A Movie Star Dance Party (ft. Bruno Mars)
This inspired mashup combines classic Hollywood with a modern pop megahit. But first, what is Free Happiness?
In my debut novel, Dava Shastri's Last Day, Dava and her young son are in mourning over the loss of her husband and his father. Whenever he feels down, she plays his favorite songs to lift his spirits and they both sing along. When he asks her why that helps him feel better, Dava describes it as a “little bit of free happiness.”
Music has always been my free happiness too: I've always turned to music for a serotonin boost. (Or to match how I feel when I'm in a more contemplative, melancholy mood). During the pandemic, I needed something more to bolster me though the long, anxious days. So I found myself collecting links to YouTube videos that I could play when I needed a little comfort or cheering up.
And they always helped. They still do. And the world isn't becoming any shinier or easier. I thought it might be nice to share them with an audience, because we could always use a few moments of joy and fun every week.
To kick things off, here's a classic. And even if you already know this one, it's definitely worth revisiting. When I finished the final revisions of my second novel, Advika and the Hollywood Wives, my brain was too exhausted to comprehend much of anything. I needed something that was purely visual. So…I went Hollywood.
This supercut of classic films activates the pleasure centers in my brain. It is beyond delightful to see Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly, Judy Garland and so many more perfectly synced to Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars’ “Uptown Funk.” It’s the Golden Age of Hollywood mashed up with the biggest pop hit of 2015, and somehow it works. (Kudos to the editor, whose sharp editing is what makes this so magical.)
As a bonus, you’ll see glimpses of incredible yet undersung performers like the Nicholas Brothers and Eleanor Powell (both of whom will be featured in future installments of this newsletter) and enduringly popular films like Singin’ in the Rain, inspiring deep dives and movie rewatches (at least it did for me).
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Here's my pledge: We're all busy. We're all subscribed to a lot of newsletters. So this one will be weekly—and crucially, it will be brief.
I'll present a clip, tell you why I’m highlighting it, hopefully activate the pleasure centers of your brain, and that's it. Think of it as a snack: a delicious treat that can be consumed quickly.
On occasion this newsletter will feature news and updates about my books too. But every issue will have free happiness.
I’d also welcome submissions too! Subscribers can submit their own picks to be shared in future editions of the newsletter, which they will be credited for. There is also the option of sharing a brief description of your selection, along with why you chose it, which I will post in the newsletter too. To submit, hit reply to this post or email them to freehappiness@substack.com with the subject line, “Submission.”
And if you know someone who would be interested in a weekly dose of lightness and fun, please spread the word and ask them to subscribe. Thanks for reading!