The 20 Best Feel-Good Songs Guaranteed to Turn That Frown Upside Down

Published Sep 14, 2026, 11:56 PM EDT

Lloyd 'Happy Trails' Farley: the man, the myth, the legend. What can be said about this amazing - and humble - man that hasn't been said before? Or, more accurately, what can be said in public? Born in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, Lloyd is a master of puns and a humorist, who has authored one pun book to date - Pun and Grimeish Mint - and is working on a second. His time with Collider has allowed Lloyd's passion for writing to explode, with nearly 1,000 articles to his name that have been published on the site, with his favorite articles being the ones that allow for his sense of humor to shine. Lloyd also holds fast to the belief that all of life's problems can be answered by The Simpsons, Star Wars, and/or The Lion King. You can read more about Lloyd on his website, or follow his Facebook page and join the Llama Llegion. Happy trails!

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What's got you down, champ? Did you wake up on the wrong side of the bed? Maybe even under it? Did your partner leave you, or – no judgment – did they decide to stay? Did you pour scalding coffee on yourself, because your mug doesn't have that "Caution - contents may be hot" warning, causing you to jump up and hit the nearby radio, inadvertently changing it to a station that plays John Mellencamp's "Jack and Diane" on repeat 24/7, and you couldn't stop it so you threw it out the window where it hit a bus, forcing it off the road to hit a streetlight, injuring all the orphans and nuns aboard? Hey, I've been there. But don't be glum, chum – we here at Collider want to turn your frown upside down, and to that end we've got a list of 20 tunes, in no particular order, guaranteed to do the job.

1. "Walking on Sunshine" by Katrina and the Waves

In early 1983, Katrina and the Waves pooled their funds together to record an album they could sell at gigs. But one of the songs on the album, "Walking on Sunshine," wasn't exactly a favorite of the band, with bass player Vince de la Cruz citing it as "irritating." They weren't the only ones unenamored with the tune, with Katrina Leskanich saying, "It proved to be a total dance floor emptier. So we dropped it."

Then fate stepped in, with their album getting radio play and The Bangles covering their song "Going Down to Liverpool." That prompted Capitol Records to sign the band, and for the first album with the new label they looked to change up "Walking on Sunshine." According to Leskanich, when they were recording the song "an arranger popped by and said: 'You should put horns on that.'" Now, with upbeat saxophones and trumpets, tighter production, and live drums, the new and improved 1985 version was released. The rest, as they say, is history. "Walking on Sunshine" is a consistent presence on happiest song lists like this one, a song that exists purely to celebrate joy. Fun fact: even the ever-optimistic Dolly Parton took a crack at it in 1996.

2. "Best Day Ever" by SpongeBob SquarePants

Songs from children's programming could fill this list alone, guilty pleasures like "Get Ready to Wiggle" from The Wiggles or "The Yodeling Veterinarian of the Alps," a classic Silly Song with Larry from VeggieTales. But we'll settle for one entry, a classic from Nickelodeon mainstay SpongeBob SquarePants: "Best Day Ever." There's waking up on the right side of the bed, and then there's this, where SpongeBob's (Tom Kenny) excitement for the day begins before he even leaves the bed. It's virtually impossible not to get caught up in the unabashed giddiness of living, so just run with it. Close second? "Campfire Song Song."

3. "California Gurls" by Katy Perry (feat. Snoop Dogg)

Once upon a time, Katy Perry had a great sense of humor in her songs, a cheeky, in-on-the-joke vibe that was a fresh breath of air among her self-serious peers. Alas, those days may be gone, hopefully not for good, but it did leave us with "California Gurls," the pinnacle of that era. It's bubble-gum, camp pop at its purest, a celebration of all things California that's playfully naughty, upbeat, and yes, humorous, with one of the few rap interludes that didn't suck in the 2010s, thanks to the effortlessly cool Snoop Dogg.

4. "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life" by Monty Python

Trust Monty Python to turn a crucifixion into a boisterous sing-along moment celebrating the glass as half-full, as they did in Monty Python's Life of Brian. "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life," with its joyful whistle refrain, is a reminder that as dark as things can get, there's always a glimmer of hope. Funny, inspirational, and, in the context of the movie, a brilliantly clever summation of the Easter season. Every life lesson should be this much fun.

5. "AM Radio" by Everclear

Songs about reminiscing can go in one of two directions: morose and depressing, like Terry Jacks' "Seasons in the Sun" or Nickelback's "Photograph"; or fondly and fun, which is where Everclear's "AM Radio" sits. With an infectious sample from Jean Knight's 1970 classic "Mr. Big Stuff," the song is a catchy, loving tribute to growing up in the 1970s. It was the days before VCRs and the world-wide web, when hanging out with friends, listening to the rich mix of music that could be found on AM radio (on a single station no less, well before the siloing of genre formats) was all it took to be happy.

