10 Songs with Sun in the Title – Sunshine, Sunlight & Sunsets
In this collection of our favorite songs with sun in the title, we have provided a list of upbeat (and at times, quite poignant) music. Whether it’s songs talking about sunshine, sunlight, or sunsets, we hope you enjoy this music enough to add a few of these tunes to your music playlist.
Songs with Sun in the Title You Will Love
Let’s begin with a song by Colbie Caillat, who originally rose to fame with her infectious song “Bubbly.”
Brighter Than The Sun by Colbie Caillat
If you’re looking for upbeat songs about the sun, then selecting a Colbie Caillat track is always a wise bet. On “Brighter Than The Sun,” Colbie is all about celebrating newfound love.
Caillat’s signature laid-back, beachy sound shines through with this track. The lyrics are playful, although occasionally bordering on immature. But the song manages to encapsulate summer, making it a fitting ode to young love and sunny days.
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Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me by Elton John
“Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me” is an Elton John classic that turned into a highly revered duet. The song was originally released on Elton’s 1974 album Caribou. This album version is simply stunning; Elton’s voice begins delicate and earnest, before expanding into grand power ballad. The song was perfectly executed, and every single second was packed with emotion.
But it was made all the more touching when turned into a duet with George Michael, officially recorded live in 1991. The two first performed the song together at Live Aid in 1985. The performance is breathtaking, as they captured the audience’s energy and attention and created a moment of true unity. Hearing the massive crowd sing the chorus together is bound to give you chills.
Who Loves the Sun by The Velvet Underground
The Velvet Underground’s “Who Loves the Sun” is one of the few songs that comes to mind that manages to be both cheerful and melancholy. Contrary to songs on this list that portray the sun as warm, light, and joyful, The Velvet Underground provides a lyrically gloomy take.
Juxtaposing the upbeat melody are lyrics that woefully tell of heartbreak. While the guitar intro and overall melody appear to be fairly bright, there is something a tad eerie about the song. Perhaps it is Doug Yule’s slightly unsteady voice singing lead, or the dissonant harmonies featured in the chorus.
The song has similarities to the Turtles’ “Happy Together,” giving the effect that “Who Loves the Sun” is mocking the carefree love songs of the late 60’s with bitterness and cynicism. The whole song could be interpreted as insincere and deliberately self-absorbed, as the Velvet Underground grew a reputation for being a bit brash and tongue-in-cheek.
If you weren’t paying attention upon first listen, “Who Loves the Sun” may seem like a happy-go-lucky song. But upon closer inspection, you’ll find the perfect anthem for pessimists.
Waiting For The Sun by the Jayhawks
The alt-country band the Jayhawks released “Waiting For The Sun” to critical acclaim on their 1992 album Hollywood Town Hall. The lyrics yearn for brighter days to come, and as the chorus puts it, “for a friend to hand out something might ease my soul.”
The song’s catchy guitar riff and bluesy piano add flair that makes the song memorable. But upon first listen, the song might sound a bit too memorable, like you have heard it before but can’t place where. Many have pointed out the extreme similarities between the guitar riff in “Waiting For The Sun” and in Tom Petty’s 1993 song “Mary Jane’s Last Dance.” Although the Jayhawks toured with the Heartbreakers and collaborated with band members, they were not credited on “Mary Jane’s Last Dance.”
It’s been almost 30 years since the Jayhawks released the song, so who knows if they are still “Waiting For The Sun.”
Waiting For the Sun by the Doors
Thematically, the Doors’ “Waiting For The Sun” is very similar to the Jayhawks’ version. The lyrics sing of future days filled with light and warmth. Despite the lyrical similarities, the Doors song feels a bit more hopeful, as though they were closer to the days of basking in the sun.
In the 90’s, the Jayhawks were still waiting to feel the sun’s embrace. But 20 years earlier, the Doors seemed confident that they were on the brink of spring and the days of the “scattered sun.”
