The moment we hear a melody, we feel a shift: in seconds, our imagination transports us to a new place, or long-forgotten memories and feelings gently awaken. It’s no surprise then that we turn to music when we’re feeling down. But is there really music that can lift your spirits? To find out, let’s first explore the science behind music and happiness.
How Does Mood-Boosting Music Affect Us?
Scientists at McGill University’s Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital found that listening to music has real, measurable effects on our body. Their research shows that dopamine—the brain’s feel-good chemical—is released during music listening, interacting with the brain’s reward and pleasure centers.
But dopamine isn’t triggered by just any tune! You might think it’s all subjective since everyone has their own favorite music. For example, reggae is my top pick, and metal tracks playing at home don’t exactly lift my mood.
Science says it’s not about style or personal taste. The chills and increased heart rate only happen with songs that meet certain criteria. That doesn’t mean you should give up your favorites, but researchers found that dopamine floods our system more when we listen to pleasant, generally neutral music.
What Makes a Truly Mood-Boosting Song?
Dr. Jacob Jolij, a neuroscientist at the University of Groningen, Netherlands, agrees that music appreciation is deeply personal, which makes creating a clear formula tricky. But he discovered what exactly lifts our spirits when we listen to music:
- Lyrics don’t work the way you’d expect: You’d think happy, upbeat, optimistic lyrics would make us feel better, not songs about war, heartbreak, or breakups. That’s logical, and researchers confirm that mood-boosting songs often center on joyful moments: partying, beach fun, sunbathing, or other personal interests. The twist? Pop songs with mostly nonsensical lyrics can be just as uplifting.
- Tempo matters: Mood-boosting songs generally have a faster tempo than typical everyday tunes. While an average pop song clocks around 118 beats per minute, mood-boosting tracks run between 140-150 bpm.
- Musical keys count: Mood-boosting music tends to follow a clear pattern—mostly bright, cheerful, and higher-pitched tones rather than gloomy, dark, or deep sounds.
Here Comes the Playlist!
Keeping these factors in mind, Dr. Jacob Jolij put together a playlist featuring what he considers the most uplifting songs.
1/10. Don’t Stop Me Now – Queen
2/10. Dancing Queen – Abba
3/10. Good Vibrations – The Beach Boys
4/10. Uptown Girl – Billy Joel
5/10. Eye of the Tiger – Survivor
You probably noticed these songs are quite old. That’s no accident! Dr. Jacob found that many more songs from the 1980s meet the criteria than later releases. But that doesn’t mean you can’t create your own playlist with today’s hits. Another list from the Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital includes styles like rock and techno:
