We know that music can affect our feelings; we can choose music to suit our mood, or we can choose music to change it.

Sounds Like... is our monthly series of songs and music representing a different theme. For our playlist this month, we’ve chosen something to lift our mood, something to calm us, and something to express sadness.

So let’s start with a little uplifting Van Morrison, suggesting we should be dancing in the moonlight…

This lovely, calm piece (with a lovely performance by Lang Lang) feels dark for a while in the middle, as if the rain were in danger of turning into a storm. But then we go back to gentle rain. Chopin (who wrote it) didn’t call it the raindrop prelude though, but the idea has stuck for well over 100 years, and who are we to argue? Especially as another storm brews for the UK this month...

If you like to be more positive about rain, try this:

A classic covered by the Manics! And onwards we go...

Sad songs are not hard to come by; there are a million about loneliness, heartbreak, feeling far from home. Here’s Lady Gaga with a yearning example that clinched her an Oscar:

And our bonus track for the month, folks, is with something to make us ALL feel happy. This is our go-to office pick me up. Watch the video and see if you can spot Matt Smith (Dr Who…) and Steve Carrell: