# Songs that should only be played at certain times of the day **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 1, 2011, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-should-only-be-played-at-certain-times-of-the-day/573094 "2011-03-01T19:30:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Disheavel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@Disheavel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Disheavel)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2011, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-should-only-be-played-at-certain-times-of-the-day/573094/1 "2011-03-01T19:30:49Z")
As I was riding to work this morning, the radio station chose to play “Desperado” (by the Eagles) followed by “Piano Man” (by Billy Joel) and it just seemed so very wrong to me. Desperado and Hotel California are clearly late afternoon into evening songs and Piano Man is definitively reserved for post-9.pm. Similarly John Denver should never be played after 3.pm with half of his songs being even more restrained to being only in the morning. So are there any other restrictions you would like to place on appropriate song playing times? ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2011, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-should-only-be-played-at-certain-times-of-the-day/573094/2 "2011-03-01T19:32:45Z")
I was gonna post: Specifically, Piano Man should be played at 9 o clock on a Saturday. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Scud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@Tom\_Scud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Scud)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2011, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-should-only-be-played-at-certain-times-of-the-day/573094/3 "2011-03-01T19:34:16Z")
The Banana Boat Song (day-o) should never be played before about 4 PM at the earliest. (I realize it’s technically set at about 5 AM, but really. If your audience is all people working the night shift, maybe.) ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2011, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-should-only-be-played-at-certain-times-of-the-day/573094/4 "2011-03-01T19:34:16Z")
> [@Disheavel](#): > > Similarly John Denver should never be played after 3.pm with half of his songs being even more restrained to being only in the morning. Not even “Saturday Night in Toledo Ohio”? 😃 I love Led Zeppelin, but most of their stuff (particularly the heavier and bluesier songs) fit better in the dark. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2011, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-should-only-be-played-at-certain-times-of-the-day/573094/5 "2011-03-01T19:35:32Z")
Don Henley’s Boys of Summer should definitely be an afternoon-only song. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2011, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-should-only-be-played-at-certain-times-of-the-day/573094/6 "2011-03-02T00:15:03Z")
I’ve started a playlist on my iTunes called Evening Cool - the first song on the list is “When The Lights Go Down” by Prince. 😃 Also on the list: Bring On the Night - The Police Incense And Candles - Prince The Dance - Prince Damn U - Prince & The New Power Generation Condition Of The Heart - Prince And The Revolution Get Carried Away - Colin James Far Away Like A Radio - Colin James Into The Mystic - Colin James So Into You - Atlantic Rhythm Section So Far Away - Dire Straits Sultans Of Swing - Dire Straits Skateaway - Dire Straits Love Over Gold - Dire Straits Sister Moon - Sting Aint No Sunshine When She’s Gone - Sting & Jeff Beck So yes, I agree that some songs are for certain times of day. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2011, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-should-only-be-played-at-certain-times-of-the-day/573094/7 "2011-03-02T00:34:20Z")
Is there ever an appropriate time of day to listen to the Moody Blues’ _Days of Future Passed_ album straight through? ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2011, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-should-only-be-played-at-certain-times-of-the-day/573094/8 "2011-03-02T01:02:10Z")
_Radar Love_ and _Twilight Zone_ - Golden Earring should only be played late at night, while driving. ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2011, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-should-only-be-played-at-certain-times-of-the-day/573094/9 "2011-03-02T11:46:51Z")
“Year of the Cat” should not be played before midnight or after sunrise. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2011, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-should-only-be-played-at-certain-times-of-the-day/573094/10 "2011-03-02T16:05:55Z")
“Daddy’s Home” doesn’t seem right in the morning. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2011, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-should-only-be-played-at-certain-times-of-the-day/573094/11 "2011-03-02T16:09:00Z")
Any Dream Will Do is the perfect sunrise song. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2011, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-should-only-be-played-at-certain-times-of-the-day/573094/12 "2011-03-02T16:17:08Z")
Morning Has Broken (Cat Stevens)… ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2011, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-should-only-be-played-at-certain-times-of-the-day/573094/13 "2011-03-03T01:30:21Z")
The Beach Boys - during daylight hours only, preferably sunny. It’s a glaringly obvious thing to say, but, duh, that’s because they’re a sunny day band. ---
**Author:** ![Lucky\_13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucky_13/32/13209_2.png) [@Lucky\_13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucky_13)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2011, 7:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-should-only-be-played-at-certain-times-of-the-day/573094/14 "2011-03-03T07:44:49Z")
> [@salinqmind](#): > > The Beach Boys - during daylight hours only, preferably sunny. It’s a glaringly obvious thing to say, but, duh, that’s because they’re a sunny day band. Except “In My Room.” That’s a nighttime song. ---
**Author:** ![JessMagic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c0e974/32.png) [@JessMagic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JessMagic)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2011, 9:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-should-only-be-played-at-certain-times-of-the-day/573094/15 "2011-03-03T09:33:28Z")
“Lovely Day” - Bill Withers. Morning. ---
**Author:** ![Suil\_Dubh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85f322/32.png) [@Suil\_Dubh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suil_Dubh)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2011, 9:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-should-only-be-played-at-certain-times-of-the-day/573094/16 "2011-03-03T09:33:44Z")
Black Metal should only be played: I) In Winter II) At Night ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2011, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-should-only-be-played-at-certain-times-of-the-day/573094/17 "2011-03-03T14:04:11Z")
> [@Lucky\_13](#): > > Except “In My Room.” That’s a nighttime song. There are exceptions to every rule! Give Me The Night - George Benson - should be heard at twilight while you’re getting ready to go out into that night… A lot of George Benson songs are best heard at night…love me some George Benson!!! ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2011, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-should-only-be-played-at-certain-times-of-the-day/573094/18 "2011-03-03T18:55:16Z")
“Good Morning Good Morning” by the Beatles should only be played… well, you know. I have an extremely strong memory of hearing Wham’s “A Different Corner” on my clock radio just as I was waking up to go on a very important trip in 1987, so for me that will always really be a morning song. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2011, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-should-only-be-played-at-certain-times-of-the-day/573094/19 "2011-03-03T18:58:02Z")
_Closing Time_: Exactly What It Says On The Tin. ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2011, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-should-only-be-played-at-certain-times-of-the-day/573094/20 "2011-03-06T16:33:03Z")
Three by the Doors: L.A. Woman - high noon, bright sunlight, driving on the PCH Riders On The Storm - dawn, riding your horse along the beach When The Music’s Over - turn out the light and go to bed, dammit. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-should-only-be-played-at-certain-times-of-the-day/573094.md?page=2)