Music in Daylight Vs Moonlight

Paxton Poole 

Music Journalist 

Throughout my college experience I’ve argued many different times with my friends about music. More specifically, I’ve been in arguments about when the best times to play specific songs. I’ve always been under the train of thought that songs are best played either during the day or during the night.  

Daytime Songs 

When thinking of daytime songs, I usually think of more alternative sounding songs with loud, acoustic guitar riffs and warm vocals. One of the main songs I consider a daytime song is “Mardy Bum” by Arctic Monkeys. Mardy Bum is a very sunny song with a very upbeat central guitar riff paired with vocals that energize you. This song feels best when listened to on a hot summer day, the sun beating down on you while you’re going for a leisurely drive. Mardy Bum constructs a feeling of summer fun, making it feel required to only be heard during daylight hours. 

While it may be a different type of song than Mardy Bum, another song that’s best enjoyed when the sun is out is “I Can’t Fall” by This Is Lorelei. I Can’t Fall features acoustic guitars mixed with soul-catching trumpets and some unique backing organs throughout the song. Every single one of these instruments generates a golden, sunny feeling that brings happiness and preparation for the rest of your day. Listening to this song makes you feel like you are on a date with the love of your life and everything you do makes you fall harder. This song is best played during the daytime while in a car with a relationship or situationship partner, windows rolled down the wind blowing through both of your hair.  

Nothing screams daytime like water activities, and the best song to listen to when at the lake or the river has got to be “Float On” by Modest Mouse. Float On simulates the feeling of a long day at the river with your friends mainly due to the funky guitar riffs that emanate sunlight. I can almost feel sweat dripping down my neck just merely thinking of the powerful acoustics of the bass and rhythm guitars, so I think it’s fair to classify Float On as a daytime song.

Nighttime Songs 

In the case of deciding what a nighttime song is, the types of tracks usually lean towards more electronic sound rather than acoustic sound. One of the best examples of this has to be “Storm” by the night tapes. Storm utilizes many electronic chords with heavy reverb and heavenly vocals that simulate the feeling of an old sonic the hedgehog casino level. Every aspect of this musical masterpiece is heightened by the black of the night sky, especially on a long road trip where stars illuminate the sky. You truly feel like you’re getting caught up in an abnormal psychedelic storm when listening to the song at night which completely is not there when listening during the day, so storm must be played at night! 

Sadness is a core theme in most songs that turn out to be nighttime songs, and that is shown in spades with “Space Song” by Beach House. Space song is an interesting case because it can be enjoyed during the day for sure, but it cannot be listened to at night without bringing tears to your eyes. When the moon illuminates the land, you feel all the raw emotion expressed through Beach House’s extensive electronic strings and electronic wonders. Somber vocals expressing the yearning for an emotional connection and the pain of never feeling good enough seep deep into your psyche when listening during the dark hours. Crying yourself to sleep to Space Song after a big heartbreak is an unmatched feeling that could never be replicated if you listened during the daytime.  

Following up on the somberness of Space Song, the last nighttime song I wanted to discuss is the heartbreaking song “Juno” by Choker. Juno starts out with melancholic vocals and groovy underlying basslines before developing into a lo fi electronic soundscape. The song has an odd beauty to it; it feels like the end of a long journey. Theres a beautiful blend of synth bass and hazy synthesizers that vibrate your soul when looking at the pitch-black night sky. Juno, like Storm and Space Song, captures a special feeling of loneliness and mystery that just cannot be replicated with daytime songs.