Sunday songs of Western music: world classics and popular hits

Lazy SundayThe Small Faces

The Small Faces – Lazy Sunday Afternoon

If you want to spend a cheerful Sunday without overthinking things, I recommend the song “Lazy Sunday.” It’s included on the album Ogden’s Nut Gone Flake, released in 1968 by the rock band Small Faces, who were active in the 1960s.

The bright melody line set to a brisk rhythm is striking, and the lyrics—expressing candid feelings with a touch of irony—are irresistibly relatable.

It’s the perfect number for a laid-back Sunday afternoon BGM.

Why not tune into the youthful message of this quintessential mods band?

Another Park, Another SundayThe Doobie Brothers

Another Park, Another Sunday (2006 Remaster)

One of the bands that epitomize West Coast rock, the Doobie Brothers.

Featured here is Another Park, Another Sunday from their 1974 album What Were Once Vices Are Now Habits.

The song is said to be based on lead vocalist Tom Johnston’s real-life experience of heartbreak.

The park that appears in the song is also said to be a place filled with memories of the girlfriend he parted ways with.

Sunday Bloody SundayU2

Sunday Bloody Sunday (Live From Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Colorado, USA / 1983 / Remastered 2021)

U2 is an Irish rock band that holds concerts on a world-leading scale in both size and attendance, and they also draw attention with songs that tackle global social issues.

Their track “Sunday Bloody Sunday” was released in 1983.

Its sensational message, reflecting the social climate of the time, strikes a chord.

The energetic band sound etched into its mid-tempo groove is also memorable.

It’s a Sunday song that delivers straightforward feelings through a rock performance.

Give it a listen—a track that reminds you what rock is all about.

Blue SundayThe Doors

The Doors – Blue Sunday

A song I’d love you to listen to on a laid-back Sunday is “Blue Sunday.” It’s by The Doors, an American rock band active since the 1960s, and it appears on their 1970 album Morrison Hotel.

The bluesy performance that hints at the beginning of a story is striking.

The heartfelt lyrics—about a melancholy protagonist who meets a girl—are also noteworthy.

With a melody that’s warm yet bittersweet, it’s perfect for chill-out moments.

Give this track a listen—it calls to mind a modern work of art.

Remembering SundayAll Time Low ft. Juliet Simms

All Time Low – Remembering Sunday ft. Juliet Simms (Live From Straight To DVD)

All Time Low, the American band that’s essential when talking about the 2000s youth pop-punk scene.

They also won popularity for their striking looks and high-energy live performances.

Among their songs, the one we recommend for a Sunday listen is “Remembering Sunday.” It was included on their 2007 album So Wrong, It’s Right.

Its passionate sound, unfolding with a dramatic progression, packs an emotional punch.

Be sure to pay attention to the poetic lyrics that depict a romantic story between a man and a woman.

SundaySonic youth

Sonic Youth – Sunday

If you’re looking for a Sunday song with an ennui-tinged atmosphere, “Sunday” is a great pick.

It was included on A Thousand Leaves, the 1998 album by Sonic Youth, a band that epitomizes the American indie rock scene.

Despite its seemingly simple instrumentation, the track unfolds into a spacious, dreamy band sound.

The lyrics, which evoke a mysterious relationship with the person you’re spending Sunday with, are also a must-check.

With experimental instrumental passages and more, it’s a rock number packed with highlights.

SundayBloc Party

Bloc Party – Sunday

A song included on the second album by the British rock band Bloc Party, A Weekend in the City.

It describes the blissful state on a Sunday morning after spending Saturday night at a nightclub.

The album reached No.

2 on the charts in the UK and Ireland.