Hope you’re doing ok my friend. Holding your hand through this difficult time. I lost my dad to cancer two months ago and I feel rather empty, like I don’t know who I am anymore.
Don’t know if you’ve heard of it, but there’s a brilliant British sitcom called Spaced made by Edgar Wright and Simon Pegg. It’s my comfort blanket.
I'm with you on Spaced, it's nice catching all the little film references and 90s London.
Sorry about your Dad, bet it still feels so raw right now. Sending you some hugs.
Cheers mate. Yeah it’s just so weird. One minute you’re alright, then something banal and random pops up that reminds you of something only you will know, and it just spirals.
I’ll be ok. Life is life. We gotta keep on keeping on.
You’re nailed on about Spaced. It’s been in my 10 TV show list since I first watched it.
When I went through a tough time in life, my partner and I were watching The Detectorists and I’ll never stop spreading the word. It’s a big warm hug of a show.
[Spaced](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QDl_OwhtoFg&list=PLCK5Lcs_vqSB3Zz9URbIB3dcJy9FmtL3I) is awesome great cast my fav episode is the nightclubbing one...
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D\_wVOA\_95QU](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_wVOA_95QU)
I am so, so sorry for your loss. I don't know what to say.
To honour your Dads name, you be the person you were when he was here. Grieve, cry, be angry, be frustrated and be a little bit lost....but never be alone. We may be strangers on an internet forum, but if you ever need anything you let me know. Pretty sure the rest of r/CasualUK feel the same.
Hand in hand :)
Your post just triggered a memory of when I was around 7-8. My Dad worked at Ford and they used to have a fairground at the plant for the families every couple of years. My dad gave me and my younger brother some money to go play the games. Well, it was getting close to the end of the day and the carnival/fairground worker must have decided he didn’t want to take all of the goldfish home. He let me win a couple of fish. It was literally our best day ever. I ran back and got more money from my dad and just kept winning fish. By the end of it we had about 10 goldfish in bags. My brother and I were so happy we thought we had won the lottery.
My dad wasn’t so pleased. But rather than be his usual grumpy self we drove straight to the store and bought one of those plastic pond inserts for the garden.
We then spent the rest of the day digging out for the pond and getting it ready for the fish.
I don’t have many happy memories of my old man but you just reminded me of one.
Song - The Staunton Lick by Lemon Jelly.
Film - The Secret Life of Walter Mitty.
Thing - The Lake District.
Edit: Am also not having the best week, which is why I didn't elaborate. But these are the things that never fail to make me smile. Hope your week gets better.
When it came out I was a bit of a raver and it quickly became my "cosy morning after" film. Introduced it to anyone who'd listen and nobody ever disliked it. Such a heart warming film. The bit where his mum says she pulled the wallet out of the bin gets me every time.
WALTER MITTY. Yes. Watched it in the cinema visiting my then-fiance during his navy training, and loved it.
Ten years later he's my husband, and I've never had clementine cake but Dirty Paws by Of Monsters and Men is still one of my favourite songs. The end of that movie makes me cry, every single time, with how big and small and wonderful the world is.
That was the song that got me into Lemon Jelly and then I earwormed all my friends with the album (because what do you do...in the bath?)
It's easy, you just hold down the chord of C. Pluck a... fretted bass string with the thumb of the right hand and... pluck the first second and third strings all together with the first, second and third fingers of the right hand.
This is......
Just came here to add one of mine. ‘Every day I’m shu shuffling’. My Grandma, god rest her soul, she was unsteady on her feet and shuffled along before dementia took over. I took my girlfriend at the time, now wife, to visit her about 2010 maybe, it was years ago and as my Grandma was shuffling out the kitchen, into the hall and to the living room, I joined her. Shuffling with her with my girlfriend in tow in a sort of conga line, singing every day I’m shuffling. She had no clue about the song but found it funny as did we. Makes me sad and happy all in one go. 🥲
Mr Blobby by Mr Blobby cheers me up because it reminds me that things can always get far, far worse. It's a balancing act though because it also makes me want to leap head first into the nearest volcano.
YEESSSSS!!!!! I actually have Heart 90's/00's on in the office, they hate me when this comes on. I'm professional when I need to be but when it's dress down Fridays I don't give a flying monkey and get up dancing to it! Haha. I am probably going to get sacked.
Top shout!
Arrival- Dennis Villenueve movie. I don’t like to be pepped when I’m down. But this movie gives me a sense of perspective I always appreciate when I’m low.
I really love this post, super wholesome, literally smiled the whole time reading it.
My happy place is to pick up my guitar and just play something. Doesnt really matter what it is but it always makes me feel so chilled after a crappy day or week at work. Sometimes I even sneak in ten minutes playing whilst I'm working from home!
God it's cheesy this but he's not doing super great at the moment so it's nice to share some things that just keep popping up in my head without boring my mates. Haha. So thank you.
Why the hell not, most people spend more than 10 minutes "shitting" in the office, so take full advantage, my friend :)
I like watching a good adventure movie;
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.
The Rock starring Sean Connery and Nicolas Cage.
The Mummy starring Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weiz.
Disney's Atlantis the Lost Empire for an animated one.
Sorry OP. My cheering up song is The Big Sky (Meteorological Mix) by Kate Bush. Needs to be loud!
Book: any Discworld book by Terry Pratchett.
TV: Doctor Who.
Knight of Cydonia by Muse is just so happy and bouncy. When played live the drop after the chorus is just the fucking best feeling when you're on the barrier with all your mates jumping around around and bellowing your head off 🤩 never fails to bring a big silly grin to my face
Never heard it, but I'll take a listen. Whatever you like, you like. So fuck anyone that laughs. We are allowed to like different things...even on Reddit, believe it or not :P
Killswitch Engage really helps to uplift me for some reason. It is the kind of music I like anyway, but songs like End of Heartache and Desperate Times are great to put me in a better mood.
Any band that can have the old lead singer and the new/old lead singer make a song together is a solid band in my eyes.
Both singers also have their place in the band.
