14 Relaxing Songs For A Relaxing Sunday

February Sundays have a wonderfully directionless tone to them. There’s no football for half the population to center the day around, and it’s not yet warm enough to embark on culturally relevant “I’m gonna make my co-workers jealous with how fun I am” outdoor activities.

If there were ever a time for sweatpants, coffee, and trend pieces about hilariously unaffordable real estate, it’d be right now. With that, here’s 14 songs to honor the Sunday malaise:

1. Sunday Morning – Maroon 5

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2Cti12XBw4&w=960&h=720%5D

Excruciatingly predictable, but nicely on-the-nose.

2. Fast Car – Tracy Chapman

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TO9Qa7MpAvw&w=1280&h=720%5D

Fast Car, in addition to being ranked one of the greatest songs of all-time, arguably captures Sunday escapism to a tee. You wanna go somewhere, anywhere, but not feel rushed. The tone and pacing of Fast Car suggests that starting over is something that’s done on one’s own terms and schedule.

3. The A Team – Ed Sheeran

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UAWcs5H-qgQ&w=1280&h=720%5D

Ed Sheeran’s The A Team is actually an incredibly sad song — it’s a ballad about a prostitute addicted to crack cocaine, which is almost expertly masked through the light, free-flowing acoustic vibe. Sheeran’s overall ethos is very much “Sunday Music,” and this is one of his more impressive musical efforts.

4. Don’t Know Why – Norah Jones

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tO4dxvguQDk&w=960&h=720%5D

Studies show that 87% of moms play this song when their grown children return home for the weekend, whilst sitting down for bagels and coffee.

5. Breakfast At Tiffany’s – Deep Blue Something

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ClCpfeIELw&w=960&h=720%5D

Breakfast At Tiffanys sums up the realities of fading relationships and friendship, but in a nicely bittersweet fashion.

6. 2 Atoms And A Molecule – Noah And The Whale

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8BpZS7iXQE&w=960&h=720%5D

Noah And The Whale is a British rock band whose name is derived from one of the band’s favorite director’s (Noah Baumbach) movies (The Squid And The Whale). And while a young Jesse Eisenberg is not featured in this song, it’s still a pretty good song.

7. Peace Train – Cat Stevens

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_6mKMV0d2cs&w=960&h=720%5D

I feel like there aren’t many bands/songs that survive generations, but Peace Train is the sort of track that can. It joins Ain’t No Mountain High Enough, Piano Man, and Respect, as songs that’ll be parent-to-children playlists for multiple decades.

8. Wings – Birdy

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJTXDCh2YiA&w=1280&h=720%5D

English musician Birdy has one of the more original, unique voices out there. Wings was released in 2013, and is such a cool song that it was featured on the season finale of The Vampire Diaries.

9. The Reason – Hoobastank

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fV4DiAyExN0&w=1280&h=720%5D

Here’s a token song to remind you how crazy it is that 2004 was eleven years ago.

10. Breathe (2AM) – Anna Nalick

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdRHSuPxgXo&w=1280&h=720%5D

Music writer/editor Chuck Taylor described Breathe as “an introspective yet confessional tale about learning to handle everyday challenges — and remembering to take time to breathe.” Sounds like a Sunday sort of message.

11. Save Tonight – Eagle Eye Cherry 

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nntd2fgMUYw&w=960&h=720%5D

A classic 90s one hit wonder deserves mention on any playlist, no matter the day.

12. Wake Me Up (Acoustic) – Aloe Blacc 

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6MiAQVJH0rQ&w=1280&h=720%5D

If the EDM-heavy original is for wild nights and vodka shots, this is for sitting on a rocking chair and sipping on some tea.

13. Hero – Family Of The Year 

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mHeK0Cwr9sg&w=1280&h=720%5D

This song was nationally popularized by Richard Linklater’s potential Best Picture Winner ‘Boyhood.’ I find it impossible to separate the song from the movie, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing.

14. Free Fallin’ – Tom Petty

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1lWJXDG2i0A&w=960&h=720%5D

If you’re looking for something more upbeat, check out Chamillionaires remix. If you’re looking for something that more heavily involves John Mayer, check out the cover by John Mayer.

BONUS:

15. Stand By Me – Ben E. King

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwZNL7QVJjE&w=960&h=720%5D

A song that’s as enduring as its message. Perfect for the perpetual day of rest.