Get ready to turn that frown upside down! We're diving into the most infectious, mood-boosting pop songs that are guaranteed to lift your spirits. From classic hits to modern anthems, these tracks will have you smiling, dancing, and feeling unstoppable!
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00:00Tonight, I'm gonna have myself a real good time.
00:07Welcome to Ms. Mojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the songs that can always
00:12bring a smile to your face no matter what mood you're in.
00:19Number 30.
00:20Man, I Feel Like a Woman, Shania Twain.
00:23Nothing gets people smiling quite like empowerment.
00:26As soon as you hear that guitar riff and rallying cry, you know exactly what you're
00:30in for.
00:35Shania Twain's Man, I Feel Like a Woman appeals to everybody across the board.
00:39Having been inspired by drag artists she worked alongside, the song celebrates the worth of
00:45any individual.
00:54The lower-pitched, slightly more casual verses juxtaposed with the bright, infectiously happy
00:59chorus make it practically impossible to listen along without smiling at least a little bit.
01:10The popularity it saw allowed it to be used in other projects, causing its positivity
01:14to be spread to an even broader audience.
01:17Its optimistic attitude and message have ensured that people will keep smiling along for years
01:22to come.
01:29Number 29.
01:30Joy to the World, Three Dog Night.
01:40This track is proof that some upbeat songs can be carried off their vibes alone.
01:44Although some of the lyrics may be nonsensical, Joy to the World is so optimistic that it's
01:49easy to look past them and focus solely on the positive message being put forth.
02:02The track has been described as being for children, which isn't necessarily a slight.
02:06Rather, it's so wholesome that it can appeal to all ages, children included.
02:14As if the content isn't enough, the backstory is even more heartwarming, making the tune
02:19help the band members reconnect, revitalizing their relationship just before releasing one
02:23of their most successful works.
02:25Knowing all the positive change it's brought makes it hard to listen without cracking a
02:29smile even once.
02:33Number 28.
02:34I Will Survive, Gloria Gaynor.
02:44There's something about someone realizing their own self-worth that always feels so
02:49triumphant.
02:54I Will Survive is all about leaving a harmful lover and being much better off for it.
02:59It's a celebration of self-worth with a message that anyone can relate to.
03:03Although it starts out dramatic and slow, it quickly kicks into high gear, causing practically
03:08anyone to bop along to it.
03:15Its use as an anthem for the AIDS movement has encouraged several sick or disenfranchised
03:19people to fight through their illness or the social stigmas affecting them.
03:23Although it's been adopted with that specific meaning, it's still easy to listen and happily
03:27sing along.
03:29It serves as the ultimate beacon of light and positivity in moments of seemingly unending
03:34darkness.
03:38Number 27.
03:40Girls Just Wanna Have Fun, Cyndi Lauper.
03:42The instrumental and production alone are enough to get anyone off their feet and ready
03:46to dance.
03:55And that infectiously upbeat synth heard throughout gets even the most ardent of cynics to smile.
04:01Lauper took the song and helped morph the track to her own liking, creating a version
04:05that expressed the meaning more clearly and inspired more positive emotion.
04:20The delightfully offbeat music video only adds to the good vibe, as it practically encourages
04:25viewers to let go of their worries and have fun.
04:32It's everything people loved about the 80s bottled up into one iconic track, bringing
04:36about a sense of nostalgia for the era that anyone can appreciate, even if they weren't
04:41alive for it.
04:45Number 26.
04:47Come On Eileen, Dexys Midnight Runners.
04:50Sometimes simplicity is the way to go when it comes to making someone happy through song.
05:00Come On Eileen's lyrics are straightforward and romantic, all about focusing only on your
05:05loved one rather than all the negativity going on around you.
05:09With a message like that, it's nearly impossible not to take heed and stop what you're doing
05:13to enjoy yourself.
05:21The way the tempo pulls back only to progressively build up into a final crescendo during the
05:26bridge really grabs the listener.
05:28By the time the final chorus kicks in, practically everyone will be up and dancing.
05:36Its history in helping bring support to England's national football team testifies to its ability
05:41to generate a good mood.
05:46Number 25.
05:47Don't Stop Believin', Journey.
05:50If you want to talk about optimism in music, then there's no need to look any further
05:54than this instantly recognizable song.
06:04The track has a particular meaning to Journey, as it symbolizes the hard work they put in
06:08before breaking through in the early 1980s.
06:18This triumphant power ballad ended up taking them to even higher heights in the process.
06:23While it's especially relevant for the band, the uplifting lyrics can apply to anyone
06:26who needs a little extra encouragement in their everyday lives.
06:38It's hard not to feel that sense of hope as you sing along.
06:40By the time that chorus finally kicks in, any thoughts of a bad day have completely
06:45vanished.
