Sunday songs of Western music: world classics and popular hits
When you look through lists of Western songs, you notice there are a lot of titles that use the word “Sunday,” don’t you?
In many countries overseas where Christianity is prevalent, Sunday is seen as a day of worship and a holiday, so it might be considered a special day of the week.
In this article, we’ll introduce a selection of songs from abroad that take Sunday as their theme, all in one go!
We’ve picked from a wide range of genres, from rock bands and jazz to pop.
Be sure to take your time listening while checking out the lyrics.
Sunday songs in Western music: world-famous and popular tracks (1–10)
Sunday Will Never Be The SameSpanky & Our Gang
In contrast to the song’s upbeat vibe, this track sings of the sorrow of losing a lover.
The piece introduced here is “Sunday Will Never Be The Same” by Spanky and Our Gang, a band active in the United States in the 1960s.
Its cheerful sound evokes an old amusement park or an American carnival, and the jaunty melody and vocals are delightful.
However, the song’s narrator is actually reminiscing about an ordinary Sunday spent in the park with an ex-lover.
It carries a poignant sentiment: “We can never return to that Sunday that made me feel so warm.” Listening with the lyrics’ meaning in mind lets you feel the contrast between the song’s brightness and the sadness imbued within it even more strongly.
Lazing On A Sunday AfternoonQueen
This song exudes a steadfast determination to absolutely laze around on Sunday afternoons.
It’s “Lazing on a Sunday Afternoon” from the legendary rock band Queen, included on their masterpiece A Night at the Opera.
The eccentric week imagined by the outrageous rock star Freddie Mercury is delightful, and you’ll surely find yourself relating to his obsession with days off.
Freddie loved tearing around on a bicycle, and in this song he slyly slips in a verse about riding one.
It’s a track that feels like a comedy-heavy musical!
Sunday MorningThousand Horses
When Japanese people think of American music, country music comes to mind.
Its simple songs can sometimes be upbeat and sometimes melancholic.
Even within the United States, there are regions where country music is especially popular, and one of them is Nashville, Tennessee.
A Thousand Horses, a band active on the front lines of the music scene in this fiercely competitive country stronghold, released “Sunday Morning” in 2015.
The song is sung from a Christian perspective that reflects their roots.
Sunday holds special meaning for them, and this celebratory track honors being born on a Sunday morning.
Sunday MorningKaiser Chiefs
The Kaiser Chiefs are a British rock band who have performed at Fuji Rock several times in the past.
They’re popular for a sound reminiscent of 1990s British rock, like Blur or Pulp.
This is their song “Sunday Morning,” released in 2016.
Even a phrase that should have a refreshing ring to it—“Sunday morning”—turns ironic in their hands.
That’s their sound, and a quality only they can deliver.
Church on SundayGreen Day
Speaking of pop punk, Green Day definitely comes to mind.
Many people probably got interested in punk rock because of them.
One of their songs related to Sunday is “Church on Sunday.” It’s an upbeat, fast-paced track that’s quintessentially Green Day.
The song portrays a protagonist who’s willing to change their lifestyle to be with the person they love.
It’s also known as a proposal song, making it a very romantic track.
Sunday SundayBlur
Blur, a rock band that was hugely active in the UK during the ’90s, had a distinctive languid vibe and a clattering, aggressive band sound that greatly influenced the bands that followed.
Damon Albarn, whom Billie Eilish has named as one of her favorite singer-songwriters, served as the band’s vocalist.
Their 1993 release “Sunday Sunday” sings about a traditional English Sunday.
It’s a song with a catchy melody and phrases that stick in your head.
SundayDavid Bowie
A song that came to heal the souls of the wounded.
Legendary musician David Bowie’s 25th album, Heathen.
Chosen as its opening track is Sunday.
This song is imbued with a solemn beauty that could be called David Bowie’s own hymn.
Now, the reason this song came to heal people’s souls is that the year before the album was released, the worst coordinated terrorist attacks in American history occurred.
Although this song seems to have been written earlier, when you read the lyrics, there are parts that feel as though they speak of that event.
In the face of overwhelming shock and immense sorrow, this song offered a gentle yet powerful light to those who had lost their way on how to go on living.