John Denver – Sunshine On My Shoulders – 1974
About the song
Welcome to my blog, where I share my thoughts and insights on some of the most memorable songs of all time. Today, I want to talk about a song that always brings a smile to my face: **Sunshine On My Shoulders** by John Denver.
This song was released in 1973 as a single from Denver’s album Poems, Prayers & Promises, which came out in 1971. It was co-written by Denver, Dick Kniss and Mike Taylor. According to Denver, he wrote the song on a dreary day in Minnesota, when he was longing for spring and sunshine. He said: “You want to get outdoors again and you’re waiting for that sun to shine, and you remember how sometimes just the sun itself can make you feel good.”
The song is a simple and heartfelt expression of gratitude for the beauty of nature and the joy of life. Denver sings about how sunshine on his shoulders, in his eyes and on the water makes him happy, and how he wishes he could give this feeling to someone he loves. The song has a gentle folk melody and a soothing acoustic guitar accompaniment. It also features strings and woodwinds that add a touch of warmth and elegance to the song.
The song was a huge hit for Denver, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in early 1974. It also topped the adult contemporary chart for two weeks. It was Denver’s first number one single, and one of his most popular songs ever. It has been covered by many artists, such as Olivia Newton-John, Ray Charles, Frank Sinatra and Carly Rae Jepsen.
The song has also been used in various movies and TV shows, such as The Simpsons, The Office, Forrest Gump and The Muppet Movie. It was also performed by Denver at The Wildlife Concert in 1995, which was a benefit concert for wildlife conservation.
I think this song is a timeless classic that can brighten up anyone’s day. It reminds me to appreciate the simple things in life, and to share them with the people I care about. It also makes me want to go outside and enjoy the sunshine whenever I can.
What do you think of this song? Do you have any memories or stories associated with it? Let me know in the comments below. And don’t forget to subscribe to my blog for more posts like this one. Thanks for reading!
