The Feelgood Button

I don't know about you but if there's one thing the last 8 months proved to me, it's that whatever grey zones I navigate in (or red or orange 😉), I always feel as if I am walking on the side of a steep and endless cliff with ice skates on my feet. Hoping for the best possible outcome but definitely uncertain of how everything will unfold. Uncertainty... If food miraculously appeared in front of starving children every time I said this word since the start of the pandemic (or felt the feeling it generates in my mind, body and soul), child hunger would be dealt with by now! Pretty much everything I thought I knew or understood is now shattered or at best, weakened. It's a constant battle to create a new reality that I am comfortable with in my life. A reality that I think makes sense for my kids, for my family, for the people I love. For them, the fight is worth it. And I'm no quitter: when a situation is bad, pandemic or other, I automatically fall into solutions mode. And when things worsen even more, I become a solutions warrior. Lately, I find going back to the basics is what works best for me. And alongside sleeping as much as possible, eating well, exercising and snuggling with my family, I draw my attention to music. While I work in marketing, my true passion lies in dancing (Sorry 4P's). I spend as much of my free time as possible dancing and listening to music. It just makes me happy. It's an easy and accessible joy. That's probably why on November 9, my social media feeds were filled with this touching video of a former prima ballerina, suffering from Alzheimer’s, listening to the Swan Lake theme song and actually remembering the choreography many years after actually being on stage. It's a magical and truly touching moment if you have not had the chance to see it. Authentic and intense to say the least. Music has that power to lift us from the darkest places. It lets us contemplate peaceful horizons when life is hectic. It may even bring out the best in us when life throws one too many challenges our way. To me, music is a “feelgood button” and I felt the need to share that secret. Thinking if it helps me cope with all the unpredictable outcomes of this pandemic, it might help others... So, I give you, in a random and absolutely disorganized order my top 55 feelgood songs. (I couldn't stick to only 50 and felt guilty to leave some songs behind...)

These songs made the top for multiple reasons: the beat, the person it makes me think of when it plays... All reasons are valid I believe! Music taste is very personal so perhaps my list won't please you but it might inspire you to create your own. I created this list on Spotify so it could be accessible for you to play. 

I am certainly not going to win DJ of the year with this playlist but if it makes you smile (or even better, dance!) for a moment, I will consider that I was able to find a solution for you too... even a temporary one. Is it possible this pandemic will make me a more resilient person? Maybe... Hopefully!

Happy listening 😉

1. Good Thing (by Fine Young Cannibals)
2. Riptide (by Vance Joy)
3. Don't Panic (by Coldplay)
4. Something Good (by Alt-J)
5. Par la fenêtre de Théo (by Alexandra Stréliski)
6. Here comes the sun (by The Beatles)
7. Je veux tout (by Ariane Moffat)
8. Dimanche soir (by Grand Corps Malade)
9. One Love (by Bob Marley)
10. Printemps (by Coeur de pirate)
11. Vitamine C (by Ege Bamyasi)
12. L'ultima Festa (by Cosmo)
13. Les étoiles filants (by Les Cowboys fringants)
14. Lights & Music (by Cut Copy)
15. Girls just want to have fun (by Cindy Lauper)
16. Get Lucky (by Daft Punk)
17. Fa Fa Fa (by Datarock)
18. Walking on a Dream (by Empire of the Sun)
19. Howl (by Feathership)
20. Serre-moi (by Tryo)
21. Dreams & Fear (by Into Lala)
22. Shot Reverse Shot (by Jack Johnson)
23. Give Peace a chance (John Lennon & Yoko Ono)
24. Walking on Sunshine (by Katrina & The Waves)
25. Me in You (by Kings of Convenience)
26. I'm Your Man (by Leonard Cohen)
27. Superstar (by Lupe Fiasco)
28. Holiday (by Madonna)
29. Ain't No Mountain High Enough (by Marvin Gaye)
30. Cosmic Girl (by Jamiroquai)
31. King Without A Crown (by Matisyahu)
32. Electric Feel (by MGMT)
33. Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough (by Michael Jackson)
34. Float On (by Modest Mouse)
35. Easy Love (by MSTRKRFT)
36. Harvest Moon (by Neil Young)
37. Sinnerman (by Nina Simone)
38. Sowia (by Poirier)
39. No Superstar (by Remady)
40. El Condor Pasa (by Simon & Garfunkel)
41. Pixels flous (by Stefie Schock)
42. Part-Time Lover (by Stevie Wonder)
43. Alors on Danse (by Stromae)
44. Mo money mo problems (by The Notorious B.I.G.)
45. I feel fine (by The Beatles)
46. Changes (by Tupac)
47. La Valse d'Amélie (by Yann Tiersen)
48. Island in the sun (by Weezer)
49. Memories (by Waldeck)
50. I'm still standing (by Elton John)
51. Got to Give it Up (by Marvin Gaye)
52. Cream (by Prince)
53. Only Humans (by The Jonas Brothers)
54. Give it all (by Seth XVI)
55. You Can Never Tell (by Chuck Berry)