Solar Powered Jams: Songs About The Sun

As the song goes, the sun shines bright on my old Kentucky home. Never is that more true than during the weeks leading up to the Kentucky Derby, where the weather in the Commonwealth is in the goldilocks zone of perfection: just right. Every year, the city shuts nearly down to celebrate Oaks, which occurs the day before the Derby. To celebrate our day in the light, here are our entirely unsequenced selection of songs about the sun to give your day a little extra (solar) energy, whether you’re charging your electric vehicle (EV) or investing in distributed energy resources.

The Beatles – Here Comes The Sun

Is there any other song that could’ve kicked this off? With “Here Comes The Sun,” the Beatles meditate on the reason that we’re here. Singer-songwriter George Harrison praises the joy of the warmth that comes with the spring and summer months, especially after a long cold winter. Conceptually, this is a deceptively simple song, but one that like so many Beatles songs is as catchy as it is memorable. As such, “Here Comes the Sun” is a pure serotonin hit, an ode to the light that comes after the dark, and a potent reminder that the sun will shine again. If you have a radio, you’ve likely heard this song a million times, but I believe that this next time will be extra special. Give is (metaphorical) spin.

E.L.O. – Mr. Blue Skies

A survey in Audacy ranked Mr. Blue Sky by Electric Light Orchestra, aka E.L.O, the happiest song of all time. It’s hard to justify how something makes you feel, but it’s fair to say that “Mr. Blue Sky” is a joyous way to enjoy a clear sky on a bright day. In fact, “Mr. Bright Sky” is in many ways the perfect way to celebrate the solar and other distributed energy resources that requires a cloudless sky to realize. The song was written when songwriter Jeff Lynne committed to trying to write a new record; after weeks of dreary days, he was hit with inspiration when the sun came out and breathed new life into his surroundings. Let Lynne’s escape provide your own and give it a spin now. I promise we aren’t making money off this (but if you know E.L.O. and we can monetize this, hit us in the comments).

Katrina & The Waves – Walking on Sunshine

If you were around in the 80s and have ears, or just know people who were, this song was an inescapable radio jam. Like so much pop music, this song is about love, particularly that high that you feel when you find it with the right person. While our goal here is to promote how wonderful and useful the sun is, it’s telling just how often sunshine is the subject of good feelings. In so many ways, this is a song about vitamin d, in how your mood changes to match the rays of our home star. Here, Katrina & The Waves are in high spirits not just because of their love, but because of that ball of gas that provides so much for us. We can all walk on that same sunshine with (wink wink) the right DERMS solution to cover your demand response and DER programmatic needs, and we can put a little pep in that step by doing so. Listen on:

The Velvet Underground – Who Loves the Sun

A kind of melancholic call-and-response to “Here Comes The Sun,” The Velvet Underground penned a song to the broken-hearted, the folks who aren’t ready for the joy of the sun… yet. When singer Lou Reed asks who loves the sun, he’s more than a little satirical, not in the sun, but in the mocking joy that folks feel when they’re down and out. The thing is, this is catchy as can be, and an ideal reminder that sunny days are not just great for renewable energies, but for renewing your energies when the time is just right. Put this on your Walkman and open the shades a little.

Johnny Cash – You Are My Sunshine

For a little authorial behind the scenes here, “You Are My Sunshine” is a song I sing to my children constantly, although with a verse here and there of my own contrivance (it gets bleak otherwise!). Still, leave it to Johnny Cash to take something that’s already awesome and just make it more so. Here, the Man in Black’s deep baroque gently guides you through the sunshine of his love for you. It’s that paternal nature that puts this over the top, as Cash is a familiar and comforting figure, whose signature voice is just a breath of fresh air. Don’t take my word for it though. Listen below and relax.

Khruangbin & Leon Bridges – Texas Sun

The song “Texas Sun” by the collaborative talents of psychedelic surf rockers Khruangbin and soul singer Leon Bridges practically radiates light. Bridge’s voice is just joyous describing the simple pleasures of just driving down the road with someone you love with the wind in your hair and sun on your face. You can picture yourself enjoying that sunny drive, listening to music as relaxing and idyllic as this, holding your hand out the window to catch waves in the breeze. Given the challenges posed to Texas utilities, “Texas Sun” is a gentle reminder of the wonderful naturally occurring renewable energy right out the window. Fire up your solar panels, crack a window, and hit play below.

Bill Withers – Ain’t No Sunshine

Truly one of the greatest songs of all time, “Ain’t No Sunshine” is a beautiful soul track about longing and loss. Here, singer/songwriter Bill Withers laments the absence of his love, who is his metaphorical source of sunshine and light. Of all the songs about the sun, this is certainly the most mournful, although there is a grain of joy here; love is the light that enhances the day. For Withers, it’s the love of his partner, his romantic or familiar interests, in the importance of the sunshine as something to be sought after and revered. Wither is truly one of the most talented songwriters of all time, and it shows here on his first single, one that celebrates love, sunshine, and looking forward to a brighter (greener), future. Play this with the person you care about the most, and give them a hug.

Songs About the Sun Conclusion

It was fun to take a quick moment from our daily grind to celebrate the power of the sun, whether that’s in sparking joy or powering the future of our renewable energy landscape. Did we miss anything? We probably did! Let us know on social media what your favorite song about the sun is, whether it’s here or something we missed.