Your Feel Good Playlist
“You are born with a melody in your brain, a song capable of keeping you balanced, bringing you peace from within and shaping your neurochemistry.”
That’s Sting writing about how our favorite songs can bring positive change into everyday life.
Which many of us practice to a certain extent already, but it’s worth getting very deliberate about leveraging the power of music to shift the vibe.
From the book Your Playlist Can Change Your Life, the authors share that science documents “the profound influence of music on your physical, psychological, and spiritual well-being.”
They say music can be used to trigger various mental states, which is why your playlist can help “cleanse your mind of negative and unwanted thoughts and emotions, making it easier to reach goals, maintain alertness, and achieve an all-encompassing calm.”
No surprise, right? Â We inherently know the power of music to affect our vibrational state – so I imagine most of us already have a playlist for feeling good.
And if you don’t, it’s high time! Â This is easy and fun vibe management methodology here. Â :)
This post is inspired by a reader who recently asked me to share my feel good playlist, after she read this piece about Songs for Manifesters.
I actually have several playlists designed to make me feel better depending on where I’m at on the vibrational scale.  One is called Chill Out (to use when tense or when it’s time to dial down), one named Life Is Good (for enhancing the feel good vibe), another titled It’ll Be Okay (for when I’m down), and a fun one called Get Busy (for quality time with a sweetie).
My ipod also sports a Wake Up playlist, an SHB list (for amping up the sexy), one to get the confidence up for presenting to a group, and a few others.
I’ll share a few selections from my Life Is Good playlist, but I’m most interested in getting new tips on great songs from you all:
- Will Smith – Gettin’ Jiggy With It
- Tesla – Getting Better
- Steppenwolf – Magic Carpet Ride
- Pat Benatar – All Fired Up
- Lifehouse – Everything
- Kid Rock – All Summer Long
- James Brown – I Feel Good
- Fatboy Slim – Right Here Right Now
- Diddy Dirty Money – Hello Good Morning
- Cat Stevens – Peace Train
- Adam Lambert – Feelin’ Good
- Bee Gees – Saturday Night Fever
- Jason Aldean – Dirt Road Anthem
We know music is a personal thing and what one person loves may make another wince, but there’s still lots of benefit in sharing our favorites.
So … what’s on your feel good playlist?
The Sound of Sunshine by Michael Franti!
Just got tipped off to a “My Fabulous Life” list compiled on Charismatic Woman’s facebook page:
One Republic – Good Life
Cindy Lauper – Girls Just Want to Have Fun
Natasha Bedingfield – Unwritten
Natasha Bedingfield – Pocket Full of Sunshine
Kelly Maize – Third Eye
Earth Wind and Fire – Fantasy
Madonna – Ray of Light
Katy Perry – Firework
Jill Scott – Golden
Louie Armstrong – What a Wonderful World
Patti Griffin – Heavenly Day
Sheryl Crow – Soak Up the Sun
Pink – Raise Your Glass
Pink – Trouble
Maroon 5 – Moves Like Jager
LMFAO – Sexy and I Know It
LMFAO – Party Rock Anthem
EWF – September
Missy Higgins – Steer
Kool and the Gang – Celebrate
Oh let’s see-I’m all over the place
ELO – Don’t Bring Me Down
Partridge Family – I think I love you
Cat Stevens – Peace Train
Michael Jackson – Billie Jean
The Emotions – Best of My Love
Michael Buble – Everything
Young MC – Bust A Move
Gene Kelly – I’m Singing in the Rain
Beatles – Here Comes The Sun
Lots more..but these come to mind and make me smile!
Thanks for chiming in, Erin! Katy, love the variety – and forgot to put Bust a Move on my shuffle! I think that’s a universal feel good song, right? lol
This made me cry, wrings your heart but hope, again, springs eternal & music rhymes with miracles…pinched of Imelda’s blog, a GVU member & LOA coach in Brighton, a beautiful seaside town in the UK.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EgNLLelQYwI
If you desire to partake, please do so, I shall see what I can do myself
Bill Withers – Lovely Day
Thank you all for sharing your uplifting selections, it’s all I listen to!
