I believe that everyone should have a small arsenal of songs that never fail to make them smile. They could be happy, uplifting songs that inspire you, or sad songs that make you smile with thier lyrics or music, despite the heartbreaking nature of the song. It could be an entire album (I love Bastille's Wild World so much, I'm smiling just thinking about it), or a song you randomly heard on the best day of your life. The significance doesn't matter, all that matters is that it makes you smile, even on the worst of days.
I've put together a list of twenty songs that never fail to make ME smile. Hopefully, you smile while listening to them, too! At the very least, I hope this inspires you to put together your own list.
1. "Mountain Sound" - Of Monsters and Men
Of Monsters and Men are my second favorite band, and it all started with this song. It doesn't matter where I'm at or what I'm doing, as soon as I hear that intro, I'm grinning like an idiot, and there's a 97.3% chance I'll start dancing.
2. "Choices" - To Kill a King
This song is gorgeous, and a bit sad, but TKAK's frontman Ralph Pellymounter has one of those voices that just makes you smile. It's incredible! Any version is amazing (including the regular album version), but the Ralph's Balcony version with Dan Smith just makes me incredibly happy.
3. "No Angels" - Bastille
I particularly love this live version, but the original Other People's Heartache version is amazing as well. The beautiful thing about this song is how unexpected it is. The surprise of the song choice, especially hearing Dan Smith sing it, is the best. Without spoiling the surprise, I will say that this is one cover you absolutely have to hear.
4. "Want You Back" - Haim
This song is INFECTIOUS! As soon as it starts, I'm singing along and dancing!
5. "Silver Springs" - Fleetwood Mac
This song is absolute perfection. It's definitely heartbreaking, but Stevie's vocals are always worth smiling about! Plus, it's pretty satisfying (or sad, depending on how you feel about the Stevie/Lindsey split from decades ago) to think about the fact that the ex who happens to be the subject of the song has to stand there to play the guitar and sing backup while she stares at him singing, "time casts a spell on you, but you won't forget me," and "the sound of my voice will haunt you/you'll never get away from the sound of the woman that loved you."
6. "Hangin'" - Bastille
Every time I hear this song, I can see Dan's terrible dancing in my mind, and it's beautiful. I love his terrible dancing!
7. "Crystals" - Of Monsters and Men
Nanna Bryndís Hilmarsdóttir is the quirky badass I aspire to be. This song resparked my love for this band, and it just makes me happy to see them making weird music.
8. "Conqueror" - AURORA
This song is fun and dance-y, and her dancing during the live performances is weird and adorable. The real reason this song makes me smile, though, is because this was the song that really made me fall in love with AURORA's music.
9. "Glory" - Bastille
This video, man, *heart eyes emojis*
It's the best, most adorable, least weird music video Bastille has ever done, and nothing makes me happier than seeing Dan Smith in a random dance class.
10. "I Need Your Love" - Ellie Goulding
This song is so fun! Ellie Goulding has one of those voices that either makes me smile or breaks my heart (depending on the song, of course) - there is no in between!
11. "Woman (Oh Mama)" - Joy Williams
THIS SONG IS SO EMPOWERING! It makes me feel like I can do anything!
12. "The Descent" - Bastille
Everytime I hear this song, I think of this adorable video I saw on Instagram of Dan singing the song at one of the WWWCOMS pop-up experiences!
13. "Hopeless Wanderer" - Mumford and Sons
This song is so fun, but what really makes me smile and laugh is the music video! Jason Bateman, Jason Sudekis, Ed Helms, and Will Forte pretending to be Mumford and Sons? Yes, please!
14. "Warmth" - Bastille
This song is about how awful the world is, but, once again, Dan Smith is just too adorable! It's one of my favorites from the album Wild World, and it makes me insanely happy everytime I hear it!
15. "Gorgeous" - Taylor Swift
This song is the newest addition to my list, but it's so cute! And the baby saying "gorgeous!" at the beginning is adorable!
16. "These Streets" - Bastille
Like "Hangin'," everytime I hear this song, I automatically think of Dan's terrible dancing, especially the little hoppy dance he does in this live performance after "in my mind it's like you haunt them." It's my favorite Dan Smith dance!
17. "Tompkins Square Park" - Mumford and Sons
This song is so sad, but that opening guitar makes me so happy! I am absolutely in love with this new sound!
18. "Funeral" - To Kill a King
Much like "Choices," it's Ralph's voice that makes me so happy when I listen to this song. He really has a lovely voice!
19. "Leather and Lace" - Stevie Nicks feat. Don Henley
This song is one of my all-time favorites! I get so excited when I hear it, even if it's just on one of my Stevie Nicks playlists!
20. "We Can't Stop" - Bastille
This might possibly be the greatest cover ever. It's amazing! And Dan's laugh after "hands in the air like we don't care" might possibly be my favorite thing on earth.
Well, I guess the real lesson here is that Dan Smith never fails to make me smile!
What songs always make you smile? Share in the comments!
