Photo Credit: Rachel Fox

Welcome to the Weekly Music Playlist, where we pick good songs that fit a common theme. The theme for this week is happy or upbeat songs.

We decided to pick out happy songs this week because sad songs dominate the music scene in general, and, let’s face it, we’re all sick of Daniel Powter. It seems that music is trying to get us down with stories about heartbreak and pain when it really should be cheering us up. These songs are upbeat and funky and show the happier side of music. Below is the playlist and our reasons for adding the songs to the list.

1: The Kooks – She Moves In Her Own Way – Beyond the obvious, this tune has a great attitude in itself, which is a great break from all the annoying moroseness that you get with a lot of music.

2: The Temptations – My Girl – The man in this song does nothing but sing about how much happier he is than everybody else. I guess you’ll say, what can make him feel this way? Music, obviously.

3: Bob Marley – Three Little Birds – Imagine something with a really positive vibe.  Throw in some Bob Marley, and you know you have a gem.

4: The Commodores – Machine Gun – This song oozes with get-up-and-go positivity, without sounding too corny. The lack of lyrics actually helps, because anybody with this good of an attitude would be unbearably annoying. This is the high point of the playlist, in my opinion.

5: Rick James – Mary Jane – Clearly he is fond of a woman named Mary Jane.

6: Earth Wind & Fire – September – If this doesn’t get your spirits up then you must have a problem with music, life, or both.

7: Parliament – Give Up The Funk –  This song borders on the un-fun, but is so funky that it needed to be included.

8: Jamiroquai – Canned Heat – This song is about being carefree and dancing. This isn’t just dancing either, this is getting down funky-style.

9: Kool & The Gang – Celebration – Not putting this song on the list would be a reprehensible omission. You probably know this song well enough already, so give it one more listen just for kicks and giggles.

10: The Beatles – Good Day Sunshine – Yeah, the Beatles had a lot to be happy about. After listening to this song, you should too.