“The Magic Music Makes Your Morning Mood”
Sometimes the iPod gets it right. This morning I put in my earbuds, pressed “shuffle songs,” and held my breath — then Band of Horses’ “Funeral” came on, and I knew it was going to be a great day.
The first song you hear in the morning is like breakfast — the most important sonic meal of the day. It sets your mood, gives you a chance to wake up and breathe, and gives you hope that the day will not only be bearable, but wonderful. At its best, our morning music — whether in iPod mega-libraries, or heard over the radio — touches something almost magical inside, like Rush says in “The Spirit of Radio”:
Begin the day
With a friendly voice
A companion, unobtrusive
Plays that song that’s so elusive
And the magic music makes your morning mood
Of course, you end up praying that the next few songs will also rule. Sometimes they do — today, for example, “Funeral” was followed by Millie Jackson’s excellent “Love Doctor” (from the soundtrack to Cleopatra Jones). Then you know the whole day is going to be excellent.
What was your first song today?
My first song always comes at my 8:00 work out. (Yes, I’m making a concerted effort to get back down to my buff 175 lbs self) I always start with a 20 minute stair climber workout and I start my gym playlist with AC/DC’s Thuderstruck just to ease the kinks out of the joints. What comes next is random but this morning it happened to be Rage Against the Machine’s Killing in the Name Of…
I have to watch not to play my gym playlist in the car since several of the songs have naughty words. Especially the above RAM song which ends with a continuous refrain of MF expletives. Hey, they are raging!
Comment by Clark Goble — December 29, 2006 @ 12:43 pm
BTW - can I say how much more I love my little Nano over my 2cd gen iPod I’ve had for years? I still love my old one which holds 10 GB to my Nano’s 2 GB. But for the gym I can just strap it to my arm and not have to worry about cables getting snagged everywhere. Very, very nice and amazingly cheap, all things considered. (Around $100)
Comment by Clark Goble — December 29, 2006 @ 12:45 pm
Thunderstruck! Clark, good call for the gym. Myself, I like to wake up to a slow-starting song that ends up with some power, like “Funeral”. I guess the prototype is “Stairway to Heaven”.
Comment by Supergenius — December 29, 2006 @ 12:47 pm
My first song was the Psychedelic Furs’ “Love My Way.” On a huge 80s bender today. I’ve listened to Visage - “Fade to Grey” about three times.
I love “The Funeral” but I also have to laugh at it. At every occasion he’s ready for a funeral? That’s nice.
Comment by Susan M — December 29, 2006 @ 12:48 pm
Those Nanos can also do cool stuff with Nikes. Some sort of software that lets you analyze how your running pace is affected by the music you’re listening to.
Comment by Susan M — December 29, 2006 @ 12:50 pm
all things SPEARHEAD is always the best way to start the day, especially when working out.
Comment by melfranti — December 29, 2006 @ 1:01 pm
I’m not a morning person, so I usually avoid listening to anything I really like early in the morning.
By the time I get in the car to go to work, I’m ready to feel human again. My first song today was off the mix cd that GibbyG made for me: Elliot Smith’s “Everything Means Nothing to Me.”
Comment by NFlanders — December 29, 2006 @ 1:10 pm
I usually have music just going through my head. This morning was God Bird, by Sufjan.
Comment by J. Stapley — December 29, 2006 @ 3:33 pm
I always thought it was “the magic music makes your morning move.” Then again, I’m smart enough not to engage in a land war in Asia or debate Rush lyrics with a Canadian.
Comment by BTD Greg — December 29, 2006 @ 4:30 pm
Er… the theme song to “Teletubbies”- ugh.
Comment by tracy m — December 29, 2006 @ 5:05 pm
in addition to in-n-out, i’m also in love with tracy. i felt sheepish when i realized today began with “she’ll be comin’ around the mountain.” but that sure beats teletubbies!!! eh-oh!
Comment by in-n-out lover — December 29, 2006 @ 6:43 pm
Similar to Tracy, my first song today was Hot Potato, by The Wiggles. I heard it three more times during the day. It is tinged with special sadness recently as Greg (the Yellow Wiggle) has retired due to illness and has been replaced by Professor Singalottasonga.
Comment by a random John — December 29, 2006 @ 10:06 pm
I love the sound of Bach in the morning.
Comment by Jack — December 30, 2006 @ 2:28 pm
My morning commute is saved for sports talk radio. Sorry, I know that is probably not what you had in mind but if I just can’t stand the talk show host on a particular morning I am most likely to pop in Pearl Jam or Weezer.
Comment by Jared — December 30, 2006 @ 3:14 pm
Ned - Glad to hear the mix is still getting air time during the commute. I have many nice things to say about your mix when that thread starts.
I go through phases of first songs that I hear in the morning. Right now it’s Beck’s cover of diamond dogs.
Comment by gibbyg — December 30, 2006 @ 7:58 pm
Started my morning with the theme music from the Nancy Drew: Message in a Haunted Mansion game. Ominous. Creepy. Myst-er-ious.
Comment by Allison — December 31, 2006 @ 2:33 pm
My first is always the theme song to PBS’s “It’s a Big Big World” because my son asks me to turn it on in the morning. It’s a cool song to wake up to, but I usually drown it out with rock on the way to work.
Comment by David J — December 31, 2006 @ 3:22 pm