5 Songza Playlists To Make Everything Better

For those who forgot, I'm a music nerd, loving everything from sodapop rock to old school country, classical jazz to that good soul music, bubblegum pop to boy bands, metal to punk, and right back around to rap and hip-hop. Everything and all. I've yet to find a genre I truly dislike, though I have to say, I'm not a huge hardcore/metalcore/black metal fan.

Now, for those who don't know, Songza is a live streaming website that has a plethora of playlists for all sorts of occasions, including mooning over a sparkly vampire and long sorrowful road trips. After much shuffling and listening, I've come up with five playlists for five moods I find myself in all the time. And here we go:

The Hey, Baby, Sing Me To Sleep Mood

This is when you're so tired, like every last inch of your godforsaken body has surrendered to the battle of life. You are shutting down. The mere thought of getting up to brush your teeth is too much to handle and the idea of going out makes you want to weep into the plushness of your pillow. The only remedy for this sort of weariness is sleep, deep, peaceful, slightly sad sleep, and you can get there by indulging in Mr. Sandman. This beautiful compilation will send you into slumber with the soft gentle coos of the most popular hits and artists from the 50's and 60's. Melancholic and reassuring, this is one of the most comforting mixes I have ever indulged in.

Promise me you will never listen to this playlist when you're at work.

Remember When 

Anyone born around the same time as me will understand the importance of a fabulous mixed tape. We used to record songs off the radio on tape cassettes and listen to them on repeat for weeks. Sure, a lot of us don't want to admit that we loved the pop we grew up with. Not now. Not when people are so quick to turn their nose up to the Backstreet Boys and Rhianna, but it doesn't matter. We all want something to shake are butts to. We all want our guilty pleasures in one epic playlist. Well, lucky for us, it's on Songza and it's called Get Pumped: Pop Anthems. These are the songs from those tapes we made on our bedroom floors. These are the songs that will take you back to the days of slouch socks and snap bracelets. These are the songs you'll sing at the top of your lungs as you're cleaning your house and slip into the waters of nostalgia.

Feeling Eclectic

Good music is all about the past. The past past. Back in your parents' days. When Bowie rocked the air waves and Fleetwood Mac wasn't considered 'classic rock' but simply ROCK. Bands these day emulate those we cherish from our youth, and our parents' youth. You might have heard these as your mother made dinner or sitting in the back of your Daddy's Toyota Tercel. When all you want is a foot-stomping, hand-clapping good time put on Hang Out Rock and prepare to bob your head and remember the days when you thought summer would last forever and all you wanted was to kiss the stars.

Jump Out Of Bed

Some days we need a boost, a pick me up, someone to drag us out of bed and dance us around our living room. A great playlist can be the difference from a meh morning to a magnificent one. Wake Up Smiling will do exactly what it sounds. Sit up.Shake your booty. Shower. And face the day head on. You can do it. You can tackle this. Might as well get in touch with your soul roots while you're at it. Disco out your door. Drum on the wheel. Let the wind whip your hair. Because some days, you need that extra push to get the day underway.

The Rain Is Tapping On My Window

You want moody. You want gloom. You want songs to stroke your disenchantment. Well, you've found it in the stellar list called Brooding Over Biters With Rick Grimes. On any given rainy night, when the storm of melancholy is brewing, you will come here, to this playlist and you will celebrate the fact someone took the time to put together this ruminative mix. I can't sing the praise of this one enough. It soothes my sad, sad soul.

Grumpy Gus

This evening I am in a right foul mood, just grumpy through and through. It's weird to write a post when I'm out of sorts. For the most part, I try to maintain a somewhat lighthearted air over here and, even when I tackle more serious topics, I try to do it objectively and with at least a fraction of humour. Yes, sometimes I miss the mark, but overall, I work hard to combine and create entertaining and thought-provoking things to read. 

Well, there's no chance in hell of that happening tonight. My feet hurt, along with my back and head, my allergies are going bonkers, by the way they are saying this summer is going to be the worst we've ever seen. And to be honest, I'm just not feeling my normal spry self. It's been a long day. Not to complain, though. I mean, for the most part, it was okay, that's the confusing part of grumpiness for me. It comes in like a storm, blowing away any good thoughts and soaking all my happy feelings with irritation and disenchantment. 

I really need to get back into meditating. It doesn't work for me, I can't clear my brain enough for it to actually be called meditating, but some of those deep breaths and sprawling on the floor in savasana seems like a nice idea right now. Corpse pose - now that's some yoga I can get behind. 

"Honey, why are you lying on the floor like that?" 

"Go away, I'm doing yoga."

As for what to do when you're in a grumpy mood? Well, these are my five steps to picking myself up and brushing myself off: 

1. Have a bath. Make it warm. Make it bubbly. And breath in and out. Repeat the breathing, because you need to do this in order to keep living. 

2. Go for a walk. The outdoors can be very soothing. If you have a forest near you, submerge yourself in the clean scent of nature and you might start to feel invigorated.

3. Make yourself a nice cuppa. Tea always helps and maybe you need some fluids. 

4. Feel good movie. Of course guys hate to admit they actually like feel good movies, but I guarantee if they put on a movie from when they were young, they will start feeling better. Some choice examples for me are: Elvira Mistress of the Dark, Mac & Me, Short Circuit, Karate Kid, and The Goonies. Of course their are more, their are so many I can't even count! And ones I don't want to mention here because they are kind of embarrassing, like The Boy Who Could Fly. Eek. 

5. Eat something a treat. Treats make everyone happier. I can't name a treat for you to eat, though. Everyone's idea of a treat is different. Some time sweet, others salty and there are those who will eat anything, salty or sweet. (I'm talking about myself, of course.)

Anyhow, I can't get you out of your grumpy mood because I am too busy trying to get me out of mine.