I absolutely fucking love this song, great riff, vocals are amazing. It's a track full of feels.
Similarly, but completely different, Dream Theatre have a track called The Best Of Times, and it has, what I consider, the best solo of all time. The track itself is about the lead singer losing his father and looking back on their relationship. It's about 10 mins long and the last 3rd is just guitar heaven
Edit - it's 13mins long
[Flying Home](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hj6Tmm90tOE&ab_channel=magikaru) from the Kick Ass score always helps pick me up.
In terms of transporting me to another place, [Wait ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rw7aMVvPDmc&ab_channel=OrriBirgisson)by M83 is my number one go to.
Wait & Outro are just two of the greatest bits of music.
I'll throw in [Spring, Sun, Winter, Dread](https://youtu.be/u3FO46D1dqs?si=bshYbqXOuJ6gbSKE) by Everything Everything as my makes me smile song.
Stardust or Shrek are my go to films. Both are just top tier movies to me. Finding Nemo is up there too.
Songs would be pretty much any pop punk, 2000s kinda stuff. So Green Day, The OffSpring, Fall Out Boy, Avril Lavigne, Blink 182 etc.
That's my go to film. One of the most feel good films, ever. Robert De Niro is my go to for any film. He's amaxzing. Or anything with Tom Hanks in. He's just class.
Sorry you've had such a poor week.
My go-to buoyant song is King And Cross by Ásgeir. It takes me back to a sunny, warm day in Melbourne many years ago, driving around with my older brother. We had no where to be and we were just enjoying each other's company, something rare as we live so far apart. That song reminds me of the feeling of sun on my skin and gives me a warmth in my heart.
I feel this. I'm British but spent 7 years in South Africa. Being away from family is hard. I've been back in the UK for 2 and I miss my SA family so much.
But I'm glad you have that moment to look back on :)
Film - About Time.
Song - The Waterboys, The Whole of the moon.
Thing - Up early, really early, having a wander whilst enjoying a private showing of the dawn chorus.
Hope you have a better time real soon op, sending vibes.
It's a random one, but the song "In Time" by Robbi Robb cheers me up. It features in the film Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure, and I like it for two reasons: 1. Uplifting lyrics, and 2. BATEA is one of my favourite childhood films, so I get nostalgic.
Great shout! Both original B&T films had excellent soundtracks!
Did you ever watch Mr Robot? Great show in its own right - but there's one episode that has a load of Back to the Future references, then one scene, out of nowhere, "In Time" plays in the background! I was beside myself, laughing like a maniac, and my wife was just looking at me, like "What? _What??_" hahaha
Yes by McAlmont and Butler.
Melancholy and uplifting at the same time with the most beautiful rousing string section. The lyrics are a defiant call to feeling good in and about a shitty situation.
Man that song has got me through some hard times.
It's not my 'go to', but I think this might be the kind of thing you're looking for.
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aitj0AX2szk](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aitj0AX2szk)
I love Queen. They're my mums favourite band, so I listened to them a lot as a child.
My mum used to have my teddy try to escape my bed at bedtime, singing I Want To Break Free. It always made me laugh and was so silly. I repeated it with my daughter and I loved doing it.
So my go to is always Queen when I'm feeling down. And for films, if my mental health is bad and I'm worried about being triggered, I stick on a Wallace and Gromit. When my depression is bad my concentration is awful (I can't follow an episode of Eastenders for example), but I can always follow Wallace and Gromit.
I loved reading your story OP about cranes and Queen ❤️
I forgot to tell you about my daughter loving Queen too. A boy at Scouts bet her £5 she couldn't sing all of Bohemian Rhapsody. She sang it word for word and was very proud. Plus she got a fiver 🙂
Honestly, if I'm feeling melancholy I'd rather just lean into it, which half my CD collection is based on 😂
But Hyperballad by Björk has some really life affirming lyrics that are an always go to for me.
Film: Gladiator. Bonecrunching violence, Oliver Reed, and at the end, his little boy running down the hill to welcome him to Elysium.
Song: Sonne by Rammstein.
Picture: The Night Watch. I've seen the original in the Rijkmuseum, and I just stood there with my mouth open.
The Red Dwarf audiobooks. I can visualise every single word playing out (if you haven't read them, some parts are word for word the same as on TV, a lot of it is wildly different/additional story tho) and they just transport me away. Even better if I can be doing something sitting while listening, doing my nails, some crochet, something along those lines. Perfect.
McFly ~ The Heart Never Lies.
It helps me a LOT when my mental health is bad and I'm struggling to move out of the hole I'm in.
In some instances, uts kept me alive when things have been really rough.
Of all of the amazing lyrics in the song, the main part is the title of the song "the heart never lies".. when my head is telling me to go one way, but my family are in my heart and keeping me here
"Came Out Swinging" by The Wonder Years. Rock the fuck out and by the end of it you're too tired to remember why you wee down.
Movie wise, it's probably SlapShot or Groundhog Day
The album "Misplaced Childhood" by Marillion. You have to listen to the whole album in one sitting without interruption, and hear the words of each song. Ultimately it's a very cathartic experience.
The Trolls movie (or for a song Get Back Up Again by Anna Kendrick from Trolls).
I am a 32 year old woman, so Trolls came out when I was 24. And yet for some reason it just struck a little happy chord inside of me. And then it's been reinforced consistently by my husband through the years, if I'm feeling a little down, no matter how recently we've watched it (and given how hard life has been the last couple years, we probably have watched it recently), my husband will ask me if I want to watch Trolls and forget about the bad things for 90 minutes. The act of him knowing it's my sad but want to be happy movie makes it my sad but want to be happy movie if that makes any sense.
Dreams - The Cranberries. I might have a little cry when listening to it if I'm down, but it still fills me with so much warmth and boosts me up. It's fantastic to listen to on a walk as well, peps me up.
My dad's no longer with us, so any song that reminds me of him is tinged with sadness. However, he had amazing music taste that really didn't match with his straight-laced image, so they all make me feel good thinking about how cool he really was. Knowing that he was a huge soul, blues and psych enthusiast whilst simultaneously teaching systems analysis and running the village bowls club is really uplifting to me.
