Music; It's what feelings sound like

Ever since I was a little girl, music has been a big part of my life. Once, I actually sang “Honey, I’m Home” by Shania Twain for a cancer benefit in front of thousands of people when I was 5 or 6. I was a young one and it was open mic time. So what does mom do? Go on, Jen! It’s just like you’re singing at Crackers! (I’ve literally grown up in the bars.) Then in the 5th grade, I wanted to play the violin. Why? Honestly, I thought I would be the cool kid riding the bus with my violin. Was I cool? Absolutely not. Did I find a passion? Absolutely. I played the violin until my senior year of high school when my bridge popped off and I broke my E string. My violin went through some times. Playing the violin and being around music all the time actually inspired my first tattoo. Angel wings, a heart, and a music note going through the heart. Got it when I was 17. Woah, 7 years ago. Dang.

There hasn’t been a music genre that I haven’t listened to at some point in my life. Cookouts on Sundays playing horseshoes? Country & Bluegrass. Hanging with my Bubba? Nothing but Rap. With my sister? Pop. Early 90’s Mom? Literally everything. In middle school, I went through one heck of a heavy metal stage because of my cousin Michael Joe. (That’s honestly where I learned a lot about music from.) When I was in the car with my Brotatoe Chip, we listened to everything. From Creed to Garth Brooks. Akon to TLC. Right Brotatoe Chip? (I know you’re reading. Hey, hey, hey! S/O *sloth five*)

Anywho, enough about my back story with music… everybody loves at least one genre of music, and it’s very rare to meet someone who doesn’t enjoy listening to music occasionally. Listening to and enjoying music is a universal and human experience. Music can affect your life in a number of ways, but most of all, it can affect how you feel in immediate situations which is what I am learning more recently. Humans have a strong relationship with music in general because of the way that music affects our feelings, our thinking, and our emotional state.

In order to be happy and stay happy, I’ve been doing countless amount of umm, “research” (aka listening to music at work) in order to classify certain songs to make people happy. Thanksssss, spotify! {insert tagline about following my public playlist} Know, this is def not all the songs that I love or make me happy, but it is a good list for people to start their own journey with music or ya know, a nice little random jam sesh.

General Songs to Increase Happiness That [In My Opinion]: 

• "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles) by The Proclaimers
• "Call me Maybe" by CRJ
• "Don't let the Sun Go Gown on Me" by Elton John
• “Back in Black” by AC/DC
• "Stacy's Mom" Fountains of Wayne
• “Sympathy for The Devil” by The Rolling Stones
• “Born to Run,”  Bruce Springsteen
• “Magic Bus” by The Who
• “Barracuda” by Heart
• "Smile" by Uncle Cracker
• "LA Devotee" by Panic! at the Disco
• “Mr. Brightside” by The Killers
• "Semi Charmed Life" by Third Eye Blind
• “Locked Out of Heaven” by Bruno Mars
• “Every Time We Touch” by Cascada
• “S&M” by Rihanna
• "All the Small Things" Blink 182
• "I'm Yours" by Jason Mraz
• "Wonderwall" by Oasis
• “Hot N Cold” by Katy Perry
• “Billie Jean” by Michael Jackson
• “Pump It” by The Black Eyed Peas
• “Brick House” by The Commodores 
• “Do You Love Me” by The Contours
• “Firework” by Katy Perry
• “Get Down Tonight” by KC and the Sunshine Band
• “Forget You” by Cee Lo Green
• “I Will Survive” by Gloria Gaynor
• “Let’s Stay Together” by Al Green
• “September” by Earth
• “Sweet Caroline” by Neil Diamond
• “Walkin’ On Sunshine” by Katrina & The Waves
• "Uptown Girl,” by Billy Joel
• “Born This Way” by Lady Gaga
• “The Lazy Song” by Bruno Mars
• “You Can’t Hurry Love” by The Supremes
• “At Last” by Etta James
• “I’m So Excited” by The Pointer Sisters
• “We Are Family” by Sister Sledge
• “Just The Two of Us” by Grover Washington, Jr.
• "Build me up Buttercup" by The Foundations
• “Lean on Me” by Bill Withers, “Turn Your Love Around” by George Benson
• “Wonderful Tonight” by Eric Clapton
• "MhhBop" by Hanson
• “What A Wonderful World” by Louis Armstrong 
• “L.O.V.E.” by Nat King Cole
• "Say it Aint So" by Weezer
• “Fly Me To The Moon” by Frank Sinatra 
• “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” by Frankie Valli
• “Don’t Stop Believin’ by Journey
• “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,” by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell 
• “Tubthumping” by Chumbawumba
• “Here Comes the Sun” by The Beatles 
• “Soul Man” by The Blues Brothers
• "Can't Stop the Feeling" by Justin Timberlake

Selecting songs with fast tempos, songs written in major keys, and songs with positive or inspirational lyrics will put a positive spin on your day whenever you listen to them. Playlists like this can be put to great use when you are working out, taking a walk or a long drive, or when you’re just hanging out by yourself and are in need of a pick-me-up. Do yourself a favor and just make or follow a real kickass playlist. But no matter what you listen to music is a beautiful part of the human experience, and a developed understanding of music is a valuable skill. Whether you’re enjoying some happy music while you go for a run, or just playing it in the background while you clean the house, positive music can put a definitively positive spin on your day.