100 Best Happy Songs: The Ultimate Happy Songs Playlist

No doubt you’ve heard it said that “Music calms the savage beast.”

While we wouldn’t recommend serenading a charging lion, we know firsthand how music can positively impact people’s emotions and lives.

So we’ve compiled playlists of the best happy songs of all time to help ease the blues and make you feel good about yourself and life!

The Best Happy Songs of All Time

Music can create soundscapes and ambiance that are soothing, positive, and relaxing. We selected songs that fall into this category in our happy playlists. Lastly, we chose songs that kept the subject cheerful and carefree.

We’ll start things off with our list of the 10 best happy songs of all time:

1. “I Got You (I Feel Good)” – James Brown
2. “Walking On Sunshine” – Katrina & The Waves
3. “Three Little Birds” – Bob Marley
4. “Dancing Queen” – Abba
5. “I Can See Clearly Now” – Johnny Nash
6. “It’s A Beautiful Day” – Michael Buble
7. “Happy” – Pharrell Williams
8.  “The Way You Make Me Feel” – Michael Jackson
9. “Can’t Stop the Feeling” – Justin Timberlake
10. “Don’t Worry Be Happy” – Bobby McFarrin

These ten songs are a must for anyone’s “pick me up” playlist! We’re confident they’ll put a smile on your face and get you in a good mood.

Best Upbeat Songs

Upbeat music can have a powerful, positive effect on our lives. The energy of the groove and the catchy melody can lift our spirits when we’re down in the dumps.

Sports teams use these songs to get their fans pumped before the big game. And if you’re like us, you have an upbeat jam to get you ready in the morning or before you give a big presentation at work.

So we’ve taken the time to include the best upbeat songs for your playlist. We know life can be challenging, but we hope these twenty songs take the edge off the blues and keep you energized and staying positive.

Here’s our list of the 20 best upbeat songs of all time:

1. “You Make My Dreams” – Hall & Oates
2. “September” – Earth, Wind & Fire
3. “Mr. Blue Skies” – Electric Light Orchestra
4. “I’m Still Standing” – Elton John
5. “Don’t Stop Me Now” – Queen
6. “I’m A Believer” – The Monkees
7. “Heroes” – David Bowie
8. “Girls Just Want To Have Fun” – Cyndi Lauper
9. “Geronimo” – Sheppard
10. “Thunder” – Imagine Dragons
11. “Shake It” – Metro Station
12. “Get Lucky” – Daft Punk
13. “Good Life” – OneRepublic
14. “Good Vibrations” – The Beach Boys
15. “Shiny Happy People” – REM
16. “Jump (For My Love” – The Pointer Sisters
17.  “Brave” – Sara Bareilles
18. “Heart and Soul” – T’Pau
19. “Jump” – Van Halen
20. “Wannabe” – Spice Girls

Whether you play air guitar along with Eddie Van Halen or sing into a hairbrush pretending to be a Spice Girl, we know these songs will be a positive addition to your playlist!

Our Favorite Upbeat Song

We turned back the hands of time and selected this blast from the past. It’s a song that is so funky, energetic, and upbeat that we’re positive (see what we did there?) it will be a timeless happy song for years to come.

Earth, Wind & Fire released “September” in 1978, and it became one of their greatest hits of all time. We love how each instrument has its place in the song and doesn’t overpower the production.

The result is that this gem sounds as fresh today as it did when released. And the chorus is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser that’ll have you dancing and singing along in no time.

Happy Songs 2022

With the new year just underway, many of us are glad to say goodbye to 2021.

It was a challenging year that, if you’re like us, required a constant stream of upbeat songs to keep us motivated and positive!

We naturally included these in this compilation for 2021, and when this year nears the end, we’ll be sure to update you on our best happy songs for 2022.

Here’s our list of the 20 best happy songs of 2021.

