2020-06-15
Some days, it's rather cold, and little toes (and big toes, too!) are not always enthusiastic about getting out of warm beds and making contact with cold floors.
Other days, you wake up from a bad dream, and find that you’re in a world-wide pandemic.
What should you do?
Play some “get up and go” music, of course!
Happy, positive, energetic music is a great way to start the day and get blood flowing and the brain engaged.
Here are some of my favourites (in no particular order)...
“Morning”, Al Jarreau
“Lovely Day”, Bill Withers
“It's A Good Day”, Peggy Lee
“Mr Blue Sky”, ELO
Jeff Lynne is surely one of the greatest rock musicians of all time!
And I can’t resist including two extraordinary covers...
Firstly, a groovy cover by Pomplamoose:
And this, night-time, so very very cool jazz version:
“I'm Alive”, ELO
OK, Xanadu was one of the worst movies ever made, but it had great music (and I confess, I still believe that Olivia was singing “Suspended In Time” to me...)
“Ain't No Mountain High Enough”, Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell
One of the greatest duets, and Marvin Gaye's voice...
“Back Home Once Again”, Renaissance
“Morning Has Broken”, Cat Stevens
A Christian hymn written in 1931, to a 19th.C Scottish tune
Compare with Rick Wakeman’s use in his own composition, “Catherine Howard”:
“Walking on Sunshine” Katrina and The Waves
“Stand”, R.E.M.
“Shiny Happy People”, R.E.M.
One of the best “feel-good” songs of all-time!
It features Kate Pierson from The B-52's, so...
“Roam”, The B-52's
OK, I can’t sit still or be sad when any B-52’s song is playing, but this is a particular “get up and get going” song!
“You Make My Dreams”, Hall & Oates
Perhaps lyrically a night song, but I just don't care!
“Alive”, Empire Of The Sun
The song's OK, but it's way more positive than most pop songs from the last few years,
and... I wish I had the nerve to wear something like that!
“I Smile”, Kirk Franklin
Perfect song for a COVID world!
“September”, Earth, Wind & Fire
OK, so not really a morning song, but I dare you to NOT get up and dance to this song!
And, this song just adds weight to the argument that the decline of civilization is linked to the lack of Horn Sections in modern music.
Beethoven’s Symphony Nr.6 “Pastoral”
This animation is from the wonderful 1940 "Fantasia".
“Wake Up Everybody”, John Legend, The Roots, Melanie Fiona, Common
Great words (especially for a music teacher!)
"I try to write a song as sweet as the Psalms"
And, I love The Roots!
“Great Is Thy Faithfulness”, 2nd Chapter of Acts
Here’s the lyrics, and the Bible passage it comes from (Lamentations 3:22-25):
“Move On Up”, Curtis Mayfield
“Mint Car”, The Cure
And we can’t have just one Cure song, can we?!?!
So...
“Friday I’m In Love”, The Cure
“It Will Be A Good Day”, Yes
“Homeworld”, Yes
Top 5 Band Of All Time!
“Simply Irresistible”, Robert Palmer
Classiest Rock Star Ever.
I wish I had his suits.
“Adios Sancho”, Los Coronas
I love this band!
Spanish cowboys playing American surf music with a Russian trumpeter.
I once stood in the rain in Canberra to see them live.
Awesome fun!
“I Got You (I Feel Good)”, James Brown
296 people on YouTube didn't like this! How is that possible? They need help!
He's the Godfather of Soul!
And...
I FEEL GOOD!
Vivaldi’s Four Seasons
Summer:
Autumn:
“A Beautiful Morning”, The Rascals
“Put A Little Love In Your Heart”, The Isley Brothers
This has been covered by Annie Lennox and Al Green,
but the Isley's are the best!
“Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate The Positive”, Bing Crosby, The Andrews Sisters
Normally, I'd pick Ella Fitzgerald every time... but...
“New Song”, Howard Jones
Under-rated synth genius with thoughtful lyrics.
One of the best live concerts I’ve ever been to.
“Things Can Only Get Better”, Howard Jones
“Jumpin' Jive”, Joe Jackson
I remember driving to school, with everyone singing this song at the top of their lungs!
“For Once in My Life”, Stevie Wonder
And yes students, he is blind...
And a super-cool music genius!
“More”, Bobby Darin
Yet another favourite sing-along.
Great swinging version with several key changes.
And one of my favourite real-life love stories (Bobby Darin and Sandra Dee).
“Jerusalem”, Emerson, Lake & Palmer
Yet Another favourite morning sing-along!
Farewell Keith - you were my inspiration, and the
Greatest Keyboard Player Of All Time. I'll miss you.
“This Is The Day”, Laura Story
She is inspired!
And if you're feeling bittersweet...
“Wake Up Boo”, The Boo Radleys
“O-o-h Child”, The Five Steps
“We're Not Deep”, The Housemartins
Love the Housemartins!
“Wake Up”, Ayumi Hamasaki
One of the best rock performers in the World today.
If someone came to me and said...
“Stephen, you can have ONE ticket to see any live concert in the World—what show would you like to see?”,
...there would be NO hesitation...
Ayumi Hamasaki New Years Eve Live Countdown!!! Easy decision!
“If Only”, Raveena
“Gnarciss”, Jeff Parker
“Good Day”, Greg Street featuring Nappy Roots
“Feeling Good”, Nina Simone
Grace, power and pain, combined with heart-felt beauty...
The Nearly Made It List
“Wake Up”, The Vamps: a good song, but just too slow!
“Happy”, Pharrell Williams: good feel, but the lyrics? Why is a room without a roof happy?
“Soak Up The Sun”, Sheryl Crow: Like the song, but not enough energy for me.
“Wake Me Up”, Avicii: a bit too depressing for a morning song, and the dance bit is average (sorry!)
“She Moves In Her Own Way”, The Kooks: Close, but not quite...
What are some of your favourite morning songs?
And A Final Extra Feature...
Two Morning Prayers
(1) I am grateful before you,
living and eternal King,
for returning my soul to me with compassion.
You are faithful beyond measure.
(2) Make me hear your committed love in the morning,
Because in you I have put my trust.
Make me know the way where I should walk about,
Because to you I have lifted up my soul.
Psalm 143:8 Motyer
And so now...
I hope you enjoyed this list!
Yours,
Stephen Walter
Blue Mountains Piano School