6. "Jesus Is a Friend of Mine" by Sonseed

What do you think of when you think of Christian pop music in 1981? You probably don't, and with good reason: it sucked. That was the year that Catholic pop rock band Sonseed released their one and only album, First Fruit. To promote the album, they appeared on a religious public service TV program in New York and performed "Jesus Is a Friend of Mine." The performance was taped, broadcast, and stowed away, never to be seen again. Until 2008, that is, when someone posted the performance on YouTube, where it became a huge, huge hit, landing six million views and an appearance as a number for TV's Glee.

The question, of course, is why. One listen and you've got your answer. It's catchy and cheesy as all hell – errr, heck – with a horribly dated organ and an Osmond-like vocalist, but with an almost unbelievably excellent bass riff that runs through the entire song. Theologically, it's about as deep as a Sunday School lesson for kindergarteners, likening Jesus to a Mountie because he "always gets his man," but damn, they're enthusiastic about it.

7. "The Booze Cruise" by Blackjack Billy

Women, liquor, and the open sea. Is there a simpler joy than that? Not according to Blackjack Billy, whose 2014 hit "The Booze Cruise" extols the virtues of such vices. It's not deep by any stretch, nor does it have any aspirations to be: it's an unapologetic party-time track for people who just want to turn off the noggin and enjoy some shallow revelry, like a hillbilly martini off a string bikini.

8. "Buddy Holly" by Weezer

What do you get when you mix 90s alt-rock with 50s pop into a short and bouncy two-and-a-half minutes? Weezer's "Buddy Holly."

Bright and cheerful, with its earworm "oo-wee-oo" hook, nostalgia and geek-chic cred, "Buddy Holly" is impossible to resist. Written to uplift the spirits of his Asian girlfriend, who was teased by his friends ("What’s with these homies dissing my girl?"), the song almost didn't make it onto their debut album. Thankfully, music icon Ric Ocasek of The Cars, who produced the album, convinced the band to include it, where it's uplifted spirits since its release in 1994.

9. "It's the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)" by R.E.M.

"It's the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)" is a rapid-fire wave of apocalyptic nightmares, pop-culture references and the commonplace, like "We Didn't Start the Fire" on speed. Then comes the twist of "I feel fine." It's a spiritual cousin of "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life" to a degree, finding hope, or at least not outright despair, in life despite its impending demise. Whether it's the buoyant groove, the try-to-keep-up vocals from Michael Stipe, or both, the song is more infectious and uplifting than it probably should be... but I feel fine about it.

10. "Get Rhythm" by Ry Cooder

"Get Rhythm" was written by none other than Johnny Cash, the B-side to "I Walk the Line" in 1956 before earning its own release as a single, with overdubbed "live" effects in 1969, where it reached number 60 on Billboard's Hot 100. While it's been covered a number of times in the years since, it's Ry Cooder's 1987 version that stands out from the pack. The song itself, about a shoeshine boy who keeps his spirit up with music and rhythm, is already uplifting, a positive, straightforward statement about how music is the key to overcoming the blues. Cooder's version ups the dose with an uptempo roots-rock, borderline zydeco approach that adds horns and an accordion into the mix, a recipe that guarantees foot-stompin' and smiles.

11. "Good Time" by Owl City and Carly Rae Jepsen

"Whoa-oh-a-whoa-oh-oh-whoa-oh - It's always a good time!" The chorus is simple and repetitive, like a mantra designed to channel your focus toward sunshine and stay in your head to ensure that you do. "Good Time" doesn't have a lick of cynicism, with Adam Young's smooth vocals playing a delightful call-and-response to Carly Rae Jepsen's ingénue playfulness. If "Good Time" doesn't elicit a smile, you're clearly dead. You should get that looked at.

12. "Good Time Music" by The Brady Bunch

Full confession: yours truly is a big fan of The Brady Bunch, and I have actually uttered the words, "Yes, I would like to buy this CD of It's a Sunshine Day: The Best of the Brady Bunch." Their songs are as wholesome, upbeat and chipper as the series, with pearls like "Merry-Go-Round," "Keep On," and the titular track an absolute guilty pleasure (although "Candy (Sugar Shoppe)" is probably a little racier than intended). What is not on the album is "Good Time Music," which appeared in the 1973 episode "Adios, Johnny Bravo."

Thankfully, A Very Brady Sequel, the follow-up to 1995's The Brady Bunch Movie, resurrected the tune, which initiates an impromptu choreographed sequence by the Brady kids aboard an airplane, like how the first film used "It's a Sunshine Day" for a similar sequence in a Sears store. The scene itself is gold, but "Good Time Music" stands on its own as a shot of glee when you're down in the dumps. Heck, you might even "create a lot of lovin' good vibes for humanity" too, after hearing it.

13. "I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)" by The Proclaimers

It could be the heavy Scottish brogue. It could be the galloping call-and-response "la-da-da-da" bridge. It could be the story of a man who would walk 500 miles — twice — just to be with his girl. Whatever it is, there's no denying that once that opening acoustic guitar riff starts, the compulsion to grab a beer with your mates and sing-along to "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)" is impossible to resist. The Proclaimers' other big hit, "I'm On My Way," is just as joyful, with its "I'm on my way from misery to happiness today" optimism, narrowly missing out on the list by a "la-da-da-da."

