dance Yrself Clean

CeCe Peniston – Finally

Robin S. – Show Me Love

Crystal Waters – 100% Pure Love

Fatboy Slim – Sho Nuff

Technotronic – Get Up (Before the Night is Over)

Alex Gopher – Party People

Duck Sauce – Barbra Streisand

Fedde Le Grand – Put Your Hands Up For Detroit

Shamir – On The Regular

Borns – Electric Love (Oliver Remix)

Disclosure – Energy

Hip-Hop / R&B

Imagine being at a house party. You’re kicking back, having a good time with friends while grooving to happy music. Maybe you’re learning a new dance or praising the DJ for spinning your favorite song. These classics will make you feel good in no time.

Arrested Development – People Everyday (Metamorphosis Mix)

Father MC – Everything’s Gonna Be Alright

DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince – Summertime

Digital Underground – The Humpty Dance

Snoop Dogg, Pharrell Williams – Beautiful

Bruno Mars – 24K Magic

Beyonce – Get Me Bodied (Extended Mix)

Missy Elliott, Ciara, Fatman Scoop – Lose Control

Mary J. Blige – Family Affair

Zhane – Hey Mr. DJ

Rob Base and DJ EZ-Rock – It Takes Two

Kid-N-Play – Ain’t Gonna Hurt Nobody

Young MC – Bust a Move

Naughty By Nature – Feel Me Flow

Snoop Dogg – Crazy

Ant Banks, Mac Mall, Too $hort – Players Holiday

Ice Cube – Today Was a Good Day

2 Pac – I Get Around

D’Angelo – Chicken Grease

Leikeli47 – Mulita

Lion Babe – Hit The Ceiling

BJ the Chicago Kid – Turnin’ Me Up

Snoop Dogg, Pharrell Williams – Drop It Like It’s Hot

Janelle Monae feat. Big Boi – Tightrope

Outkast – Hey Ya!

Zhane – Groove Thang

Jazz

Without a doubt, jazz has some of the happiest songs ever written. This list of songs is at times peaceful and calming while other times celebratory and playful.

Louis Armstrong – Sunny Side of the Street

Lionel Hampton – Hey! Ba- Ba-Re-Bop

Edith Piaf – Milord

Sam Butera – La Vie En Rose

Cole Porter – Anything Goes

Nina Simone – Jelly Roll

Erroll Garner – How High the Moon

Ahmad Jamal – Poinciana (Live at the Pershing Lounge, Chicago 1958)

Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong – Dream a Little Dream Of Me

Billie Holiday & Teddy Wilson & His Orchestra – Easy Living

Grant Green – Sookie Sookie Live

The Jazz Crusaders – The Young Rabbits

Lionel Hampton – Hamp’s Boogie Woogie

Erroll Garner – My Blue Heaven

Louis Prima – When The Saints Go In

Rosemary Clooney – Mambo Italiano

Erroll Garner – Long Ago and Far Away

Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga – Cheek to Cheek

John Mathis – All the Things You Are

John Coltrane – My Favorite Things

Latin Music

Latin music has many different styles. From mambo to boogaloo, cha cha to salsa, rhumba to merengue and bachata, rhythm is the key element in all of these forms of music. The lively and animated delivery of the horns, keys, and drums makes it nearly impossible not to dance along to this happy music.

Willie Bobo – Spanish Grease

Ramsey Lewis – 1-2-3

Joe Cuba – Bang Bang

The Champs – Tequila

Two Man Sound – Capitol Tropical

Gipsy Kings – Medley

Quantic, Nickodemus, Temp, Candela All Stars – Mi Swing Es Tropical

Malo – Suavecito

Willie Rosario – Watusi Boogaloo

Mongo Santamaria – Watermelon Man

Pete Rodriguez – I Like It Like That

Brazilian Music

Brazilian music, especially bossa nova, is often sultry, smooth, and sways from note to note. The easy-breezy vocals of Astrud Gilberto could lull almost any listener into a pure state of bliss. Even so, there are plenty of harder-edged Brazilian artists that showcase the breadth of the country’s musical output. Enjoy this list of happy music from Brazil.

Sergio Mendes – Magalenha

Sergio Mendes & Brasil ’66 – Mais Que Nada

Vinicius Cantuaria – Batucada

Stan Getz, Joao Gilberto, Astrud Gilberto – The Girl from Ipanema

Astrud Gilberto – Stay

Elis Regina – Aquarela Do Brasil

Stan Getz, Joao Gilberto, Astrud Gilberto – Corcovado

Walter Wanderley & Astrud Gilberto – So Nice (Summer Samba)

Barbatuques – Baiao Destemperado

Stan Getz, Joao Gilberto, Antonio Carlos Jobim – Desafinado

Reggae

This list of happy music from Jamaica focuses on the softer side of reggae: Sunny, laid back,, and fun, reggae can be like taking a vacation away from your daily life. These songs give an immediate burst of light, calm, and ease to anyone in need.

