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.
Now, we’re on to the weekend, as I’ve already taken care of the Work Week. Unlike our previously playlist, the days in the weekend are fairly split pretty evenly down the middle when you look for songs about Saturday or Sunday. It’s a harsh difference from the Monday- and Friday- heavy days of the work week.
So what does this tell us? It just tells us that artists equally tend to enjoy Saturday and Sunday. But not entirely equally. Saturday Night is common in Saturday songs just as Sunday Morning is common in Sunday songs. Apparently, that midnight connection is important for the muse of a weekend song.
So what was my criteria here? It’s the same as it was for the workweek playlist. 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 Saturday and Sunday. Yes, there may be some covers in here, and yes, Saturday or Sunday has to appear somewhere in the title of the song, because if we just went with lyrics, we’d be dealing with way too much music to parse through.
With that, let this playlist carry you through the weekend before you start the work week all over again.
Saturday
Saturday Morning Confusion – Bobby Russell
“It’s Saturday morning confusion, if you think you can sleep it’s illusion.” I don’t know if Saturday mornings still exist like they did, but this is such a window into the past that it’s nostalgic lyricism is almost poetry. Almost.
Saturday in the Park – Chicago
“People dancing, people laughing, a man selling ice cream” “Can you dig it, Yes, I can.” This is such a great Saturday song. And those horns are superb!
“Tuesday’s such a bother, Wednesday’s like watchin’ dead flowers grow.” Continuing a trend in some of these songs, many Saturday songs call out the rest of the week in some fashion, often Monday. But some go through the whole week, and Kid Rock does just that.
“I’m a weapon for Saturday, I’m the baddest car in the parking lot.” What Lolo has created with this song is to capture and encapsulate the feeling of a Bond theme. That’s how I would describe this song.
Saturdays – Twin Shadow (feat. HAIM)
“Saturdays, When we dance in the dark in the room, Where it all gets real, I know you know how it feels.” The modern retro feel of this song is perfect. It may have been written on this side of the millennium, but it feels and sounds like the other side of the millennium to me. And I should know, I’m old enough to remember those years that started with 19 and not 20.
Saturday Night – Bay City Rollers
“S-A-T-U-R-D-A-Y NIGHT.” It’s impossible to create this playlist without this classic. It’s not my favorite, but to not include it felt criminal.
Someday I’ll Be Saturday Night – Bon Jovi
“I’m feeling like a Monday, but someday I’ll be Saturday night.” Bon Jovi might be the most underrated Americana rocker lyrically. I’m not sure how his music translated across other cultures, but he is definitively American. And of course, everyone prefers Saturday to Monday, right?
American Saturday Night – Brad Paisley
“It’s a French kiss, Italian ice, Spanish moss in the moonlight, Just another American Saturday night.” There is something amazing about how Paisley utilizes the globalisation of everything. And here I was thinking there was no real culture to country music *wink wink*.
Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting – Elton John
“I’m a juvenile product of the working class, Whose best friend floats in the bottom of a glass.” I’m not sure about you, but when it comes to Saturday songs, this is usually one of the first I think of. And it’s really good, too. There’s a reason it still gets radio play.
I’ve Got Five Dollars and It’s Saturday Night – Gene Pitney featuring George Jones
“There’s music and a-dancin’ and a-flirtin’ and fun, It’s gonna go on until a way past one.” Who doesn’t want a window into the 1950s or 60s or 70s, perhaps even the 80s, when $5 was enough to have a great Saturday Night! Perhaps 80s is pushing it…
Say Amen (Saturday Night) – Panic! At The Disco
“I pray for the wicked on the weekend, Mama, can I get another amen?” This might be the current replacement for the Bay City Rollers Saturday Night from earlier in the list. You hear it all the time. Perhaps you hear it too much? You be the judge on that.
Another Saturday Night – Sam Cooke
“I got some money, ‘cause I just got paid, Now how I wish I had some chick to talk to. I’m in an awful way.” How can you not love Sam Cooke? This classic has made its way into many soundtracks, but it belongs in your playlist too!
Honorable Mentions: High ‘n’ Dry (Saturday Night) by Def Leppard, Jukebox Saturday Night by Glen Miller, Saturday Night Fish Fry by Louis Jordan, Saturday Gigs by Mott the Hoople, Saturday Morning by Rachael Yamagata, Saturday by Rebecca Black and Dave Days, Saturday Night by Suede, One More Saturday Night by The Grateful Dead, Saturday Night by Brian Wilson featuring Nate Ruess, Drive-In Saturday by David Bowie, I Love Saturday by Erasure, Saturday by Fall Out Boy, Livingston Saturday Night by Jimmy Buffett, Almost Saturday Night by John Fogerty, Saturday Night Special by Lynyrd Skynyrd, A Month of Saturdays by R.E.M., Black Saturday by Soundgarden, 10:15 Saturday Night by The Cure, Saturday Night by The Misfits, Saturday’s Child by The Monkees, (Looking for) The Heart of Saturday Night by Tom Waits, Saturday Night by Travis Barker featuring Transplants and Slash
Sunday
“Sunday sunrise shining through my window pane, Chasing away my cares with all the pouring rain.” Canadian treasure Anne Murray starts us off with a Sunday Sunrise, because it sounds and feels appropriate to do so.
