MusicHyped’s list of 12 rock songs that will instantly make you happy

Rock is a music genre that has its fair share of dreary, melancholic songs (the grunge rock subgenre immediately comes to mind) and while that’s fine for when you need to wallow and commiserate – sometimes you just want to throw on some rock tunes that’ll lift your spirits and make you happy.

Having a down day and want to cheer up? Check out our list of 10 rock songs that will instantly make you happy.

Blind Melon, “No Rain”

If you’re a fellow 90s kid, hearing Blind Melon’s 1992 hit “No Rain” immediately conjuries memories of a bespectacled girl tap-dancing on stage in a bumblebee outfit and lead singer Shannon Hoon crooning the indelible lines, “All I can say is that my life is pretty plain/I like watching the puddles gather rain.”

While the song’s lyrics deal with feelings of detachment and depression, the instrumentals are uplifting thanks to a catchy intro riff, a cheery beat and Hoon’s laidback but soulful and heartfelt singing.

While “No Rain” is Blind Melon’s most popular and well-known song (it was played a crap-ton on MTV and the radio when it became a hit), the band put out many underrated songs such as “Change” that are worth a listen as well.

Weezer, “Island in the Sun”

Weezer is a quirky, creative band that switches up its style often but one style they seem to gravitate to more often than not is melodic power pop. Of their songs that fall under this category, “Island in the Sun” is perhaps their most recognizable and – according to Spotify – most downloaded song ever.

And with good reason. “Island in the Sun” is laid-back, catchy and paints a vivid picture of the perfect haven of relaxation with lyrics like:

On an island in the sun
We’ll be playing and having fun
And it makes me feel so fine
I can’t control my brain

And:

We’ll run away together
We’ll spend some time forever
We’ll never feel bad anymore

Delivered by lead singer, guitarist and songwriter Rivers Cuomo’s trademark nasally, emotive voice. Coupled with an upbeat melody and a summery, carefree vibe, “Island in the Sun” will have you feeling exactly like the song’s namesake implies, which is what makes it an obvious choice for our list of rock songs that will instantly make you happy.

The Beatles, “Here Comes the Sun”

Speaking of happy songs with the word “sun” in the title, The Beatles’ classic “Here Comes the Sun” from their 1969 “Abbey Road’ album is another must-include. George Harrison steals the show on this song, playing a soothing acoustic melody and singing commensurately calming, reassuring lyrics like “Here comes the sun/Here comes the sun/And I say, it’s all right.”

What makes “Here Comes the Sun” even more comforting is the fact that the optimism in the song comes after “a long, cold, lonely winter.” Like a ray of sunshine, Harrison’s words remind us, “Little darling/I feel the ice is slowly melting. Little darling/It seems like years since it’s been clear.”

But whether it’s been months or years of ice and cold – no matter how tough times might seem: “Here comes the sun/And I say, it’s all right.”

Jimmy Eats World, “The Middle”

Another rock song that encourages you to remain patient and optimistic during times of hardship is Jimmy Eats World’s “The Middle,” from their 2001 “Bleed American” album. With an upbeat, anthemic sound and Jimmy Adkin’s supportive message of:

Hey, don’t write yourself off yet
It’s only in your head, you feel left out
Or looked down on
Just try your best
Try everything you can
And don’t you worry what they tell themselves
When you’re away

It’s impossible not to feel galvanized and uplifted from the moment you start playing Jimmy Eat World’s “The Middle,” which makes it an imperative addition to our list of rock songs that will instantly make you happy.

Third Eye Blind, “Semi-Charmed Life”

Perhaps best known for their song “Jumper,” which Jim Carrey belts out in comedic form in 2007’s Yes Man movie, Third Eye Blind was a 90s band who epitomized the decade’s trend of pairing songs full of mature subject matter and depressing lyrics with upbeat, poppy-sounding music.

While “Semi-Charmed Life” features lyrics like “Doin’ crystal meth will lift you up until you break,” and deals with drug addiction and volatile sexual relationships, there is also a sense of self-realization in the lyrics “I want something else/To get me through this semi-charmed kind of life” as well as the cathartic feeling of hope the narrator experiences at the beach:

I believe in the sand beneath my toes
The beach gives a feeling, an earthy feeling
I believe in the faith that grows
And the four right chords can make me cry

And of course, the song’s irresistibly catchy “Doo-doo-doo, doo-doo-doo-doo refrain (which references Lou Reed’s “Walk on the Wild Side”).

