By Adam Waldman
Feel Good Friday is an ongoing feature on Hard Rock Daddy. Each Friday, we will be adding new songs to the “FEEL GOOD ROCK SONGS” playlist (see YouTube link below). You can go directly to the YouTube video for each song by clicking on link before the write-up.
EUROPE – “The Final Countdown” (1986)
The opening keyboard riff of “The Final Countdown” is one of the most iconic in rock history. The riff was actually written around five years prior to the release of Europe’s third studio album by singer Joey Tempest.
Though it has gone on to be the band’s biggest hit (due in large part to being featured on a GEICO commercial), it was never meant to be a single. According to Tempest, “The Final Countdown” was written to be a “grand opening” for the live show. At over six minutes long, it is much longer than the typical radio single, but it never felt particularly long.
The keyboard riff alone makes “The Final Countdown” an ideal hair metal, feel-good song. When you add in Tempest’s soaring, melodic vocals, it gets even more uplifting. Personally speaking, I’m glad that this song has transcended the hair metal world (even though it happened in a most unlikely way). This song has held a special place in my heart for many years.
RARE EARTH – “I Just Want To Celebrate” (1971)
I can’t say exactly when I first heard “I Just Want To Celebrate,” Rare Earth’s uplifting, funk rock anthem. I know that it was long after its release in 1971, but well before it entered the mainstream by being featured in commercials and on television.
One of the commercials that featured the song came at an inopportune time, as I was already planning on using it to celebrate an upcoming special occasion. The song was still a perfect tone setter for the moment, but it ended up feeling less original when it was all over television at the time. Still, if I had it to do all over again, I would choose “I Just Want To Celebrate” as the perfect backdrop to one of the most memorable moments of my life. To this day, it’s impossible to hear this song without smiling and bouncing to the beat of this party anthem.
Interested in sharing your favorite feel good songs to help build this playlist?
Go to the Hard Rock Daddy Facebook page and send us a message letting us know which songs you would like to write about.
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