I have no idea why but I have been thinking of making this list of songs for AGES! I am not sure why I think sunshine songs deserve their own category. It’s like songs about roses, or the color blue. There is just something universal I guess. Anyway, here are my favorite songs about sunshine.
“Walking on Sunshine” – Katrina & the Waves
This song came out when I had just entered high school. My older sister Renee had it on tape cassette or something and I love it to this day. It is so upbeat and joyous you can’t help but tap your toe when this comes on the playlist.
“Don’t steal my sunshine” – LEN
I just learned that LEN was a Canadian group and that this came out in the summer of 1999. It was all over the airwaves. Like “Walking on Sunshine” it has a very catchy beat but the lyrics are totally messed up if you ever read them. “Now the fuzzy stare from not being there on a confusing morning week. Impaired my tribal lunar speak” HUH?
“Good Day Sunshine” – The Beatles
When I rode across Canada my sister asked me at one point what I thought about while riding. This song was my response. “Good Day Sunshine, do do do” Over and over again like a mantra. It is such an simple uplifting song, it was perfect to pedal to. I think there must be something about sunshine was helps lift the soul.
“You Are My Sunshine” – Kina Grannis
It is such as sweet simple song. It reminds me of my childhood. Singing this with my father in the truck. I don’t know if that actually ever happened. I mean, I can’t imagine we had it on tape or it played on the radio but it gives me that feeling all the same. Selective memory?
“Here Comes the Sun” – The Beatles
Another classic Beatles song about the sun. Quieter than “Good Day Sunshine”, it still has the ability to draw you in. I went through my Beatles faze my senior year in high school. This song in particular reminds me of the things I was reading at the time. “Wheel of Time” by Robert Jordan and Tolkien’s “Lord of the Rings” in particular.
“Island In The Sun” – Weezer
“Island in the Sun” seemed like such a departure for Weezer compared to their earlier works. Not the cord driven rock it still had their style lyrically. One of my all time favorite songs from them. I think it came out in 2001 which is the year I moved to Toronto.
“Blister in the Sun” – Violent Femmes
I don’t know if this one really belongs in the list, it’s not really about sunshine but I have such a good memory of this walking in Victoria B.C. with my friend Neil and I had just been exposed to it and I couldn’t help humming it to myself. But I kept getting the lyrics wrong, which really irritated him. Some old lady was listening to me humming and I remember her turning to look at me singing “When I’m a walking I strut my stuff and I’m so strung out…” Anyway perhaps she knew the song.