1. “Butter” – BTS
2. “Shivers” – Ed Sheeran
3. “I Feel Good” – Pitbull/Anthony Watts, DJ White Shadow
4. “Don’t Be Shy” – Tiesto, Karol G
5. “Love Again” – Dua Lipa
6. “Don’t Go Yet” – Camila Cabello
7. “Acapulco” – Jason Derulo
8. “Friday” – Mufasa/Hypeman
9. “My Head & My Heart” – Ava Max
10. “Summer of Love” – Shawn Mendes/Tainy
11. “Sweet Dreams” – Andra/Mara/Radio Killer
12. “Clean” – Clean Bandit/Topic/Wes Nelson
13. “A Second to Midnight” – Kylie Minogue/Years & Years
14. “Electric” – Katy Perry
15. “By Your Side” – Calvin Harris/Tom Grennan
16. “Bed” – Joel Corry/RAYE/Davide Guetta
17. “Floating Through Space” – Sia/David Guetta
18. “Somebody” – Justin Bieber
19. “Future Starts Now” – Kim Petras
20. “Lifestyle” – Jason Derulo/Adam Levine/Maroon 5

Listening to these pop songs reminded us how our music can be like best friends: always there in a flash to cheer you up!

We’d love to hear what songs kept you going in 2021! Did you find some new ones? Or maybe you have some you’d like to drop in the comments below.

Our Favorite Happy Song 2021

For many, change is frightening. And yet, without change, we never grow or develop, or discover. How sad is that? German singer-songwriter Kim Petras cashes in on this notion in her dance hit, “Future Starts Now.”

The auto-tuned vocals set the stage for listeners to embrace the future and the change beyond the horizon. And if the dance tracks and drum beats don’t get you feeling upbeat, the lyrics will do the trick:

“Ain’t nobody gonna stop me, Don’t you let the music stop now, You’re more than just anybody, Don’t give up, the future starts now.” – Kim Petras

Happy Dance Songs

Did you know that doctors agree that dancing can improve mood, self-esteem, physical fitness, and confidence? So if you’re feeling down and out, grab some friends and hit the dance floor!

To help you boogie away the blues, we’ve gathered twenty songs that will propel those happy feet and instill good vibrations deep into your marrow.

These are more than just feel-good songs about being happy. Our list features hand-picked dance grooves that transcend the times and set the mood for you to dance, dance, dance!

Here are our toe-tapping, boogie-woogie, happy dance songs!

1. “I Wanna Dance With Somebody” – Whitney Houston
2. “Shut Up And Dance” – Walk The Moon
3. “Best Day of My Life” – American Authors
4. “Happy Dance” – Mercy Me
5. “Uptown Funk” – Bruno Mars
6. “Stay” – The Kid LAROL/Justin Bieber
7. “Dynamite” – BTS
8. “Sugar” – Maroon 5
9. “Poker Face” – Lady Gaga
10. “So Good To Me” – Chris Malinchak
11. “Wake Me Up Before You Go Go” – Wham
12. “Don’t Stop Believin'” – Journey
13. “What Makes You Beautiful” – One Direction
14. “We found Love” – Calvin Harris/Rihanna
15. “Put Your Records On” – Corinne Bailey Rae
16. “Stonger (What Doesn’t Kill You)” – Kelly Clarkson
17. “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” – Marvin Gaye/Tammi Terrell
18. “Call Me Maybe” – Carly Rae Jepsen
19. “Cake By the Ocean” – DNCE
20. “Love On Top” – Beyonce

Our list has a little bit of everything for everyone, whether you love grooving to Marvin Gaye or bouncing around with Beyonce. We’re positive these songs will fire up the dance floor and put out good vibes, too.

Our Favorite Happy Dance Song

You know, sometimes the most obvious choice is the best choice. When the song is called “Happy Dance,” and the groove is infectious, the lyrics are fun, and the energy is full throttle, we go with it.

We love the band’s vibe in the music video and the other characters in the music production. “Happy Dance” is guaranteed to make you get up and do a, well, happy dance!

Happy Songs About Life

Face it: life can be like a tsunami. One minute, you’re lying on the beach getting golden brown, and then out of nowhere, BAM! Life dunks you with saltwater and tosses you this way and that.

