Experts conducted a survey to discover which songs make people the happiest. The UK study revealed which song makes people in Northern Ireland the happiest.
A survey conducted across the UK discovered that the happiest song is ‘Good Vibrations’ by The Beach Boys.
However, when it came to more specific regions, Northern Ireland’s happiest song is ‘Don’t Stop Me Now’ by Queen.
Of the people surveyed, 66% said that they would listen to music to cheer themselves up. 40% attributed needing music to cheer them up to the cold weather and darker nights that we always experience in winter.
The survey – research across various regions in the UK
The survey to find the happiest songs in the world was commissioned by yoghurt brand Mullerlight. Music psychologist Dr Michael Bonshor from The University of Sheffield specialises in musical well-being and positive psychology.
He conducted the research to discover the happiest songs in the world. Apparently, the most uplifting songs need a regular rhythm and structure and are at 137 beats per minute (bpm).
Bonshor found that pop is generally the happiest genre and that these songs normally have a sprinkle of unusual or unexpected elements, like a key change or “seventh chords”.
Following this theory, ‘Good Vibrations’ by The Beach Boys comes out as the happiest song of all.
The song that makes people in NI the happiest – ‘Don’t Stop Me Now’ by Queen
As per the research, it was discovered that each part of the UK had a preference for different songs that made them the happiest.
For Northern Ireland, areas of the North East, South East, and Wales, ‘Don’t Stop Me Now’ by Queen was deemed the song that put most people in the region in the best mood.
For people in Scotland, the North West, Yorkshire, East Midlands, and East Anglia, it was ‘Dancing Queen’. According to the survey and research, it appeared that pop music was, unsurprisingly, seen as the happiest genre.
The top ten happiest songs – a mix of upbeat, pop tunes
While ‘Good Vibrations’ by The Beach Boys took the top spot, it was followed by ‘I Got You (I Feel Good)’ by James Brown, ‘House of Fun’ by Madness, ‘Get the Party Started’ by P!nk, ‘Uptown Girl’ by Billy Joel make up the rest of the top five.
The remainder of the top ten then rounds out with ‘Sun is Shining’ by Bob Marley, ‘I Get Around’ by The Beach Boys, ‘YMCA’ by Village People, ‘Waterloo’ by ABBA, and ‘September’ by Earth, Wind & Fire.
Do you listen to music to try and lift your mood? If so, what is your go-to tune that always does the trick?