Hey Joe - Jimi Hendrix
Smokestack Lightning - Howling Wolf
Walk on Guilded Splinters - Dr John
Hole in my shoe - Traffic
Usually if I'm feeling down I want to hear sad songs, but I do have a huge, huge soft spot for Japanese cuddlecore icons [Shonen Knife](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZG38oc7EW4E). They do songs about cats, sushi and bicycles, it's great.
Song - Everybody Dance - Chic. Started playing it when my youngest was born she's now 3 and always puts it on herself on the Alexa to dance to.
Seeing the joy in her face as she throws herself around the room gets me to tomorrow.
Er this might weird but the song Death by White Lies gives me a great emotional boost.
I've suffered with depression for years and my go to method for dealing with it is depressing songs (yep), the moodier the better.
Listening to that on my own driving on volume 25, shouting (not singing) alone is just what I need sometimes.
On a slightly different tip to many of the suggestions on here, The Wider Sun by Jon Hopkins always puts me in mind of the optimism of a fresh sunrise. At the right time it can actually bring a tear to my eyes. That or In A Big Country by Big Country.
My absolute favourite is Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe.
Goodnight Mister Tom is another amazing film showing the absolute best of fatherly love.
To embrace the sad a little bit - Codex by Radiohead, bit of a sad song but usually makes me feel better regardless as it's such a beautiful piece of music. And sometimes it helps to embrace the sadness.
Escapist action movie (and one of my favourite ever films) - Starship Troopers. No more needs to be said, it's incredible.
Comfort film - any or all of the LOTR trilogy depending how much time you have, but that one might be a bit more personal taste/ comfort blanket kinda thing.
Leaving the country. I'm kind of joking, but I feel such happiness and contentment being in a new place (especially if it's beautiful and warm and the food is good)
But I'm also going to recommend you a film - [Sherlock Jr](https://youtu.be/fZuqWxITq38?si=-H6VvoVpm-vgJjWJ). It's 100 years old and it's incredible. It's so funny and fascinating and always cheers me up.
Hello fellow traveller. I've had a bit of a shit week too, hope yours picks up.
My pick me up tracks, three of them anyway...
*ski-ba-bop-da-dop-bop - Scatman John*
https://open.spotify.com/track/623rRTKwGmgjH6sjE9uWLh?si=vIvuEZldTAyEeAhPmYL5mA
*Rhythm is a Dancer - SNAP*
https://open.spotify.com/track/5mFQCdbvuzVATC7tP7XsPp?si=kWabjz6dQ4Cw_JI3zql7kw&context=spotify%3Aplaylist%3A37i9dQZF1EQpoj8u9Hn81e
*Jack your Body - Steve "Silk" Hurley*
https://open.spotify.com/track/10QGhgqQm0I2Y9maxrM7T6?si=CX_rvGwIT2S27wsQwCxQrw&context=spotify%3Aplaylist%3A37i9dQZF1EQpoj8u9Hn81e
Wake me up before you go go by wham. This isn't normally my jam but it was the song that played on the car radio when I was driving away from school having finished my o levels in 1984 :)÷
Could Have Been Me by The Struts
I could be having the worst time imaginable, and it makes it at least feel a little bit more okay by reminding me that even the worst experiences are a part of life to be lived, and this is just part of your story.
Pointer Sisters - Neutron Dance.
Takes me back to Beverly Hills Cop. The innocence of the 80s. Happier times as a care-free child.
Always perks me up to stick that track on loud and smile 😊
We watched it when I was that age! Dad actually just mentioned it earlier! Haha. I remember slight bits of it but my brother who is 2 years older, remembers it all.
I'm gonna rewatch it tomorrow night. Thank you :)
[*Can You Dig It?*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGSHIidlesQ)
Also [*Everything's Fine Right Now*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sg-NU3h05Ik) (bet 95% of youse have never even heard of ISB before though)
Deep Water by The Middle East.
It’s not an uplifting song, it is sad to match the mood. But it is also beautiful and it is also peaceful. Really scratches a specific itch for me at the end of a depressing day.
If I need a good cry, I'll watch Les Miserables. There are at least 3 songs which are guaranteed to get the tears flowing. I always feel better afterwards.
[these two](https://youtu.be/EAey_of2qIg?si=FgZkKxxLquwWKPm2) songs seem to capture the emotions from a small period in my life, and instantly take me back. Life's good at the moment, just seems like it was less complicated back then and these help bring the melancholy
I find that if I'm feeling blue, I don't like to listen to songs that are pure merriment, as I can't kid myself into just feeling jolly like that. I prefer to listen to songs that are more in tune to how I'm feeling.
But a recent find for me (of an old song) is Tonight We Fly by The Divine Comedy. I don't think I could do it justice in trying to describe it - but the themes are transcendental and the style is an amazing mix of optimism and melancholy, the tempo is infectious and the composition and vocals are glorious. I've shed a tear more than once listening to it.
I usually go for something that reminds me of my grandad so I watch The Little Mermaid or listen to The Killers - Human or The Honeycombs - Have I the Right but that's only when I'm in a really bad place.
If it's just a bad day I usually go for some sort of 90's romcom film like 10 things I Hate about You!
4am by Kaskade. It's the most beautiful song and instantly transports me to my happy place. This is the only song I have never skipped. Even the extended version. Everything about it is just wonderful.
I saw this clip the other day, had me crying with laughter [https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=6w2TkFljPwA](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=6w2TkFljPwA)I hope you have a better weekend :)
Sliding Doors. No idea why but guaranteed comfort every time.
Oh, and my hospital blanky. I had one that had been around for decades, since I was little. It fell apart and I missed it so I found another one on Amazon.