14. "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da" by The Beatles

The Beatles are no strangers to the upbeat and cheerful tune, the likes of "Yellow Submarine" and "All You Need is Love." But for our purposes, the Caribbean-inspired "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da" is the one that does the trick. It's right in Paul McCartney's wheelhouse, a perfect fit for his bright and friendly vocal stylings, with John Lennon and George Harrison adding cheeky wit with their background vocals. The lyrics tell of the simple, laid-back life of Desmond and Molly Jones, driven by McCartney's catchy bass groove, with Lennon's double-time piano introduction setting the cheerful tone.

15. "Red Solo Cup" by Toby Keith

"Red Solo Cup" is the second of two country songs to make the list, but unlike "The Booze Cruise," Toby Keith's tune is an even simpler declaration of good times, personifying the immortal red Solo cup (not blue or yellow) that has been an iconic party staple since the 1970s. It's a comical, yet sincere, love letter to the vessel, whose presence indicates that the party can proceed as planned. No thinking involved: it's only as deep as the 18-ounces the cup holds.

16. "Weird Al" Yankovic's Polka Medleys

Truth be told, you can't go wrong by turning to any "Weird Al" Yankovic song for the cure to your blues, but for pure, straightforward delight, you need a shot of a "Weird Al" polka medley. Doesn't matter which one, there's enough to make a list based on them alone (and there is one!). For the uninitiated, the medleys are pretty straightforward: "Weird Al" takes snippets of lyrics from multiple pop/rock songs, typically ones released in between albums, and blends them together in a high-energy polka. Musically, how "Weird Al" and his band transition between those songs within the medley is brilliant, making each recognizable without losing the frenetic polka pacing. Hey, if you can make Soundgarden's morose "Black Hole Sun" jaunty, you can do anything.

17. "I Really Like You" by Carly Rae Jepsen

There may be no other artist that personifies 2010s joyfulness better than Carly Rae Jepsen, whose sweet, light voice and impressive range elevate the positive leanings of "Call Me Maybe," "Good Time" and this, "I Really Like You." It edges out the former simply by being slightly more relatable — no one makes phone calls anymore — and the presence of her buoyant doppelgänger, actor Tom Hanks, in the video. Again, it's the catchy chorus that draws you into Jepsen's sunny world: It isn't love (yet), but "I really, really, really, really, really, really like you" is pretty darn close.

18. "The Last Saskatchewan Pirate" by Captain Tractor

This entry needs a little context, so take a piece of paper and hold it horizontally. That's Canada's Saskatchewan, flat as a board and completely land-locked. Now apply that to "The Last Saskatchewan Pirate" and you understand the ridiculousness, and hilarity, of its premise. Originally recorded by fellow Canucks The Arrogant Worms, Captain Tractor's version has a faster pace and kick-ass flute riffs (seriously, it's awesome). Furthermore, it's a vicarious delight, with the song's protagonist taking matters into his own hands when job cuts and taxes force him into piracy, making off with bales of hay off the shores of Regina (fun fact: only Wascana Creek runs through Regina, adding to the song's absurdity).

19. "Mah Na Mah Na" by Mahna Mahna and the Snowths

"Mah Nà Mah Nà" is a song by Piero Umiliani, an Italian composer who included it in the score for the Italian softcore mondo film Sweden: Heaven and Hell in 1968. That version, however, isn't the one here, and more likely an entry on a very, very different list. No, we're talking about the famed Muppets version of the song, which first aired on Sesame Street in 1969 before hitting it big on The Ed Sullivan Show mere days following its introduction.

Really, though, it's the 1977 version that appeared on The Muppet Show that is the most memorable, with its two pink, tube-mouthed creatures, the Snowths, singing the "do doo do doo doo" part, while a purple Muppet with wild orange hair and a green tunic, Mahna Mahna, constantly interrupts, saying his own name and scatting. "Mah Na Mah Na" is just nonsense, with no rhyme or reason to its existence, but its continued presence in the zeitgeist is almost mythical. Those four words alone are enough to crack a smile on the most dour of faces.

20. "Bottle of Smoke" by The Pogues

If I Should Fall From Grace With God is a must for any fan of Celtic folk-punk legends The Pogues and its frontman, the "Gorgeously Messy Soul of Irish Music," Shane MacGowan. It's where you'll find a track of pure, unadulterated NSFW celebration that demands beer drinking and sing-along: "Bottle of Smoke." In a nutshell, the narrator placed a huge bet at 25-1 on a horse, "Bottle of Smoke," to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup. And it does, coming "up on the left like a streak of light" to win, or, in the more colorful simile, "like a drunken f**k on a Saturday night." To say he's happy about it is an understatement, and the blistering Celtic drive and MacGowan's trademark slurry vocals reflect it.

dsafdasReligion is a constant theme in Pogues songs, but MacGowan also never lost that obsession with horse racing. He once wrote an entire ramshackle tune called Bottle of Smoke with fellow Pogue and Fairytale of New York co-writer Jem Finer that gloriously — and profanely — details cashing a huge bet at 25-1 on a horse named Bottle of Smoke that wins the Cheltenham Gold Cup.