Matisyahu – King without a crown
Marky Mark – Good Vibrations
Gloria Estefan – Conga
Gabrielle – Dreams can come true
General Vibe-Lifters (My actual playlist is titled “LIVE! – Anthems to Inspire”):
Nickelback – If Everyone Cared, If Today Was Your Last Day, When We Stand Together
Rob Thomas – Little Wonders, Someday
Katy Perry – Firework
Smash Mouth – All Star
Natasha Bedingfield – Unwritten
Kris Allen – Live Like We’re Dying
Delta Goodrem – In This Life
Gary Jules – Something Else
Sarah McLachlan – Ordinary Miracle
Celine Dion – The Power of the Dream
Selena Gomez – Who Says
Demi Lavato – This Is Real, This Is Me
Grant Lee Phillips – Good Morning Happiness
Alyssa Bonagura – I Make My Own Sunshine
Josh Groban – Thankful
Vibe-Lifters for Love(“LOVE! – Songs to Deepen”):
Nickelback – Gotta Be Somebody [definitely an LOA song]
Michael Buble – Haven’t Met You Yet [this one too]
Josh Groban – In Her Eyes, When You Say You Love Me, You Are Loved (Don’t Give Up), and For Always
Secret Garden (or any of the other few dozen artists who’ve covered it) – You Raise Me Up
Savage Garden – I Knew I Loved You
Laura Pausini – Surrender [reminds me somewhat of David Deida's work]
Dana Glover – It is You (I Have Loved)
Gloria Estefan – Path of the Right Love [great LOA quote by Mother Meera at the end!]
Both lists are always growing… I’ll check out everyone else’s suggestions, too!
General positive songs (my actual playlist is called âLIVE! â Anthems to Inspireâ):
Nickelback â If Everyone Cared, If Today Was Your Last Day, When We Stand Together [three songs]
Rob Thomas â Little Wonders, Someday
Katy Perry â Firework
Smash Mouth â All Star
Natasha Bedingfield â Unwritten
Kris Allen â Live Like Weâre Dying
Delta Goodrem â In This Life
Gary Jules â Something Else
Sarah McLachlan â Ordinary Miracle
Celine Dion â The Power of the Dream
Selena Gomez â Who Says
Demi Lavato â This Is Real, This Is Me [one song]
Grant Lee Phillips â Good Morning Happiness [I think I heard this on an episode of âBonesâ]
Alyssa Bonagura â I Make My Own Sunshine [from a Loweâs commercial]
Raising the vibe on love (âLOVE! â Songs to Deepenâ):
Nickelback â Gotta Be Somebody [this one and the next are real LOA songs]
Michael BublĂ© â Havenât Met You Yet
Josh Groban â In Her Eyes, When You Say You Love Me, You Are Loved [this one could go equally well in the âLIVE!â playlist], and For Always
Dana Glover â It Is You (I Have Loved)
Laura Pausini â Surrender [reminds me of David Deidaâs work, if you can be loose with the interpretation of it]
Savage Garden â I Knew I Loved You [this oneâs got a pretty good LOA theme, too]
And âYou Raise Me Upâ by whoever your favorite artist is (whoever they are, theyâve probably covered this one ï). I like the Secret Garden version because itâs the only one Iâve ever heard with the second verse.
Both lists are still growing⊠Iâll probably add half the stuff people mention here, so thanks!
Oh Fun!
It’s all about singing while driving.
The Cure – Just Like Heaven
General Public – Tenderness
REM – Radio Free Europe
U2 – Pride
U2 – Beautiful Day
David Bowie – Modern Love
Billy Idol – Dancing With Myself
Madonna – Get Into the Groove
Lenny Kravitz – Are You Gonna Go My Way
Prince – Let’s Go Crazy
Bob Marley – Is This Love
Allman Bros. Band – Dreams
Lynyrd Skynyrd – I Ain’t the One
Allman Bros. Band – Blue Sky
Toots Hibbert – Pressure Drop
Toots Hibbert – Sweet & Dandy
Aerosmith – Dueces Are Wild
Thank you – This was so much fun!
Oh Fun!
For me it is all about driving and singing at the top of my lungs.
The Cure – Just Like Heaven
General Public – Tenderness
REM – Radio Free Europe
U2 – Beautiful Day
U2- Pride (The is nothing like Edge’s guitar that sends chills through me)
David Bowie – Modern Love
Madonna – Get Into the Groove
C&C Music Factory – Everybody Dance Now
Lenny Kravitz – Are You Gonna Go My Way
Prince – Let’s Go Crazy
Billy Idol – Dancing With Myself
Bob Marley – Is This Love
Jimmy Cliff – Many Rivers to Cross
Toots Hibbert – Sweet & Dandy
Toots Hibbert – Pressure Drop
Allman Bros. Band – Dreams
Allman Bros. Band – Blue Sky
Lynyrd Skynyrd – I Ain’t the One
And I saved the best for last – Meatloaf – Paradise By the Dashboard Light
Thank you! This was loads of fun!
Wow, I am totally loving everyoneâs lists! Iâve discovered some really great new songs from whatâs here so far. Thank you to everyone.
