We’re spotlighting “feel good” songs heading into Thanksgiving today.We came across a list of the ’10 Happiest Songs’ compiled by Dutch neuroscientist Jacob Jolij to share.
Analyzing trends Jolij concludes that a happy song contains “highly personal and strongly depends on social context and personal associations.”
These songs all have something in common: they averaged 140 to 150 beats per minute, a about 20 or more beats higher than the average pop tune.
The upbeat rhythm likely subliminally re-energizes listeners. The songs on the survey were also much more likely to be in a major key rather than a minor key.
Jolij commented that a major third key, specifically, is received by the listeners as a happy, confident sound.
Other factors with this compilation include cheery, nonsensical lyrics or words describing happy events and positive, fun emotions.
Parties, love, and dancing all make for a happy song.
Doctor Jolij then took all his findings and then built an algorithm that resulted in this Top Ten (New York Metropolitan Museum of Art):
- 1. "Don't Stop Me Now" - Queen
- 2. "Dancing Queen" - ABBA
- 3. "Good Vibrations" - The Beach Boys
- 4. "Uptown Girl" - Billy Joel
- 5. "Eye of the Tiger" - Survivor
- 6. "I'm a Believer" - The Monkees
- 7. "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" - Cyndi Lauper
- 8. "Living on a Prayer" - Bon Jovi
- 9. "I Will Survive" - Gloria Gaynor
- 10. "Walking on Sunshine" - Katrina and the Waves
When Micky Dolenz learned that "I'm a Believer" was on the list, he said, "Glad to be with so many other classic tracks! Happy Thanksgiving!"
[courtesy of Classic Hits Today]