Anyone who knows me knows that I am insanely proud of my taste in music. I take my iTunes library far too seriously; I’m constantly analyzing every aspect of bands and albums and always developing new opinions on what’s “good,” and what’s not. Recent, however, I realized that although an incredibly positive part of my life, this intense pride in my own taste had actually given me a bit of a big head. I looked down on the music that was on the radio, and refused to listen to anything that could ever be considered “basic.” I figured that I was better off sitting in my room listening to The National, Led Zeppelin or Sufjan Stevens on my record player, and brooding about life while basking in the superiority of my semi-hipster taste.

However, all this changed in the spring of my senior year. I started spending time with people I hadn’t before, who I had virtually nothing in common with, but people who nonetheless made me incredibly happy. It just so happened, though, that whenever I was with them, they used to play exactly the type of songs that would make me shudder; songs like “Shut Up and Dance” and “Uptown Funk” were party playlist staples.

Now at first, I felt like I was being (for lack of a better word) mildly tortured by the depth-free dance music that was constantly blaring from the speakers every time I was with my new friends. However, one day I had an epiphany: just because a song is brilliantly composed and has poetic, heartfelt lyrics does not necessarily put it above other types of music. While “The Sound of Silence” by Simon and Garfunkel is definitely a classic, I’ve never had as much fun listening to that as I did while blaring “Cheerleader” with the windows down in my best friend’s car.

Ultimately, I came to the conclusion that I can appreciate all types of music based on both overall quality and how it makes me feel. My favorite songs of all time are still a little more serious, and if people ask me what I listen to, I’ll likely leave the latest Selena Gomez single off the list. Sometimes, though, when I just want to dance and be happy, nothing feels better than finding the “top 100” radio station and turning up the volume.

With that in mind, I’ve composed a super short playlist of songs that are guaranteed to make you sing or cheer you up when you need it. Enjoy!

"Thnks Fr th Mmrs" – Fall Out Boy

"Love Drunk" – Boys Like girls

"Hey Ya!" – Outkast

"All Night Longer" – Sammy Adams

"Hot N Cold" – Katy Perry

"American Boy" ft. Kanye West – Estelle

"Wannabe" – Spice Girls

"Girlfriend" – Avril Lavigne

"1985" – Bowling For Soup

"Hey, Soul Sister" – Train