Positive/Upbeat Songs, Albums, Bands

I made this thread because I am looking for some positive music right now. My girlfriend broke up with me three weeks ago out of nowhere and it hurts like hell. I just don't want to get dragged into listening to so many sad songs as I want to try to be as positive as I can at the moment (yes I have listened to Get Hurt and it hit me so hard, I am attempting to leave it alone until the album comes out).

I would appreciate any suggestions of bands/songs/albums with an upbeat vibe to them as I feel like this could help lift my mood. Thanks a lot guys.

Random Access Memories by Daft Punk
King Tuff or Was Dead by King Tuff

I mean, every album will have its downer songs, but for the most part I think these are mostly upbeat.

Sister Hazel always puts me in a good mood.

Not sure if a love song is exactly what you're looking for in a time like this, but Cory Branan's new track "You Make Me" is upbeat and a great summer driving song.

in general, I think a lot of Northcote stuff is really positive but like I also always want to cry? but like "How Can You Turn Around" "When You Cry" "Hope The Good Things Never Die"

Dave Hause "Melanin" "Come On Kid"

um general upbeat stuff:
I like a lot of Sam Cooke, he has a lot of upbeat stuff that is also about loneliness if you're into like ironic wallowing, or something, like "Lonely Island" and "Another Saturday Night"

Mika "Lollipop" if you want to be like super high on life like pastel unicorns riding on rainbows

lot of stuff by Alabama Shakes, I love "Hang Loose" and "Hold On"

Just DON'T listen to the National.

Man, the key is to let it hit you.

Get it over with.

The Menzingers were THE defining band of my post-breakup period.

But can't go wrong with:

Brand New - The Devil and God is Raging Inside Me
The Hotelier - Home, Like NoPlace is There
There Will Be Fireworks - The Dark, Dark Bright
Blink 182 - s/t
My Bloody Valentine - Loveless
The National - Trouble Will Find Me
Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago
Radiohead - OK Computer

I completely agree with Yozzy. I think you have to just kind of lose yourself, wallow in sadness for a while. I think it's better to get the worst of it out of the way in the beginning.
I also agree that Blink 182's self entitled record is a great record for this occasion. Brilliant record, really.

Honestly though the album that got me through my worst breakup was American Slang. The themes aren't exactly upbeat but the music is and that combination worked for me.

Also, I'm sorry to hear about your breakup. Hang in there, bro.

Thanks for the messages and suggestions guys I appreciate it. I will check some of these bands out for sure. Time is going by so slowly right now and my head is all over the place. I am trying to do as much as possible to occupy myself but it's not easy. I have been given lots of advice from my friends so at least I know I have them in my life. I think I could do with hearing the whole of Get Hurt now, I know it will be so relevant to me as an album. I just hope there are some hopeful songs amongst the darkness.

I think you should do whatever you feel like doing. The pain's gonna hit you at some point no matter what probably, so if you want to put it off for awhile, do that.
(But, if you do feel like wallowing, my #1 recommendation is The Smiths, because eventually you will just realize that you will never be as pathetic and self-loathing as Morrissey and then you will have to laugh at yourself)

So sorry to hear about your breakup dude...it is THE pits. Honestly when I broke up with my bf I was in such an emotionally fragile place that I wanted to listen to music that would try to uplift me, cause I needed an escape from the pain inside of my heart, so I totally understand where you're coming from.

You will feel what is right for you, and you WILL mourn, but it will happen at its own moment cause we are all different, but it will happen. So do things in the order you want to do them in.  I do want to tell you, like others have said, you need to do what you need to do to heal...if that means ugly crying for 5 hours while smelling her t shirt then it must be done. 

What helped me a lot are "I can do better than you" types of songs....I'm embarrassed to admit  it will help you deal with some of the anger you will inevitably feel as you go through the stages of grief. 

Looking through my collection....I probably have some weird tastes compared to you guys but I highly recommend Tenacious D if you haven't checked them out (Jack Black's band...), they will make you laugh hopefully  Gogol Bordello is pretty fun and crazy, and I have to say the new albumn by Pharrell,  "Girl", I am loving so so so much...it's so chilled out,  happy, positive, has a Motown vibe in some songs...really really love it. The first two Cobra Starship albums too...might not be your thing but they're so fun and silly.

Good luck hun, if you ever wanna talk about it, pm me, I'll be glad to listen. I know it's rough and sometimes you feel so alone.

first start with this, then read on





You may need to move out of your usual musical zone for this by getting some pop and dance albums.

That said, closer to 'home' you may find joy in Motown. And there is the original Blues Brothers soundtrack.

Most albums have a slower, sader song though, which makes this a little hard.  Personally, I find a lot of REM tracks really uplifting.  

Anyway, here is another instant uplifting track for you (I hope):

Thanks for all the suggestions guys. I am resisting the sad songs largely as I know this makes me feel bad. I am actually listening to a lot of Tom Petty now so I am hoping this will help.

My personal preference is for downbeat but still surviving kind of themes. Songs about having your ass kicked but still living through, you know?

Gone by The Bouncing Souls
Still Alive by Social Distortion
Don't Take Me For Granted by Social Distortion
Trusty Chords by Hot Water Music
Another Girl, Another Planet by The Only Ones
C'mon Kid by Dave Hause

For a hateful break-up song, you can't beat "Radio" by Alkaline Trio ("I wish you, would take my radio to bathe with you, plugged in and ready to fall").

For something that's just exuberant and happy as hell, I'm loving "Something May Catch Fire" by Chuck Ragan at the moment.

And if you're properly depressed and fucked up, I'd always suggest really unpleasant gangster rap, NWA, Wu Tang etc. When you don't want to feel stuff, something with solid lyrics and a beat but no emotional connection helps to numb you out for a while.

EDIT: "Sugar High" by Coyote Shivers. If that song don't make you feel good, I'm pretty sure you don't have a soul

Trusty Chords is like the #1 for any issues going on haha. depressed punk anthem for over a decade   

wait, did anyone suggest this one?
(watching Craig Finn dance is alone a great mood-booster)

Mike_Millburys_Shoe wrote:

Sister Hazel always puts me in a good mood.

As soon as I saw this thread, I immediately thought about Sister Hazel. I've never felt happier about life than leaving one of their shows.

Also, Stay Positive is a good one. The Hold Steady's catalog in general, while maybe not always about positive things, is very celebratory in nature, as well as rockin' as all hell.

San Francisco by the Mowgli's
Bright Whites by Kishi Bashi
Go Back Home by Felix Hagen and the Family
Ben Lee, Frank Turner, and the Cat Empire all have a bunch of stuff

going off that, Frank Turner's catalog is like half "I'm under the influence and want to die" and half "fuck yeah celebrate life and friends and rock and roll," so make sure to pick the right ones if you're unfamiliar! I recommend "Reasons Not to be an Idiot" (as well as "I Still Believe," "Eulogy," "Photosynthesis," "Four Simple Words")