Some songs always put us in a good mood, but a music psychologist has compiled a list of tunes she “guarantees” will make you happy. Dr. Claire Renfrew listened to and analyzed hundreds of tracks to find the hits with the most dopamine-boosting power.
It turns out, they all follow a scientific formula and include the specific combination of being in a major key, featuring 7th chords, having four beats to a bar, and having a tempo of 137 beats per minute. The songs have a “repetitive simple structure” and positive lyrics, and should be played loud to get the biggest mood boost, according to Renfrew.
“Most happy songs are in a major key, which sounds brighter and is linked to positive emotions,” she explains. “They often have simple, uplifting and crucially, familiar chord structure - this is pleasing to the ear because our brains find predictability rewarding.”
The Top 10 Songs Guaranteed To Make You Happy
(Check out the full list of 30 songs here)
- “Sweet Disposition” – The Temper Trap
- “Day Tripper” – The Beatles
- “She’s Electric” – Oasis
- “Mamma Mia” – ABBA
- “Riccione” – Thegiornalisti
- “One More Time” – Daft Punk
- “Still Into You” – Paramore
- “Happy” – Pharrell Williams
- “Comunque andare” – Alessandra Amoroso
- “Levitating” – Dua Lipa
Source: Talking Points⠀