Here in Germany, it’s cold and dark in the morning until after 8:00am during the winter months. Sometimes morning tunes are the only way to get my eyes to open.
So what are my favorite morning tunes? I’d say it depends on my mood. Some mornings, I prefer something energetic and loud. For instance, this morning I’ve got Earth, Wind, & Fire’s classic 1981 album Raise! playing on my computer. There’s something about Philip Bailey’s soaring falsetto and heavy electric guitars that was on my mind this morning. So the first song I decided to play was “Evolution Orange”, which is a song that is kind of special to me. Back in the mid 90s, I was still somewhat interested in trying to be fit and used to jog to this album. “Evolution Orange” is a great song for running. Sadly, I can’t find a video for it on YouTube. Just so you know, finding videos in Germany is harder than it is in the United States because Germany is a lot stricter about content sharing and copyright enforcement.
I did, however, find a video of “Let’s Groove”, which is from the same album.
Some mornings, I’m in a more low key mood and prefer something less energetic. I especially prefer these calmer songs when I’m working on something that requires intense thought. When that happens, there’s no telling what I’ll end up playing. A little Phil Coulter when I need to think is a good thing…
Phil Coulter’s version of “Going Home”…
When I worked as a technical writer in South Carolina, I used to listen to a lot of Eden’s Bridge in the morning. Eden’s Bridge is a Christian band from Ireland. I am not particularly religious; I just really like good music. Eden’s Bridge is comprised of very talented musicians and they play beautiful and often original Celtic style music. I found it easy to think and create when listening to them play, so I’d often wear a pair of headphones while writing passages about how certain chronic diseases were trending in the state of South Carolina.
I probably would have chosen an original tune to post here, but again, it’s hard to do that in Germany! Besides, I do like Eden Bridge’s spiritual rendition of “Awesome God”. It’s not cheesy… it’s Celtic!
If I’m feeling more secular and need something good for thinking, I might choose something by Zero 7 or Dead Can Dance. They’re also great choices for when I need “evening tunes”.
Zero 7’s “In the Waiting Line”. This song is both sexy and sort of clinical. It’s great for thinking.
Dead Can Dance never gets old, though “The Ubiquitous Mr. Lovegrove” has been around since 1993.
And then there are the mornings when I’m feeling both soulful and energetic. I may reach for Ray Charles… or Elvis Costello and Allen Toussaint.
I miss Ray Charles. He was just brilliant. At least I can listen to him sing “Oh What A Beautiful Morning”.
Seriously… I wasn’t even thinking of Ray Charles before I started writing this post and watching the above video just put a big smile on my face. Ray Charles was just an amazing entertainer and musician.
Elvis Costello and Allen Touissant are a winning pair, especially in the morning.
And finally, there’s Lenny Kravitz and his Led Zeppelinesque “Are You Gonna Go My Way”…
This song never fails to get the blood pumping.
I think there’s definitely a good reason why morning news shows play rock songs during their broadcasts. They are a great way to get going in the morning. On a totally unrelated note, once again I’m realizing how eclectic my musical tastes are. You never know whats going to be playing at my house.