Mine seems to change, anything from Pearl Jam (Elderly woman behind the counter in a small town and Better Man) to Cage the Elephant (Ain't nonrest for the wicked) a fair bit of Kalao and Glass animals. But if a mixture there but it does depend on my mood......film, don't really have a go to film really but baby driver has cheered me up a few times partly for the soundtrack, and of course Deadpool
Sitting at the beach, watching & listening to the sea hitting the shoreline, whether it be sand, stones, or rocks. Instantly soothing, powerful, & neverending - puts our short lives into perspective & provides me a mental reset.
I loved reading your story. I hope your doing OK.
I used to stick on Pink - So What when I was feeling a bit blah and it would inspire me to get up and push through and do some housework or DIY or what ever was needed. I would find my inner "rockstar"
Maybe I need to dust it off and stick it on once in a while again.
Edit to add.
My go to movie is always Forrest Gump
Move In A Little Closer - Cass Elliot never feels to give me a little boost. Or indeed any song on her Big Ones album.
Mrs Doubtfire or The Golden Girls are my go to watches.
Film: Kiki’s Delivery Service. It’s cute, it’s upbeat, and it reminds me that when stuff goes wrong and you get stuck in a rut you can always come back from it, possibly stronger.
Song: Mr Blue Sky
Hope you’re doing ok my friend. Holding your hand through this difficult time. I lost my dad to cancer two months ago and I feel rather empty, like I don’t know who I am anymore. Don’t know if you’ve heard of it, but there’s a brilliant British sitcom called Spaced made by Edgar Wright and Simon Pegg. It’s my comfort blanket.
I'm with you on Spaced, it's nice catching all the little film references and 90s London. Sorry about your Dad, bet it still feels so raw right now. Sending you some hugs.
Cheers mate. Yeah it’s just so weird. One minute you’re alright, then something banal and random pops up that reminds you of something only you will know, and it just spirals. I’ll be ok. Life is life. We gotta keep on keeping on.
Yeah, you'll get thru and the sharp corners of grief will dull a little.
You’re nailed on about Spaced. It’s been in my 10 TV show list since I first watched it. When I went through a tough time in life, my partner and I were watching The Detectorists and I’ll never stop spreading the word. It’s a big warm hug of a show.
Sending you big, big hugs.
I’m so sorry you have lost your dad. I lost mine 2 years ago now and it really is life changing. I hope your heart starts to heal x Spaced is class!!
Sorry for your loss. I lost my dad a similar amount of time ago. Love spaced but I recommend Bee and Puppycat on Netflix for comfort.
[Spaced](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QDl_OwhtoFg&list=PLCK5Lcs_vqSB3Zz9URbIB3dcJy9FmtL3I) is awesome great cast my fav episode is the nightclubbing one... [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D\_wVOA\_95QU](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_wVOA_95QU)
I am so, so sorry for your loss. I don't know what to say. To honour your Dads name, you be the person you were when he was here. Grieve, cry, be angry, be frustrated and be a little bit lost....but never be alone. We may be strangers on an internet forum, but if you ever need anything you let me know. Pretty sure the rest of r/CasualUK feel the same. Hand in hand :)
Peter Gabriel - Solsbury Hill Never fails to cheer me up at least a bit
Sledgehammer for me but my Dad will love you for this answer :)
Your post just triggered a memory of when I was around 7-8. My Dad worked at Ford and they used to have a fairground at the plant for the families every couple of years. My dad gave me and my younger brother some money to go play the games. Well, it was getting close to the end of the day and the carnival/fairground worker must have decided he didn’t want to take all of the goldfish home. He let me win a couple of fish. It was literally our best day ever. I ran back and got more money from my dad and just kept winning fish. By the end of it we had about 10 goldfish in bags. My brother and I were so happy we thought we had won the lottery. My dad wasn’t so pleased. But rather than be his usual grumpy self we drove straight to the store and bought one of those plastic pond inserts for the garden. We then spent the rest of the day digging out for the pond and getting it ready for the fish. I don’t have many happy memories of my old man but you just reminded me of one.
<3
[I love the live version where he's cycling round the stage.](https://youtu.be/GimLuOUVkxg?t=130)
First thing I think of when hearing this [Shining!](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-e6d_gzaDgk&ab_channel=jlgpyv1)
Song - The Staunton Lick by Lemon Jelly. Film - The Secret Life of Walter Mitty. Thing - The Lake District. Edit: Am also not having the best week, which is why I didn't elaborate. But these are the things that never fail to make me smile. Hope your week gets better.
I've not met anyone that loves the Walter Mitty film! It's brilliant!
Here to add it's my favourite film, easily #1 on my list. Just such a happy fun movie with some great cinematography.
When it came out I was a bit of a raver and it quickly became my "cosy morning after" film. Introduced it to anyone who'd listen and nobody ever disliked it. Such a heart warming film. The bit where his mum says she pulled the wallet out of the bin gets me every time.
Upvote for the movie. So underrated, yet wonderful in every respect. A masterpiece. Longboarding in Iceland, incredible.
WALTER MITTY. Yes. Watched it in the cinema visiting my then-fiance during his navy training, and loved it. Ten years later he's my husband, and I've never had clementine cake but Dirty Paws by Of Monsters and Men is still one of my favourite songs. The end of that movie makes me cry, every single time, with how big and small and wonderful the world is.
The soundtrack is wonderful isn't it? I'm particularly fond of Far Away by Junip. But the whole thing is brilliant.
That was the song that got me into Lemon Jelly and then I earwormed all my friends with the album (because what do you do...in the bath?) It's easy, you just hold down the chord of C. Pluck a... fretted bass string with the thumb of the right hand and... pluck the first second and third strings all together with the first, second and third fingers of the right hand. This is......
>The Staunton Lick by Lemon Jelly Loved them since Spaced.
That's where I first heard it. Simon Pegg arriving at the train station on a robot and just says to Daisy "alright" then the tune starts. Classic.
LMFAO sexy and I know it. It's just a fun vibe. Saucy, tongue firmly in cheek, hell of a bop.
Mate, if you put that on after a bad day then there is no way you are not shaking your rump! Good shout :)
It's not high art but hopefully it leaves you grinning and wiggle wiggle wiggle yeah!
