Wednesday, April 12, 2006

Happy thoughts, happy thoughts...

Some days, it's just too much to be the enigma that is La Grumpy. I'm in such a funk, and I just hate that. If I could blast up the workouts, maybe I could get more endorphins going... but alas, I cannot. I have to stick with simple stretches everyday, and 15 minutes of walking in a pool twice a week. Gah.

PMS doesn't help matters. Neither does the recent insomnia.

So, I'm trying to inundate my brain with happy thoughts. At the moment, I'm very tempted to go for a little retail therapy. Luckily for my bank account, I'm at work and can't leave. I have learned it is very unwise for me to shop when I'm feeling a little depressed. The resulting euphoria is always amazing, but very short-lived. Especially once I see my credit card amounts... that I'm trying to keep down anyway.

One thing that I am doing is listening to my Happy/Upbeat Mix on my Nano. These songs all have a happy-ish theme, and/or are somewhat up tempo. Some of them make me feel happy because of the lyrics; others, because of the music. Some even because of the memories they bring to me. What I'm finding, though, is that the majority of tunes in my "library" are a lot of sad songs, or relaxing songs, or "deep" songs. But not a lot of really, good happy tunes. (I do have more on CD, I'm sure... I just haven't had the time to get them all on the Nano.)

So help me friends! Suggestions? I'm listing some of the songs I have on the mix. If you have a song you think belongs on this list, send it my way.

Partial list (in no particular order):
The Beach Boys: Little Deuce Coupe
The Beatles: Here Comes The Sun and All You Need Is Love
Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell: Ain’t No Mountain High Enough
The Wonders: That Thing You Do
The Proclaimers: 500 Miles
Roy Orbison: You Got It
Barry Manilow: Daybreak (If you make fun of this one, I will teach you about pain)
Belle & Sebastian: Funny Little Frog
Diamond Rio: That’s How Your Love Makes Me Feel
Fastball: You’re An Ocean
James Taylor: Your Smiling Face
Stevie Wonder: Sir Duke
Toby Keith: Who’s Your Daddy (this one is an inside joke with the hubby)
Thelonius Monk: Straight, No Chaser
ELO: All Over The World and Rock and Roll Is King
Elton John: Philadelphia Freedom and Crocodile Rock
Over The Rhine: Lookin’ Forward
Tom Petty: American Girl and I Won’t Back Down
Hairspray soundtrack (Original cast)

19 comments:

hannah said...

You should listen to Whitney Houston "I Wanna Dance With Somebody". That should get the happiness flowing.

I saw this video over the weekend and was enthralled by the drastically diffferent appearance she had back then. I especially loved her blonde frosted middle of the back length perm. Classy!

Paisley said...

Walking on Sunshine! I can't remember who sings it....but it's a great pick me up song!!!!

hannah said...

Katrina and the Waves sing it. But I bet Julie Gong could have told you that. She loves that song.

Anonymous said...

(If you make fun of this one, I will teach you about pain)

Love it.

don't call me MA'AM said...

hannah: Ah, Whitney. Poor, tragic Whitney. What happened to our princess?

paisley: Yes! I do have Katrina & The Waves on CD... just need to get it on the Nano. Good one!

maliavale: Mmm Hmmm! That's right. I'm bad. ;-)

Wolfgang Buckner said...

I am about to be enthralled.

End of message.

P.S. I love Nebraska.

True end of message.

AndyNuke said...

"Why'd You Come In Here Lookin' Like That" -- Dolly Parton.

"Something to Brag About" -- George Jones & Tammy Wynette.

Uhm... let's see... something you might actually listen to..........

Sadly, I have very very few upbeat songs on my nano. Maybe I need to use this list.

don't call me MA'AM said...

buckner: you're full of it. And I like that in a person.

leanjoe: Actually, Dolly does have a lot of upbeat tunes. Maybe I should get all nostalgic and download "Islands in the Stream." ;-) That is what we are, no one in between, how can we be wrong, sail away with me, to another world, and we rely on each other, ah haaaaah.

Ludicrousity said...

Ooo dear, sadly this music is mostly not in my era at all, I'll be suggesting more recent music I think! Does it need happy music or just happy lyrics? Here are some cool songs:

Your love is mine - corinne bailey rae
I get a kick out of you - Jamie Cullum
Today - Joshua Radin
Firefly - Sister Hazel
Whatever it is - Ben Lee
Wish you well - Bernard Fanning

Just to name a few songs i like.

Lisa said...

You need something from Queen, like Fat Bottom Girls. Now that's a fun song.

richardSandwich said...

These guys make happy music

JulieGong said...

Yes Hannah I do love Katrina & The Waves!

I'd go with any 80s song really... they all make me happy.

JulieGong said...

Yes Hannah I do love Katrina & The Waves!

I'd go with any 80s song really... they all make me happy.

don't call me MA'AM said...

ludi: Most of those songs are actually from my parents' era, but I still like them, too. I LOVE Jamie Cullum. I actually have his entire twentysomething on my Nano. I like Sister Hazel and Ben Lee, too. Will look for the others!

lisa: I can't believe that I didn't list any of my Queen songs on my Happy Mix. I do have "You're My Best Friend" on it already.

margus: Oooh... I like "Afterglow" a lot. Thanks for the suggestion. I'll have to look for them, too!

julie: You would think that I would have more 80s songs on there, wouldn't you? What's wrong with me?!?

k_maxi said...

You definitely need Belle & Sebastian- For the Price of a Cup of Tea!

don't call me MA'AM said...

awnawhellnaw: I love that tune, also. In fact, I don't think there is a song I don't like on The Life Pursuit.

Miss Peach said...

Happy music is all relative I find, but these guys make me smile/put me in a better mood when I hear them:
Girl, Beck
Center of Attention, Guster
I'm the Man Who Loves You, Wilco
Pour Some Sugar on Me, Def Leppard (I really can't help it. I love Def Leppard.)
Lovely Day, Bill Withers
Mushaboom, Feist
Mr. Ambulance Driver, The Flaming Lips
If you listen to any, I hope you like them!

don't call me MA'AM said...

miss peach: Thanks! And you're right... it is all relative. There are some songs, though, that just make you smile. :-)

Ludicrousity said...

Oh yay for you and you're awesoem music DCMM!