11 Songs Serving Up Greetings & Good Morning | Playlist 🎧

1. Alex Aiono, “Good Morning”

The Gospel at 23 • Alex Aiono • 2020 

“Last night was shit / My phone was dark / The world’s a mess…” Sigh, sounds like things aren’t exactly optimal for pop musician Alex Aiono.  But, guess what? Plot Twist! Despite the problems plaguing him (or his character) on “Good Morning” – “Phone call from mom / Dad lost his job / Text from my ex / She’s moving on” – he’s not having a pity party. Instead, he thinks positively and looks at each new morning as a brand-new, fresh opportunity.

After laying out the tribulations on the highlight from The Gospel at 23, he delivers exuberant, hopeful, soulful, gospel-infused vocals. The chorus is where his bread is buttered, supported by gorgeous, grand choral background vocals:

“So, get up
Make some coffee, make some love
Take a shower, do whatever
Just get up...
Today is all we got
Tomorrow might not come
So, get up
Get up
Good morning.”

“Good Morning” is a grand way to commence The Gospel at 23 – tone setter indeed!

2. Max Frost, “Good Morning”

Gold Rush • Atlantic • 2018

“Baby, it’s a brand-new day / Ain’t no clouds hanging over me / Something doesn’t feel the same / The rest of my life gonna start today / Good morning.”  Mark my words, there is no way you can listen to “Good Morning” by Max Frost and not feel the positive vibes.  For the alternative musician, whatever happened previously he is putting TF behind him. Honestly, on Frost’s spirit on this standout from his 2018 album, Gold Rush, is exactly the way we should approach life in the face of adversity.

Besides singing about “Waking up, shaking yesterday’s blues” and moving ahead with good thoughts, Frost has electrifying production behind him.  Tanner “Augie Ray” Underwood provides the singer with a backdrop that fuses gospel, pop, soul, and swagger masterfully.  Frost takes it and runs with it, showcasing his superb vocal capabilities and just as impressive, a big personality.  The “Good Morning” only lasts a little more than two-and-a-half-minutes, but the results are lit AF.  If you’re feeling down in the dumps, Max Frost will gladly elevate your spirit with “Good Morning.”

3. Nikky Blonsky, “Good Morning Baltimore”

Hairspray (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) • New Line Productions / Warner • 2007

“Good morning Baltimore / Every day’s like an open door / Every night is a fantasy / Every sound’s like a symphony.” “Good Morning Baltimore” is the big – and I do mean BIG –opening number from the Broadway musical (and film), Hairspray.  It’s famously performed by the colorful protagonist, Tracy Turnblad, who has one of the coolest last names ever.  A number of actresses have portrayed Turnblad, including Rikki Lake (1988 film), Nikki Blonsky (2007 film), and Maddie Baillioo (Hairspray Live!).

Essentially, “Good Morning Baltimore” sets the tone of Hairspray. Tracy imagines herself as the star, despite the fact that she doesn’t look the part.  Regardless of the fact she isn’t the stereotypical, skinny, ‘perfect’ female lead, she knows “every step… every song…” and ultimately, “knows there’s a place I belong.” Honestly, we should all aspire to be Tracy Turnblad – at least I think so!

4. TOKYO’S REVENGE, “GOODMORNINGTOKYO!”

MDNGHT (SIDE B) • Blac Noize! Recordings • 2019

Up until this point, there’s been a lot of positivity when it comes to GOOD MORNING songs.  Well, TOKYO’S REVENGE isn’t so much negative per se on “GOODMORNINGTOKYO!” as he is, um, confident. It doesn’t take long for us to hear references to his dick, bitches, and “Red lean look like Clifford.” What I’m saying is, if you came into “GOODMORNINGTOKYO!” looking to be uplifted, well, you might be slightly disappointed, or at least, off-put.

Nonetheless, TOKYO’S REVENGE keeps it 100, meaning that he’s tough throughout.  Over the course of two-and-a-half minutes, we get some stuff from ole boy! We get violence: “I’ll beat your ass; I don’t care if it’s dark or not.” We get SEX: “I blew up like a missile, huh / She blew my dick just like a whistle, huh.” And of course, we get drip: “Suicide door on my whip, slit my wrist like…”  While there’s no gospel or powerhouse vocals powering “GOODMORNINGTOKYO!”, it’s a banger.

5. Mak Sauce, “Good Morning”

“Good Morning” • Def Jam • 2019

“Today is a wonderful day.” From one banger to another! TOKYO’S REVENGE gave us a different perspective of the greeting good morning (“GOODMORNINGTOKYO!”), and the same can be said of Mak Sauce. At least Sauce is traditional on the aforementioned intro of his hit, “Good Morning” – positive vibes!  Of course, those positive vibes don’t last – “Nothing Lasts Forever”.  But hey, we get a banger out of it right? Good flow, lit, minimalist production, catchy chorus.

