From the outside looking in, punk rock is angry music for people who don’t want to fit into society. Those who know more about the genre would likely call that a reductive definition. Punk takes on many forms, from the streetwise working-class ethos of Oi to the radio-ready bounciness of pop-punk and everything in between. There’s a little something for anyone willing to dig deep enough and keep an open mind.
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For instance, if you’re down in the dumps and need a musical pick-me-up, punk rock has plenty to offer. No matter what’s got you down, the songs in the list below can serve as a shot in the arm. Turn up the volume, drown out the negativity, and keep pushing.
1. “Thank God It’s Monday” by NOFX
Hating Mondays is seemingly hardwired into capitalist society. Everyone from day laborers to corporate suits dreads the beginning of the work week. Even Garfield, a cartoon cat who never punched a time clock, hates Mondays. For many, the only thing worse than going to work on Monday morning is not having a job to go to. That’s where this banger from NOFX comes in.
Written by Fat Mike for the band’s 2000 album, Pump Up the Valuum, “Thank God It’s Monday” is a ton of fun. While it’s likely a song about only working weekends because they’re in a band, it also fits with not having a job. I’m gonna tell you what I really think I like about Mondays / ‘Cause they feel like Saturdays / When you don’t gotta go to work / Every day is a holiday.
2. “Now I Wanna Sniff Some Glue” by the Ramones
Bassist Dee Dee Ramone wrote the minimalist “Now I Wanna Sniff Some Glue” for the Ramones’ self-titled debut album. It’s not a thought-provoking song, nor does it have much to say about much of anything. However, no one can deny that this punk rock classic is an incredibly fun listen.
Dee Dee had a long and storied history with multiple substances before his death in 2002. Some have posited that this song about being bored enough to huff glue fumes was a nod to his childhood.
3. “Minority” by Green Day
When Green Day aren’t being incredibly serious, they’re one of the most fun bands punk rock has to offer. This is especially true for their earlier albums, including their 2000 album Warning. Penned by singer Billie Joe Armstrong, “Minority” was the lead single from the album and one of the band’s most successful singles. It’s also an incredibly fun way to give the world the old one-finger salute.
If not quite fitting in or being rejected has ever gotten you down, this ode to individuality is just what the doctor ordered.
4. “All the Small Things” by Blink-182
“All the Small Things” was a huge hit for Blink-182. It dominated both rock radio and MTV. It also got a good amount of airtime on top 40 stations.
Like much of Blink’s discography, “All the Small Things” is a fun listen. It’s simple, catchy, and anyone who was listening to the radio in the late 1990s likely knows all the words. More than that, it’s a cute song that Tom DeLonge wrote about his then-girlfriend, whom he would later marry. It’s hard to be in a bad mood with this song cranked to max volume.
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