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Here Comes the Sun by the Beatles
Considering that it has become one of the most famous Beatles songs, “Here Comes The Sun” certainly proved that the so-called “quiet Beatle” had plenty to say. Released on the Beatles’ iconic 1969 album Abbey Road, the song cast a bright light over a dark period.
The winter of 1969 had in fact been “long, cold, and lonely.” In fact, if you watched Peter Jackson’s Get Back documentary, you may have observed the chilly atmosphere in the recording studio. George Harrison had briefly left the band in January of 1969, before going on to write on of the Beatle’s most popular songs in April. Harrison decided to skip a Beatles Apple meeting, instead going to visit Eric Clapton. He wrote “Here Comes The Sun” while sitting in Clapton’s garden.
The song opens with an instantly recognizable acoustic guitar riff that serves as a steady heartbeat throughout the track. The beauty of the lyrics is their simplicity; Harrison doesn’t use any abstract metaphors or complicated phrases. Instead, the song simply focuses on the, to quote the author John Green, “light-soaked days” ahead. Even on the darkest days, Harrison’s voice finds a way to cut through the clouds and offer assurance that light is on the way.
While this may have been the Beatles’ most popular song about the sun, it wasn’t their only one. Other tracks include “I’ll Follow the Sun,” “Sun King,” and “Good Day Sunshine.” “Here Comes the Sun” wasn’t the first song by the Fab Four about the sun, and for Harrison, it wouldn’t be the last.
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Rising Sun by George Harrison
Released on his posthumous album Brainwashed, “Rising Sun” is a celebration of life. Like many songs on that album, “Rising Sun” is deeply personal, introspective, and spiritual. The song reflects on the corrupt moments of life that pale in comparison to, as the lyrics put it, the “universe at play inside your DNA.”
But things still stay light. Even in the more melodically dark moments of the song, a brightness peaks through with the slide guitar and subtle ukulele in the background. “Rising Sun” manages to encapsulate both Harrison’s depth and sense of humor, making it a perfect final sendoff.
Third Stone From The Sun by Jimi Hendrix
Jimi Hendrix’s 6 ½ minute long mostly instrumental track “Third Stone From The Sun” is truly an “experience.” A fusion of jazz and psychedelic rock, the song proves to pack a punch. Hendrix was often inspired by science fiction, but it became the central theme of this song.
The ambient space sounds and altered voices in the background add an eerie atmosphere to what would otherwise be an instrumental jam. Appearing on the Jimi Hendrix Experience’s debut album, “Third Stone From The Sun” was an enticing preview of the music still to come.
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Ain’t No Sunshine by Bill Withers
Probably one of the most famous songs about sunshine there is, this Bill Withers classic is all about the pains the come with loving someone deeply. On this song, Withers sings about how life has dramatically changed—and changed for the worse—now that the love of his life is no longer around.
For Bill, when his girl is gone, everything around him is not only dim, it’s downright dark. There is simply no sunshine to be found when his baby is gone—whether she’s gone for a short while or a lengthy amount of time.
This is an old school jam through and through, full of longing and the yearning desire to be loved. It’s a classic love song, and easily one of the best songs with sun in the title you’ll ever find.
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Walking on Sunshine by Katrina and the Waves
Earlier, I mentioned that Bill Withers’ “Ain’t No Sunshine” might just be the most famous song that discusses the topic of “sunshine.” And while that might be true, I think Katrina and the Waves would certainly contest that claim.
This is a 1980s song that has remained firmly entrenched in popular culture. Even if you’re not familiar with the band that made this song, I guarantee you’ve heard the song in a commercial, or a 1980s or 1990s movie montage. And, if you have Sirius XM Radio, and have ever listened to The Stephanie Miller Show, she has been using this song as her she’s theme song for years and years.
If you’re looking for a song to instantly shove you into a good mood, throw on “Walking on Sunshine.”
Conclusion
Even though many of the songs on this list are similar thematically, they all differ greatly in genre. From instrumental jams to 2000’s bubbly pop hits, these various songs about the sun manage to offer up a unique take on something that connects all of us.
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