“Ah, good morning
Today is a wonderful day
A pussy boy better not play
I’m bringing them racks out the bank
Put ten racks on top of your head
Next ten minutes, your ass get sprayed
Today
Today.” 

We get a little bit of everything from Mak Sauce, as you might expect.  It’s no surprise that the drip ‘drops’ early, specifically a drop-top.  He doesn’t specify if it’s a foreign mind you, but we can assume so based on rap clichés.  Anyways, after the convertible is mentioned, Mak gets violent asserting, “Talking all that talk so his ass got shot down / He ain’t know we was gon’ pop out.” Charming.  It gets worse of course, as he spends the rest of his verse discussing it, well – until he moves to his victim’s ‘bitch.’ “You was at work, I was fucking your bitch from the back…” Shocking, said no one ever.  On the second verse, we get more of the same, including some substances thrown in with violence and sex.  “Good Morning” indeed!

6. Norah Jones, “Good Morning”

…Little Broken Hearts • Blue Note • 2012

“I’m folding my hand, hand / I’m folding my hand, my hand…” “Good Morning” serves as the opener on Norah Jones’ 2012 album, …Little Broken Hearts. The record is written alongside Brian Burton, best known as Danger Mouse. “Good Morning” commences with minimalistic piano lines and guitar accompaniment.

As expected, Norah Jones serves up nice, lazy, nuanced vocals.  The restrained nature is definitely a selling point. More electronic instruments enter in adding to the soundscape – typical of what we expect from a Danger Mouse produced number. One of the biggest selling points is the full fruition of strings by the end of the record.  Does “Good Morning” by Norah Jones need any further explanation? Methinks not.

9. EDEN, “good morning”

no future • Astralwerks • 2020

“Felt like waking up in a new place / That stole the dark from the night / Shone a new way… / But I can feel your heartbeat rising…” Clearly, EDEN (Jonathon Ng) was seeking something new – a change of pace if you will – on “good morning.” Apparently, that ‘change of pace “came out of the blue.” “Good morning” commences his quietly released 2020 sophomore album, no future. For many of us, ‘morning’ marks an escape from what ailed us on yesterday.  Yes, the problems still remain, but a new day – a ‘good morning’ – can be just what the doctor ordered.

Typical of EDEN, he’s totally in his feelings – wrapped in ample emotion.  The grandiose music reflects every struggle, fear, as well as the beautiful, promising, “good morning.”  Likewise, his expressive, nuanced vocals reflect the same. He’s had his fair share of adversity, but there is indeed a future, which happens each and every day, beginning with the morning.

10. Diddy – Dirty Money, “Hello Good Morning”

Ft. T.I.

Last Train to Paris • Bad Boy / Interscope • 2010

“Hello, good morning / Hello, good morning / Hello, good evenin’ / You blow, you fiendin’.” Sigh, when “Hello Good Morning” arrived ahead of Last Train to Paris by Diddy – Dirty Money back in 2010, I had mixed feelings.  This was an utterly simple, uncomplicated joint – at least the ‘pre-hook.’  That said, after repeated listens, there’s definitely an infectious, irresistibleness.

Also, worth mentioning, “Hello Good Morning” features some confident rhymes from T.I. on the first verse.  There are also some silly but enjoyable rhymes by Diddy on the second verse (“Yo baby momma ‘Cry for Me’ like Jodeci”), not to mention the sung portions by Dirty Money.  It’s a hit all in all, and definitely one of the best moments from Last Train to Paris.

11. The Beatles, “Good Morning Good Morning”

Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band • Universal Music Group • 2015

We conclude 11 SONGS SERVING UP GREETINGS & GOOD MORNING with a classic courtesy of The Beatles. Just say the name ‘The Beatles’ and you know that 💩 is iconic.  In this case, we examine “Good Morning Good Morning” from the 1967 LP, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.  Where morning greetings are positive more often than not on this list, things aren’t all rosy for John Lennon and company in this particular instance.

How do we know it’s not all happy go lucky for Johnny boy? “Nothing to do to save his life, call his wife in / Nothing to say but what a day, how’s your boy been?” he sings on the first verse.  He goes on later, on the first bridge to say, “Everybody knows there’s nothing doing / Everything is closed, it’s like a ruin / Everyone you see s half asleep / And you’re on your own, you’re in the street.”  The big takeaway is that the ‘good morning’ – life itself, each and every day – is an absolute bore.  It’s not the most optimistic way to conclude the list, but it’s a prime example of being stuck in a rut without an escape.

What would you do if you were John? Pave a pathway to move beyond boredom and mundaneness.  Easier said than done, of course.