Eff You, January Gloom

With the deccies coming down today/tomorrow, some of you will be relieved it's all over for another year.

But if you're like me, the start of a new year is a bit depressing. January is just a slightly shit month. Payday always seems a long way away. Back to work. Everyone is on a diet. The anticlimax after Christmas doesn't help. Winter darkness is no longer punctuated and warmed by twinkling fairy lights. Most of the food gone, and here I am, feeling heavy and dull and slow and grey. It's a month of drizzle and concrete and blahhh.

But there is a remedy.

Music is good medicine

... and I've got your prescription.

Here are the tracks I’ve been listening to that never fail to lift my mood. It's not exhaustive (that would be impossible).

It could be the melody or the rhythm is too cheery to resist, or it could be the “eff it” or “cheer the eff up” message in the lyrics. Could be that they remind of sunnier times, or are just funny.

Get your wanky airpods in or whatever, and crank up the volume until your device warns you that continued high volume could damage your hearing. It also helps to MOVE. Wear your fluffiest slippers and make a dick of yourself in your kitchen.

---TAKE ONCE A DAY (MINIMUM) OR AS NEEDED---

In no particular order:

Sunset Rendezvous - Queen

No matter where you go, who you are, or what you listen to... soon or late you come back to Queen, like coming back to Mother. This is a much underrated track of theirs. I love how bouncy it is. It's impossible to be down while listening to it - go on, I dare you to try. A die-hard logophile, I also love the word Rendezvous. It's got a Z and a V in it. How fancy.

~

I’ve No More Fucks To Give - Benjamin Wild Esq

Spectacular!

I've no more fucks to give , My fucks have gone insane , They've come back round and passed me while they're fucking off again!

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Cup of Brown Joy - Professor Elemental

I do love a cuppa, what what! ,

Keep your sodding coffee in a proper copper coffee pot , And spot me lobbing teapots at your poncy rotten coffee shop , Coffee clots, nodding off--lost the plot, sodding off , Need some caffeine, tannin, and a Battenberg to top it off

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Some People Have it Worse Than I - Tim Minchin

Well, I wake up in the morning at 11:47 , And I can't believe I have to face the horror of another fucking day , And the magnificent magnitude of my morning erection , Merely mocks me like the sun in its optimistic greeting of the day

Belt that out with the window open and try feeling depressed.

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The Bad Touch - The Bloodhound Gang

Yes, it's juvenile and smutty and silly and rude. That's why we love it.

And then we'll do it doggy style , So we can both watch X-Files

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Got Your Number - Serena Ryder

This is the perfect blend of "upbeat" and "fuck you" to chase away the January grey.

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Sweet Virginia - Rolling Stones

This has got that singalong pub feel that puts a smile on my face.

Anthony R on YouTube says this is the best version. I dunno, what do you think?

~

In the Middle - Jimmy Eat World

If I could sum this up in one word it would be perky.

~

Here Comes The Sun - The Beatles

I should have put this one at the top, shouldn't I? See also Penny Lane and Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da

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Alright - Supergrass

This is a 90's summer distilled into 3 minutes.

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Damage Case - Motörhead

Shut up I just love it.

~

Girl From Mars - Ash

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ELO - Twilight

I could easily have picked three ELO tracks as well. Or five. Or ten. I picked this one over Calling America Mr Blue Sky and All Over The World

~

Baby Fratelli - The Fratellis

It was this or Chelsea Dagger.

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My Life - Billy Joel

A timeless and cheery fuck you, pipped You May Be Right to be here 😁

~

A Quick Death in Texas - Clutch

You gotta shout CHOOOON when this one starts. It's the law. Carry on.

~

Friday I'm in Love - The Cure

Enjoy!

~

No Rain - Blind Melon

Still feeling January-ish?

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Call Me - In This Moment

I'm not usually a fan of covers, but I do like this one.

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Money For Nothing - Dire Straits

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Monkey Wrench - Foo Fighters

Smiling yet?

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Night Moves - Bob Seger

Plinky plink, have some summer in your ears

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Teenagers - My Chemical Romance

Oh come on, who doesn't love this chorus?

~

Payday might be a long way off, and summer even longer. But have some summer in your ears, and grit in your belly.

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Thank you for stopping by!

Did you love any of these?

Help me grow my playlist! What's your number one "always lifts me up" track?