Here lies the continuation of the Birthday Celebration Remix. I was going to add an extra song, but by the time I got to the end of this guy, I couldn't remember what it was.

9. "Strictly Game" - Harlem Shakes
this will be a better year

I don't know how I left this one off the original list of New Year's songs. Please - with a refrain that declares, "this will be a better year," how can this NOT be a song of profound celebration? I know I'm onto this band kind of late. Cut me some slack, bro. This is a song where I can also celebrate the lyrically gifted:
I'm sick of slow rock
I'm sick of quick quips
Sick of holdin' onto nothin'
When I just wanna
Hold your hips
I'm sorry, what did you say? I was busy listening to genius.

10. "Blankest Year" - Nada Surf
aw, fuck it, i'm gonna have a party

The boys of Nada Surf just make me smile. Besides the fact that I've had a crush on Matthew Caws since, like, 1997, and besides the fact that "Popular" is ANOTHER song that was in that trivia night round of "Cool Songs With Talking In Them," Nada Surf (Nah-dah, guys) is just a mellow band of normal dudes. I think their best album was "Let Go," since it had killer tunes like "Blonde on Blonde" and "Blizzard of '77" (two all-time favorites). However, this highly-underrated band does a good indie-rock/alt-rock fusion for this number: "Blankest Year." The resounding theme - aw, fuck it. What better theme is there?

11. "Middle Management" - Bishop Allen
for whatever reason sick bands like bishop allen only have lame live action.

Whenever this song starts, with that one chord, I ALWAYS think that the Fine Young Cannibals' "Good Thing" is going to start playing. I think it's the exact same one. But let's be real, guys, any song that features "ALRIGHT!" in its refrain multiple times is bound to be a great celebration song. I searched forever for a video that really did this song justice, but, sorry hipsters everywhere (because this is THE hipster celebration song; please, it was on "Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist"), it just doesn't exist. You hear this, and you just want to jump up and down at Bowery Ballroom. I mean, at least I do.

12. "The Saints Are Coming" - U2 and Green Day (live)
there is a house...in new orleans...

U2 + Green Day. Ultimate in rock plus ultimate in alt rock. Yes. Yes please. Being from New Orleans, this represents a particularly home-hitting celebration moment: the day the Superbowl was reopened for the first Saints game post-Katrina. But even if you don't have that tattooed on your brain forever, you can feel it in this song, and see it in the video. We still blare it when we go to Saints games. What a BRILLIANT way to combine old-time New Orleans and jazz with a hard rock edge. And it's a true celebration - both in a moment, and overall. MVP spot.

13. "All the Young Punks" - The Clash
give 'em enough rope

The Clash is one of my favorites, all-time. The lead guitar does more singing than any of the boys, and that's one reason it's on this list. And no one's forgetting about the bass line here, either. These guys knew how to wail. But this song doesn't get nearly enough attention or airplay. The Clash decided that the way to make eloquent political commentary was through song - so, boys, thanks and congratulations, because we celebrate that now every time we play one of your songs. Joe Strummer, we salute you. Great song to play when you're on a road trip and celebrating some freedom from whatever kept you from roading in the first place.

14. "The Underdog" - Spoon
this video was so much better than i thought it would be.

I LOVE this song. I loved it when it first came out, now I guess almost two years ago, and I still love it now. It's just got a great, catchy feel. You may have guessed that we're celebrating the underdog. I'm the underdog a lot, or at least, I feel like I am. So I enjoy this song. Good songs always have clapping and guys going "do do do uh huh," so this clearly fits the bill, because it has both. It's a fantastic song for when you're a) cheering yourself up, b) cheering someone else up, c) watching "17 Again" with Zac Efron, or d) spotting an underdog.

15. "Still Alive" - The Crash
are they duran duran reborn?

So who's seen the video for "View to a Kill"? This is pretty much the same shit. The Crash don't really sound like Duran Duran (I mean, that would be a celebration in itself), but they're pretty sick. "Still Alive" has this Mika sound to it, that, I'll admit, is a little creepy. Not that people think Mika is creepy, but come on. Right around 0:48, it kicks in with the crazy synth sound (you know how I am about synth) and becomes a good pump-up song.

16. "Soul Singing" - Black Crowes
should i be apologizing for liking this?

Apparently this is like the most-hated Black Crowes song, according to all the comments that appear below the video. Right, because those are super-valid. So, all you haters, I don't know where you come from, but I've been stupidly in love with this song since college. Sorry. Sue me. What can you not love about Chris Robinson dressed like a hippie, spinning in a sun-soaked montage, singing about soul? Singing about singing FROM the soul?

17. "Jump" - Pointer Sisters
this video actually has track footage in it.

No comment really even necessary. Hugh Grant danced to this in "Love Actually" when he realized how to score with that cute secretary. My aunt used to rollerskate to this back in the day. She made me put this song on a MIX tape. And even more importantly, look closely at that video. Cut between the awesome footage of The Pointer Sisters, we see actual TRACK FOOTAGE. That's right, footage of men in short shorts (and women) leaping to and fro. OMG. Celebration, check.

18. "Steal My Sunshine" - LEN
buttertarts?

I used to play this song every day at the pool in 8th grade. Or maybe it was 9th. Regardless, I remember seeing the video on TRL, and sometimes I'll still play it at the bar for old times' sake because every patron knows the words and knows what it represents. This song, cheesy as it is, celebrates summertime and heat and all that is good with the world, unlike the cold, awful season of winter, which is the antichrist. Oh, and yeah. This is another song with talk in it. I shoulda just done a list of songs with talking in them. Boyz II Men woulda dominated the charts.

19. "Soulchild" - Gorillaz
it's the music that we choose.

What a great song. Just a good celebratory song to dance to. Enough.

20. "New Sensation" - INXS
better than "need you tonight"

You know, INXS always gets airplay for "Need You Tonight" thanks to "Coyote Ugly" and they ALSO get remembered for "Unbelievable" (I believe thanks to the same movie, but I could be wrong). But "New Sensation," with that repetitive yet NEVER annoying guitar riff, is the pinnacle of excitement. Exaggeration? Try listening to this song over and over. You won't get tired, you'll just get pumped. That's what a real celebration song does. Let's think of things that do the opposite of that...this "Valentine's Day" movie, for one. The loss of Michael, our beloved lead singer, was tragic. But at least he leaves us good music. So, we leave this list - a true PLAYlist - of celebrations with a new sensation celebration. Enjoy people.

Coming up in February...songs that talk about hating love. <3 Get your cheesefest somewhere else, my peeps.