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Monday, November 3, 2014

5 Songs That Make Me Happy No Matter What

With the fall weather bringing in the bitter wind, it's much nicer staying indoors these days.  We just moved into an apartment with many large windows which let in the sun, and I love them.  When green and the warm sunshine take their winter break, it's easy for me to get into a funk.  I have a few ideas for staying positive and facing forward this season, and I think great music will be a big help.  I wanted to share some of my favorite fun songs, and I'd love to hear your recommendations, too!

5 Songs that make me happy no matter what:

5 Songs to make you happy, no matter what

"Africa" - Toto
 It's not super upbeat, but this one always makes me smile.  I like singing the chorus out really loud and gesturing to whoever is closest to me trying to get them to sing along.  Also, can we bring "sure as Kilimanjaro rises like Olympus above the Serengeti" into colloquial conversations, please?

"We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" - Taylor Swift
 I haven't ever called myself a Taylor Swift fan, but it loving this song from front to back is the qualifier, then I'm one of her biggest fans.

"In a Big Country" - Big Country
 This one was one of my champion songs when I was going through a rough patch a few years ago.  I really can't remember what I was upset about, but I remember how these lines really cheered me up: "I'm not expecting to grow flowers in the desert, but I can live and breathe and see the sun in winter time."

"Tattad Tattad" - Aditya Narayan, Ram-Leela
(Here's an English translation of the lyrics.)
 I watched Ram-Leela a few months ago and laughed and laughed at this character's intro song.  It's so over the top and exciting and colorful.  Now whenever I hear the song (which is often because I have it on a couple Spotify playlists), I remember the showy dance moves and laugh again.

"Calliope Meets Frank" - Alasdair Frasier & Natalie Haas
I gotta get a fiddling song in here somewhere.  This one is so fun and it has a magic to it that awakens happiness.  I got to see these two performing live at a festival back in high school, and I've actually started notating the fiddle part so I can play it at home.  Do you like it, too?

I really enjoy discovering new music, and I'd love to hear your recommendations in the comments! What songs make you happy?  Any good ones you think the world should know?

P.s. A beautiful instrumental piece that made me cry and how I make it through rainy days

5 comments:

  1. Haha Lindsay, random: Are you the girl from Atlanta who offered to paint nails on Yes and Yes's Network of Nice post? If so, I love how small the blog world is. My best friend and I once joined in a blogger's CD mix swap - we had to tell the blogger our musical tastes and she would pair us with someone with similar taste to swap mixes - and we got paired with each other.

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    1. Yes, I AM that girl from Atlanta! (still looking for url friends after living here for a year… *sniff*) You follow Yes and Yes, too? I love that blog, and I love that hook up list she sends out. Such a great idea. And that's hilarious how you got paired up with your friend!

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  2. I LOVE "Africa!" Something about the harmonies just gets me every time. And you're right, that's the greatest unexpected line.

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  3. Lindsay, I'm a HUGE fan of Alasdair Fraser and Natalie Haas, and Fire and Grace is on my top 5 albums of all time list for sure. I believe Alasdair and Natalie are playing Eddie's Attic in February. Anyhow, we'll have to talk Scottish tunes! I know a few tunes on the cello!

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    1. Ah! I saw them first at the Scottish Highland Games at Stone Mountain! I was instantly taken with them. I have, unfortunately, misplaced a book I have of Scottish tunes, but they sure are favorites!

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