Drop Your Emo Playlist, Give Your Heart a Break

Written by Joyce Chin and Rachel Goh

It is a well-known fact that music impacts our mood. Undoubtedly, some of the most renowned songs are about dark, depressing and tragic stories such as Slow Dancing in the Dark by Joji, The A Team by Ed Sheeran,  I Don’t Love You by MCR and so many more. Most indie or ‘hippie’ artists today share a common melancholic undertone in their music that people indulge in because they find a sense of comfort in having pain shared (we know we do!). However, studies have shown that the type of music we listen to subconsciously shapes our thoughts and views. Listening to uplifting music is actually more beneficial as it releases dopamine, the ‘feel-good chemical’ in our bodies which boosts our productivity and enhances divergent creativity as well. We hereby present to you our handpicked Happy Music Playlist full of tunes that will keep your spirits up even in the darkest times.   

1) Feel Good – Paperplane Pursuit

As the song title suggests, this tune will certainly leave you feeling good. We love how this local band exudes positivity and light through their music especially in this particular track. ‘Feel Good’ is all about recognizing and embracing the special qualities that you own and presenting them to the world.

2) Don’t Stop Me Now – Queen

If you’re a fan of oldies, this track will certainly be right up your alley. This was one of Queen’s masterpieces which described a high that lead singer Freddy Mercury didn’t want to come out of. In fact, their chorus is literally ‘Don’t stop me now, yes, I’m having a good time, I don’t wanna stop at all’, The track’s contagious energy will definitely give you a high too.

3) I Wanna Dance With Somebody – Whitney Houston

This is Whitney’s 1987 classic that took the world by storm. Unlike her sentimental hits like ‘I Will Always Love You’ and ‘I Have Nothing’, ‘I Wanna Dance With Somebody’ delivers a different, upbeat vibe that is perfect to dance to and to shout at the top of your lungs whether or not you actually have somebody to dance with 😉

4) Sunflower – Post Malone, Swae Lee

I’m sure we are all familiar with this frequent visitor to hitz.fm from the soundtrack of Spider-Man – Into the Spider-Verse which has been dominating the 2019 pop music charts. Fun Fact: The sunflower was the main inspiration for this song because it symbolises persistence as sunflowers can overcome various environmental factors that leave other species of flowers in the same area wilted.

5) Firework – Katy Perry

There’s an inspiring message in Katy Perry’s Firework that is sure to get you back onto your feet. Didn’t ace the interview for the company you were aiming for? Received a rejection letter from the university you were applying for? Feel like you’ve bombed a scholarship interview? A classmate got the internship you were passed over for? Wasn’t elected as a committee member?

Fret not over your present failures, for as the song headlines: You’re destined for greater things, and you’ll wow everyone the way fireworks do. Someday. Believe it.

6) High Hopes – Panic! At the Disco

As students, we know how disheartening it can be to see a bad grade – maybe you’ve failed or you’re just verging on a risky pass. You feel let down, you feel like you’ve failed at the ripe old age of twenty, and that you’re in a black hole you can never crawl out of. But wait! Just give this song a listen and you might just get out of that rut. It’s a song about having a greater goal in life, providing some encouragement after a stumble. The way the lyrics will resonate with you is bound to bring some comfort; if not, the funky beat will definitely get your head bopping and those toes wiggling!

7) Brave – Sara Bareilles

The title is telling, and if you have a look at the lyrics, you’ll find them compellingly true.

The fact of the matter is there will be people who judge and discriminate you for reasons that seem completely baseless. There are those whose words will slander you. But as this song communicates: the enemy will only have power over you if you allow them to have it. This song empowers you to speak up and at the same time, reassures you that your words matter.

8) The Climb – Miley Cyrus

In life, you’ll trip, stumble, and fall – crash and burn even. The important thing, though, is to always keep going, and savour the journey. You never know what you may find or who you might encounter. Maybe you’ve lost a football game, but you’ve gained something invaluable, too: the friendship that comes after you’ve toiled for something with a team of others. So, cheer up, get up and keep going!

9) Put Your Records On – Corinne Bailey Rae

‘Three little birds, sat on my window, and they told me I don’t need to worry’. Inspired by Bob Marley’s ‘Three Little Birds’, Corinne Bailey Rae conveys the ‘everything’s going to be alright’ mentality with her own spin through her song. This song has a carefree vibe and is a perfect tune to relax to when you’re feeling tense and need a reminder to love life and everything that comes with it.  

10) ME! – by Taylor Swift ft. Brendon Urie

Last on our list is the newest hit of the year: candy floss, rainbows, Pepto-Bismol pink and everything sweet. Just watching the video will be enough to make you smile, but the underlying meaning behind the lyrics shouldn’t be overlooked, too. As Swift said so herself, her newest song is all about making those who listen to her music feel better. It’s a song about individuality with an empowering message: there is no one that is exactly like you in the world, and that’s what makes you special.

That’s the end of our list, but in truth, there are still loads of songs out there that can be a pick-me-up. This list is obviously not the be-all and end-all. If you’ve got some awesome recommendations, do drop us a line or two in the comment box below!