🎵 Morning songs · free previews
Best Songs to Wake Up To
A good wake-up song does two jobs: it gets you out of bed, and it doesn't make you hate it by Wednesday. These 20 do both. Tap Preview to hear any song before you set it as your alarm.
How we picked these songs
- How it starts: a song that begins softly and then builds is easier to wake up to than a sudden blast.
- Energy: most picks sit in the middle, upbeat enough to get you moving without feeling like a fire alarm.
- Mood: positive, warm songs. Research on wake-up music (including a Spotify playlist built with a music psychologist) points to rising, upbeat songs with a strong beat.
- Staying power: songs that still feel good after a week of mornings.
1Viva La Vida
Coldplay
Builds up⚡⚡⚡⚡⚡
Those marching strings start the day like an announcement. It kicked off the well-known Spotify wake-up playlist built with a music psychologist, and it still works.
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2Lovely Day
Bill Withers
Soft start⚡⚡⚡⚡⚡
A warm, slow start that turns into one of the longest held notes in pop. Hard to stay grumpy when the chorus keeps promising a lovely day.
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3Wake Me Up
Avicii
Soft start⚡⚡⚡⚡⚡
Starts with an acoustic guitar and a voice, then drops into a big dance beat. The title does half the job for you.
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4Here Comes the Sun
The Beatles
Soft start⚡⚡⚡⚡⚡
A bright guitar picking pattern that feels like opening the curtains. Perfect if loud alarms make you jump.
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5Mr. Blue Sky
Electric Light Orchestra
Loud from the start⚡⚡⚡⚡⚡
Bouncy piano from the first second and a sky-is-clear mood all the way through. Basically an alarm clock disguised as a song.
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6Walking on Sunshine
Katrina & The Waves
Loud from the start⚡⚡⚡⚡⚡
Drums, horns and a shout of pure joy right away. Not for gentle mornings, but great when you have to be up and moving fast.
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7Elevate
St. Lucia
Builds up⚡⚡⚡⚡⚡
A shimmering synth-pop rise that sounds like the room getting brighter. One of the less obvious picks, so it won't feel worn out.
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8Downtown
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
Loud from the start⚡⚡⚡⚡⚡
Huge, theatrical and impossible to sleep through. Keep it for mornings when you really need a push.
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9Wake Up
Arcade Fire
Builds up⚡⚡⚡⚡⚡
Starts with a chant-like choir and swells into a full-band anthem. Feels like a crowd cheering you out of bed.
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10Happy
Pharrell Williams
Loud from the start⚡⚡⚡⚡⚡
Handclaps and a groove from the first bar. Light enough not to be stressful, catchy enough to get you humming in the shower.
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11Feeling Good
Nina Simone
Soft start⚡⚡⚡⚡⚡
Opens with just her voice, then the big band crashes in. That moment works like a second alarm built into the song.
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12Sleepyhead
Passion Pit
Loud from the start⚡⚡⚡⚡⚡
Fizzy, high-pitched synths that feel like an energy drink for your ears. The name fits a little too well.
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13Dog Days Are Over
Florence + The Machine
Soft start⚡⚡⚡⚡⚡
Starts with harp and claps, then explodes when the drums arrive. Great if you like an alarm that grows with you.
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14Don't Stop Me Now
Queen
Soft start⚡⚡⚡⚡⚡
A calm piano opening, then it takes off and never slows down. By the chorus, lying in bed feels wrong.
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15Three Little Birds
Bob Marley & The Wailers
Soft start⚡⚡⚡⚡⚡
A relaxed reggae groove and a simple promise that things will be alright. Ideal for stressful days.
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16Can't Stop the Feeling!
Justin Timberlake
Builds up⚡⚡⚡⚡⚡
Starts small and adds layers until it is a full dance-floor track. Friendly enough for the whole family.
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17Beautiful Day
U2
Builds up⚡⚡⚡⚡⚡
A steady pulse that keeps climbing toward a huge chorus. A good pick for big days, like exams or interviews.
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18Levitating
Dua Lipa
Loud from the start⚡⚡⚡⚡⚡
A disco bassline right from the start. Modern, upbeat and short enough that it ends before it gets annoying.
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19Good as Hell
Lizzo
Loud from the start⚡⚡⚡⚡⚡
Pure confidence from the first second. Set it for mornings when you need a pep talk more than a wake-up call.
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20Good Day
Nappy Roots
Soft start⚡⚡⚡⚡⚡
A laid-back, sunny hip-hop track about everything going right. Easy on the ears, but it still gets you moving.
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Questions people ask
What is the best song to wake up to?
There is no single answer, but "Viva La Vida" by Coldplay, "Lovely Day" by Bill Withers and "Wake Me Up" by Avicii are classic picks: they start gently, build up, and stay positive.
Is it better to wake up to music than an alarm sound?
Many people find it less stressful. A song that starts softly and builds wakes you more gradually than a sudden beep, which can leave you feeling groggy and grumpy.
How often should I change my wake-up song?
Every few weeks. If you hear the same song every morning, your brain starts to tune it out, and some people even start to dislike a song they used to love.
Can I set a Spotify song as my iPhone alarm?
Not in the built-in Clock app. On iPhone you need a song from Apple Music or one you've bought. On many Android phones, the Clock app can use Spotify directly. See our guide below.