For when I want to amp up my energy (on my way to work for example):
Mary Chapin CarpenterâI Feel Lucky
Grand Funk RailroadâSome Kind of Wonderful
Black Eyed PeasâI Gotta Feeling
SantanaâWinning
Robert Randolph and the Family BandâThrill of It
The Asteroids Galaxy TourâAround the Bend
Bon JoviâIt’s My Life
Dropkick MurphysâSunshine Highway
The KinksâVictoria (live version– soooo superior to the studio version, the crowd energy really transforms the song)
R.E.M.âSuperman
For the times I need to clear my head of negative thoughts:
Shania TwainâToday is Your Day
MatisyahuâOne Day
Jefferson StarshipâCount on Me
Jason MrazâThe Remedy (I Wonât Worry)
ABBA is always a guaranteed way to get myself out of a funkâhow can anyone listen to Waterloo and not sing along?!
Am loving seeing everyone’s lists! And picking up a couple of new additions that I hadn’t thought to include, as well as getting introduced to great tunes I didn’t know.
Thank you guys!
I got a giggle out of the first song you mentioned, Jeannette. Will Smith’s (we share the same birthday – Sept. 25 – which isn’t that the day after yours?) Gettin’ Jiggy With It. I was just thinking of that song because earlier in May marked 14 years since the day I graduated college. And on that day, while standing in line to go up on stage to get my diploma, I had “Gettin’ Jiggy With It” stuck in my head and I was doing the little shimmy thing that goes along with that song as I was in line.
Whenever I hear or think of that song it reminds me of that very happy day.
On another point – sometime back I had a little mp3 player that I put some of my favorite songs on – my favorite HAPPY/feel good songs. Those ran the gamut from “Reproduction” from the Grease 2 soundtrack to “Hakuna Mata” from the Lion King soundtrack to obvious ones like “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” and “Uptown Girl” by Billy Joel and a ton others that I’m blanking on right now.
I have known for a long time that there are few things better than putting one in a good mood than really belting out some tunes. I get in music moods where I just want to stay up all night singing to my favorite songs and soak in those vibes.
Not quite the same as music, but it could be just audio – I love comedy and funny stuff. I have a huge folder of those old Bud Lite radio commercials (and I don’t even like beer at all), ie. Real Men of Genius. I still crack up over ones such as “Mr. Really Bad Toupee Wearer”. And I love stand up comedy. I’ve been known to listen to it on Sirius radio and get to laughing so hard while I’m driving I am doubled over with tears streaming down my face.
Interesting side note: I met Jeff Foxworthy the other night! Nice guy!
Stacy, you’re making me remember another’s list (who emailed it to me) that had exclusively nature sounds on it. Talk about a feel good tune, huh?!
My playlists change all the time LOL – low boredom threshold! But I have maybe a half dozen guaranteed go-to songs that will always raise a smile:
Missy Higgins – Steer
P!nk – F*cking Perfect
Lady Gaga – Born This Way
Smashmouth – All Star
Jesse J – Price Tag
Louis Armstrong – Wonderful World
Mmm….
I have a playlist on Grooveshark that I listen to at home. I have most songs on my Ipod but I need to get more. I am loving everyone’s suggestions and will be adding to my playlist. I got a lot of ideas from the post you did before about positive music.
Here’s a blog post I did that shares my Groovshark playlist. (Warning:if at work, turn down the volume, it does start to play automatically)
http://manifestingcookies.blogspot.com/2011/10/books-music-and-more-part-of-process.html
I’m going to add more songs, though. I love Glee, and I have found that the Broadway songs they do sometimes really hit me.
Defying Gravity from Wicked
Something’s Coming from West Side Story
I know there’s more, though.
My next favorite is Kenny Chesney / Tim McGraw’s Feel Like a Rockstar. That’s a definite one that will be added soon.
Okay, a short list but these are major vibe lifters for me!
New Shoes – Paolo Nutini – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hmbUNF1Q4R8
GETTING SOME FUN OUT OF LIFE – MADELEINE PEYROUX http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OrO2ir-BubE
Walking on Sunshine – Thrillbilly Stomp
Love New Shoes!!!! Adding it!!
Thanks for the Grooveshark reminder/tip, Christina. And for including one from the country artists – I noticed my list was short on those.
Janette, I wouldn’t have pegged you for a Gaga fan.
One song that I really love is by a Swedish group called Timberville, It’s called “Enjoy The Ride”.
I cant find it on Youtube but they have a sample from it on Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/Enjoy-the-Ride/dp/B007NZ07AS
and it is sooo Abraham!!!!
