10 Happiest Songs of All Time (According to Science)
Who couldn't use a dopamine boost?
In 2015, Dutch neuroscientist Dr. Jacob Jolij was asked by the British band Alba to uncover the 10 happiest songs of all time. Pretty cool for bands to hire a scientist for market research.
His findings uncovered that the happiest songs typically feature:
Major chords (which sound brighter and more upbeat)
A tempo around 120 BPM — most pop songs dance around this beat
Lyrics that are positive, feel-good, and often nostalgic
It’s no surprise the final list is packed with classics released between 1966 and 1986. These songs withstood the test of time— making us smile, dance, and sing along — even decades later.
But it got me thinking…
What would this list look like today? Would we see more 90s throwbacks? Early 2000s anthems?
🎧 What’s one of your happiest songs of all time?
I’ll go first:
Music for a Sushi Restaurant – Harry Styles
Starry Eyed Surprise – Paul Oakenfold
Juice – Lizzo
👇 Do you agree with the original list? Or would you make some swaps?
Personally, I’d swap out Bon Jovi, Walking on Sunshine, and Uptown Girl for these — just my taste!