Every week, we get up and live through the same seven days of the week.
Sure, the days themselves are never quite the same, but the names never change.
It’s no wonder, then, that those days of the week are often the basis for popular music.
Out of the relatively popular songs that I culled through to make my days of the week playlist selections, a number that we’ll round to 100, here’s what I found:
- 30 percent were about Friday.
- Another 30 percent was for Monday.
- 18 percent were written about Tuesday.
- Thursday had 12 percent of songs.
- Wednesday came in dead last at just 10 percent.
All of these numbers are approximate as this list isn’t completely comprehensive because, well, there are a lot of songs out there. But it makes you think about how much people may not really like Wednesday, doesn’t it?
And while I would have guessed Friday had a much larger lead from Monday, I’m really surprised at just how far behind the rest are, and that Tuesday was third by what I would consider a healthy margin.
So what was my criteria here? I like the songs, this is my playlist, and selfishly, that’s the way these things tend to work. I’ll select a few standouts and a few honorable mentions from each day of the workweek. Yes, there may be some covers in here, and yes, the day of the week has to appear somewhere in the title of the song, because if we just went with lyrics, we’d be dealing with way to much music to parse through.
With that, let this playlist carry you through at least part of your work week before you start all over again.
Monday
“Blue Monday how I hate Blue Monday” Let’s start this list with a 1950s classic that not only is the oldest song on the list, it’s one of the few with all seven days of the week in it! Unlike actual Mondays, Blue Monday is a great way to start off.
“How does it feel to treat me like you do?” Moving three decades from Fats to New Order is not only time travel, it traverses so many musical genres that the only things similar are in fact the songs have the same name. This 80s dance hit has a resurgence every time it appears in a blockbuster movie, so it’s here to stay for the long haul.
“It’s just another manic Monday… Wish it were Sunday…” Staying in the 80s, from The Bangles, Manic Monday is still a good song, though I believe the title of the song has itself become a meme. “Time it goes so fast…”
Monday Morning – Fleetwood Mac
“Monday morning you sure look fine” starts this classic by Fleetwood Mac from their second self-titled album, because, well, this is Fleetwood Mac and it’s complicated. But this is almost the most upbeat, non-dance number of all the Monday songs.
Monday, Monday – The Mamas & The Papas
“Every other day of the week is fine.” I’m going back in time to this classic from The Mama’s and the Papa’s because it’s one of the most quintessential Monday songs.
And for that reason, I also have to mention this Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass cover of Monday, Monday as well. Who doesn’t like Herb? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2CZqauIZqFI
I Don’t Like Mondays – Boomtown Rats
“They can see no reasons ‘cause there are no reasons…” Of course, my personal favorite song about Mondays is about tragedy, written by Bob Geldof after the U.S. school shooting in 1979 at Cleveland Elementary in San Diego, Calif. I love the song, I think it’s beautiful on many levels, but I hate its relevance. I do wish it would go out of style.
Honorable mentions: Bank Holiday Monday by Stereophonics, Call it Stormy Monday by T-Bone Walker, Clean Monday by Will Butler, Come Monday by Jimmy Buffet, Except for Monday by Lorrie Morgan, I Don’t Have To Be Me (’til Monday) by Steve Azar, Long Monday by John Prine, Monday by Matt Corby, Monday by Wilco, Monday by Imagine Dragons, Monday Morning by Death Cab for Cutie, Monday Mourning Meltdown by Gov’t Mule, New Moon on Monday by Duran Duran, and Rainy Days and Mondays by Carpenters
Tuesday
Church on Tuesday – Stone Temple Pilots
“Your mom’s at church on Tuesday…” From Stone Temple Pilot’s 1999 album No. 4. It wasn’t their peak like 1994’s Purple, but it’s still the original lineup and it still rocks.
Everything’s Tuesday – Chairmen of the Board
“With days running on and on like a marathon until Tuesday” Well, I’ll say this, Chairmen of the Board really know how to make Tuesday meaningful, and that is to be in love. Otherwise, Tuesday’s usually not that special.
Groovy Tuesday – The Smithereens
“Woke up on a groovy Tuesday…” Wouldn’t we always like to wake up on a “groovy Tuesday” instead of just, well, a Tuesday? Anyway, it’s a good driving song to keep you moving through the week.