06:49Number 24.
06:50I Wanna Dance With Somebody Who Loves Me.
06:53Whitney Houston.
06:54This won't just make you wanna smile, it'll make you wanna get up and groove too.
07:06The now iconic I Wanna Dance With Somebody Who Loves Me is an uplifting anthem to anyone
07:10searching for the one.
07:20Whitney's soaring voice rings so much from the lyrics, infusing each word with pure hope
07:24and yearning.
07:26Meanwhile, the upbeat tempo keeps it from becoming too emotional.
07:30Everything comes to a head during the climax of the piece, and if you're not smiling
07:33by then, you certainly will be once it's done.
07:43The sheer love Houston throws into each line makes it impossible to listen to without feeling
07:47your heart well up with joy.
07:53Number 23.
07:54What a Wonderful World.
07:56Louis Armstrong.
08:05Even seemingly serious songs are capable of evoking joy.
08:08Though it may sound more melancholy, What a Wonderful World is anything but.
08:12The lyrics encourage listeners to really take in the beauty of the world around them.
08:16From the trees to the vast sky above.
08:28They also point out smaller, supposedly mundane aspects of life, such as simply shaking a
08:33friend's hand.
08:42While they seem like small moments in the grand scheme of things, the way they're sung
08:45about makes one realize how beautiful they really are.
08:48The message is so strong that it comes through even when being played in other forms of entertainment.
08:53The piece is essentially bottled hope and contentment, which is enough to bring happy
08:57tears to many people's eyes.
09:05Number 22.
09:06It's a Beautiful Day.
09:08Michael Bublé.
09:09Even when things appear to be rough, looking on the bright side of things can potentially
09:13help turn your mood around completely.
09:21Michael Bublé captured this perfectly in his sunny and cheery track, It's a Beautiful
09:26Day.
09:33He describes feeling stressed by the world until he disconnects and focuses on the simple
09:37beauty found in his everyday life.
09:39His shining, buoyant vocals convey this, helping listeners take on the day with a brand new
09:44perspective.
09:51Even when things seem like they're falling apart, taking a step back and realizing how
09:55good of a day it is could help turn it around, as this song reminds us.
10:04Number 21.
10:05You Make My Dreams.
10:07Daryl Hall and John Oates.
10:10Listening to this could make even the most cold-hearted cynic let down their defenses.
10:20The carefree arrangement is the perfect backdrop to the sweet lyrics that swoon over a loved
10:25one and how they can make the singer instantly forget about their problems.
10:34You Make My Dreams is shamelessly upbeat and merry, and it's proof that a song doesn't
10:38need to have a ton of bells and whistles to be effective.
10:44Number 20.
10:45Walking on Sunshine.
10:46Katrina and the Waves.
10:54Life always looks that little bit better when the weather's on your side, but for Katrina
10:58and the Waves, happiness just doesn't come any stronger than this.
11:10Walking on Sunshine is happy songwriting at its very best, coupled with a catchy, can't
11:16get it out of your head kind of melody.
11:20A regular on many movie and TV soundtracks, it's a record best played at the beginning
11:25of the day, and is the perfect fit for any summer playlist.
11:29It'll have you heading to the beach in no time.
11:32Number 19.
11:33Dancing Queen, ABBA.
11:43Whether it really is Friday night and the lights are low, or just any other evening
11:48of the week, this song will always leave you smiling from ear to ear.
12:00A worldwide number one hit for Swedish Euro disco pioneers ABBA, Dancing Queen is probably
12:06one of the most iconic records of the 20th century.
12:09From the piano intro to the harmonic fade out, we've been digging the Dancing Queen
12:13for decades now, and will likely do so for decades to come as well.
12:25Number 18.
12:26Mr. Blue Sky, Electric Light Orchestra.
12:36Another weather related record at number 18, and one of the most instantly upbeat songs
12:41ever sung.
12:42With lyrics that literally play out the replacement of a rainy day with a sunny one, Mr. Blue
12:47Sky personifies the summer sky itself, and turns him into one hell of a hero.
12:59Written by Jeff Lynne during a stay in the Swiss Alps, the ELO frontman had struggled
13:04for inspiration during a dark and misty two weeks in the country.
13:13But then the weather brightened up, and so too did his writing.
13:16Thus came the record you're probably singing along to right now.
13:26Number 17.
13:27I Want You Back, The Jackson 5.
13:38The Jackson 5 had more skill than most when it came to making us smile, and though we
13:43almost went with the iconic ABC, I Want You Back just about edges it.
13:52The very first Jackson 5 single to be released by Motown Records, it launched the 5 piece
13:57on their way to worldwide fame, and showcased to everybody the pop king potential of one
14:02Michael Jackson.