We can’t guarantee that having an upbeat playlist will prevent the waves of life from hitting you, but we can all agree they sure help us get through such misery.

We felt these songs spoke more about the qualities of a happy life, which is why you’ll want to add them to your playlist.

Here’s our list of the 20 best happy songs about life:

1. “What A Wonderful World” – Louis Armstrong
2. “We Are The Champions” – Queen
3. “Man in the Mirror” – Michael Jackson
4. “It’s My Life” – Bon Jovi
5. “Over the Rainbow” – Israel “Iz” Kamakawiwo’ole
6. “Anything’s Possible” – Lea Michele
7. “Beautiful Day” – U2
8. “Say Yes” – Michelle Williams/Beyonce/Kelly Rowland
9. “Let’s Go Crazy”- Prince
10. “Tightrope” – Janelle Monae
11. “(You Make Me Feel Like) a Natural Woman” – Aretha Franklin
12. “Pocketful of Sunshine” – Natasha Bedingfield
13. “Shake it Off” – Taylor Swift
14. “Juice” – Lizzo
15. “Rosalita” – Bruce Springsteen
16. “Hey Ya” – Outkast
17. “On Top of the World” – Imagine Dragons
18. “Hey, Soul Sister” – Train
19. “Suddenly I See” – KT Tunstall
20. “Keep Your Head Up” – Andy Grammar

These songs will be sure to put a smile on your face even if life has smacked you around a bit. And as much as we’d love to choose all of them for our favorite, we had to go with only one.

Our Favorite Happy Song About Life

In this song, the introduction is so perky and child-like in innocence that you can’t help but have a better outlook on life. And who doesn’t want to feel so happy that you’re on top of the world?

Well, that’s why we went with Imagine Dragon’s “On Top of the World.” And evidently, marketing experts also love the song because it has been featured in EA Sports’s FIFA 13 game, the inauguration of Barack Obama, and a Galaxy Note advertisement.

Happy Songs About Love

Ah, love! Sure, love can break your heart, but love can send you soaring into the stratosphere, too!

We’ll be focusing on the positive aspects of falling in love and saving the down-and-out “my baby left me” playlists for another post.

We opted for upbeat tunes akin to that feeling you get when you first fall in love. After all, when two people are in love, they feel like they can conquer the world and anything coming their way.

Be sure to include this playlist in your happy song collection!

Here’s our list of the 20 best happy songs about love:

1. “Stupid Love” – Lady Gaga
2. “Crazy in Love” – Beyonce/Jay-Z
3. “Livin’ On A Prayer” – Bon Jovi
4. “Dreams” – The Cranberries
5. “Crazy Little Thing Called Love” – Queen
6. “I Want You Back” – Jackson 5
7. “Feel So Close” – Calvin Harris
8. “Teenage Dream” – Katy Perry
9. “You Can’t Hurry Love” – The Supremes
10. “Your Love” – The Outfield
11. “It Takes Two” – Marvin Gaye/Kim Weston
12. “(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher” – Jackie Wilson
13. “A Sky Full of Stars” – Coldplay
14. “I Melt With You” – Modern English
15. “Friday I’m In Love” – The Cure
16. “Domino” – Jessie J
17. “December, 1963 (Oh, What A Night)” – Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons
18. “Never Gonna Give You Up” – Rick Astley
19. “Uptown Girl” – Billy Joel
20. “Got To Be Real” – Cheryl Lynn

We’re sure that these love songs will solidify your relationship. And who knows, if you’re looking for love, these may help you find that certain someone.

Once more, selecting one from this list of hits is challenging. But in the end, we went with an oldy but goody. And here’s a hint: it was the starting band for the future King of Pop!

Our Favorite Happy Song About Love

The winner is “I Want You Back” by the Jackson 5! The song features Michael Jackson at the ripe old age of ten! Even in his youth, fans knew he was destined for superstardom.

We love the Motown groove on this track that shines like a diamond and will have you feeling happy in no time flat.

And even though Michael is crooning about having his lover come back, the mood is so upbeat that you know he’ll win her over in no time.