See, I'm more of a Party Rock Anthem girl but I know what you mean :)
Just came here to add one of mine. ‘Every day I’m shu shuffling’. My Grandma, god rest her soul, she was unsteady on her feet and shuffled along before dementia took over. I took my girlfriend at the time, now wife, to visit her about 2010 maybe, it was years ago and as my Grandma was shuffling out the kitchen, into the hall and to the living room, I joined her. Shuffling with her with my girlfriend in tow in a sort of conga line, singing every day I’m shuffling. She had no clue about the song but found it funny as did we. Makes me sad and happy all in one go. 🥲
Mr Blobby by Mr Blobby cheers me up because it reminds me that things can always get far, far worse. It's a balancing act though because it also makes me want to leap head first into the nearest volcano.
Mr Blobby on the big fat quiz is one of the best things ever
Flash Gordon (1980) is good cheesy fun that never fails to perk me up.
Five - get on up (happy lyrics)
YEESSSSS!!!!! I actually have Heart 90's/00's on in the office, they hate me when this comes on. I'm professional when I need to be but when it's dress down Fridays I don't give a flying monkey and get up dancing to it! Haha. I am probably going to get sacked. Top shout!
'Murder on the Dancefloor' by Sophie Ellis-Bextor. No idea why but it uplifts me!!
Hard agree. Did you see her cameo at Glastonbury. She’s like a walking good mood injection.
No judgement here love, whatever makes you happy :P Glad you have something though!
I hated it when it first came out! Now, it's my happy song!!
Arrival- Dennis Villenueve movie. I don’t like to be pepped when I’m down. But this movie gives me a sense of perspective I always appreciate when I’m low.
Now that's an answer to the question I asked. We don't have to have a reason for something to pick us up. As long as it does. It's your "thing".
I really love this post, super wholesome, literally smiled the whole time reading it. My happy place is to pick up my guitar and just play something. Doesnt really matter what it is but it always makes me feel so chilled after a crappy day or week at work. Sometimes I even sneak in ten minutes playing whilst I'm working from home!
God it's cheesy this but he's not doing super great at the moment so it's nice to share some things that just keep popping up in my head without boring my mates. Haha. So thank you. Why the hell not, most people spend more than 10 minutes "shitting" in the office, so take full advantage, my friend :)
I like watching a good adventure movie; Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. The Rock starring Sean Connery and Nicolas Cage. The Mummy starring Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weiz. Disney's Atlantis the Lost Empire for an animated one.
Great recommendations, The Rock is a fantastic film! Of it's time action movie at it's finest.
Sorry OP. My cheering up song is The Big Sky (Meteorological Mix) by Kate Bush. Needs to be loud! Book: any Discworld book by Terry Pratchett. TV: Doctor Who.
I'm not sure what you're apologising for...my shitty day or your song choice? If its the latter, then I haven't heard it but will it make me cry?
The sorry is for your day. The song is euphoric, beautiful & endearingly odd ! It starts off with a didgeridoo & ends with gospel singers...
The whole first side of that album is just uplifting bangers. Besides, mother stands for comfort, I suppose.
Knight of Cydonia by Muse is just so happy and bouncy. When played live the drop after the chorus is just the fucking best feeling when you're on the barrier with all your mates jumping around around and bellowing your head off 🤩 never fails to bring a big silly grin to my face
Reject Yourself by Killswitch Engage - before anyone laughs its a really positive song and a fucking amazing metal guitar riff. Heavy, but brilliant.
Never heard it, but I'll take a listen. Whatever you like, you like. So fuck anyone that laughs. We are allowed to like different things...even on Reddit, believe it or not :P
Killswitch Engage really helps to uplift me for some reason. It is the kind of music I like anyway, but songs like End of Heartache and Desperate Times are great to put me in a better mood.
Yeh I think they are a really positive band, it's very much in my wheelhouse anyway like you say but idk, it gives me hope.
Any band that can have the old lead singer and the new/old lead singer make a song together is a solid band in my eyes. Both singers also have their place in the band.
I absolutely fucking love this song, great riff, vocals are amazing. It's a track full of feels. Similarly, but completely different, Dream Theatre have a track called The Best Of Times, and it has, what I consider, the best solo of all time. The track itself is about the lead singer losing his father and looking back on their relationship. It's about 10 mins long and the last 3rd is just guitar heaven Edit - it's 13mins long
Thanks for the recommendation. Killswitch Engage was never really a band I considered listening to before but I enjoyed that.
I'm glad you found something new my dude :)
Laurel & Hardy. Especially if I’m ill. Impossible not to laugh.
‘Send me on my way’ by Rusted Root. You can’t be sad and listen to it.
September by Earth Wind and Fire. That song never fails to cheer me up, it’s such an upbeat, catchy tune it’s impossible to be down listening to it.
If you like this song I implore you to watch Robot Dreams! Such a great animated film that features this song heavily.
I pop on some Flight of the Conchords usually
[Flying Home](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hj6Tmm90tOE&ab_channel=magikaru) from the Kick Ass score always helps pick me up. In terms of transporting me to another place, [Wait ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rw7aMVvPDmc&ab_channel=OrriBirgisson)by M83 is my number one go to.
Wait & Outro are just two of the greatest bits of music. I'll throw in [Spring, Sun, Winter, Dread](https://youtu.be/u3FO46D1dqs?si=bshYbqXOuJ6gbSKE) by Everything Everything as my makes me smile song.
Totally agree, love both of those. Really need to try and see them live.
It's not highbrow but Free Guy always cheers me up.
Great film! So good shout.
Stardust or Shrek are my go to films. Both are just top tier movies to me. Finding Nemo is up there too. Songs would be pretty much any pop punk, 2000s kinda stuff. So Green Day, The OffSpring, Fall Out Boy, Avril Lavigne, Blink 182 etc.
Hot Fuzz has always been my go to film, music wise it'd have to be anything heavy, probably Gojira or any Mastodon album in general
"Yummy yummy yummy, I've got love in my tummy" is the song my mum always sings whenever I'm sad. Even as an adult, it never fails to make me smile.
