Picture this. I stood on the floor of the concert hall dancing along with The Avett Brothers as they performed on stage 30 feet in front of me. Surrounded by friends who love them as much as I do, I didn’t hesitate to sing butcher their songs like any good horrible guest band member would.

“Live and Die,” “November Blue,” and “Head Full of Doubt,” and other favorites filled their line up. I was high on happiness!

Suddenly that all changed. The lights dimmed. The brothers huddled together, and they began a duet I hadn’t heard before.

“Hard to believe I won’t see you again
We were just fighting when winter began
The coldness of our words competing with the wind from the north

Still they make me shiver but in a very different way
The pages of the calendar kept turning away
I have some better words now, but it’s too late to say them to you ”

Their mournful voices delivered six simple lines, and my eyes welled.

Quick check to my left and right. Phew! No one was watching.

“My dream of all dreams and my hope of all hopes
Is only to tell you and make sure you know
How much I love you and how much I always did”

My lips quivered and a few tears spilled over. What the hell? Pull it together, Kim.

“And yes I know you loved me I could see it in your eyes
And it was in your struggle and it was in your mind
And it was in your smile you gave me when I was a kid

Feels like no one understands
And now my only chance
To talk to you is through my prayers
I only wanted
to tell you
I care”

Tipping point – an involuntary sob burst out. Awkward!

My friends kindly pretended not to notice. They knew my thoughts had turned to my dad. (Here’s one rendition of “Through My Prayers” if you want to hear why.)

Despite feeling mortified, that moment exemplifies why I love music. It evokes emotions.

I tend to shy away from the like of “Through My Prayers,” at least in public, but my playlists contain a virtual arsenal of songs to match (or change) my mood.

Need motivation while running? I cue up Eminem’s “Capture the Moment” or Buckcherry’s “Crazy Bitch.”

Searching for a little smile? I may go a little old school with The Sugarhill Gang’s “Rapper’s Delight” or “Jessie’s Girl” a la Rick Springfield.

Tough day at work? Perhaps I’ll play The Beatles’ “A Hard Day’s Night” or Lily Allen’s “F**k You.”

But when I’m really struggling to shake off the blues, only one ditty will do.

“They call me Dr. Worm.
Good morning. How are you? I’m Dr. Worm.
I’m interested in things.
I’m not a real doctor, but I am a real worm. I am an actual worm.”

From the peppy “bat, bat, bat, dat, bat” of the brass to the ludicrous lyrics, listening to “Doctor Worm” has effectively wiped away hundreds of moments of frustration or despair.

That’s the power of music and why this song, hands down, wins my title of “ultimate feel good song.” They Might Be Giants, but I think they also might be brilliant!

How about you? What’s your ultimate feel good song?

Happy 3 year birthday, Yeah Write! If you haven’t checked out this writing challenge or the great bloggers who submit there yet, you should! It’s a wonderful writing community for fiction and non-fiction writers.

(Every other Wednesday I pose a “What’s Your _______?” Read and respond to previous questions.)