Nothing beats the week-long stress more than the long-awaited weekend break. You’ve toiled all week long without much respite and are weary and tired.
Punching that clock on a Friday morning gives you the encouragement you need to get through the day. Knowing it’s the last day of the week keeps you going through the day.
Tapping on this emotion, artists have created memorable anthems on songs about Fridays over the years. Out of the countless songs written about the upcoming weekend, we’ve handpicked some of the very best.
So put on your headphones and let this playlist uplift your spirits as you go through Friday with a little more enthusiasm and drive!
Contents
- 1. Just Got Paid – Johnny Kemp (1988)
- 2. Friday Night Saturday Morning – Nouvelle Vague (2004)
- 3. Livin’ It Up (Friday Night) – Bell & James (1978)
- 4. Friday Fish Fry – Kelis (2014)
- 5. Friday I’m In Love – The Cure (1992)
- 6. Friday To Sunday – Justice Crew(2012)
- 7. Friday Night – The Darkness (2003)
- 8. Friday – Ice Cube (1995)
- 9. Gypsy Friday – Townes van Zandt (2003)
- 10. Friday On My Mind – David Bowie (1973)
- 11. Thank God It’s Friday- Nikki Williams (2013)
- 12. Black Friday Rule – Flogging Molly (1997)
- 13. Party People… Friday Night – 911(1998)
- 14. Friday’s Angels – Generation X (1979)
- 15. Friday – Rascal Flatts (2012)
- 16. Friday – Rebecca Black (2011)
- 17. Working For The Weekend – Loverboy (1981)
- 18. Aloha Friday – Kimo Kahoano (2007)
- 19. I Gotta Feeling – The Black Eyed Peas (2009)
- 20. Friday Is Forever – We The Kings (2013)
1. Just Got Paid – Johnny Kemp (1988)
- Artist: Johnny Kemp
- Song Name: Just Got Paid
- Year released: 1988
- From Album: Secrets Of Flying
- Play on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/7aJ5Hx4GXT1pTTrPRkeKv9
Who doesn’t enjoy the day they get paid? After slogging all week long, Johnny comes home with the paycheck in his leather bag and a swing in his stride!
After throwing his bag and his car keys on the table, the Bahamian singer is all set to start his iconic dance moves.
His lady has her lipstick on, and the dancers are all waiting outside the house. Could there be a better way to start a Friday night playlist?
2. Friday Night Saturday Morning – Nouvelle Vague (2004)
- Artist: Nouvelle Vague
- Song Name: Friday Night Saturday Morning
- Year released: 2004
- From Album: Nouvelle Vague
- Play on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/2Rmj8imvd3M80S9gJqaPht
This Indie tune does what it says on the tin. It outlines the exciting events that occur at the end of every regular workweek.
“I go out on Friday night
And I come home on Saturday morning.”
Waking up intoxicated, Nouvelle passes through Saturday in a daze. She seems to have seen it all – Flashing lights, drunken stags, groups of dancing women resembling hens, bouncers stopping fights.
She can neither walk nor talk. She is going to see her money go. She’s aware of the routine, and she is okay with it. With an otherwise calm exterior, we only hear her ache for love in the last verses.
“Wish I had lipstick on my shirt
Instead of piss stains on my shoes.”
3. Livin’ It Up (Friday Night) – Bell & James (1978)
- Artist: Bell & James
- Song Name: Livin’ It Up (Friday Night)
- Year released: 1978
- From Album: Livin’ It Up (Friday Night)
- Play on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/3rS7RC9QLNEPeEXekgnu70
This hit debut single reached number 15 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and 7 on the Black Singles Chart.
Counting down the hours to Friday, the song starts by describing their boring jobs. The American soul group connect with their audience with the familiar feeling of the weekly grind.
The funky guitar strums tell us that the night ride is on the way and Friday night is just around the corner.
“Jump in my ride, ooh ooh ooh ooh
It’s Friday night, yeah yeah yeah yeah.”