Hot fuzz
Mr Blue Sky by ELO or I Gotta Feeling by the Black Eyed Peas. Film wise, probably Stardust. I love Robert De Niro in it.
That's my go to film. One of the most feel good films, ever. Robert De Niro is my go to for any film. He's amaxzing. Or anything with Tom Hanks in. He's just class.
Stardust would have been my film choice too. I absolutely love that film. It's just perfection (to me).
Sorry you've had such a poor week. My go-to buoyant song is King And Cross by Ásgeir. It takes me back to a sunny, warm day in Melbourne many years ago, driving around with my older brother. We had no where to be and we were just enjoying each other's company, something rare as we live so far apart. That song reminds me of the feeling of sun on my skin and gives me a warmth in my heart.
I feel this. I'm British but spent 7 years in South Africa. Being away from family is hard. I've been back in the UK for 2 and I miss my SA family so much. But I'm glad you have that moment to look back on :)
Song? https://youtu.be/WY87o9IZXWg It’s also a great speed to code C++ to, when you’re in the zone.
DUDE!!! The Prodigy are one of my favourites so this just put a massive smile on my face! Danke.
I even “learnt” to shuffle dance based on this. Geen dank nodig.
Film - About Time. Song - The Waterboys, The Whole of the moon. Thing - Up early, really early, having a wander whilst enjoying a private showing of the dawn chorus. Hope you have a better time real soon op, sending vibes.
The Whole of the Moon is probably my favourite song in the world.
Joy Division Oven Gloves - HalfMan Half Biscuit Film - Mary Poppins
I'm all about Post-punk postcards
It's a random one, but the song "In Time" by Robbi Robb cheers me up. It features in the film Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure, and I like it for two reasons: 1. Uplifting lyrics, and 2. BATEA is one of my favourite childhood films, so I get nostalgic.
Great shout! Both original B&T films had excellent soundtracks! Did you ever watch Mr Robot? Great show in its own right - but there's one episode that has a load of Back to the Future references, then one scene, out of nowhere, "In Time" plays in the background! I was beside myself, laughing like a maniac, and my wife was just looking at me, like "What? _What??_" hahaha
Sunchyme -Dario G
ELO - Mr Blue Sky
Yes by McAlmont and Butler. Melancholy and uplifting at the same time with the most beautiful rousing string section. The lyrics are a defiant call to feeling good in and about a shitty situation. Man that song has got me through some hard times.
It's not my 'go to', but I think this might be the kind of thing you're looking for. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aitj0AX2szk](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aitj0AX2szk)
Ready player one film. Syornlight archive book series by Brandon sanderson on audible. Trivium - pull harder on the strings of your martyr song.
The Paddington films are so positive and pure and funny and cosy. Just the perfect thing to watch when you're feeling down.
My uplifting song is [The Only One I Know by The Charlatans ](https://youtu.be/0RJwW77Lsj8?si=LOIDAxNfve98HoTR)
Feeder - Buck Rogers.
Song - Nina Simone, Ain't Got No/I Got Life. Thing - a silent, solo cup of tea before anyone else is up. Hope you're feeling better soon.
Honestly? I love Disney film soundtracks to cheer me up…
I love Queen. They're my mums favourite band, so I listened to them a lot as a child. My mum used to have my teddy try to escape my bed at bedtime, singing I Want To Break Free. It always made me laugh and was so silly. I repeated it with my daughter and I loved doing it. So my go to is always Queen when I'm feeling down. And for films, if my mental health is bad and I'm worried about being triggered, I stick on a Wallace and Gromit. When my depression is bad my concentration is awful (I can't follow an episode of Eastenders for example), but I can always follow Wallace and Gromit. I loved reading your story OP about cranes and Queen ❤️
I forgot to tell you about my daughter loving Queen too. A boy at Scouts bet her £5 she couldn't sing all of Bohemian Rhapsody. She sang it word for word and was very proud. Plus she got a fiver 🙂
Honestly, if I'm feeling melancholy I'd rather just lean into it, which half my CD collection is based on 😂 But Hyperballad by Björk has some really life affirming lyrics that are an always go to for me.
Film: Gladiator. Bonecrunching violence, Oliver Reed, and at the end, his little boy running down the hill to welcome him to Elysium. Song: Sonne by Rammstein. Picture: The Night Watch. I've seen the original in the Rijkmuseum, and I just stood there with my mouth open.
The Red Dwarf audiobooks. I can visualise every single word playing out (if you haven't read them, some parts are word for word the same as on TV, a lot of it is wildly different/additional story tho) and they just transport me away. Even better if I can be doing something sitting while listening, doing my nails, some crochet, something along those lines. Perfect.
Kevin & Perry Go Large
The Lord of the rings, extended editions back to back. Perfection.
McFly ~ The Heart Never Lies. It helps me a LOT when my mental health is bad and I'm struggling to move out of the hole I'm in. In some instances, uts kept me alive when things have been really rough. Of all of the amazing lyrics in the song, the main part is the title of the song "the heart never lies".. when my head is telling me to go one way, but my family are in my heart and keeping me here
Peaches - Presidents of the United States of America In The End - Linkin Park
Upvoting for Peaches!
“A Little Respect” by Erasure is my go-to happy song
Suicidal Tendencies - You Can't Bring Me Down.
This one makes me feel like I can do anything. Solid.
For me, Dodgeball
For some reason Forgetting Sarah Marshal is my go to, also The Station Agent always cheers me up..
Dancing in the moonlight by Toploader
"Came Out Swinging" by The Wonder Years. Rock the fuck out and by the end of it you're too tired to remember why you wee down. Movie wise, it's probably SlapShot or Groundhog Day
Lately, Tenacious D - Hit Me Baby One More Time https://youtu.be/yHma0eo7x7Y?si=ow_15xcTepnSN-V7
The album "Misplaced Childhood" by Marillion. You have to listen to the whole album in one sitting without interruption, and hear the words of each song. Ultimately it's a very cathartic experience.
