10 Songs from Musicals about Sunnier Days
Some days we just want a little sunshine.
The world is a chaotic place and living in a country often plagued by disasters (natural and otherwise) poses an additional challenge. The gloom of rainy days gets us down, reminding us of grim realities like the possibility of floods engulfing our homes. While we wait for the sun to shine on us again (literally and figuratively), we have to find ways of keeping our spirits up.
Fortunately for theater fans, musicals have songs for any season, especially when you need a pick-me-up on drab, dismal days. Characters rejoice when the sun is shining and seeing the blue skies of summer is a sign that their day will go well. For those who aren’t enjoying the sun yet, their songs are prayers and they hang their hopes on the skies clearing up so that they can see their future and let their spirits soar. Some songs are more philosophical, musing on how time passes with every sunrise and sunset and how, after every storm, there will always be a rainbow.
It seems like the desire for clear skies and sunshine transcends all cultures and creeds because it is symbolic of everyone’s desire for happiness, among other things. As we sing along to tunes where characters chase the sun, we know that they are also chasing their dreams.
So give this playlist a listen and hope you get a boost out of a dozen songs about brighter, happier, sunnier days:
“Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin’” from Oklahoma!
Oh, what a beautiful day
I’ve got a beautiful feelin’
Everything’s goin’ my way…”
“Bikini Bottom Day” from SpongeBob SquarePants the Musical
Bikini Bottom
How I love this town
Bikini Bottom
When the sun shines down
On a beautiful Bikini Bottom day…”
“Let the Sun Shine In” from Hair
Now everybody just sing along
Let the sun shine in
Open up your heart and let it shine on in
When you are lonely, let it shine on
Got to open up your heart and let it shine on in…”
“Vuelie/Let the Sun Shine On” from Frozen the Musical
Let our lives be free
Let the promises of our land be sure and strong
Let our hearts be blown by this melody…”
“Summertime” from Porgy and Bess
You’re going to rise up singing
Then you’ll spread your wings
And you’ll take the sky
But ’til that morning
There’s a’nothing can harm you
With daddy and mammy standing by…”
“Spread a Little Sunshine” from Pippin
Things will always work out
And if we all could spread a little sunshine
All could light a little fire
We all would be a little closer
To our heart’s desire…”
“Over the Rainbow” from The Wizard of the Oz
Skies are blue
And the dreams that you dare to dream
Really do come true…”
“Sunrise, Sunset” from Fiddler on the Roof
Sunrise, sunset
Swiftly fly the years
One season following another
Laiden with happiness and tears…”
“Sun is Gonna Shine” from Bright Star
Something tells me it’s gonna be okay
The sun is gonna shine again
The sun is gonna shine again…”
“Tomorrow” from Annie
Bet your bottom dollar that tomorrow
There’ll be sun
The sun’ll come out tomorrow
So you got to hang on ’til tomorrow
Come what may…”
You can listen to the full playlist below.
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