Oh hot jam.

There's nothing quite like a sweet, sweet melody to set the mood. Whether you're getting over a really bad breakup with Napoleon (the dessert, not the man) or feelin' a little more positive and upbeat and swaggy, some good bebop is all you really need to get jiggy with your inner emoticon.

Here's a couple of my faves (in no particular order):

1. Always Be My Baby- Mariah Carey

Doodoodoo dow...doodoodoodoo dow...the beginning is so good, you would think that the rest of the song would be mediocre in comparison. But it only gets better. MC's smooth vocals make me be like

and grab for a couple of tissues along with some Olay makeup remover for the streaks from that so-called "waterproof mascara." Definitely not Mariah-proof, that's for sure.

2. Forget you- Cee Lo Green

It's one of those songs that is really easy to memorize, and hence very fun to sing/dance along to obnoxiously in the car like

what whaaaaaat. It also lets me live out my fantasy of being the lead vocalist in a band. If I play it loud enough, it masks my voice and I can fool myself into thinking I'm a good singer for a blissful 3 minutes and 44 seconds.

3. The Seed- The Roots

Break it down Bow. Even Mr. Wow can't resist the soulful rock 'n roll that is The Seed.

4. Anything by Maroon 5 or John Mayer

They might not be the most kind or intelligent human beings, but what they do have is indisputable rhythm. If you haven't been like

on a Sunday morning while listening to "Sunday Morning" before grabbing a nonfat chai latte from Starbucks and heading off to Sunday School, you haven't lived.

5. Candy Shop- Fiddy Cent

Gets me every time. I keep telling myself whenever it comes on the radio, "you're not going to dance shereen. don't do it. the lyrics are degrading and immoral."

But the more I fight it, the faster I start swaying and then the snapping starts and it's all downhill from there. All I wanna do is grab a pack of apple Now and Later's and then dance with somebody.

Oh man. Now that I'm listing them out, I realize that I'm in way over my head. There are just too many good songs and so many genres I'm missing here. Por ejemplo, I'm currently jamming to Little Lion Man by Mumford & Sons and it's making me want to sit on the railroad tracks of Oakland to watch them play.

So for now, let it suffice to say that those few make just the tip of a massive, unyielding iceberg, untouched by the grip of global warming.

And remember, make music not war. or love. before marriage.

Also, lean back and smell the roses once in a while.