Music has the ability to change your mental state, and other times it just represents your mental state for any given amount of time.

During some of my “dark days” years ago, I listened to a lot of metal/rock. For some reason, during climbing season I listen to a lot of underground hip-hop. But over the past month, I’ve been so extraordinarily happy that Top 40 pop music has really been speaking to my groove spot.

Some lyrics make it obvious as to why that song has made my playlist. Others just have a nice, upbeat feeling to them…even if I don’t know the actual lyrics or meaning of the song itself. And lastly, some of the songs just remind me of certain people that have been apart of this special time in my life, even if they aren’t particularly applicable.

Here’s the list. And then you can listen to all of them in the embedded YouTube playlist below. Enjoy! (Or make fun of me for listening to Top 40 Pop. Either are acceptable.)

Happy by Pharrell
Young Blood by The Naked and Famous
Mountain Sound by Of Monsters and Men
Best Day of My Life by American Authors
Counting Stars by One Republic
We Can’t Stop by Miley Cyrus (YUP!!)
Monster by Eminem and Rhianna
Come with me now by Kongos
Let her go by Passenger
Breezeblocks by Alt-J
Thiskidsnotalright by Awolnation
Titanium by David Guetta
Punching in a Dream by The Naked and Famous
I Love it by Icona Pop

(Please note: some songs contain explicit lyrics and possibly some visuals you might not want other people to see as they walk by your computer.)