I don’t need much motivation to start my day, but I still find that a little push can help me get going. Lately, this has come in the form of music – and more specifically, the very last song I listen to before I leave for work. I love a playlist, you see, and I love to turn one into a little pastime too. With that in mind, I recently created one called ‘Songs To Go To Work With’. The criteria for entry to the list each day are simple. The song can’t be especially downbeat, it has to lift my spirits somehow, and it absolutely has to be the last song I listen to before crossing over the threshold. In addition, it’ll earn bonus points if I hum it in my head afterwards. All that means I can’t manipulate anything to make myself look cool (if I do come across that way, it’s entirely natural). What’s made the list so far? Allow me to present Part 1. Here, each song title is also a hyperlink, but you can’t see that without the white box behind the text:

• Wednesday 15th March: ‘Scream (Funk My Life Up)’ by Paolo Nutini (2014).
• Thursday 16th March: ‘I Saved The World Today’ by Eurythmics (1999).
• Friday 17th March: ‘Dakota’ by Stereophonics (2005).
• Monday 20th March: ‘Kettle’ by Ella Frank (2019).
• Tuesday 21st March: ‘Higher’ by Taio Cruz (2010).
• Wednesday 22nd March: ‘Tell Me When’ by The Human League (1995).
• Thursday 23rd March: ‘Meet Me Halfway’ by The Black Eyed Peas (2009).
• Friday 24th March: ‘Won’t Get Fooled Again’ by The Who (1971).
• Monday 27th March: ‘Everything Changes’ by Take That (1993).
• Tuesday 28th March: ‘Proud Mary’ by Tina Turner (1993 version).
• Wednesday 29th March: ‘Son Of A Preacher Man’ by Dusty Springfield (1969).
• Thursday 30th March: ‘Love Foolosophy’ by Jamiroquai, featuring Beverley Knight (2001).
• Friday 31st March: ‘I Know What I Like (In Your Wardrobe)’ by Genesis (1973).
• Monday 3rd April: ‘Thunderbirds Are Go’ by Busted (2004).
• Tuesday 4th April: ‘Tears Dry On Their Own’ by Amy Winehouse (2006).
• Wednesday 5th April: ‘Keeping Your Head Up’ by Birdy (2016).
• Thursday 6th April: ‘Dry Bones’ by Gregory Porter (2021).

Part 2 will follow soon. It’ll be interesting to see how varied the next list is!

Mason