There is nothing like a little irony in the early morning to get the day off on the left foot. Yesterday we managed to enjoy a walk in a hailstorm and today the weather is even wetter so a little sunshine might improve our mood.
“You Are the Sunshine of My Life” is a 1973 single released by Stevie Wonder. The song became Wonder’s third number-one single on the Billboard chart. It won Wonder a Grammy Award, and was nominated for both Record of the Year and Song of the Year. This song was the second single released from the 1972 album entitled Talking Book, which stayed at number one on the R&B albums chart for three weeks.
“Tequila Sunrise” is a 1973 song written by Don Henley and Glenn Frey, and recorded by the Eagles. It was the first single from the band’s second album, Desperado. The song peaked at number 64 on the Billboard.
“Walking on Sunshine” is a song written by Kim Rew for Katrina and the Waves’ 1983 debut album. The re-recorded version was at first released on the band’s 1985 self-titled album as the album’s second single and reached No. 4 in Australia, No. 9 in the United States, and No. 8 in the United Kingdom. It was the Waves’ first US top 40 hit, and their biggest success in the United Kingdom until “Love Shine a Light” (1997). Originally conceived of as a ballad, Katrina Leskanich decided to belt the song out as a more upbeat song. In a 2012 interview, however, Leskanich denied this, saying, “Nope, never. Never a ballad. In fact, the original [1983 version] is much faster.
“The Sun Goes Down” was a single released by Thin Lizzy, the last single to be released before they split in 1983. It is featured on the group’s album from that year, Thunder and Lightning. The song was written by Phil Lynott and Darren Wharton, and Lynott said at the time, “I think that one is a nice note to go out on. I can see it being played on the radio and fully believe it has great chart potential.” The single entered the UK charts in August 1983, reaching No. 52.
“Sunrise” is the lead single of American singer-songwriter Norah Jones’ second studio album, Feels Like Home (2004). Released in January 2004, it reached number four in Canada and number 30 in the United Kingdom. Despite failing to chart on the US Billboard, the single was certified Gold by the RIAA for sales of 500,000 copies. The song won Best Female Pop Vocal Performance at the 2005 Grammy Awards. In the same year, it was featured in the film Because of Winn-Dixie.
“Pocketful of Sunshine” is a song recorded by Natasha Bedingfield. It was released in January 2008 as the second single from her second North American studio album of the same title (2008). Bedingfield co-wrote the song together with American songwriter Danielle Brisebois and American musician and songwriter John Shanks; It was not released in Europe until April 2011, when it was released as the lead single from her third European studio album Strip Me Away (2011).
