With the bank holiday weekend approaching, music psychologist Dr Claire Renfrew has curated a scientifically-designed playlist to lift spirits during car journeys. The Beatles’ ‘Day Tripper’, Oasis’ ‘She’s Electric’, and ABBA’s ‘Mamma Mia’ are among the songs that an expert assures will boost your mood. Other feel-good anthems include Taylor Swift’s ‘Shake It Off’, Queen’s ‘Don’t Stop Me Now’, and The Beach Boys’ ‘Good Vibrations’.
This extensive 30-track compilation, titled ‘World’s Happiest Car Playlist by FIAT’, is available on Spotify. It commemorates 70 years of the iconic 600 – a compact family SUV perfect for city and countryside escapades – while also anticipating the forthcoming UK launch of the new Grande Panda later this year.
Each song conforms to a specific scientific formula. This formula suggests that dopamine-inducing tunes necessitate a mix of major keys, 7th chords, four bars per beat, and a tempo of 137 BPM.
Songs must also have a ‘repetitive simple structure’ coupled with positive lyrics. For maximum dopamine release, Dr Renfrew advises that the music should be “played loud with friends and/or family, while on the road”.
Tracks like Pharrell Williams’ ‘Happy’ and Whitney Houston’s ‘I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)’ also adhere to these ‘rules’.
Dr Renfrew elaborated: “Most happy songs are in a major key, which sounds brighter and is linked to positive emotions. They often have a simple, uplifting, and crucially, familiar chord structure.
“This is pleasing to the ear because our brains find predictability rewarding while fast tempos increase excitement and can increase movement as they reflect an elevated heart rate, mimicking excitement or joy.”
She further added: “Positive, uplifting themes in the lyrics such as love, summer, dancing, freedom and friendship can promote a sense of connection.”
The compilation also includes tracks like Justin Timberlake’s ‘Can’t Stop the Feeling!’, P!nk’s ‘Get the Party Started’, and ‘Eye of the Tiger’ by Survivor. Dua Lipa’s ‘Levitating’ made the cut, along with Daft Punk’s ‘One More Time’ and Mark Ronson’s ‘Uptown Funk’, featuring Bruno Mars.
“Music is essential to positive mental health and wellbeing and is seen as a fundamental element of being human.” Dr Renfrew continued. “It enables us to obtain emotional regulation, a sense of freedom and discovery alongside purpose and fulfilment.”
“Listening to our favourite songs also alleviates, manages, and reduces stress and can be an effective tool in relation to mindfulness. It can also trigger the release of dopamine, a neurotransmitter associated with pleasure and reward.”
Giuseppe Cava, UK managing director of the Italian car maker, commented: “With the bank holiday ahead, the ‘World’s Happiest Car Playlist by FIAT’ is our way of adding even more feel-good energy to the road. It has been designed to keep spirits high on long journeys.
“Road trips are at the heart of many family memories, so we wanted to create a soundtrack that helps make those shared moments even more enjoyable.”
SONGS ON THE PLAYLIST:
- The Temper Trap – Sweet Disposition
- The Beatles – Day Tripper
- Oasis – She’s Electric
- ABBA – Mamma Mia
- Thegiornalisti – Riccione
- Daft Punk – One More Time
- Paramore – Still Into You
- Pharrell Williams – Happy
- Alessandra Amoroso – Comunque andare
- Dua Lipa – Levitating
- Gloria Gaynor – I Will Survive
- Taylor Swift – Shake It Off
- Mark Ronson feat. Bruno Mars – Uptown Funk
- Empire Of The Sun – Walking On A Dream
- Justin Timberlake – Can’t Stop The Feeling!
- Earth, Wind & Fire – September
- Ricchi e Poveri – Sarà perché ti amo
- Katy Perry – Firework
- Survivor – Eye of the Tiger
- Hall & Oates – You Make My Dreams
- BØRNS – Electric Love
- P!nk – Get The Party Started
- Whitney Houston – Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)
- Maggie Rogers – Light On
- Raffaella Carrà – A far l’amore comincia tu
- One Direction – What Makes You Beautiful
- The Cranberries – Dreams
- BTS – Dynamite
- The Beach Boys – Good Vibrations
- Queen – Don’t Stop Me Now