14:12Despite its love lost lyrics, the song is infectiously uplifting, no matter how hard
14:17your day has been.
14:22Number 16.
14:23Uptown Funk, Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars.
14:30A supremely standout song from more recent memory, Uptown Funk flows through just about
14:35everybody's veins when this record plays, and that's definitely something to smile
14:40about.
14:48Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars bring out the very best in each other for this one to create
14:53a worldwide hit with playful lyrics and a party starting belter of a beat.
15:02Mars had previously got us grinning with the Lazy Song, but while chilling in our Snuggies
15:06sounds good, hitting our Hallelujah sounds even better.
15:14Number 15.
15:15I Got You, I Feel Good, James Brown.
15:24Uptown Funk might never have been a thing at all were it not for our next artist.
15:29Widely considered the founding father of funk in general, James Brown could tap into human
15:34happiness unlike anybody else.
15:48I Got You is a signature tune and a go-to record for anyone who feels like getting their
15:53groove on.
16:00Grinning and smiling comes naturally whenever and wherever this song plays, and we all but
16:05guarantee that you're at least tapping your toes this very second.
16:15Number 14.
16:16Happy, Pharrell Williams.
16:27Forgive us if this choice seems a little on-the-nose, but Happy will have its listener
16:32feeling just that.
16:33When this song plays, the smile seems to flow as freely as Pharrell Williams' award-winning
16:39vocal work.
16:47A track produced as part of the Despicable Me 2 soundtrack, it features in the film at
16:52a pivotal moment when supervillain Gru has fallen in love.
17:03The character dances through the streets saving ducklings and catching frisbees, inspiring
17:08us all to get out and do the same thing.
17:15Number 13.
17:17Sweet Caroline, Neil Diamond.
17:26Ever since its release in 1969, the song has developed its own unique history.
17:33Originally, Diamond stated that it was written for JFK's daughter, Caroline Kennedy.
17:41However, he later admitted that he was writing it for his wife, Marsha.
17:46Sweet Marsha just doesn't flow the same.
17:56It developed a strong significance for the people of Boston, as it has been played at
18:00every Boston Red Sox home game since 2002.
18:06In 2013, Diamond announced that he would donate the royalties to help victims of the Boston
18:11Marathon attack.
18:13This wholesome history only improves the smile factor of this song.
18:16Good times really never looked so good.
18:24Number 12.
18:25Here Comes the Sun, The Beatles.
18:33Clearly the 60s were a decade well worth smiling about.
18:37Up next, The Beatles, who with Here Comes the Sun, created one of the most hummable
18:41hooks ever known.
18:47It's a record that we owe entirely to George Harrison, who wrote it in Eric Clapton's garden
18:52and using one of Clapton's acoustic guitars.
19:03A song saturated in positivity, All You Need is Love might have made our Beatles entry,
19:08but Here Comes the Sun has our smile just that bit broader.
19:11Number 11.
19:12My Girl, The Temptations.
19:21Our faces might ache from having smiled so much so far, but buckle up because we're only
19:26halfway there.
19:27A record with nothing but positive energy running through it, My Girl's lyrics are romantic
19:31beyond comparison.
19:40And it's rhythmic, wave-like delivery helps lighten the mood of anybody listening.
19:45If you've had a hard day at the office or gotten a poor grade at school, throw this
19:48on and dance away.
19:50Nothing can make you smile like My Girl.
20:02Number 10.
20:03Three Little Birds, Bob Marley and The Wailers.
20:10This laid back reggae beat is a great way to start your day or to finish it off.
20:14Legend has it that the song was inspired by canaries that used to visit Marley at his
20:18home.
20:19While this has not been proven, it is a wholesome thought.
20:27The song's lyrics are timeless and send the message of letting go and accepting the way
20:30things are, because eventually everything works out.
20:34This message combined with the reggae rhythm makes it a relaxing song perfect for those
20:38days you're feeling down or if you just want to lay back and watch the world go by.
20:48Number 9.
20:49Waka Waka, this time for Africa, Shakira.
20:56The FIFA World Cup is a time of excitement and where athletes push themselves to their
21:01physical limits.
21:02In 2010, it created one of the happiest anthems in the history of sports to commemorate the
21:07event.
21:11It has everything you could want from a pump-up song, with inspirational lyrics, Afro-Colombian
21:17rhythm, and a catchy beat.
21:22The song did face controversy though, as many felt like an African artist should have
21:27been chosen since Africa was hosting the event.
21:30Despite this controversy, the song has experienced international success and continues to bring
21:34smiles to athletes and non-athletes alike.
21:42Number 8.
21:43Move On Up, Curtis Mayfield.
21:50If you need 9 minutes of uninterrupted happiness in your life, and really, who doesn't, then
21:55look no further than Move On Up.
