10 Songs to Sing to Bring an Early Spring

This article comes from Shawn Leonhardt for 30 Day Singer and Guitar Tricks

By the end of winter, it is common to have the blues! The lack of sunshine and staying indoors is well known for causing seasonal depression and just a general gloomy disposition. However, with music, we can change those blues into a smile and even put a little pep in our step! Here are 10 songs to sing to help bring an early spring and put you in a sunny state of mind. These are perfect songs for students still learning how to sing.

The songs below span almost 100 years, and you will notice the older jazz standards are much brighter and happier. This is because the intervals and extended chords in jazz music are a lot more uplifting than Rock’n’Roll. Even when rock music is upbeat, it still relies on blue notes and minor chords so there is a little less lift. By the end of the list, you should have a better idea of how to musically spot a song with a brighter outlook.

1. "I Can See Clearly Now"

This song has a noticeable reggae feel as the composer Johnny Nash had recently collaborated with Bob Marley. It was also covered by another prominent reggae artist, Jimmy Cliff. Nash helped bring the uplifting vibe of rocksteady and reggae to the U.S. with this popular hit that also has hints of soul with its smooth vocals. This tune is great to sing if you are dreaming of a sunny day!

2. "Skylark"

One of the greatest songwriting duos was Hoagy Carmichael and Johnny Mercer. Hoagy was a brilliant composer and Johnny a master of lyrics; this tune was written about Judy Garland (who happened to love singing about rainbows!). It’s a great spring-oriented song that perfectly invokes meadows and chirping birds. It has been recorded by many artists such as Ella Fitzgerald, Tony Bennett, and other popular singers.

3. "Soak Up the Sun"

Sheryl Crow helped write this more recent song invoking spring and summer feelings with sunny vibes. Notice that as a pop-rock song it is happy and upbeat, but it still has that underlying blues feeling. And because it is pop it should be easier to sing compared to the older jazz standards.

4. "Here Comes the Sun"

This is another rock hit with blues undertones, yet it still invokes a feeling of new beginnings and better days ahead. It isn’t upbeat or a fast tempo, yet it still successfully puts the singer in a better mood. If you have had enough of winter, this song will help you look to the future. And George Harrison was a big fan of the ukulele, so this song goes great with one! Another spring-like Beatles tune is “And Your Bird Can Sing,” which is more upbeat.

5. "Living in the Sunlight, Loving in the Moonlight"

This song was written near the end of the 1920s and is one of the oldest on the list! It has been covered by many artists as it is so much fun to sing. One of the more popular versions is by Tiny Tim with his ukulele. Tiny Tim sure had a unique way of performing and a high voice that made this tune happier. Just try to sing this song like he did and it will surely put you in a better and silly mood!

6. "Sunny Afternoon"

The Kinks were some of the pioneers in gritty power pop rock, and here we have a great song that sarcastically approaches sunny days. You might need to go into your falsetto on this one. If you listen closely to the lyrics, the singer is clearly unhappy and annoyed in life, but hey, if they have a sunny afternoon to kick back on, all is well. This is also a suitable spring song as it mentions taxes!

7. "No Rain"

This 90s hit by Blind Melon is another song that is a mixture of both happy and sad feelings, which makes it perfect for spring! After all, the season is not just about sunshine; there is plenty of wind and rain! And here the singer is fighting back tears to beat a plain and sometimes mundane life, blatantly admitting that we can’t have sunny dispositions every day! Sometimes even a sunny day doesn’t guarantee we have it made, but this song can still lift our spirits.

8. "The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin’ Groovy)"

This is a classic spring and sunny day song performed by Simon and Garfunkel. Paul Simon would often write songs that either made you feel great or really sad; there was little in between! Here we have a mix of jazz standard vibes with modern rock, which helps create a fun, groovy, and happy feeling. Singing this song will surely put you in a good mood.

9. "On Sunny Side of the Street"

This is another old jazz standard from the 1930s that has been extensively covered by many artists. Like other songs of the era, it is guaranteed to make you feel happy and get you motivated. It has a nice swing and Big Band feel that tells you if you want to feel better, you simply must walk to the sunnier side of the street! It’s that easy to kick the winter blues with this classic.

10. "Walking on Sunshine"

This song is an 80s pop hit by Katrina & The Waves that has become the go-to for boosting your mood and kicking the blues. The chords and notes are not too complicated, but it does require more energy to sing. In fact, if you need to beat the winter blues, anxiety, or a general ill feeling, this song can help put your mind on a better track. There is something so catchy and uplifting about it that it is hard not to tap your foot and enjoy!

So there you have 10 songs to sing that will help bring on spring and kick the winter doldrums. If you want something with a strong sunny feeling, stick to jazz standards, the rock tunes are still fun, but more subdued. And of course there are many more tunes to help kick the winter blues. You can always double check your vocal range with a vocal range chart. Just keep an eye out for similar intervals, chords, and upbeat tempos and you will easily find more spring-like hits!