Best Wake Up Songs

Even the happiest person in the world sometimes needs help waking up in the morning. And we also know that everyone has varying ideas of how they should wake up.

Some people like a jolt of adrenaline-laced music followed by vats of hot coffee. These individuals probably like jumping into cold showers, too.

Others prefer to ease into the morning and therefore want soft, easy-listening music to accompany their cheery breakfast. And their showers must be piping hot!

Whichever camp you fall into, our twenty best wake up songs will be a must for your morning routine!

1. “Viva La Vida” – Coldplay
2. “Wake Me Up” – Avicii
3. “Downtown” – Macklemore/Ryan Lewis
4. “Lovely Day” – Bill Withers
5. “Elevate” – St. Lucia
6. “Can’t Sleep Love” – Pentatonix
7. “Confident” – Demi Lovato
8. “Wake Up” – Arcade Fire
9. “Here Comes The Sun” – The Beatles
10. “Love Myself” – Hailee Steinfeld
11. “Money On My Mind” – Sam Smith
12. “I Can’t Help It” – Esperanza Spalding
13. “Come And Get It” – John Newman
14. “Ain’t Nobody (Love Me Better)” – Felix Jaehn
15. “Feel Right” – Mark Ronson
16. “Brave” – Sarah Bareilles
17. “Rather Be” – Clean Bandit
18. “Reflections” – MisterWives
19. “Warm Blood” – Carly Rae Jepsen
20. “iLoveMemphis” – Hit The Quan

So rub the sleep from your eyes, fling the covers off, and play these morning songs to get you moving and in a happy state of being.

Our Favorite Song To Wake Up To

We felt that Bill Withers’s “Lovely Day” is the best song for both wake-up camps. The drum and bass line are sure to get the blood flowing through those tired muscles.

The lyrics are so upbeat that even if you tossed and turned all night, you’ll be in a better mood once you reflect on the words.

And the chorus is so catchy that you’ll be belting it out at the top of your lungs in the shower. Yes, even if you prefer a cold one!

Happiest Wedding Songs Of All Time

Have you ever been to a sad wedding or one that played dull melancholic music? Neither have we!

Weddings are the crowning achievement of lovers who vow to become one and promise to love forever and ever!

Such blissfulness demands happy, upbeat, optimistic, love-inspired songs! We have gathered together the best songs for the happy occasion!

These are perfect for slow dancing with the one you love or jamming with friends on the dance floor!

Here’s our list of the 20 happiest weddings songs of all time:

1. “A Thousand Years” – The Piano Guys
2. “This Will Be (An Everlasting Love)” – Natalie Cole
3. “All You Need Is Love” – The Beatles
4. “The Prayer” – Josh Groban
5. “You Are the Best Thing” – Ray LaMontagne
6. “Sea of Love” – Phil Phillips
7. “When I Say I Do” – Matthew West
8. “Fairytale” – Enya
9. “God Only Knows” – The Beach Boys
10. “Bittersweet Symphony” (music only) – The Verve
11. “Celebration” – Kool and the Gang
12. “Amazed” – Lonestar
13. “When I Fall In Love” – Nat King Cole
14. “You’re the Inspiration” – Chicago
15. “Shout” – Isley Brothers
16. “Stand By Me” – Ben E. King
17. “Like A Star” – Corinne Bailey Rae
18. “Because You Loved Me” – Celine Dion
19. “Your Song” – Elton John
20. “XO” – Beyonce

Whether you select the slow instrumental song by The Piano Guys or the Motown classic “Stand By Me,” we know these songs will make any wedding the happiest ever!

Our Favorite Happy Wedding Song

We chose a timeless dance song that is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. The song is “Celebration” by Kool and the Gang and was released in 1980.

This chart-topping hit has been a popular wedding and party song for over four decades, and we’re confident that it will be famous for years to come! This song is ideal for “breaking the ice” and getting everyone up and dancing!

Happy Songs to Sing-Along To

Many of the songs we’ve already listed are great sing-along songs, so the trick was finding more great music without duplicating ourselves.

