Tag: Eye of the Tiger

Science Says These Songs Are Guaranteed to Make You Happy!

I am no neuroscientist, but I know a little about music. It is a proven fact that that music and happiness are linked intimately. Science also shows happiness will actually make your brain work better. Now, neuroscience has come up with the ultimate list of tunes to make you happy.

Note: I have to tip my hat to my old radio pal, Johnny Molson for this. He featured this on: Mike and Molson – The Podcast.

Back in 2015, a music-loving Dutch neurologist did us all a favor. He figured out what makes for the most mood-boosting tunes. The reason for the study came from an unusual source: the British electronic brand Alba. Apparently, they wanted to know what made for a happy song. They reached out to Dr. Jacob Jolij for the answer.

The first thing that Dr. Jolij reminds us is that taste in music is subjective. You may not like what I do and vice versa. “Music appreciation is highly personal and strongly depends on social context, and personal associations. In that respect, the idea of a ‘feel good formula’ is a bit odd,” he commented. 

There is something that you can do that can help find the answer. He asked the listening public to submit examples of their favorite feel good tracks. Those tracks were then analyzed for patterns to reveal what characteristics are generally associated with smile-inducing songs. After the analysis, he compiled a list.

He found that the happiest tunes are slightly faster than your average song. They will be between 140 and 150 beats per minute on average. They will also be written in a major key, and either about happy events or complete nonsense. Dr. Jolij combined these factors into a formula for the happiest songs possible. With hat formula, he went searching for existing hits that matched his template. 

Based on that template, here are the ten songs that are scientifically proven to make you happy!

10. Walking on Sunshine – Katrina and the Waves

9. I Will Survive – Gloria Gaynor

8. Livin’ on a Prayer – Bon Jovi

7. Girls Just Wanna Have Fun – Cyndi Lauper

6. I’m a Believer – The Monkees

5. Eye of the Tiger – Survivor

4. Uptown Girl – Billy Joel

3. Good Vibrations – The Beach Boys

2. Dancing Queen – Abba

and the number one song that is scientifically proven to make you happy:

1. Don’t Stop Me Now – Queen

Do you agree? Disagree? I’d love to hear your thoughts! Drop them in the comments.

Movie Music Monday – Karate Kid

The Karate Kid is no longer a kid! Ralph Macchio, who played Daniel in the 1984 film, turns 63 today! The movie and it’s two sequels certainly helped Macchio gain star status.

He went on to appear in the 1986 film Crossroads and appeared on Broadway opposite Robert Deniro. I loved him in the 1992 film My Cousin Vinny with Joe Pesci. He also had roles in Entourage, How I Met Your Mother and Ugly Betty. In 2018 he reprised his role as Daniel in the YouTube series Cobra Kai.

Whenever I think of the Karate Kid, I always think of the cheesy Joe Esposito song, “You’re The Best.” The song it plays over a long, dialogue-free scene where Daniel LaRusso and Johnny Lawrence win their matches in the big karate tournament on their way to a showdown in the finals. The song itself was included on the movie’s soundtrack but wasn’t released as a single.

Songfacts says, “With negligible radio play and no music video, the song lay dormant until the turn of the millennium, when waves of nostalgia – and the internet – pushed it to the fore. It became a cultural touchstone, used in various movies, TV shows and commercials to represent the indomitable – if slightly hokey – spirit of the ’80s.”

The song almost debuted in another film. The music for the song was composed by Bill Conti, who did the score for The Karate Kid. The lyrics were written by Allee Willis (who contributed to Earth, Wind and Fire’s “September” and the theme song to the show Friends). Bill Conti wrote “Gonna Fly Now” for the Rocky soundtrack. It was used again in the sequel. However, for Rock III, Sylvester Stallone wanted something different. Conti and Willis wrote “You’re The Best” for that film, but Stallone rejected it, going with “Eye of the Tiger” instead.

You’re the Best found it’s way to the Karate Kid film because, according to singer Joe Esposito, director John Avildsen loved it!

Happy Birthday, Ralph Macchio!