It doesn’t happen nearly often enough.
That moment when you first hear a song, and you can’t fight the beginning of a smile. Uplifting music has sort of become a lost art, at least to me. I’m always searching for the next earth-shattering revelation, as if a song is going to help me understand the universe or something. I don’t often take the time to stop and appreciate the most basic benefit of music: making you feel good.
For me, I don’t ask for much: I just want something upbeat, catchy, and entertaining. I’m not sure why, but lately I can’t seem to stop finding these kinds of tunes – and in places I wouldn’t necessarily expect. These are not radio staples or bangers from female pop stars…they’re mostly intriguing pop-rock tracks from artists that haven’t really made it “big time” yet, which is perfect because it keeps with my theme of discovering under-the-radar music in 2018. Here’s 3 songs that lately have been making me want to dance through the day – or at the very least, be okay with the shitty realities of everyday life.
Enjoy.
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(1) Mother Mother – “Love Stuck”
It’s like a ‘Mr Blue Sky’ or ‘You Make My Dreams’ for this generation. I dare you to listen to this and have a shitty day.

(2) The Struts – “One Night Only”
Shameless Queen worship that is every bit as glamorous and epic. You won’t stop humming this chorus.

(3) Alice Merton – “No Roots”
Something about the groove of this song just jives with me. She’s super unknown still outside of just beginning to receive some airplay, so that makes it even better.




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Pretty much the entire Happy People section of R. Kelly's Happy People/U Saved Me album (the first 11 tracks.)
Fr don't shleep it's the happiest set of songs I've ever heard
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At the very least he's not popular on here by any means, especially that album. I always saw it as his most low key album as well. Idk
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Such a dang ol' happy song
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Bo Enn - Money Won't Pay
Passion Pit - I'm Perfect (since this site basically ignored his last album)
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Songs like 'Whiteout Condition' by the New Pornographers is a wondrous cut that slaps you with excitement and energy, until you read into it and realise just how crushing the narrative behind is, talking about anxiety, inability to connect and/or loss of that connection with the world around you.
Similarly, Rodriguez's 'Cause' is seemingly melancholic and depressive, but the delivery turns everything from mournful to hopeful, saying that "Yes, bad shit happens, but there is always something to look forward to."
There are too many songs to choose from, but these just popped in my head right now, when thinking of feeling bittersweet.
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