Aside from being upbeat songs whose subject is positive, we needed music with that memorable chorus that is easy to sing.

Whether you aspire to be a professional singer or you’re more comfortable being a shower superstar, these following songs are a must for your sing-along playlist.

Here’s our list of the 20 best happy songs to sing along to:

1. “Party In The USA” – Miley Cyrus
2. “Come On Eileen” – Dexys Midnight Runners
3. “I’m Coming Out” – Diana Ross
4. “All Star” – Smash Mouth
5. “Levitation” – Dua Lipa
6. “Livin’ La Vida Loca” – Ricky Martin
7. “Love Shack” – The B52s
8. “Take On Me” – A-ha
9. “Build Me Up Buttercup” – The Foundations
10. “I Won’t Give Up” – Jason Mraz
11. “Cecilia” – Simon & Garfunkle
12. “Sweet Caroline” – Neal Diamond
13. “Good As Hell” – Lizzo
14. “If You Want To Sing Out” – Cat Stevens
15. “Like A Prayer” – Madonna
16. “Brown Eyed Girl” – Van Morrison
17. “I Will Survive” – Gloria Gaynor
18. “Hey Jude” – The Beatles
19. “I Think We’re Alone Now” – Tommy James & the Shondells
20. “Mr. Brightside” – The Killers

No doubt these songs will have you singing along in pure joy! We’ve only scratched the surface of great sing-along songs, so share your top pick in the comments below.

Our Favorite Song To Sing-Along To

We opted for a song that is popular at karaoke bars and is sung around the world by sports fans at Wembley Stadium and Fenway Park, to mention a few.

“Sweet Caroline” by Neal Diamond came out in 1969, and although it’s a love song, the anthemic chorus is perfect for sing-alongs.

So whether you’re crooning at a karaoke venue or cheering on your favorite sports team, “Sweet Caroline” is a great tune to belt with full gusto!

Happy Drinking Songs

Who doesn’t love raising a pint with friends? Whether it’s to cheer on your sports team or celebrate one of life’s milestones, drinking songs go hand-in-hand with lifting a mixed drink.

Our focus is on being happy, so we’ll avoid drinking songs about being miffed at life or getting wasted to forget that “certain someone.” These will be classic bar tunes, some stretching back many years, perfect for good times with friends.

1. “Streams of Whiskey” – The Pogues
2. “Brass Monkey” – Beastie Boys
3. “White Lightning” – George Jones
4. “Tequila” – The Champs
5. “Friends in Low Places” – Garth Brooks
6. “Drunken Lullabies” – Flogging Molly
7. “Shots” – LMFAO
8. “Happy Hour” – The Housemartins
9. “Whiskey River” – Willie Nelson
10. “One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer” – George Thorogood
11. “I Like Beer” – Tom T. Hall
12. “Beer” – People Under The Stairs
13. “I Think I’ll Just Stay Here And Drink” – Merle Haggard
14. “Have A Drink On Me” – AC/DC
15. “Cheers (Drink To That)” – Rihanna
16. “Shot for Me” – Drake
17. “One Mint Julep” – Louis Prima
18. “Cigareetes, Whisky, and Wild, Wild Women” – Sons of the Pioneers
19. “Beer For My Horses” – Toby Keith/Willie Nelson
20. “You Me and the Bottle Makes 3 Tonight” – Big Bad Voodoo Daddy

These drinking songs could also be categorized as sing-alongs, primarily when good times and good drinks flow!

Our Favorite Happy Drinking Song

We chose The Pogues’ “Streams of Whiskey” for our favorite happy drinking song.

The song’s Anglo-Irish band’s Celtic feel conjures images of smoky pubs from Ireland to London where pints are raised, and the whiskey flows like streams.

The upbeat music and the catchy chorus will have you singing along in no time!

Summary

We hope you’ve enjoyed our lists of the best happy songs of all time!

We think we’ve created the perfect playlists for when you’re feeling blue, need to wake up, or celebrating life at a pub with friends.

What’s the best happy song of all time, in your opinion? Leave a comment below.