21:57A combination of 70s soul and funk, it was released on Mayfield's debut solo album,
22:02titled Curtis.
22:05Mayfield sings about the rollercoaster ride that is life.
22:08At times it may get rocky, but you should forever keep moving and never give up.
22:13The song has been influential in soul music and beyond, so it made sense when Kanye West
22:17used a sample of the iconic song.
22:19In his 2006 single, Touch The Sky.
22:27Detailing his rise to fame, Kanye's version only reasserts the message in Move On Up.
22:36Number 7.
22:37You Can Call Me Al, Paul Simon.
22:46You know that when a song has a penny whistle solo, you're in for a good time.
22:53The title and chorus of the song was born out of a funny encounter where composer-conductor
22:58Pierre Boulez called Paul and his wife Peggy by the names Al and Betty.
23:02We've all had those moments, but like Bob Ross might say, this proved to be a happy
23:06little accident and created this gem of a song.
23:15The actual meaning of the song is open to interpretation due to its metaphors, but generally
23:19it's all about finding yourself in the world, something that definitely needs some musical
23:24inspiration.
23:28Number 6.
23:29Don't Stop Till You Get Enough, Michael Jackson.
23:34Have you had enough yet?
23:35No?
23:36Then we're not stopping here.
23:37There are so many great Michael Jackson songs to choose from, but ultimately we went with
23:41Don't Stop Till You Get Enough since it marked many firsts in what would be a historic career.
23:50It was Michael's first solo record under Epic Records.
23:53It marked his first solo Grammy and American Music Award, and it also presented his signature
23:59vocal hiccup.
24:07The song is pure electricity, and it's next to impossible not to dance when it starts
24:16to play.
24:17Number 5.
24:18Wouldn't It Be Nice, The Beach Boys.
24:28As with many entries on today's countdown, the idea of happiness is often synonymous
24:32with an idea of innocence, but in no other song is that relationship better felt than
24:37in this one.
24:46Wouldn't It Be Nice is an idealized version of The Future, sung from one lovestruck sweetheart
24:50to another.
24:51Fairly conservative as far as rock and roll records go, it served as the opener to The
24:55Beach Boys' legendary Pet Sounds album, and has become a must-listen for any soon-to-be-married
25:07couple.
25:16Number 4.
25:17Celebration, Kool & The Gang.
25:23Basically all you need to know about the next entry is the title.
25:26When this little number starts to play, your body moves with a will of its own.
25:37Celebration was written with help from all nine members of the gang.
25:41With so many talented artists coming together, it's no wonder that it's experienced international
25:46success.
25:50A staple for parties and weddings, it guarantees that everyone will come to the dance floor
25:54and have a good time.
25:56You don't even need a reason to put this on, so what are you waiting for?
25:59Why not go and put it on right this second and celebrate?
26:07Number 3.
26:08September, Earth, Wind & Fire.
26:16It's got groove that will make you move, plus it's certified gold, baby.
26:20This was songwriter Allie Willis' first attempt at writing for the band.
26:24She learned from Maurice White, the band's frontman, that sometimes the groove is more
26:28important than the lyric, which explains the repetition of Bada Ya.
26:39It's the very groove of the song, the seamless flow of the lyrics, and White's peppy tenor
26:44that makes it such a joy to listen to, a perfect way to chase away the blues.
26:54Number 2.
26:55Don't Worry, Be Happy.
26:56Bobby McFerrin
26:57Well, you heard the man, or in some cases that freaky singing fish hung on the wall.
27:12Fish aside, this was the first a cappella song to take the number one spot on the Billboard
27:16Hot 100 chart, and even knocked out Guns N' Roses' sweet child of mine in the process.
27:30The simple mantra of Don't Worry, Be Happy was actually inspired by Mare Baba, a spiritual
27:35master who would repeat this message to his followers.
27:38Those uplifting four words, combined with the song's soothing melody, are bound to
27:42melt anyone's worries away.
28:05Number 1.
28:06Don't Stop Me Now, Queen.
28:12Queen's songs can make you happy just singing along.
28:15This is partly because the lyrics always flow seamlessly with the music.
28:24Don't Stop Me Now is definitely no different.
28:26It's fast, upbeat, and with lyrics like a tiger defying the laws of gravity, this song
28:30will have you feeling indestructible.
28:37For reasons that defy logic, it didn't receive immediate success in the US, and took some
28:42time to climb the charts.
28:47Nevertheless, it's a timeless track now, and never fails to brighten up the room, no matter
28:55the occasion.
29:02What song never fails to bring a smile to your face?
29:05Let us know in the comments.
29:09Do you agree with our picks?
29:11Check out this other recent clip from Ms. Mojo, and be sure to subscribe and ring the
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