I'm a radio. Turn me on.

December 31, 2006 4:49 PM

What's the perfect song to play on the radio, first thing in the morning, New Year's Day?

Getting ready to sign on very early tomorrow morning - I get to play the first song of 2007 on my station. So what's the perfect song to start the broadcast year? I'm leaning toward "Beautiful Day" by U2, because I like the sentiment, but it does feel a little easy/cliched ...

posted by jbickers to media & arts (42 comments total)

Israel Kamakawiwo'ole's mix of Over the Rainbow and It's a Wonderful World.

However, I'm a bit biased, as it was the song that ended my mother's memorial service in November.
posted by Kickstart70 at 4:56 PM on December 31, 2006 [1 favorite]

Very interesting suggestion - believe it or not, that is unquestionably the most requested song we get. Heartbreakingly lovely.

(And condolences on your loss, by the way.)
posted by jbickers at 4:59 PM on December 31, 2006

There's always that other U2 song, "New Year's Day", but I'd go with Smashing Pumpkin's "Today" or maybe "This Will Be Our Year" by The Zombies.
posted by booner at 5:00 PM on December 31, 2006

Kickstart, I love that song.

You might try Jessica by the Allman Brothers. It's cheerful, upbeat, and very positive.
posted by LoriFLA at 5:01 PM on December 31, 2006

New Years Day by U2 has got a lot of the qualities, as well as Beautiful Day which I agree is very upbeat and a good message.

American Pie (Don Mclean) would be a good sing along but maybe this is more for the night before (which is what we are just coming back from) hence why my selection is a bit limited.

Enjoy, whatever you choose in the end...

Happy New Year!
posted by pettins at 5:08 PM on December 31, 2006

An American Tune - Paul Simon:

"Still, tomorrow's going to be another working day,
And I'm trying to get some rest.
That's all I'm trying,
To get some rest."
posted by SPrintF at 5:10 PM on December 31, 2006

I would play Nina Simone - Feeling Good
posted by dydecker at 5:11 PM on December 31, 2006

I Need More Time - The Meters

"I need more time, for my, dreams to, come true."
posted by furtive at 5:13 PM on December 31, 2006

Rainy Night in Georgia, Hole in My Shoe[any takers on that one?], Good Day Sunshine, repeat.
posted by Freedomboy at 5:18 PM on December 31, 2006

Watch the Sunrise by Big Star.
posted by jrossi4r at 5:30 PM on December 31, 2006

Husker Du - New Day Rising (youtube). I'd link to the lyrics but there aren't really any.
posted by doublesix at 5:31 PM on December 31, 2006

I should mention that the song Jessica is an instrumental. It's one of those songs that make you glad you are alive. It's a mood boost. It's an "open the curtains and let the sun shine in" kind of song.
posted by LoriFLA at 5:32 PM on December 31, 2006

I Can See Clearly Now, by Johnny Nash. Great way to start a day, or a year.

Oh, and ditto Jessica as an alternate. What a great upbeat song.
posted by deadmessenger at 5:37 PM on December 31, 2006

Chelsea Morning - Joni Mitchell. Any Joni, actually.
posted by wsg at 5:45 PM on December 31, 2006

"Curse You All Men" by Emperor is always a good one. Low on sugary schmaltz and ferociously complex, it's good for driving out the stuffiness and lethargy of a New Years Day hangover.
It's also a lot more appropriate for the times than any of that crap that pretends that it's a wonderful world or that next year is going to be any less awful than this.
posted by nowonmai at 5:46 PM on December 31, 2006

The The - "This Is the Day Your Life Will Surely Change."

(sorry - don't know the real title)

Oh. And you know another kind of hip, cool, forgotten song?

It's the song that Kris Kringle's future wife, Jessica, sings in that Christmas special, the one with the Winter Warlock and Fred Astaire as the narrator - "My World's Beginning Today."

It's kind of sappy, but I heard it last week and I've been singing it ever since.
posted by rougy at 5:50 PM on December 31, 2006

Death Can for Cutie's "The New Year." Lyrics:

"so this is the new year.
and i don't feel any different.
the clanking of crystal
explosions off in the distance (in the distance).

so this is the new year
and I have no resolutions
for self assigned penance
for problems with easy solutions

so everybody put your best suit or dress on
let's make believe that we are wealthy for just this once
lighting firecrackers off on the front lawn
as thirty dialogues bleed into one

i wish the world was flat like the old days
then i could travel just by folding a map
no more airplanes, or speedtrains, or freeways
there'd be no distance that can hold us back."
posted by JPowers at 5:59 PM on December 31, 2006

"'Tis A Gift To Be Simple" and "Fanfare For The Common Man"-- both by Aaron Copland.
Sunrise music.
Washing away the pain and dirt and residue of the day music.
Brings tears to my eyes just thinking about it.
posted by Dizzy at 6:02 PM on December 31, 2006

The Beatles - Here Comes The Sun has that 'fresh start'/redemptive feeling

Foo Fighters - Next Year has a wistful nature; maybe it'll help someone keep a resolution?
posted by kimota at 6:06 PM on December 31, 2006

Also, The Call's Let The Day Begin
posted by kimota at 6:08 PM on December 31, 2006

oingo boingo - dead man's party.
posted by thilmony at 6:21 PM on December 31, 2006

Song to the siren by This Mortal Coil
posted by fire&wings at 6:35 PM on December 31, 2006

Natasha Bedingfield...UnWritten?