Tuesday Afternoon – The Moody Blues
“I’m just beginning to see, now I’m on my way…” This track from The Moody Blues album Days of Future Passed, one of the all time great pieces of art as a collective album, is really just a good song. Add it to the album that also includes Nights In White Satin and you really have something greater than the sum of its parts.
“Lying with you on a Tuesday morning” And just like that we’re decades removed from Chairmen of the Board, but we’re in love on Tuesday again. The more things change, I tell ya!
Tuesday’s Gone – Lynyrd Skynyrd
“Tuesday’s gone, with the wind…” I’ll say this for Skynyrd, this song is exactly how a long late summer, early fall Tuesday feels. It’s not bad, it’s not cold, it’s nice, but it’s just slowly trucking on and never moves quite like you want it to, just like time itself.
I’ll also give a hat tip to Metallica’s cover of Tuesday’s gone as well.
Honorable mentions: Love You Till Tuesday by David Bowie, Tuesday’s Dead by Yusuf / Cat Stevens, C U Next Tuesday by Kesha, Hooray for Tuesday by The Minders, Ruby Tuesday by Rolling Stones, Tuesday’s Broken by Sugarland, and Tuesday’s Heartbreak by Stevie Wonder
Wednesday
Awake on Wednesday – The Caulfields
“He wakes up on a Wednesday morning. He can’t remember Tuesday’s mirth.” We’ve all had those days, and Wednesdays tend to be those days more than not. Those days when you just want to be home and when the week is just dragging, which somehow is the unofficial definition of Wednesday.
It’s Already Wednesday – Freya
“And now it’s already Wednesday – How’d three days get wasted?!?” After Fiona Apple and before Avril Lavigne, there was Freya Clausen. This is a woman not to be lumped in with Britney, Christina, or Jessica to name a few. It’s always nice when the women rock. Anyway, when the week does fly by, this is your jam. Where did the time go?
Waiting for Wednesday – Lisa Loeb
“Waiting for Wednesday, I pray you’ll put me on the spot.” Let’s face it, a lot of these middle week songs are relationship songs in one way or another. Waiting for Wednesday is no exception, because both love and life don’t really care what day it is, do they? Also, this is a good song from Tails that obviously gets overlooked by the massive hit “Stay (I Missed You).”
Wednesday Evenin’ Blues – John Lee Hooker
“You know she left me one Wednesday evenin’” Look, when you make these playlists, a lot of the time it’s arbitrary and you can make up your own rules, but really if you can include John Lee Hooker in any given playlist, it’ll be a better playlist for it. So here it is, classic blues from one of the masters.
Wednesday Morning 3 AM – Simon and Garfunkel
“I held up and robbed a hard liquor store” Not everyone is a lyrics person and I get that, but I love the idea that these two harmonizers sing this beautiful song about the crime committed for “twenty-five dollars and pieces of silver.” I don’t know why, but it always gives me a kick.
Honorable mentions: Any Wednesday by The Royal Guardsmen, Just Wednesday by Inspiral Carpets, Wednesday by Tori Amos, Wednesday Like A River by Sheila E, and Wednesday Week by The Undertones.
Thursday
(Thursday) Here’s Why I Did Not Go To Work Today – Harry Nilsson
“Thursday now, that’s a crazy, lazy day.” Similar to John Lee Hooker, no playlist or compilation will ever be worse because you include Harry Nilsson. This 1970s song from Nilsson is about all the days of the week, and how Thursday is the lazy one. Is this true? It probably depends on your particular station.
“And the girls go willing spinning on Jersey Thursday” I don’t know that enough people know Donovan. For example, this track is from the amazing album “Fairytale.” While he is the “Mellow Yellow” guy and, for a smaller audience that guy from that one episode of Futurama, he continues to put out music, with a new studio album released as recently as 2022.
“Thursday then Friday, It’s soon gonna be the weekend…” Let’s be honest here, this song typifies most peoples’ idea of Thursday. Truthfully, “business” when you’re not a paper pusher on Friday is pretty weak, but the slow down starts after lunch on Thursday. At least that was my professional experience.
“And it came to hurt too much for me, to have to play your daytime games.” Another legendary singer/songwriter makes the list, but Jim Croce seems to be just employing the title here, with no obvious Thursday references beyond the title. That said, it’s still a good song from the album “I Got a Name” of which the title track was a fairly big hit compared to the rest of the album.
