Feel Good Songs to Beat the January Blues

New data reveals the top 100 tunes to add to your playlist to beat January blues

  • As the excitement of the festivities fades into a distant memory, new research names the most popular tunes Americans whack on when they want to turn their bad mood around
  • The study analyzed Spotify playlists related to the phrase ‘feel-good songs’ to see which songs repeatedly cropped up as mood boosters 
  • Vance Joy's famous hit Riptide ranked as the number one choice, with music from renowned rock band The Killers and international popstar Harry Styles also earning a spot in the top three

With the January blues hitting hard for many Americans, a new study has revealed the country's most favored song choices if they want to put themselves in a good mood - and Vance Joy’s Riptide tops the list.

The research, conducted by Bonus Ninja, used Spotify’s Playlist Miner tool to determine the top songs included in ‘feel-good’ related playlists, to identify the music that the US listen to when they want to brighten their day.

It's normal to feel a lull in energy levels in the New Year, as everyone settles back into their day-to-day routines without the buzz created by all the celebrations during the holiday season - and with significantly emptier bank accounts.

However, the right music can help overcome this and leave you feeling happy instead, as it is proven to trigger the release of dopamine.

The study reveals 100 of the most popular hits that Americans listen to when they want to put this into action, which - if they aren't already - deserve a spot on your playlist.

Song

Number of times the song appears on feel-good related playlists

Vance Joy-Riptide

133

Harry Styles-As It Was

126

Miley Cyrus-Flowers

111

Glass Animals-Heat Waves

111

Coldplay-Viva La Vida

109

Outkast-Hey Ya!

108

Neon Trees-Everybody Talks

107

Train-Hey, Soul Sister

105

The Killers-Mr. Brightside

104

The Weeknd-Blinding Lights

102

The Kid LAROI-STAY (with Justin Bieber)

101

OneRepublic-Counting Stars

101

WALK THE MOON-Shut Up and Dance

101

Avicii-Wake Me Up

101

GROUPLOVE-Tongue Tied

100

The Neighbourhood-Sweater Weather

99

Bruno Mars-Locked out of Heaven

99

Tears For Fears-Everybody Wants To Rule The World

97

BØRNS-Electric Love

96

Post Malone-Circles

96

MKTO-Classic

95

JVKE-golden hour

94

Nicky Youre-Sunroof

93

Gorillaz-Feel Good Inc.

91

Dua Lipa-Levitating (feat. DaBaby)

90

a-ha-Take on Me

89

OneRepublic-I Ain't Worried

89

Tyler, The Creator-See You Again (feat. Kali Uchis)

87

American Authors-Best Day Of My Life

87

fun.-We Are Young (feat. Janelle Monáe)

86

Bastille-Pompeii

86

Tame Impala-The Less I Know The Better

86

Steve Lacy-Bad Habit

85

Capital Cities-Safe And Sound

85

Queen-Don't Stop Me Now - Remastered 2011

84

Bruno Mars-Just the Way You Are

84

Owl City-Fireflies

81

Black Eyed Peas-I Gotta Feeling

81

Of Monsters and Men-Little Talks

81

Fleetwood Mac-Dreams - 2004 Remaster

80

Jason Mraz-I'm Yours

80

Smash Mouth-All Star

80

Earth, Wind & Fire-September

80

The Beatles-Here Comes The Sun - Remastered 2009

80

Electric Light Orchestra-Mr. Blue Sky

79

The Chainsmokers-Something Just Like This

79

Gym Class Heroes-Stereo Hearts (feat. Adam Levine)

79

Hozier-Take Me to Church

79

Taylor Swift-Cruel Summer

79

Marvin Gaye-Ain't No Mountain High Enough

78

Gotye-Somebody That I Used To Know

78

DNCE-Cake By The Ocean

78

The Weeknd-Die For You

78

Miley Cyrus-Party In The U.S.A.

77

The Chainsmokers-Closer

77

Daryl Hall & John Oates-You Make My Dreams (Come True)

75

Avicii-The Nights

75

Arctic Monkeys-Do I Wanna Know?

75

Bruno Mars-That's What I Like

74

Michael Jackson-Billie Jean

74

Florence + The Machine-Dog Days Are Over

74

Macklemore & Ryan Lewis-Can't Hold Us (feat. Ray Dalton)

74

Drake-One Dance

73

Childish Gambino-Redbone

73

David Guetta-I'm Good (Blue)

73

Dua Lipa-Don't Start Now

73

David Kushner-Daylight

72

The Lumineers-Ophelia

72

Doja Cat-Kiss Me More (feat. SZA)

72

Fitz and The Tantrums-Out of My League

71

Ed Sheeran-Shape of You

71

Katy Perry-Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)

71

J. Cole-No Role Modelz

71

One Direction-What Makes You Beautiful

71

TOTO-Africa

70

Mark Ronson-Uptown Funk (feat. Bruno Mars)

70

Maroon 5-Moves Like Jagger - Studio Recording From "The Voice" Performance

70

Mac Miller-The Spins

70

Harry Styles-Watermelon Sugar

69

Elton John-I'm Still Standing

69

Twenty One Pilots-Ride

69

The Weeknd-Save Your Tears

69

Foster The People-Pumped Up Kicks

69

Olivia Rodrigo-good 4 u

69

Kanye West-Flashing Lights

68

Arctic Monkeys-505

68

Doja Cat-Paint The Town Red

68

Imagine Dragons-On Top Of The World

68

Taylor Swift-Blank Space

68

Imagine Dragons-Demons

67

Clean Bandit-Rather Be (feat. Jess Glynne)

67

Frank Ocean-Pink + White

67

Journey-Don't Stop Believ

in' (2022 Remaster)

67

Coldplay-Yellow

67

Harry Styles-Late Night Talking

67

Sam Smith-Unholy (feat. Kim Petras)

67

The Weeknd-Starboy

67

Kendrick Lamar-All The Stars (with SZA)

67

SZA-Kill Bill

67

Billy Joel-Uptown Girl

66


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