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Maybe there's no one perfect song

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I'm here to get this party started. You know, the kind where we “ain't going down ‘til the sun comes up” kind of party, as Garth Brooks would say.

We'll have stops in Funkytown and Margaritaville. We'll waltz, two-step, shake, rattle, roll and do the hippy hippy shake.

There's nothing like a good song that puts us in a good mood. Or a song that you can listen to and never be in a bad mood. We all have them. I could rattle off a list that would eat up every bit of editorial space we have.

An old college friend once told me he could never be in a bad mood if he listened to “Come on Eileen.” That's why my friend had it set as his wake-up music on his alarm clock.

I asked random folks - one council member, a fire chief, an assistant city manager and others - what songs put them in a good mood. It was fun and challenging.

So here they are:

Leander ISD Superintendent Bret Champion - Elvis Presley's “Hound Dog.”

“After a recent trip to Graceland, our family had a great time listening to Elvis, doing Elvis impersonations, and going ‘Elvis Caroling.' ‘Hound Dog' was our favorite! Thanks for asking! I'm smiling just thinking about it.”

Cedar Park Assistant City Manager Jose Madrigal - “Beautiful Day” by U2.

Steve Pustelnyk, communications director for the CTRMA - “China Grove” by the Doobie Brothers and Jackson Browne's “Running on Empty.”

“You are asking the impossible. There are so many great songs I could name that it is heart-wrenching to single out just one or two.”

Williamson County District Attorney John Bradley - “I Think I Love You” by The Partridge Family.

“It was the first 45 record I owned.”

CedarRidge Church pastor Lane Skyles - “How Great Is Our God” by Chris Tomlin.

Leander Athletic Programmer Christian Moore

“Being a musician, it's hard to choose, but I would have to say ‘You Can Call Me Al' by Paul Simon or ‘Jack and Diane' by John Mellencamp.”

Former Cedar Park City Council candidate Larry Schuler

“For me, the song your refer to would be: ‘Brown Eyed Girl.' Performed by various artists, the most-played radio version is probably by the song's writer Van Morrison, but there's also a great Caribbean-rock ‘n' roll version by Jimmy Buffett.”

Leander Councilmember Michell Cantwell

“My favorite song ‘mix' would have to be the ‘Friday Morning Freak Out' song played by the local radio station, Majic. The mix of songs can't help but make you smile and makes you want to start dancing!”

Cedar Park Fire Chief Chris Connealy - “Free Bird” by Lynyrd Skynyrd.

“Best song ever!”

Well, mine would be “Born to Run” by Bruce Springsteen or maybe “Sir Duke” by Stevie Wonder.

Log on and chime in. There's lots of tunes to choose from that can put smiles on our faces.

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