Songs for Living in the Light

Hey, golden ladies — it’s your time to shine. Whether you’re already “Livin’ In the Light” or yearning for more harmonious “Golden Days,” this 35-song playlist delivers uplifting, affirming, meditative and motivational messages to brighten your day, elevate your mood and set you on a peaceful path to “Follow The Sun.”

This sonic “Journey To the Sun” begins with Jill Scott’s feel-good anthem “Golden,” whose language of “taking my freedom” and high-stepping joy resonates deeply with sisters and invites us to live fully and brightly in the moment. It winds down with Maze featuring Frankie Beverly’s mellow, reflective “Golden Time of Day.” In between, there are plenty of illuminating, sun-soaked tunes to bask in — including Macy Gray’s jazzy version of “You Are the Sunshine Of My Life”; Norah Jones’s soothing “Sunrise”; Nina Simone’s jubilant “Here Comes the Sun”; The Clark Sisters’ upbeat praise-and-worship song “You Brought The Sunshine”; and SWV lead singer Coko’s cheery solo hit “Sunshine.”

Dionne Warwick’s signature smooth delivery on the original “Solid Gold Theme” and a fun trap remix of “The Golden Girls” theme may spark warm, fuzzy nostalgia. Meanwhile, Rita Marley’s “Sunshine After Rain” and Maysa’s “Good Morning Sunrise” channel the sensual afterglow of romantic love. And of course, we love it when men sing our praises, as Ramsey Lewis with Earth, Wind & Fire and Stevie Wonder do on “Sun Goddess” and “Golden Lady,” respectively.

Reflecting more insightful light, on the glorious “Stay Gold,” Wonder offers a plea to maintain a youthful spirit and hopeful heart even as we grow older; Alicia Keys reinforces the radiant light that emanates from the inside out on “Golden Child”; Joy + Soul encourages us to embrace our inherent divinity and not dim our “Light,” playfully reminding listeners not to give haters the energy; Beautiful Chorus invites us to release doubts and fears that keep us in the shadows with “My Little Light”; and Marisha Wallace delivers a soul-stirring, take-it-to-church rendition of “Tomorrow” from the musical Annie that reminds us that each day we wake to see the sun rise is a blessing and chance to start anew.

So stick out your chin and grin, Sis, and hold on to that evergreen promise that “the sun’ll come out” — each tomorrow brings another chance to begin again.