The ELO song scientifically proven to make you happy

ELO’s “Mr. Blue Sky” is one of the best examples of Jeff Lynne’s particularly bouncy brand of symphonic rock, a song that holds several surprises and reveals itself more and more with each repeated listen...including the very last line of the song, which is actually an often-misheard request! It has been proven to fit a “Feel Good Song Formula” by a scientist who tested it to find the world’s happiest tune. And for such a bright, happy song, would you be surprised to know that it all came about after Lynne had been suffering from a weather-induced writer’s block, a mental funk, while holed up in Switzerland? A funk that literally ended when the sun came out. Let’s dig in to the awesome story of “Mr. Blue Sky” in this episode of the Behind The Song podcast.

Music Producer: Christian Lane
Video Director: Eva Empleo

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About Janda:

Behind The Song podcast host and creator Janda Lane is a radio DJ at WDRV-FM in Chicago, the city she calls home with her husband and podcast partner, Christian Lane, and their two cats, Ollie and Liam.

Follow Behind The Song on TikTok @behindthesongpodcast.
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[bigfish]

Ya kicked another outta the park again Janda...Thank you for this excellent back story about a truly amazing tune. And thanks to Christian for his awesome work 🤘🤘🤘

[DonJoyce]

What a cool story! Thank you once again for your fun and in depth analysis, Janda! Maybe your best so far!!

[eddiewilson]

Today is the day where I purchase tickets for the Nashville Show of Jeff Lynne's ELO Final Tour!!! I saw Jeff Lynne for the first time in 2019 after 42 years of being a fan!!!! The 2019 Concert was the best concert I have ever seen!

[discerntheevidence]

A pure Masterpiece of scale and depth and musical piece of genius with so much going on yet so simple emotionally stimulating for a unique feel good factor unmatched in all the classical and pop rock genres. My favourite song of all time

[timothygrace]

Your storytelling Janda, is truly sublime, as is Mr. Blue Sky! I’ll be cranking the song up to combat tomorrow’s rain as I’ve so often done after figurative and literal gray days. It never fails to uplift. Thank you, Janda! ☀️

[katk]

That's a lot of info to take in..Great Job!. It shows how underrated Jeff was in 70's but obviously Belonged with the likes of Dylan and Harrison in the 90's.

[robertrichardson]

Love ELO. Love you too, Janda! Thanks.

[turtlepong]

❤❤❤ Thank you Janda for diving deep into Mr. Blue Sky!!! Our favorite ELO song! Christian always does a superb job! Both of you kwep.up the GREAT WORK!!!

[Styrofoamtoo]

ELO is on my concert schedule this summer. So excited 🎉😊

[pinkoos]

Great episode - just posted across my Mastodon, Threads and Bluesky accounts

[kaygee]

After my Dad, who loved ELO, passed away, I was enduring a long bout of massive depression due to several things going on in my life. Then one day, out of the blue, Mr Blue Sky showed up on my youtube home page.

Algorithmically, there was no reason for it to pop up, but I really felt like it was possibly some kind of spiritual message from him. So I gave it a listen, and it's just what I needed.
💖

[sybillewesenberg]

💜💙💚💛🧡❤ Mr. Blue Sky forever!!! I still have the Album and its a treasure for me. Greetings from (East)Germany😎

[ghenefer]

One of my favorite albums of all time. It has significant meaning in my life and heart. I remember listening to this masterpiece in 1977 in my late twenties thousands of times. I still listen at least once a week. Thank you, Jeff. The music soothes my soul. 😊

[OBgOlC]

Brilliant, and yes it is genius and so very feelgood. Many thanks for your time presenting this. 👍

[adrianoconnor]

Great review, Jeff Lynn is one of the greatest writers of all time

[Elephant-wili]

Excellent backstory as always, Janda. Always felt the song had a comforting, reassuring quality. Even in dark, somber periods, inevitably blue skies will return.

[cozmicpfunk]

Thank you for bringing "Mr. Blue Sky" to our lives today! Amazing song, amazing story <3

[johnsrous]

Always was a fan of ELO. Jeff Lynne was one of the best song-writers of the 1970's. Electric Light Orchestra's use of non-rock instruments such as a violin, upright bass, cello and others gave ELO their classical music sound while using a dance beat in an up-tempo form.

[route]

Another fabulous video based on a great song. Actually, time to pull it up.

[PaulJackson]

Great job, Janda, as always. Next week is the 48 birthday of the late Chester Bennington of Linkin Park. Numb would be a great future Behind The Song.