Songs to Cheer Someone Up

Songs to cheer someone up

Sending someone a playlist is one of the cheapest, kindest things you can do, and it works because it takes effort but asks nothing back. They don't have to reply, or be cheerful, or be ready to talk.

Below are songs grouped by what you actually want them to do: lift the mood quickly, sit with a bad day, or get someone out of the house.

We don't sell music - we make cards, pin badges and prints in house, printed in the UK. So this is a straight guide to the songs, and the card that goes with the day.

Cheer up cards

Thinking of you and cheer up cards, designed in house and printed in the UK.

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Instant mood lifters

  • Walking On Sunshine - Katrina and the Waves.
  • Lovely Day - Bill Withers.
  • Good As Hell - Lizzo.
  • September - Earth, Wind & Fire.
  • Three Little Birds - Bob Marley.
  • Ain't No Mountain High Enough - Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell.
  • Dancing In The Moonlight - Toploader.

Comfort songs for a genuinely bad day

  • Sometimes a cheerful song is the wrong move. These sit with someone instead of arguing with them.
  • Lean On Me - Bill Withers.
  • Bridge Over Troubled Water - Simon & Garfunkel.
  • Keep Your Head Up - Ben Howard.
  • Rise Up - Andra Day.
  • The Sound Of Silence, if they'd rather be understood than cheered.

Songs to get someone out of the house

  • Build a 20 minute walking playlist and say: this is for a walk, not for now.
  • Steady tempo works better than fast - anything around 120 beats a minute sets a good pace.
  • End it on something slow so the walk finishes calmly rather than abruptly.

How to send it so it lands

  • Say why you made it. One line is enough: made you this, no need to reply.
  • Keep it under 25 songs. A 200 song playlist is a chore, not a gift.
  • Don't make it all about the thing they're going through. Half of it should just be good songs.
  • Send a card as well. A playlist is lovely but it doesn't sit on a mantelpiece.

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Small pick-me-ups to post

Pin badges and prints that fit in an envelope.

All You Need Is Love / Love Is All You Need Print (A5 - A3) All You Need Is Love / Love Is All You Need Print (A5 - A3) £8.00 Look At The Stars Song Lyrics Print (A5 - A3) Look At The Stars Song Lyrics Print (A5 - A3) £8.00 Music Sounds Better With You Music Print (A5 - A3) Music Sounds Better With You Music Print (A5 - A3) £8.00 99 Problems but Excel Ain't One (A5 - A3) 99 Problems but Excel Ain't One (A5 - A3) £8.00 Play That Funky Music Print (A5 - A3) Play That Funky Music Print (A5 - A3) £8.00 99 Problems, Prompting Ain't One A6 Postcard 99 Problems, Prompting Ain't One A6 Postcard £3.00 Play That Funky Music Print A6 Postcard Play That Funky Music Print A6 Postcard £3.00 Cunt Rude A6 Postcard Cunt Rude A6 Postcard £3.00

How to write it so it lands

  • Name the playlist something personal rather than 'Cheer up'.
  • Put one song you know they love in the first three tracks.
  • Send it in the morning, not at midnight.
  • Follow it up two days later with a message that isn't about the playlist.

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Frequently asked questions

Does music actually help low mood?

It reliably shifts mood in the short term, which is often enough to get someone moving. It isn't a substitute for support, but a playlist plus a message is a genuinely useful small thing.

Should you send happy songs to someone who is sad?

Not always. Many people want music that matches how they feel first, then lifts. A mix of both is safer than an all-cheerful playlist.

How long should a cheer up playlist be?

About 20 to 25 songs, or an hour. Long enough for a walk, short enough that it doesn't feel like homework.

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