“..baby lets go down this road in stride, enjoy the ride. I’ve been upstreams, there’s nothing there, upstreams, it aint worth it.. Now I’m not afraid to try this once again. I’m going downstreams, go with the flow…”
Glee cast – Love you like a lovesong
The beat makes me happy and I like this version better than the original.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNblAnY46nk
Lady Gaga – Edge Of Glory
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QeWBS0JBNzQ&ob=av2e
The wonderful and amazing voice of
Joss Stone – Put your hands on me baby
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h__d0RMFOkQ
Kelly Clarkson – Stronger
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xn676-fLq7I&ob=av2e
Jessie J – Domino
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UJtB55MaoD0&ob=av2e
Hi Jeanette…
Rob Breszny suggest that we listen to a blasting copy of our “fierce” song as soon as you get up, everyday this week and see what happens.
ground shake – dirty radio
perfect day – Hoku
the middle – Jimmy eat World
Big Wheels – Down with Webster
Screaming bloody murder – Sum41
Wrecking Ball – Mother Mother
Titanium – David Guetta
I remember – Deadmau5 and Kaskade
Drive by Incubus
I’m just having a hard time deciding what my fierce song is…
I heard this on the radio the other day and had to add it to the list.
Pink – Perfect.
The video is amazing.
Found my fierce….
Clear by Kardinal Offishal
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3wSI7zQf6A
amazeballs!
Never heard that tip from Rob before, Leah. Thanks for sharing it!
(And love that you found your fierce! ha ha)
Thanks, Christina, for suggesting the video. It’s amazing how much more impact a song can have with the right visual accompaniment.
Hi Jeannette,
I saw a link to this blog post and could not help but want to share!
I don’t have my playlist physically set up yet (will get with my son for that), but here goes:
Lose Yourself – Eminem (from the 8 Mile soundtrack)
Whatcha Waitin’ For? – Gwen Stefani
Stomp – The Brothers Johnson (I had always thought this was an Earth, Wind & Fire song, but I was wrong!)
Boogie Wonderland – Earth, Wind & Fire
Live Your Life – Yuna
Butterfly Surprise – Shifty
Remember the Time – Michael Jackson
Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’ – Michael Jackson
Butterflies – Michael Jackson
Please Don’t Stop the Music – Rihanna
Paparazzi – Lady Gaga
Just about everything on John Mayer’s Room For Squares album
Beautiful Day – U2
Vertigo – U2
Holiday – Green Day
Drop Me in the Middle – Natasha Bedingfield
Without the Girl – Daniel Bedingfield (Natasha’s brother)
Spice Up Your Life – Spice Girls
Saturday Night – Spice Girls
Sexy Back – Justin Timberlake
Kick Push – Lupe Fiasco
GoldDigger – Kanye West
Single Ladies – Beyonce
Anyway You Want It – Journey
Philadelphia Freedom – Elton John
Bennie & The Jets – Elton John
I just LOVE music! I’m smiling right now while I’m typing this list… But I’ll stop for now, tee, hee, hee…
I bookmarked this blog post a while back, with the intention of revisiting. I’ve added a few of everyone’s selections to my own list – thank you all!
Here’s a handful of my own mood lifters – hope you enjoy some of them.
You Gotta Be – Des’ree
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pO40TcKa_5U
Good Mother – Jan Arden
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7SOrmtqTVHc
Haven’t Met You Yet – Michael Buble
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FtUpm5YxTfQ
Weight of the World – Chantal Kreviazuk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNXK5plP0go
Bubbly – Colbie Caillat
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWGqoCNbsvM
Hey Yah – Outkast
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=43dE6fiTTSU
You & I – Celine Dion
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8RUgRczi8aY
Who Says You Can’t Go Home – Bonjovi
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=abzbVFuxigg
Breathless – The Corrs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CAKJo5jQKm8&feature=fvst
I Gotta Feeling – Black Eyed Peas
Firework – Katie Perry
Brenda
Radio by Musiq Soulchild
Respect by Aretha Franklin
Be Happy by Mary J Blige
Empire State of Mind by Jay Z & Alicia Keys
Tell Me Something Good by Chaka Khan
Single Ladies by Beyonce
Telephone by Lady Gaga & Beyonce
1999 by Prince
Getting Over You by David Guetta feat Fergie & LMFAO
When Love Take Over by David Guetta & Kelly Rowland
Moves Like Jagger by Maroon 5
Tik Tok by Ke$ha
Firework by Katy Perry
Sexy & I know it by LMFAO
Three Little Birds by Bob Marley
Imma Be by Black Eyed Peas
Go Get it by Mary Mary
Love on Top by Beyonce
Countdown by Beyonce
Don’t Stop Believing by Journey
If by Janet Jackson
Escapade by Janet Jackson
Here are some of my “feel good favorites” (it’s an eclectic list
:
Friends — Led Zeppelin
Golden Brown — The Stranglers
Rise — Herb Alpert
Return to Innocence — Enigma
More Than a Woman — The Bee Gees
Superfly — Curtis Mayfield
I’m So Glad — Cream
Shamanic Journey — Anugama
World Hold On — Bob Sinclar
and…most recently:
Play that Funky Music as performed by Nicholas David and Cee Lo Green!