😂 “Top 22 Songs” and “All 102 Songs” With Themes of
  Optimism, Joy and Positive Social Change  (goofypal@gmail.com) 🥳

Spotify Playlist For the "TOP 22” Songs:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/462YiBQrZMwsWP8jarbogH?si=5629df1724ac421a

Spotify Playlist For all 102 Songs:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1J8wZv7cc09mD5eUsCvw1k?si=yXRWxnlKQW-XspuvVoYsqA

ALL 102 SONGS (beginning with the TOP 22)

Get Together [The Youngbloods] #1

Harmony Is Real [The Living Sisters]

Higher Ground [Stevie Wonder]

Freedom [Beyonce, featuring Kendrick Lamar]

American Tune [Paul Simon]

Backyard [Ingrid Michaelson]

The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin’ Groovy) [Simon & Garfunkel]

Feeling Good [Nina Simone]

Alright [Kendrick Lamar]

Before The Deluge [Eliza Gilkyson; covering Jackson Browne]

Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life [Monty Python (Eric Idle)]

Hands [Jewel]

All You Need Is Love [The Beatles]

Everything Is Everything [Ms. Lauryn Hill]

Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There Is a Season) [The Byrds]

For A Dancer [Linda Ronstadt, Emmylou Harris; covering Jackson Browne]

Que Sera, Sera [Dave Alvin and the Guilty Women; covering Doris Day]

There’s A Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow [Rex Allen; for 1964 New York World’s Fair]

It’s A Small World [The Disneyland Children’s Chorus]

(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love, And Understanding [Elvis Costello & the Attractions] [Newly Added]

What The World Needs Now Is Love [Jackie DeShannon] [Newly Added]

Love And Mercy [Brian Wilson] #22

 =====================

American Dream [Raye Zaragoza]

Anthem [Leonard Cohen]

Beautiful Day [U2]

Both Sides, Now [Joni Mitchell]

Be More Kind [Frank Turner]

Can I Kick It? [A Tribe Called Quest]

Change (Taylor’s Version) [Taylor Swift]

Can’t Hold Us [Macklemore, Ryan Lewis, Ray Dalton]

Can We Fix Our Nation's Broken Heart [Stevie Wonder]

The Climb [Miley Cyrus]

Celebration [Kool & the Gang]

A Change Is Gonna Come [Sam Cooke]

Closer To Fine [Brandi Carlile, Catherine Carlile]

Doctor My Eyes [Jackson Browne]

Changes [David Bowie]

Don’t Worry, Be Happy [Bobby McFerrin]

Fight Song [Rachel Platten]

Fire and Rain [James Taylor]

Friends [The Beach Boys]

Firework [Katy Perry]

Git Up, Git Out [Outkast, featuring Goodie Mob]

Give Me Love (Give Me Peace On Earth) [George Harrison]

Forever Young [Joan Baez; covering Bob Dylan]

Glory [Common, John Legend]

Goin’ Down Slow [Howlin’ Wolf, Eric Clapton, Ringo Starr]

Girl On Fire [Alicia Keys]

Happy [Pharrell Williams]

Happy Xmas (War Is Over) [John & Yoko/Plastic Ono Band, Harlem Community Choir]

Heal The World [Michael Jackson]

Heaven [Depeche Mode]

Here Comes The Change [Kesha]

Here Comes The Sun [The Beatles]

I Can See Clearly Now [Johnny Nash]

Hero [Mariah Carey]

Imagine [John Lennon]

I’m Gonna Live Till I Die [Frank Sinatra]

Hold My Hand [Lady Gaga]

If I Had A Hammer [Peter, Paul and Mary]

In My Life [The Beatles]

It’s A Big Old Goofy World [John Prine]

I’ll Be Here [Colbie Caillat, Sheryl Crow]

Lean On Me [Bill Withers]

Let The Good Times Roll [B.B. King]

Make Your Own Kind Of Music [Cass Elliot]

Lives In The Balance [Jackson Browne]

More Than A Feeling [Boston]

Over The Rainbow [Melody Gardot; covering Judy Garland]

Most People Are Good [Luke Bryan]

My Own Two Hands [Jack Johnson, Ben Harper]

Never Too Late [Elton John, Brandi Carlile]

Peace Will Come (According To Plan) [Melanie]

Nina Cried Power [Hozier, featuring Mavis Staples]

Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da [The Beatles]

People Have the Power [Patti Smith]

One Day [Matisyahu]

Peace Train [Yusuf/Cat Stevens]

