Here we go again

I've done a few blogs in the past with varying degrees of committment. Some have been relatively focussed and served a purpose, others were little more than the online equivalent of drunken sketching on the back of a beermat.

The idea behind Five A Day is something I've been doing on my Facebook page for the last couple of months. Up until now it's been five songs with a common theme: artist, nationality, starsign and equally tenuous connections. I felt like expanding it into a blog and going beyond music to include books, film and essentially whatever comes to mind. So much of the music, film and literature I've enjoyed has come from suggestions from friends so any suggestions are more than welcome - share and share alike.

Today's March 1st, the first day of Spring and the sun is blazing down outside. As such the theme is an easy one - sun songs. I'm sure there are countless ones out there but these are the five that jumped out at me.

Spiritualized: Lay Back in the Sun



Jason Pierce puts forward his menu for a the perfect summer's day - wine, good friends and good dope - it's hard to argue with.

The Beloved: Sun Rising



Bit of a blast from the past, a song so warm it could kickstart spring all on its own. Yes, it might sound a bit of its time but that doesn't stop us getting rapturous about Northern Soul or Motown, does it?

Belle & Sebastian: Legal Man



"Get out of the city and into the sunshine,
Get out of the office and into the springtime."

Wise words from Glasgow's finest. I'm not sure if the massive percussion break in this version is down to the fact it was recored at a free jazz festival.

SL2: On a Ragga Tip



It may seem debatable to include this in a list of songs about the sun but I will stand by it. I wasn't just looking for songs that mention the sun but also those tunes that you just have to play when the sun is splitting the sky. Six weeks ago when Britain was frozen and the apocalypse was coming behind an empty gritter this would just have sounded shit, a unwanted shard of brightness in all the 'end is nigh' gloom. Today it sounds like the first track of God's own fitness playlist. It can't be coincidence that it was in the top ten for eight weeks in spring '92.

Jimmy Cliff: The Harder They Come


Finishing up with reggae may seem lazy but I defy anyone to listen to this on a day like today and not smile.

That's the first five. As I said, not definitive and entirely subjective. I'm sure almost everyone would choose a different five but feel free to comment below.