Three Dog Night, “Joy to the World”

“Jeremiah was a bullfrog/Was a good friend of mine.”

Everyone who’s heard this song, a 1971 anthemic rock hit by Three Dog Night, knows those first few lines by heart. And whether you want to associate it with Christmas and the holiday season or not, you can’t deny that the song’s chorus is festive, fun and will instantly make you happy.

Joy to the world
All the boys and girls, now
Joy to the fishes in the deep blue sea
Joy to you and me

The Rolling Stones, “Start Me Up”

As one of the most popular and successful rock bands of all-time, The Rolling Stones have no shortage of hits but this song, the first track from their eighteenth album, Tattoo You is one I never get tired of because of the overwhelmingly positive and fun vibes it generates.

From the song’s infectious opening riff to Mick Jagger’s dynamic delivery to the grooving rhythm section to the amazing interplay between drummer Charlie Watts, bassist Bill Wyman and guitarist Keith Richards, simply put, “Start Me Up” is a mirth-inducing rock masterclass.

Supertramp, “Bloody Well Right”

“Right (right), you’re bloody well right/You got a bloody right to say.”

One of Supertramp’s most impressive musical performances is also its happiest. “Bloody Well Right,” from the British rock band’s 1974 album Crime of the Century starts with a beautiful, extended keyboard intro and then breaks seamlessly into a lively, bluesy, jazzy composition that although is witty, anti-authoritarian and impossible not to nod you head, smile and sing along to.

Joe Walsh, “Happy Ways”

“Happy Ways,” from Joe Walsh’s 1976 So What is one of those rock songs that easily lives up to its name.

The track features a laid-back, summery beach-vibe melody, trademark Joe Walsh guitar licks, a wonderful bass line that will have you swaying and soothing, introspective lyrics like “Looking at the good things/All around me/Smiling at the people that won’t believe/My happy ways may raise a question/There is no answer, except in my dreams.”

Rush, “Fly By Night”

“Fly by Night,” the title song from Rush’s second studio album of the same name is vibrant, melodic and fun to listen to – defining attributes of most songs from the Canadian progressive rock band’s catalgoue – but what makes me happiest when listening to the track is the earnestness in Geddy Lee’s introspective lyrics.

The lines “Leaving my homeland, playing a lone hand/My life begins today” mirror what was happening to Lee and the band at the time, as they were leaving Toronto to begin playing and recording in the United States.

Everyone can relate to being nervous about a big change in life, even famous rock musicians and Rush is able to sublimate those feelings of apprehension into a triumphant song about leaving the past behind and embracing change, even if it’s daunting.

Jimi Hendrix, “Hey Baby (New Rising Sun)”

Jimi Hendrix was a one of a kind musician whose guitar was like an extension of his soul. In this posthumous track released in 1971, Hendrix put his passion on full display with a multitude of spirited, unique riffs and trippy lyrics like:

Hey Baby, can I step into your World a while?
“Yes you can, ” she said, “come on back with me for a while-
we’re gonna go cross the Jupiter’s sands,
and see all your people one by one!
We gotta help the people out, right now…
that’s what I’m doing here, all about.”

“Hey Baby” is one of those songs that you can throw on while you’re feeling down and are in the mood for some powerful, expressive guitar shredding; the track’s creativity and overall blend of technicality, musicality and emotion should all combine to bring a smile to your face.

Electric Light Orchestra, “Mr. Blue Sky”

Released in 1977 as part of the album Out of the Blue, “Mr. Blue Sky” by Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) is an instantly recognizable tune. The upbeat and vibrant song, written by Jeff Lynne, has become an anthem of joy and positivity, thanks to its catchy melody, soaring orchestration and harmonious vocals.

The lyrics of “Mr. Blue Sky,”

Sun is shinin’ in the sky
There ain’t a cloud in sight
It’s stopped rainin’, everybody’s in a play
And don’t you know, it’s a beautiful new day, hey

Deal with the sun reemerging after a long period of rain, a metaphor for happiness and good times after hardships.

Marvel movie fans can also glean a little bit of extra happiness from this song; “Mr. Blue Sky” can be heard during the opening sequence of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, where baby Groot, a tiny extraterrestrial tree creature can be seen dancing to the song while the rest of his team is battling an enormous alien monster.

What did you think of MusicHyped’s list of 12 Rock Songs That Will Instantly Make You Happy? Are there any songs that you think we need to add or remove from the list? Let us know in the comments.