Songs About the Sun & Bill McKibben on "Sun Day"
Hosts Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot talk with journalist and environmentalist Bill McKibben about solar power and music, as well as the upcoming activism event “Sun Day.” They also share some of their favorite songs about the sun.
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Bill McKibben
Jim and Greg talk with author and climate activist Bill McKibben about recent advances in solar power technology and why it gives him hope for the future.
Songs About the Sun
The whole show’s staff shares favorite songs about the sun. The picks range from Captain Beefheart to Stevie Wonder.
Greg:
- The Vaselines, “Jesus Wants me for a Sunbeam”
- Eleanor Friedberger, “Stare at the Sun”
- Captain Beefheart and the Magic Band, “Sun Zoom Spark”
- Common and Pete Rock, “When the Sun Shines Again”
Jim:
- Polyphonic Spree, "It’s the Sun"
- Pink Floyd, "Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun"
- The Kinks, "Waterloo Sunset"
- Stevie Wonder, "You Are the Sunshine of My Life"
Production Staff:
- Max - Yes, "Heart of the Sunrise"
- Alex - Boney M., "Sunny"
- Joe - Swirlies, "Sunn"
- Andrew - Pedro The Lion, "Indian Summer"
Featured Songs:
- The Beatles, "Here Comes The Sun," Abbey Road, Apple, 1969
- The Beatles, "With A Little Help From My Friends," Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, Parlophone, 1967
- Nina Simone, "Here Comes The Sun," Here Comes the Sun, RCA Victor, 1971
- Bill Withers, "Ain't No Sunshine," Just As I Am, Sussex, 1971
- The Vaselines, "Jesus Wants Me for a Sunbeam," Dying for It EP, 53rd & 3rd, 1988
- The Polyphonic Spree, "It's the Sun," The Beginning Stages of..., Hollywood, 2000
- Yes, "Heart of the Sunrise," Fragile, Atlantic, 1971
- Eleanor Friedberger, "Stare at the Sun," Personal Record, Merge, 2013
- Pink Floyd, "Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun," A Saucerful of Secrets, Columbia, 1968
- Boney M., "Sunny," Take the Heat off Me, Atlantic, 1976
- Swirlies, "Sunn," They Spent Their Wild Youthful Days In The Glittering World Of The Salons, Taang!, 1996
- Captain Beefheart and His Magic Band, "Sun Zoom Spark," Clear Spot, Reprise, 1972
- The Kinks, "Waterloo Sunset," Something Else By The Kinks, Pye, 1967
- Pedro The Lion, "Indian Summer," Control, Jade Tree, 2002
- Common and Pete Rock, "When The Sun Shines Again," The Auditorium Vol. 1, Loma Vista, 2024
- Stevie Wonder, "You Are the Sunshine of My Life," Talking Book, Motown, 1972
- The Jimi Hendrix Experience, "Hey Joe," Are You Experienced?, Reprise, 1967
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