Too much tertiary education... Former performer/wrestler, teacher, scientist; Published author & Father... Want to be a writer if I grow up...
Published March 17th 2023
Singing about the night continues into modern times
To cut and paste: following on from my columns about songs about the day (early and recent), I decided I should really do songs about the night as well. And so it was off to my music collection and thus we have part 2…
This is the sequel to early songs about the night, and, as I said in that column, any songs that mentioned both day and night are getting their own column, and after daydreams, there will also be a separate column for nightmares. Also, no songs about Christmas or that mention days of the week; further, your favourites might not be here. This was tough to compile. What makes it recent? 1983 onwards. Simple.
The usual rules apply, and these apply across both night columns – one song per artist, one version of each song, I need to like the song.
Get ready for some interesting tracks.
Recent songs about the night!
Before I hit the column proper, let's have a show tune! 'Music Of The Night' written by Andrew Lloyd-Webber
I have chosen the Michael Crawford (1987) version because it is the best. And, really, I couldn't have a list of night songs without this track, one of Lloyd-Webber's finest.
The column!
'Faster Than The Speed Of Night' by Bonnie Tyler (1983)
The title track of Tyler's classic album is a great bit of Jim Steinman goodness, and my son's favourite track by Ms Tyler.
'All Through The Night' by Cyndi Lauper (1984)
Another track from a classic album, there were a few Lauper songs I could have gone for, but decided to choose the best-known.
'No More Lonely Nights' by Paul McCartney (1984)
McCartney had an interesting time in the 1980s. This song is good, but he also released a "disco version" which, to me, didn't work. The original, though – really good.
'One Night In Bangkok' by Murray Head (1984)
Benny and Bjorn from Abba plus Tim Rice equalled Chess, and this was one of the two charting singles from the concept album.
'Crazy In The Night (Barking At Airplanes)' by Kim Carnes (1985)
This is my favourite Kim Carnes song. Not 'Bette Davis Eyes' – this. I just like the synth-pop stylings and the up-beat tempo.
'Lonely Ol' Night' by John Cougar Mellencamp (1985)
Here is an artist I have many albums by and yet he rarely appears in these lists. Well, here he is, as he phased out the John Cougar name and went for John Mellencamp.
'Sunglasses At Night' by Corey Hart (1985)
Yes, this song had to be here, didn't it? Corey Hart's only chart-bothering hit (at least, in Australia) is about wearing sunglasses at night so he could watch his girl unnoticed. Creepy, but good.
'The Night Is Still Young' by Billy Joel (1985)
Yet another artist I had many songs to choose from, and I went with this one recorded for Greatest Hits Volume 2. It was a tough call, but, yes, this is the Billy Joel song for this list.
'Rock The Night' by Europe (1986)
Europe are considered today a one-hit wonder, but they had a few charting singles in the day, and this was one we heard at Blue Light Discoes a fair bit.
'Crazy Crazy Nights' by Kiss (1987)
From the make-up-free era off Kiss, this was a fun song that, again, I first heard at a Blue Light. Kiss at a disco – the 80s were great.
'When The Night's On Fire' by Mike Oldfield (1987)
From my favourite album of 1987, this is such a great piece of music, featuring Anita Hegerland as guest vocalist.
'Last Night' by The Traveling Wilburys (1988)
One of the better supergroups, the coming together of 5 great musicians having fun recording some great tracks resulted in songs that you couldn't help but sing along to.
'I Drove All Night' by Roy Orbison (1992)
Following his death, a new Orbison album was released and this was the strongest track from it. Yes, he appeared in the Wilburys as well, but here he's solo – they're different.
'Another Night' by Real McCoy (1994)
Some 1990s dance pop, a song I used when I was an aerobics instructor a few times. It's harmless and fun and another ear-worm.
'Those Nights' by Skillet (2006)
My son introduced me to this band – he got a lot of their albums at some point – and this song is one of those that has stuck with me as a decent bit of Christian rock.
'Night Castle' by Trans-Siberian Orchestra (2009)
And we go to symphonic rock with the title track from their 2009 album. There were a few TSO songs I could have chosen, but this won out.
'Some Nights' by Fun (2012)
Pop-rock done in a way that makes you want to sing along, from the a cappella opening to the rousing chorus, this is just fun… like the band.
'The Nights' by Avicii (2014)
I am not a fan of EDM, and yet Avicii released a heap of tracks I like, and this is one of the better ones, in my opinion.
'Night Crawling' by Miley Cyrus feat. Billy Idol (2020)
Yes, Miley Cyrus. Plastic Hearts was a great album, and here she matches growling with Billy idol successfully. She should really do more rock.
'Oh The Night' by Courtney Barnett (2021)
And we finish with a song from a great Courtney Barnett album, the album's closer, slower and lyrically impressive, and a great way to end this list.
20 (plus one) recent songs about the night. And yet again, I feel there is quite a bit of interesting music and, yes, I know I have really overdone the 1980s (as is my wont), but that's my teenaged music, and I make no apologies. Still, again, I hope you found something here to enjoy.
