13 Songs On My Phone That Are Remarkable Joy-Sparkers

Below you will find 13 songs that are highly skilled at transporting me to my happy place. They can all currently be found stored in my music library on my phone. Most of the time, when I am driving my car, I have my phone plugged into my stereo and it is on shuffle. Anytime any one of these songs comes onto the shuffle, I feel myself shift into a slightly more blissful state of being.

Lots of these are great tracks from movie soundtracks. A few of them are from my mid- to late-childhood. You know, like middle school years. Some I learned in my early adulthood (an era which I guess I still am in?). A couple are jams I learned more recently. All of them spark joy in me.

Ordered in no particular ranking:

1) "Shut-in Tourist" by Band of Horses.

Awhile back they did an outdoor concert here in my hometown and I went to it and I was surrounded by weird smells and a bunch of hipster people and I was the only one dressed preppy, complete with slacks and scarf. A couple years later, they released the album with this track on it, and there's something kind of extraordinarily serene about it to me, and I fall in love with it all over again, every time I hear it.

2) "Papas" by Mr. Loco.

The closing credits song for what's basically my favorite movie on the planet: Nacho Libre. This song makes me all sorts of giddy. I think it does the same for my brother. Maybe both my brothers!?

3) "Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots" by The Flaming Lips.

Pandora taught me about this song and I thank it so much every time I take a listen. So fun and so chill. Reminds me a little of the Power Rangers episodes I used to watch as a kid.

4) "A Prayer of Saint Patrick" by John Rutter and the Cambridge Singers.

These lyrics reflect how I personally want the Savior, Jesus Christ, to remain a crucial figure in everything I deal with, everywhere I go, every day of my life:

Christ be with me
Christ within me
Christ behind me
Christ before me
Christ beside me
Christ to win me
Christ to comfort and restore me
Christ above me
Christ beneath me
Christ in quiet
Christ in danger
Christ in hearts of all that love me
Christ in mouth of friend and stranger

In nearly 50 days' time from now, I'll actually get to meet world-renowned choral composer John Rutter and learn a thing or two from him in person. At Cambridge. Dream coming true. Can't wait. I've been singing his stuff for several years now, on practically a monthly basis, and soon I'll get to spend a bit of time with the man himself. He'd better let me get a picture with him.

5) "The Jazz Police" by Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band.

Brings me back to the days when I'd go to my younger brothers' jazz concerts all the time (they both played saxophone super well). I wanna dance with somebody to this song, but I'm afraid they will move me so fast that they'll slingshot my head straight down to the ground, like that one cute guy did about 10 years ago at country dancing, and I got a tennis-ball-sized goose egg on the back of my head + a concussion + my world visually spun around me for about a week after that and it was not good. But I still wanna dance with somebody to this song.

6) "The Goonies 'R' Good Enough" by Cyndi Lauper.

There are two types of people in this world (of my generation): those who love The Goonies, and those who don't understand the people who love The Goonies. I fall in that first category. This theme song from the flick is just awesome to me. Love me some good 80s.

7) "Independent Women, Pt. 1" by Destiny's Child.

This comes from a time in history when Beyoncé was not yet "The Queen B" . . . or whatever in the heck people are calling her these days. I'm talking about the Beyoncé 20 years ago, when she had her girls Kelly and Michelle at her sides. Do kids these days even know who Destiny's Child was? Anyway, this song played through my head the night I submitted the last payment on my car. It still plays through my head every time I pay my mortgage bill.

8) "The Rocky Road to Dublin" by The Dubliners.

From one of the opening scenes in the Robert Downey Jr. Sherlock Holmes movie. Causes me to channel whatever Irish blood I have in me. Some of my ancestors came from the Dublin area. Need to go there someday. I put this tune on repeat sometimes.

9) "Battle Born" by The Killers.

Favorite band of the 21st century, hands down. They can't be beat, in my book. A bonus is that they hail from where I did most of my growing up: the great state of Nevada. I think of that great state flag waving proudly in the wind with the marvelous motto "Battle Born" stitched into its fabric.

10) "Can't Take My Eyes Off of You" by Lauryn Hill.

I had a bully on the bus to and from the local junior high every day of sixth grade. Couldn't stand her. She made me uncomfortable. But anytime this song came on the radio, I was able to tune her out for a few moments.

11) "Loud Pipes" by Ratatat.

At my old job I worked with a kid my age named Jeff. Jeff told me about this group he loves called Ratatat, and recommended a couple jams from them that he thought I'd like. One of which was this one, and Jeff said that he wants it played at his funeral someday. It's a cool one!

12) "The Book I Write" by Spoon.

I'm a fan of the Will Ferrell film Stranger Than Fiction. This song comes from that soundtrack, which is just good altogether. I always wish the song was twice or thrice as long, so I play it twice or thrice in a row quite often.

13) "Ramses Suite" by Danny Elfman.

ONE MORE FROM NACHO BECAUSE IT'S GENIUS.