Bob Marley – Three Little Birds

Toots & the Maytals – 54-46 Was My Number

Althea & Donna – Uptown Ranking

Sister Nancy – Bam Bam

Gregory Isaacs – Oh What a Feeling

King Tubby – Dub You Can Feel

J Boog, Stephen Marley – Good Good Feeling

The Wailers – Sun is Shining

Party Time – The Heptones – Party Time

Gregory Isaacs – Tune In

Bullwackies All Stars – Dub To Jah

Half Pint – Level the Vibes

Bob Marley – Stir It Up

Pop

Whether listening to music on the radio in the car with friends or hearing it out at a club, these instantly recognizable songs are the epitome of happy music.

Bobby McFerrin – Don’t Worry Be Happy

Madonna – Holiday

Janet Jackson – Escapade

Len – Steal My Sunshine

Mariah Carey – Fantasy

Whitney Houston – I Wanna Dance With Somebody

Prince – 1999

George Michael – Freedom

Lionel Richie – All Night Long

Dee-Lite – Groove Is in the Heart

OMC – How Bizarre

Marky Mark & The Funky Bunch – Good Vibrations

Men Without Hats – Safety Dance

Katrina & The Waves – Walking on Sunshine

Taylor Swift – Shake It Off

Spice Girls – Spice Up Your Life

Nena – 99 Red Balloons

A-Ha – Take On Me

Miley Cyrus – Party in the USA

Classic Pop and Rock

Whether you lived through the classic rock age or simply found your way into its sound later, the best classic rock definitely puts a smile on your face. This list is happy music for any classic rock, new or old.

Joe Cocker – Feelin’ Alright

David Bowie – Young Americans

Steppenwolf – Magic Carpet Ride

Beach Boys – Good Vibrations

George Michael – Faith

Journey – Don’t Stop Believin’

Fleetwood Mac – Don’t Stop

Paul Simon – Late in the Evening

John Mellencamp – Cherry Bomb

The Rolling Stones – Happy

Blood, Sweat, and Tears – You’ve Made Me So Very Happy

10,000 Maniacs – These Are the Days

Talking Heads – This Must Be the Place (Naive Melody)

Queen – Don’t Stop Me Now

Rock & Roll / Punk

The following songs are for headbanging, jumping around, blasting out of car windows, and singing at the top of your lungs. Some of these songs are punk, some are 80’s classics and some are fairly new, but it’s all happy music that rocks in one way or another. Do yourself a favor and crank these to 11!

Violent Femmes – Blister in the Sun

The Ramones – Blitzkrieg Bop

Billy Idol – Dancing With Myself

Joan Jett – I Love Rock-N-Roll

The Strokes – Last Nite

Alabama Shakes – Always Alright

Florence and the Machine – Dog Days Are Over

Queen – We Will Rock You

4 Non Blondes – What’s Up

REM – Shiny Happy People

The Ramones – I Wanna Be Sedated

Iggy Pop – Lust For Life

New Order – Bizarre Love Triangle

Guns-N-Roses – Sweet Child O’ Mine

INXS – Need You Tonight

The Breeders – Cannonball

Sheryl Crow – All I Wanna Do

Sublime – What I Got

Bon Jovi – Livin’ on a Prayer

Siouxsie and the Banshees – Happy House

blink-182 – Happy Days

Chumbawamba – Tubthumping

Country

Country and western is often thought of as a genre that focuses on love lost. But that’s forgetting about all the great songs about kicking back and relaxing with your friends. This selection of tunes is happy music through and through.

Johnny Cash & June Carter – Jackson

Garth Brooks – Friends in Low Places

Alan Jackson – Chattahoochee

Gretchen Wilson – Redneck Woman

Brooks & Dunn – Boot Scootin’ Boogie

Ray Stevens – Everything is Beautiful

Travis Tritt – It’s a Great Day To Be Alive

Shania Twain – Man! I Feel Like a Woman

Maren Morris – My Church

Sara Evans – Suds in the Bucket

Tim McGraw – I Like It, I Love It

George Strait – Blue Clear Sky

Soul / Funk

Is there anything better than hearing Stevie Wonder or James Brown enjoying themselves on record? The best soul and funk tunes are the epitome of happy music, ecstatic feelings somehow captured onto tape.

Stevie Wonder – Sir Duke

Marvin Gaye – Got To Give It Up

Sly & the Family Stone – Dance to the Music

Brick – Dazz

Parliament – Flashlight

Luther Vandross – Never Too Much

Staple Singers – I’ll Take You There

Johnny Nash – I Can See Clearly Now

Bill Withers – Lovely Day

Central Line – Walking Into Sunshine

Sly & the Family Stone – Sing a Simple Song

Ray Charles – What’d I Say (Parts 1 & 2)

The Isley Brothers – Shout

Staple Singers – If You’re Ready (Come Go With Me)

Smokey Robinson – Cruisin’

War – Low Rider

The Gap Band – You Dropped the Bomb on Me

Pointer Sisters – I’m So Excited

James Brown – (I Got You) I Feel Good

Looking for more? Check out our list of the best 70s songs.