“Driving slow on Sunday morning, And I never want to leave.” If I have to go out on a Sunday morning, I won’t hold up traffic. But if there’s every a day not to be in a hurry on, it’s Sunday, especially Sunday Morning!
Sunday Morning – The Velvet Underground, Nico
“It’s just the wasted years so close behind.” It’s not that hard to put this song on the list. Not only is it amazing, but if you ever make lists and you can include The Velvet Underground, do it.
“Oh, you came in with the breeze on Sunday morning.” Do people still remember how great No Doubt was, and that Tragic Kingdom is one of the best 90s albums? I think it might be.
“Sunday morning I don’t have time to take no rest.” The same logic that dictates when you can include The Velvet Underground also goes for Procol Harum. This band is so much more than just “A Whiter Shade of Pale,” even though that song is amazing. Also, take a rest!
Gloomy Sunday – Billie Holiday
“Sunday is gloomy.” Not every Sunday can be happy and restful. Sometimes, as Billie sings, “Sunday is gloomy,” so just enjoy her voice and this classic song.
“Sunday, Sunday, here again in tidy attire.” I’m not quite sure why, but this might be the most representative song for those under 20 as a timeless generational anthem that still resonates.
“This old car could find its own way home.” As a picture of another time and perhaps something that people just don’t do anymore, this encapsulates the concept of a Sunday Drive like the ones in old sitcoms and movies or that your folks used to talk about.
Sunday Roast – Courtney Barnett
“I know it’s been a long week.” Something about the driving beat and bassline just makes this feel like a lazy Sunday afternoon.
Ev’ry Day’ll Be Sunday When the Town Goes Dry – Edward Meeker
“Mister Prohibition says John Barleycorn must go.” This prohibition song is just pure gold!
“The key to everything I crawl for Sunday.” Even Iggy Pop needs a day to himself. If that doesn’t get you to stop working weekends, what will?
“Bright colors fade away on such a sunny Sunday.” It would seem folly to have anyone less than Joni Mitchell serenade you on a “Sunny Sunday.” I can’t think of a singular voice more peaceful.
Lazing on a Sunday Afternoon – Queen
“Fridays I go painting in the Louvre.” Just 75 seconds of musical and lyrical genius.
Pleasant Valley Sunday – The Monkees
“Another Pleasant Valley Sunday, Here in status symbol land.” The Monkees were supposed to spoof The Beatles, but “here in status symbol land” turns this song from a banger into a message for the ages!
“Steal away from a drunken night and wake me up on Sunday.” These days may be far behind me, but it doesn’t mean I can’t listen and reminisce about what was.
Honorable Mentions: Sunday Bloody Sunday by U2, (One of These Days) Sunday’s Gonna’ Come on Tuesday by The New Establishment, Another Park, Another Sunday by The Doobie Brothers, Blue Sunday by The Doors, Closed On Sunday by Kanye West, Everyday Is Like Sunday by Morrissey, I Met Him on a Sunday by The Shirelles, Like a Sunday Morning by Lana Cantrell, Loving you Sunday Morning by Scorpions, Naked Sunday by Stone Temple Pilots, One Sunday Morning (Song for Jane Smiley’s Boyfriend) by Wilco, Remembering Sunday by All Time Low featuring Juliet Simms, Suicide Sunday by The Friday Night Boys, Sunday by David Bowie, Sunday by Sonic Youth, Sunday Afternoon in the Park by Van Halen, Sunday Mornin’ Comin’ Down by Kris Kristofferson (or Johnny Cash), Sunday Morning by Earth Wind and Fire, Sunday Morning Jetpack by Big Sean featuring The-Dream, Sunday Morning Sunshine by Harry Chapin, Sunday Rain by Foo Fighters, Sunday Will Never Be the Same by Spanky and Our Gang, You’re My Sunday by Jessica Simpson, A Sunday Kind of Love by Claude Thornhill and his Orchestra, Sunday by Bloc Party, Sunday by Foals, Sunday by Hurts, Sunday for Tea by Peter and Gordon, Sunday Girl by Blondie, Sunday Morning by Kaiser Chiefs, Sunday Morning Call by Oasis, Sunday Papers by Joe Jackson
Separate or together, regardless of which day of the weekend it is, these songs form the basis of a pretty exciting and even a refreshing weekend. The honorable mentions are longer than normal, because it was hard to get some of this list pared down, and I didn’t want anyone to think I skimped on the research.
Still, what songs did I forget? What honorable mention would have made it to your list? Reach out and let me know.