I Lost Thursday – They Might Be Giants
“I lost Thursday, I had it somewhere…” Remember those loose rules I established for making these playlists? Another one is that if you can include They Might Be Giants, you include They Might Be Giants. Sometimes it really is that simple. Also, don’t lose Thursday, or you’ll never find Friday!
Honorable mentions: Mrs Thursday by Dave Dee Dozy Beaky Mick & Tich, Sweet Thursday by Matt Costa, Thursday by Jess Glynne, Thursday Afternoon by Brian Eno, Thursday Morning by Giles, Giles and Fripp; Thursday’s Child by David Bowie, Thursday’s Keeper by The Orb, and Thursday by The Weeknd
Friday
“Gotta get down on Friday…” So it’s not really my jam, but it was a loved and hated pop phenomenon that spread like wildfire upon its release. While it was annoying, it’s diminished radio play has actually improved this song. Well, at the least I’m not sick of hearing it any more.
“Dancing on a Friday Night” I know this seems hard to believe but The Darkness as a band was more than just “I Believe in a Thing called Love” and this track is also from their debut album Permission to Land. It’s amazing to remember that for one hot minute glam rock was back on the charts on this side of the millennium.
Friday’s Child – Nancy Sinatra
“Friday’s child, hard luck is her brother.” Not every Friday song has to be a party, as not every Friday is a party. Nancy Sinatra is more than just a pair of boots, she can belt it out and this is just a great song.
“You’ve got somethin’ that they all want to know.” Staying with some classics, Them’s Friday’s Child is not a cover, just a completely different song, and it’s equally as good as Nancy’s.
And now for the two most classic days of the week and Friday songs that exist:
Friday on My Mind – The Easybeats
“Tonight I’ll spend my bread, tonight I’ll lose my head.” This is The Easybeats biggest hit, but you can’t hold that against them, it’s a great song. The fact that it escaped as a big hit in 1966, the year that has releases from Bob Dylan, Rolling Stones, The Beatles, and The Beach Boys Pet Sounds, means that this would have to be a killer song to break through!
“It’s Friday, I’m in love” The Easybeats in the previous song and The Cure here are talking about most of the days of the week all coming to a head on Friday. Hopefully, you don’t have to only look forward to Friday. After all, the other days of the week can fill you with something other than dread, but there’s a reason so many songs are Friday songs.
Honorable mentions: Black Friday by Steely Dan, Freaky Friday by Lil Dicky featuring Chris Brown, Bad Friday by Umphrey’s McGee, Finally Friday by George Jones, Friday by Ice Cube, Friday by Joe Jackson, Friday by Phish, Friday Fish Fry by Kelis, Friday I’ll Be Over U by Allison Iraheta, Friday is Forever by We the Kings, Friday Night by Arabesque, Friday Night by Lady A, Friday Night in Dixie by Rhett Atkins, Friday Street by Paul Weller, Friday to Sunday by Justice Crew, Friday’s Child by Will Young, Funky Friday by Dave featuring Fredo, Good Mourning/Black Friday by Megadeth, Hello Friday by Flo Rida with Jason Derulo, Last Friday Night (TGIF) by Katy Perry, Livin’ it Up (Friday Night) by Bell and James, and Thank God It’s Friday by Love & Kisses
Conclusion
So there’s your Monday through Friday Work Week playlist. And before you ask, there will be a Weekend Playlist, but Saturday and Sunday songs number many, many more than all the days of the work week.
This isn’t just an exercise in searching songs for their titles, it’s a great way to discover artists you wouldn’t normally uncover. The algorithms that dictate our music habits fall pitifully short of the outside off-the-wall but in our wheelhouse music suggestions that were once the privy of record store clerks and that one friend who was really into music. Curating a playlist and researching a theme is a great way to uncover artists that you’d only get in that way, and so that is why I love building these playlists.
For this particular list, I’m off to listen to more Freya, because I liked the artists that I would list her as being similar to. I haven’t heard her before, so she’ll get added to my regular listening soon. Without this specific prompt, I don’t know that I would have discovered her.
So, make your own mix using this as a start or come up with your own prompt. If the art of the mixed tape is gone, we might as well replace it with the art of the playlist!