Happy Songs

The songs here are united by bright, major-key melodies, upbeat tempos and lyrics that mostly look on the sunny side. Classic soul supplies a lot of that warmth — Stevie Wonder's “Sir Duke,” Bill Withers' “Lovely Day,” The Temptations' “My Girl” — while pop brings Pharrell's “Happy,” Taylor Swift's “Shake It Off” and newer hits from Harry Styles and Sabrina Carpenter. Tempos are mostly brisk, and many choruses are designed for clapping or singing along.

K-pop is one of the biggest contributors, with BTS, TWICE and NewJeans delivering relentlessly cheerful hooks. Elsewhere you'll find the clap-along folk of The Lumineers and Of Monsters and Men, sunny house from Avicii and Calvin Harris, country singalongs like “Wagon Wheel,” Queen's “Don't Stop Me Now” and OutKast's “Hey Ya!” The mix stretches from The Beatles' “Here Comes the Sun” to ILLIT's “Magnetic.” Found the one that lifts you most? Its page lists more songs with the same lift.