The East Germany National Anthem whilst thinking of Trabants
Beck - loser. It makes me stop giving a fuck
White Chicks. I forget how funny this film is until I watch it again. And for music I always find Keep on Movin’ by Five lifts me up.
Chaka Khan - Ain't nobody
Us & Them by Pink Floyd
The Trolls movie (or for a song Get Back Up Again by Anna Kendrick from Trolls). I am a 32 year old woman, so Trolls came out when I was 24. And yet for some reason it just struck a little happy chord inside of me. And then it's been reinforced consistently by my husband through the years, if I'm feeling a little down, no matter how recently we've watched it (and given how hard life has been the last couple years, we probably have watched it recently), my husband will ask me if I want to watch Trolls and forget about the bad things for 90 minutes. The act of him knowing it's my sad but want to be happy movie makes it my sad but want to be happy movie if that makes any sense.
Dreams - The Cranberries. I might have a little cry when listening to it if I'm down, but it still fills me with so much warmth and boosts me up. It's fantastic to listen to on a walk as well, peps me up.
Hip Hop and Star Wars
Any song by Buckethead or Joe Satriani. Even their sad songs are so enjoyable I can't help but cheer up.
NinjaSexParty do comedy synth/rock songs, think Tenacious D meets Rush. Dinosaur Laser Fight and First Date always cheer me up
My dad's no longer with us, so any song that reminds me of him is tinged with sadness. However, he had amazing music taste that really didn't match with his straight-laced image, so they all make me feel good thinking about how cool he really was. Knowing that he was a huge soul, blues and psych enthusiast whilst simultaneously teaching systems analysis and running the village bowls club is really uplifting to me. Hey Joe - Jimi Hendrix Smokestack Lightning - Howling Wolf Walk on Guilded Splinters - Dr John Hole in my shoe - Traffic
Usually if I'm feeling down I want to hear sad songs, but I do have a huge, huge soft spot for Japanese cuddlecore icons [Shonen Knife](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZG38oc7EW4E). They do songs about cats, sushi and bicycles, it's great.
Planes trains and automobiles I laugh just thinking about it
If my kids are around, it's Dare by Gorrilaz. If I'm alone it's Sexy Train by The Northern Boys.
Song - Everybody Dance - Chic. Started playing it when my youngest was born she's now 3 and always puts it on herself on the Alexa to dance to. Seeing the joy in her face as she throws herself around the room gets me to tomorrow.
Er this might weird but the song Death by White Lies gives me a great emotional boost. I've suffered with depression for years and my go to method for dealing with it is depressing songs (yep), the moodier the better. Listening to that on my own driving on volume 25, shouting (not singing) alone is just what I need sometimes.
Regret, and True Faith by New Order always help at my lowest allow me to move forward.
This Year, by the Mountain Goats. It got big in 2020 for obvious reasons but it's never failed to make me smile through the pain.
Settle in and watch Highlander. Great film and of course you know the sound track. (Especially that bit where they drive over the bridge.)
On a slightly different tip to many of the suggestions on here, The Wider Sun by Jon Hopkins always puts me in mind of the optimism of a fresh sunrise. At the right time it can actually bring a tear to my eyes. That or In A Big Country by Big Country.
My absolute favourite is Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe. Goodnight Mister Tom is another amazing film showing the absolute best of fatherly love.
To embrace the sad a little bit - Codex by Radiohead, bit of a sad song but usually makes me feel better regardless as it's such a beautiful piece of music. And sometimes it helps to embrace the sadness. Escapist action movie (and one of my favourite ever films) - Starship Troopers. No more needs to be said, it's incredible. Comfort film - any or all of the LOTR trilogy depending how much time you have, but that one might be a bit more personal taste/ comfort blanket kinda thing.
Muppet Christmas Carol
Leaving the country. I'm kind of joking, but I feel such happiness and contentment being in a new place (especially if it's beautiful and warm and the food is good) But I'm also going to recommend you a film - [Sherlock Jr](https://youtu.be/fZuqWxITq38?si=-H6VvoVpm-vgJjWJ). It's 100 years old and it's incredible. It's so funny and fascinating and always cheers me up.
Song: wish you were here. Film: The fifth element.
Hello fellow traveller. I've had a bit of a shit week too, hope yours picks up. My pick me up tracks, three of them anyway... *ski-ba-bop-da-dop-bop - Scatman John* https://open.spotify.com/track/623rRTKwGmgjH6sjE9uWLh?si=vIvuEZldTAyEeAhPmYL5mA *Rhythm is a Dancer - SNAP* https://open.spotify.com/track/5mFQCdbvuzVATC7tP7XsPp?si=kWabjz6dQ4Cw_JI3zql7kw&context=spotify%3Aplaylist%3A37i9dQZF1EQpoj8u9Hn81e *Jack your Body - Steve "Silk" Hurley* https://open.spotify.com/track/10QGhgqQm0I2Y9maxrM7T6?si=CX_rvGwIT2S27wsQwCxQrw&context=spotify%3Aplaylist%3A37i9dQZF1EQpoj8u9Hn81e
Wake me up before you go go by wham. This isn't normally my jam but it was the song that played on the car radio when I was driving away from school having finished my o levels in 1984 :)÷
Could Have Been Me by The Struts I could be having the worst time imaginable, and it makes it at least feel a little bit more okay by reminding me that even the worst experiences are a part of life to be lived, and this is just part of your story.
The Naked Gun It’s a fun time, even on the 50th viewing
Pointer Sisters - Neutron Dance. Takes me back to Beverly Hills Cop. The innocence of the 80s. Happier times as a care-free child. Always perks me up to stick that track on loud and smile 😊
Not a song or film, but when I'm down, I boot up Terra Nil on my old laptop and set too fixing an ecosystem. It feels gentle and constructive
Go watch Highlander. Queen. Conner{y / McLeod of the clan McLeod} . Accents.
We watched it when I was that age! Dad actually just mentioned it earlier! Haha. I remember slight bits of it but my brother who is 2 years older, remembers it all. I'm gonna rewatch it tomorrow night. Thank you :)
Groundhog Day.