I am unwritten, can't read my mind, I'm undefined
I'm just beginning, the pen's in my hand, ending unplanned

Staring at the blank page before you
Open up the dirty window
Let the sun illuminate the words that you could not find

Reaching for something in the distance
So close you can almost taste it
Release your inhibitions
Feel the rain on your skin
No one else can feel it for you
Only you can let it in
No one else, no one else
Can speak the words on your lips
Drench yourself in words unspoken
Live your life with arms wide open
Today is where your book begins
The rest is still unwritten

Oh, oh, oh
posted by garbo at 6:37 PM on December 31, 2006

Wash Away by Joe Purdy. Sorta captures the sadness and freshness of the New Year.

I got troubles oh, but not today
Cause they're gonna wash away
They're gonna wash away

And I have sins Lord, but not today
Cause they're gonna wash away
They're gonna wash away

And I had friends oh, but not today
Cause they're done washed away
They're done washed away

And oh, I've been cryin'
And oh, I've been cryin'
And oh, no more cryin'
No, no more cryin' here

We get along Lord, but not today
Cause we gonna wash away
We gonna wash away

And I got troubles oh, but not today
Cause they gonna wash away
This old heart gonna take them away
posted by Slarty Bartfast at 6:47 PM on December 31, 2006

"Back in Black", AC/DC.
posted by solid-one-love at 7:07 PM on December 31, 2006

Perfect Day The Velvet Underground
I'll Take You There The Staple Sisters
Everyone Van Morrison
posted by Chrischris at 7:43 PM on December 31, 2006

Kraftwerk - Autobahn

Vor uns liegt ein weites Tal
Die Sonne scheint mit Glitzerstrahl

(In front of us is a wide valley
The sun is shining with glittering rays)

Plus: it's 21 minutes long, giving you a chance to get your own New Year on in the booth.
posted by jimfl at 7:59 PM on December 31, 2006

"New Years" by Asobi Seksu. Dreamy, catchy, poppy and all in Japanese save two words.
posted by jeffmshaw at 8:35 PM on December 31, 2006

This is maybe a little silly, but a song that never fails to make me happy is ELO's "Mr. Blue Sky" - great for starting a day or a year.
posted by naoko at 9:00 PM on December 31, 2006

Radio Radio
posted by Listener at 10:18 PM on December 31, 2006

"We're All In This Together" by Old Crow Medicine Show. Lyrics follow:

Well my friend, well I see your face so clearly
Little bit tired, little bit worn through the years
You sound nervous, you seem lonely
I hardly recognize your voice on the telephone

In between I remember
Just before we wound up broken down
Drive out to the edge of the highway
Follow that lonesome dead-end roadside sound

Chorus:
We’re all in this thing together
Walkin’ the line between faith and fear
This life don’t last forever
When you cry I taste the salt in your tears

Well my friend, let’s put this thing together
And walk the path that worn out feet have trod
If you wanted we can go home forever
Give up your jaded ways, spell your name to God

(Chorus)

All we are is a picture in a mirror
Fancy shoes to grace our feet
All that there is is a slow road to freedom
Heaven above and the devil beneath

(Chorus)
posted by StrangeTikiGod at 11:21 PM on December 31, 2006

There's a fantastic mashup of U2's "New Year's Day" and Whitney Houston's "I Wanna Dance With Somebody". It's called "I Wanna Dance With Some Bono" and was put together by Go Home Productions in 2002. To my knowledge it's not available any longer on the web, but you should be able to soulseek for it.
posted by kowalski at 11:24 PM on December 31, 2006

Good Morning, Bubblegum by melissa may and sleepy pete (mefi compilation).
posted by bingo at 11:32 PM on December 31, 2006

Those Were the Days, by Mary Hopkins.
posted by Dave Faris at 1:46 AM on January 1, 2007

Well ... its 5:12AM in Louisville. What did you play?
posted by doublesix at 2:14 AM on January 1, 2007

Well ... its 5:12AM in Louisville. What did you play?

Went with an old standby ... "Monday morning rock" by Marshall Crenshaw. Will undoubtedly spin several of these other excellent suggestions before the day is out.

Thanks, all!
posted by jbickers at 2:50 AM on January 1, 2007

Oh, and "This will be our year" by the Zombies. Truly excellent.
posted by jbickers at 3:04 AM on January 1, 2007

Interestingly the first song I heard today was "Life During Wartime" by Talking Heads. It's almost recommendable.
posted by rolypolyman at 12:11 PM on January 1, 2007

Sobering Up. But, clearly, I'm biased.
posted by armoured-ant at 1:22 PM on January 1, 2007

So....what was chosen?
posted by Kickstart70 at 10:43 PM on January 2, 2007

Please ignore me.
posted by Kickstart70 at 1:28 AM on January 6, 2007

A little late to this one, but I would have suggested "Days" by Elvis Costello.
posted by ontic at 10:47 PM on February 26, 2007