Redemption Song [Angelique Kidjo; covering Bob Marley]

People Are People [Depeche Mode]

People Of The Pride [Coldplay]

Roar [Katy Perry]

Power to the People [John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band]

The Revolution Starts Now [Steve Earle]

Save the Country [The 5th Dimension]

Rise [Calum Scott]

Runnin’ Down A Dream [Tom Petty]

Time After Time [Cyndi Lauper]

Stranger In A Strange Land [Leon Russell]

Three Little Birds [Bob Marley & The Wailers]

Turntables [Janelle Monae]

Walls Come Tumbling Down [The Style Council]

What A Wonderful World [Louis Armstrong]

Turn Up The Sunshine [Diana Ross, Tame Impala]

We Shall Be Free [Garth Brooks]

Who’s Gonna Stand Up? (and Save the Earth) [Neil Young]

We Are The World [U.S.A. For Africa]

You Gotta Be [Des’ree]

Won’t Be Long Now [Blessing Offor]

Young Forever [Jay Z, Mr Hudson]

You’ve Got A Friend [Carole King]

You’ve Got A Friend In Me [Randy Newman, Lyle Lovett]

WHY and HOW these joyful songs were selected:

In 2024 our country experienced disturbing social and political events. My reaction was to embrace the wisdom found in the Serenity Prayer -- to accept that I cannot change what has happened, and to take action in changing things that I can. SOON, I’ll redouble my political activism for positive social change. NOW, I’ve created this gift for my GoofyPals, intended to brighten our lives.

Click here to consider 2 answers to the question, “How does listening to music bring JOY to people?” -- one answer is from a human, me; the other answer is from the ChatGPT generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) chatbot.

"Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life."

Songs were selected based on my personal knowledge, recommendations from friends, and earlier Apple Music playlists. Also, queries were made to the ChatGPT generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) chatbot, such as: “What are some songs by [insert music genre or musician name] with the theme of optimism and joy?” And also: “songs about positive social change?” Most of the selected songs are joyful with positive themes -- although several songs have darker themes, as a reminder of unresolved political and social issues. This playlist is NOT definitive or complete, wabi-sabi, progress not perfection!

What's my #1 song? Easily it's "Love and Mercy" by Brian Wilson (final entry on the top #21 playlist). Here's video of a beautiful rendition of the song by the all-boy English choral group Libera celebrating Brian Wilson (creative founder of The Beach Boys), at the 2007 Kennedy Center Honors event, where people in the performing arts are recognized for their lifetime of contributions to American culture. (The giant bouncing beach balls provide a playful ending to this performance!)

After the initial playlist was completed, I identified two songs which SHOULD have been included (a huge oops) -- they have been added it to the Playlist, so now it's a "Top 22" and 102 Total: "What the World Needs Now Is Love" by Jackie DeShannon (a 1965 Bacharach/David song inducted in 2008 into the Grammy Hall of Fame); and "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding" by Elvis Costello (a Nick Lowe rock anthem sung with a passionate ferocity that borders on desperation).

Here's an inspirational video of "What the World Needs Now Is Love" performed at the 2016 Democratic Convention by over 40 Broadway stars, emotionally passing the microphone from person to person; after the song, the crowd chanted "love, love, love" and "love trumps hate"! Also, the song was used by a 1950-60s disc jockey named Tom Clay (no relation!) for a distinctive 1971 remix, a surprising top 10 hit -- it combined the song with a 1968 hit by Dion, "Abraham, Martin and John" for a social commentary about bigotry, segregation and hatred.

Finally, a comment about perhaps the most “controversial" song -- It’s A Small World. I’ve often made fun of it, as have numerous other listeners -- for its overly cheerful lyrics, simplistic melody, and repetitive nature which can be an annoying earworm (a catchy song running continuously thru the mind). Yet the song’s message is commendable in portraying a peaceful and united world, something that is needed now more than ever! So sorry haters -- the song is in my “Top 21” playlist! Plus here’s a heartwarming and amusing (to me!) 3 1/2 minute video about a new final verse added by co-songwriter Richard Sherman before he passed in May 2024 -- intended to further influence the song’s uplifting message.

If interested in reading lyrics or the history of any song: enter the song title and artist name into a search website or AI chatbot, along with the words “lyrics” or “song meaning.”

The JOYFUL process of selecting and listening to these songs has increased my mental and spiritual health -- by sharing the playlist, I hope it does the same for others! 😍 TC

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