Music to Give a Zombie a Kick in the Happy Pants

If you don't love music, then I'm pretty sure you're a zombie, and not just your everyday human-in-a-rut zombie, a reallio, trulio undead, apocalyptic, past-your-prime and losing-chunks-of-rotting-flesh kind of zombie. 

Music is one of the most powerful expressions of the human condition. (And actually, saying "human" condition is a bit rich on our part. I mean we've all seen those videos of birds and dogs and pussycats and crickets who make and feel the music, too.) But music is more than just a reflection of our emotions and experiences, it has the power to affect our moods, to transfigure our outlook, to heal what's hurt and broken, and to bridge the infinite distances between one human (feline, canine, cricket, creature/being) and another.

Sometimes we need the solace of music that lets us know that we are not alone in our feelings of sadness, anger, frustration, heartbreak... And sometimes we need music that can inspire, encourage, and remind us that life is beautiful, magical, and full of wonder -- music that can lift us out of a funk and make us happy.

Here are some of my favorite happifying songs (who knows, they might even give a zombie a kick in the happy pants):

• What A Wonderful World –  Louis Armstrong, Israel Kamakawiwo'ole
• Over the Rainbow – Judy Garland, Get Happy: The Life of Judy Garland
• Beautiful World – Colin Hay
• Soulshine – Allman Brothers, Gov’t Mule
• Weather with You – Crowded House
• Two Little Feet – Greg Brown
• I’m Yours – Jason Mraz
• Getting Better Now – Bob Schneider
• Beautiful Day – U2 
• Blessed – Brett Dennen
• I Gotta Feeling – Black Eyed Peas
• Make Someone Happy- Jimmy Durante
• I've Got The World On A String – Frank Sinatra
• Girls Just Want To Have Fun – Cyndi Lauper
• Celebration – Kool and the Gang
• The Arrivals Gate – Ani Difranco
• Salt Water Joys – Buddy Wasisname and the Other Fellers
• Simply The Best – Tina Turner
• Walking on Sunshine – Katrina and the Waves
• Hear Comes the Sun – The Beatles

And for some alternative opinions, here are some quotes on music:

“Music is a moral law. It gives soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and charm and gaiety to life and to everything.” — Plato

“Music produces a kind of pleasure which human nature cannot do without.” — Confucius

“When I hear music, I fear no danger. I am invulnerable. I see no foe. I am related to the earliest times, and to the latest.” — Henry David Thoreau 

“Music speaks what cannot be expressed, soothes the mind and gives it rest, heals the heart and makes it whole, flows from heaven to the soul.” — Unknown