On A Good Day (Metropolis) · Above & Beyond · Gareth Emery · OceanLab 🥰 Enjoy https://youtu.be/PY87-I8ABN0?si=e4WPxL3i-4_wFKkt
Actually the Transformers theme from the 80’s animated movie is a total energiser
Heavens Divide by Donna Burke (ft. in an MGS game). https://youtu.be/ijGBLv-wiZc?si=DOpC8KAyT1bXwXpC Also, the Ghostbusters 2 soundtrack.
Saturn by Sleeping At Last.
Jimmy Castor - Hey Leroy Your Mamma’s Calling You https://youtu.be/q4IJ1-OSXCM?si=BsEN3ltNLycBFqom Never fails to lift my spirits
[*Can You Dig It?*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGSHIidlesQ) Also [*Everything's Fine Right Now*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sg-NU3h05Ik) (bet 95% of youse have never even heard of ISB before though)
If I’m ever feeling like shit, my comfort tv shows are the Top Gear/ Grand Tour specials or Gavin & Stacey
Deep Water by The Middle East. It’s not an uplifting song, it is sad to match the mood. But it is also beautiful and it is also peaceful. Really scratches a specific itch for me at the end of a depressing day.
If I need a good cry, I'll watch Les Miserables. There are at least 3 songs which are guaranteed to get the tears flowing. I always feel better afterwards.
The 1953 film Genevieve I'm in my early thirties but it takes me back to being a kid and watching it with my grandparents
[these two](https://youtu.be/EAey_of2qIg?si=FgZkKxxLquwWKPm2) songs seem to capture the emotions from a small period in my life, and instantly take me back. Life's good at the moment, just seems like it was less complicated back then and these help bring the melancholy
Overboard Yes I know it's dated and sexist as hell but it is like film Prozac for me
Pixar movie Soul or Groundhog Day
Turning Red (the Pixar movie) or Over The Moon (off Netflx).
[This](https://www.reddit.com/r/MadeMeSmile/s/CkZwBqmJgx) Just so wholesome and fun :)
Napalm Death - you suffer Never fails to lift my spirits
The Streets - On The Edge of a Cliff Helped me a lot in some dark places!
For Evigt by Volbeat. They're a Scandinavian band, and I can't understand the chorus, but the verses seem really uplifting.
Song: https://youtu.be/6Z66wVo7uNw?si=wHQx_4cf4zmOT96T Just makes me smile and remember happy times dancing round the kitchen or at a gig.
Film is normally Dr. Horrible's Sing Along Blog
Threads
I find that if I'm feeling blue, I don't like to listen to songs that are pure merriment, as I can't kid myself into just feeling jolly like that. I prefer to listen to songs that are more in tune to how I'm feeling. But a recent find for me (of an old song) is Tonight We Fly by The Divine Comedy. I don't think I could do it justice in trying to describe it - but the themes are transcendental and the style is an amazing mix of optimism and melancholy, the tempo is infectious and the composition and vocals are glorious. I've shed a tear more than once listening to it.
I usually go for something that reminds me of my grandad so I watch The Little Mermaid or listen to The Killers - Human or The Honeycombs - Have I the Right but that's only when I'm in a really bad place. If it's just a bad day I usually go for some sort of 90's romcom film like 10 things I Hate about You!
4am by Kaskade. It's the most beautiful song and instantly transports me to my happy place. This is the only song I have never skipped. Even the extended version. Everything about it is just wonderful.
Girls just wanna have fun
Fascination by Alphabeat, God it just makes me so happy 😊
I saw this clip the other day, had me crying with laughter [https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=6w2TkFljPwA](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=6w2TkFljPwA)I hope you have a better weekend :)
Battleflag by Pigeonhed (lo fidelity all stars remix)
the drifters - up on the roof.
The song 'Go Do' by Jonsi is an instant pick-me-up for me.
Monster Mash
Debbie does Dallas
Sliding Doors. No idea why but guaranteed comfort every time. Oh, and my hospital blanky. I had one that had been around for decades, since I was little. It fell apart and I missed it so I found another one on Amazon.
Album enigma mcmxc a d.. This takes me to a real happy place.
Mine seems to change, anything from Pearl Jam (Elderly woman behind the counter in a small town and Better Man) to Cage the Elephant (Ain't nonrest for the wicked) a fair bit of Kalao and Glass animals. But if a mixture there but it does depend on my mood......film, don't really have a go to film really but baby driver has cheered me up a few times partly for the soundtrack, and of course Deadpool
Sitting at the beach, watching & listening to the sea hitting the shoreline, whether it be sand, stones, or rocks. Instantly soothing, powerful, & neverending - puts our short lives into perspective & provides me a mental reset.
One Better Day by Madness. Not because of any experience I had with it, but just the sentiment conveyed.
I loved reading your story. I hope your doing OK. I used to stick on Pink - So What when I was feeling a bit blah and it would inspire me to get up and push through and do some housework or DIY or what ever was needed. I would find my inner "rockstar" Maybe I need to dust it off and stick it on once in a while again. Edit to add. My go to movie is always Forrest Gump
Mr Blue Sky ELO for music, for film, either Star Wars, (preferably cinema release) or Blues Brothers.
I always watch Mitchell and Webb, brings a giggle to my day
Born to be Wiiiild 🤠
Another one bites the dust 🤘
Such a lovely story! My dad passed when I was young so it's nice to hear you have fond memories with yours!
For me, it's gotta be [Jonathan's cochlear implant activation](https://youtu.be/ZDD7Ohs5tAk) - like a shot of pure joy in under a minute!
Todd Terje - Inspector Norse
Move In A Little Closer - Cass Elliot never feels to give me a little boost. Or indeed any song on her Big Ones album. Mrs Doubtfire or The Golden Girls are my go to watches.
Film: Kiki’s Delivery Service. It’s cute, it’s upbeat, and it reminds me that when stuff goes wrong and you get stuck in a rut you can always come back from it, possibly stronger. Song: Mr Blue Sky