Sun in the Night

As this blog’s frequent visitors know, much of the music I share is from my collection, while many pieces come from Apple Music random play or YouTube suggestions. I am pretty faithful about liking/disliking songs on the streaming platforms to receive a “more tailored set of random selections” from them. Happily, the algorithms also stray into unfamiliar territory occasionally, bringing me songs like today’s selection, which I first heard a week ago.

So, “Sun in the Night” was an unexpected and pleasant surprise, and I knew as soon as I heard it, it was one to share with you. It’s a lovely slow-dance-tempo tune that I feel is about how true companionship is a grounding presence in one’s life. Much like the sun at night, we may not always see or be mindful of the constancy of that companion, whether the relationship is intimate or platonic. Still, we know that person will be there like they were yesterday, today, tomorrow, and every day that will follow, keeping us company and helping us when life becomes difficult, and we will be the same for them. It’s that steadiness, like Earth’s constant rotation, that reassures us of what life wants to offer us.

“How many times in your life have you ever had the feeling
That the way you live is crazy and there must be something else
When you look at the sky does it ever cross your mind
There could be something you’ve forgotten that won’t ever go away

Like the sun in the night
Like the sun in the night
You’ll always be with me baby.. be in my soul
You’ll always be with me, wherever I go

Gets too much after a while trying to always hide your feelings
When the world is going crazy and you keep it to yourself
How much it hurts, though you try, try to get on with your life
And tell yourself that worse things happen and just hope it goes away

Like the sun in the night
Like the sun in the night
You’ll always be with me baby.. be in my soul
You’ll always be with me, wherever I go

Like the sun in the night
Like the sun in the night
You’ll always be with me baby.. be in my soul
You’ll always be with me, wherever I go”

“Sun in the Night,” by Tim Laws and Paul Tucker.
Lyrics retrieved from AZLyrics.com

Named after lighthouses in Whitley Bay and Tynemouth in England, Lighthouse Family was the pop/soul duo of keyboardist Paul Tucker and singer Tunde Baiyewu, formed in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne in 1993. They went their separate ways in 2003, reunited in 2010-2011, then again from 2019-2022 and disbanded permanently just before they were to have played a gig at the Mouth of the Tyne Festival in England as Baiyewu decided to pursue a solo career.

“Sun in the Night” is a gorgeous song with its soft melody, an ethereal flute intro, layered synthesizer, Baiyewu’s gentle lead vocal, a subtle but stirring string arrangement, and the backup singers’ lilting vocal harmonies. I’ve been listening to more of their songs while writing to you and have enjoyed their sound. Thanks, Apple Music. (Now, please, pay artists more for their musical creations. If you need to charge more, so be it!)

Today’s selection comes from the duo’s second studio album, Postcards from Heaven (1997).

Now you know a little about why this is my Song of the Day for Today. Thanks for joining me here.

Here is the audio from the Lighthouse Family YouTube channel:

Warmly,

Steve