The right song can be a natural mood booster and a shot of adrenaline when you need to get pumped – and a new study reveals the top tunes just for that.
An analysis of nearly 1,000 ‘feel good’ playlists made by Spotify users has identified the top 10 arguably most universal tracks for lifting up one’s spirits — with Aussie chart-topper Vance Joy’s 2013 hit ‘Riptide’ coming in at number one.
The song, which helped Joy edge out Lady Gaga’s ‘Poker Face’ on Australia’s Top 100 singles list, appeared in 12.3 percent of ‘feel good’ playlists (122 of 993) studied.
Millennial karaoke staple ‘Mr. Brightside’ by The Killers tied for second place (11.7 percent), appearing on 116 of the ‘feel good’ playlists examined via Spotify’s Playlist Miner tool, as did Harry Styles’ ‘As It Was’ and ‘Heat Waves’ by Glass Animals.
A new survey of 993 ‘feel good’ playlists on Spotify has identified the top 10 arguably most universal tracks for lifting one’s spirits, and the 2013 hit by Aussie chart-topper Vance Joy (pictured above) ‘Riptide’ came in at number one
| Artist | Song | Number of Playlist Appearances | Proportion of Playlist Appearances |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vance Joy | Riptide | 122 | 12.30% |
| The Killers | Mr. Brightside | 116 | 11.70% |
| Harry Styles | As It Was | 116 | 11.70% |
| Glass Animals | Heat Waves | 116 | 11.70% |
| Outkast | Hey Ya! | 106 | 10.70% |
| Neon Trees | Everybody Talks | 105 | 10.60% |
| Walk the Moon | Shut Up and Dance | 104 | 10.50% |
| MKTO | Classic | 103 | 10.40% |
| Coldplay | Viva La Vida | 103 | 10.40% |
| Earth, Wind & Fire | September | 101 | 10.20% |
‘When you can’t find that perfect playlist,’ the researchers noted, ‘you are constantly flicking between numerous ones.’
‘These findings remove this problem, by offering a list of Americans’ favorite songs that are guaranteed to turn your day around.’
The presence of so many contemporary and recent hits surprised those conducting the survey, who noted that Miley Cyrus’ ‘Flowers,’ cracked into the top 20 ‘despite only being released in the last year.’
Cyrus’ barbed ode to self-care popped up on 95 playlists meaning that almost one in 10 of those Spotify users surveyed reached for it when they needed a pick-me-up.
The oldest song to crack the top 10 was Earth, Wind & Fire’s beloved smooth disco classic ‘September,’ proving its worth as a wedding reception go-to with appearances on 10.2 percent of these ‘feel good’ lists (101 out of 993).
Previous academic research conducted by music psychologist Dr. Michael Bonshor from the University of Sheffield last year also noted the ‘feel good’ staying power of Earth, Wind & Fire’s hit.
Millennial karaoke staple ‘Mr. Brightside’ by The Killers (above) tied for second place (11.7 percent), appearing on 116 of the ‘feel good’ playlists examined via Spotify’s Playlist Miner tool, as did Harry Styles’ ‘As It Was’ and ‘Heat Waves’ by Glass Animals
Holding their own in the middle of this ‘feel good’ top ten, hip hop duo Outkast’s once ubiquitous early 2000s hit ‘Hey Ya’ claimed the fifth spot, with the tune by rappers Big Boi and André 3000 (pictured above) landing on 106 of the 993 playlists (10.7 percent)
There too, ‘September’ ranked number 10 on a list of much older, mid-century radio classics, including ‘Good Vibrations’ by The Beach Boys and ‘I Got You (I Feel Good)’ by the ‘Godfather of Soul’ himself, James Brown.
‘We like high volume when it comes to how our happy songs are made,’ Dr. Bonshor said, ‘with notes played in a bright and bouncy way by instruments such as trumpets or electric guitars instead of mellower instruments.’
‘Alongside this, cheery songs usually have a strong 1-2-1-2 beat to them,’ the psychologist added, ‘so that you can dance along.’
Dr. Bonshor’s research had been commissioned by yogurt brand Müllerlight, and this new survey of Spotify ‘feel good’ playlists had its own unexpected sponsor.
The survey was produced by Bonus Ninja, a site which says it helps compare and vet online casino services for audiences in Ontario, Canada. The site’s staff, per the LinkedIn page for its parent company Mediainvesting, is primarily based in the Eastern European nation of Estonia.
‘Over 10 years on from its release, Australian singer-songwriter Vance Joy’s “Riptide” is still making fans smile,’ a Bonus Ninja spokesperson said.
Holding their own in the middle of this ‘feel good’ top ten, hip hop duo Outkast’s once ubiquitous early 2000s hit ‘Hey Ya’ claimed the fifth spot, with rappers Big Boi and André 3000’s tune landing on 106 playlists (10.7 percent).
Just below them was a band made famous by opening several for The Killers on tour dates back in 2008: Neon Trees, whose track Everybody Talks appeared on 105 Spotify playlists labelled ‘feel good’ (10.6 percent).
