Music makes you happy, so the scientists say. It’s a fact that we here on the Guardian music desk can affirm, too: given our positions of great journalistic privilege and the constant abundance of new music our job entails, barely a minute goes by without one of us laughing manically for no reason or instigating an hour-long group hug session.
The United Nations are in on the joy-giving benefits of song as well: ahead of International Day of Happiness on 20 March, UN messengers of peace and goodwill are assembling the “world’s happiest playlist” – with Ed Sheeran, James Blunt, David Guetta and John Legend some of the names suggesting their favourite smile-inducing hits.
“On this day we are using the universal language of music to show solidarity with the millions of people around the world suffering from poverty, human rights abuses, humanitarian crises and the effects of environmental degradation and climate change,” said UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon. His nomination was Stevie Wonder’s Signed, Sealed, Delivered I’m Yours.
It’s inevitable that Wonder and many other upbeat and optimistic hits in a major key will make the final cut - but what about the more melancholic music that might save you from sadness? Some studies have suggested that music of a more moody nature can indeed lift spirits, trigger nostalgia and “lead to beneficial emotional effects such as regulation of negative emotion and mood as well as consolation”.
The full UN playlist will be revealed on 20 March. In the meantime, let us know in the comments below what songs you use to spark the serotonin and we’ll compile the Guardian’s own selection.