4. Friday Fish Fry – Kelis (2014)
- Artist: Kelis
- Song Name: Friday Fish Fry
- Year released: 2014
- From Album: FOOD
- Play on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/0zUeB5LCy9UVAjMEOW2gSc
The song starts with 25 seconds of ‘Aaah-Aaah’ as if Kelis has eaten something too hot. The backing vocals sympathise with her by singing:
“She needs ice, cold water
She needs ice, cold water.”
Kelis is begging for cold water after eating a hot fish fry in the latter part of the song. The studio album ‘Food’ title does justice to the lyrics.
Loosely mentioning an older lover who isn’t her type, Kelis does bring up love in the song once. But besides that, the music is all about hot spicy fish and cold water!
5. Friday I’m In Love – The Cure (1992)
- Artist: The Cure
- Song Name: Friday I’m In Love
- Year released: 1992
- From Album: Wish
- Play on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/263aNAQCeFSWipk896byo6
If you’ve heard The Cure or Robert Smith, this song might seem way out of character. This song’s cheerful glee is poles apart from the band’s Goth-Punk style.
The simple lyrics focus on the feelings that each day of the week provides. Blue Mondays, grey Tuesdays and Wednesdays and un-loved Thursdays precede the chorus: “It’s Friday, I’m in love.”
Robert Smith comments on the Hit, “It is a dumb pop song. Genuinely dumb pop lyrics are much more difficult to write than my usual outpourings through the heart.”
6. Friday To Sunday – Justice Crew(2012)
- Artist: Justice Crew
- Song Name: Friday To Sunday
- Year released: 2012
- From Album: Best Night
- Play on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/64GVpS2rqsR07LjNjgz05g
“From Friday to Sunday, I make the girls go wild,
From Friday to Sunday you know they like my style.
From body to body, it’s like a jungle inside,
From Friday to Sunday, F-Friday to Sunday.”
When you hear this chorus spread four times across the song, you know where you need to be this Friday!
It’s a 72-hour party marathon! The college teens have it all figured out, from freestyle headstands to booze to ample attention from the opposite gender.
7. Friday Night – The Darkness (2003)
- Artist: The Darkness
- Song Name: Friday Night
- Year released: 2003
- From Album: Permission to Land
- Play on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/0FXIFD0DV5RBb3EytmjUBS?autoplay=true
As a song that goes back to the late 60s, this tune makes us relive the hippie party culture of that era.
“Monday rowing
Tuesday badminton
Dancing on a Friday night
I got ping pong on Wednesday
Needlework on Thursday
Dancing on a Friday night.”
Even the activities across the regular work week seem to quote the 60s. Bridge Club on Wednesday and needlework on Thursday are more relevant to the 60s than now.
A fun-filled party anthem takes us back to the good old days.
8. Friday – Ice Cube (1995)
- Artist: Ice Cube
- Song Name: Friday
- Year released: 1995
- From Album: Friday (Original Movie Soundtrack)
- Play on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/3alpZ4A3wcqNw3VReg2c2W
Friday, starring Ice Cube, is one of the funniest stoner comedies made in the last 25 years. With the negative depiction of black neighbourhoods in 90s songs and films, Ice Cube and DJ Pooh wanted to change that.
This low-budget film made for $3.5M grossed $28M worldwide. The movie’s Hip Hop song ‘Friday’ outlines all the fun events in a typical black neighbourhood.
9. Gypsy Friday – Townes van Zandt (2003)
- Artist: Townes van Zandt
- Song Name: Gypsy Friday
- Year released: 2003
- From Album: In the Beginning
- Play on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/3r2IYXEGnlMycFUnIhrG7e
This Nashville country song adds more depth to our Fridays and drifts away from the party songs listed previously. Speaking of a revered place called ‘Gypsy Friday’, Townes makes it sound like it is ‘Hotel California’!
Though similar in intention, the mood set is quite different. The country singer describes ‘Gypsy Friday’ as a place to come once you’ve dried your tears.
“If a dream’s enough to ease your hungry sorrow
And a song’s enough to blow your tears away
And all you need are a rhyme
To help you pass your time
Well, meet me down the line on gypsy Friday.”
10. Friday On My Mind – David Bowie (1973)
- Artist: David Bowie
- Song Name: Friday On My Mind
- Year released: 1973
- From Album: Pin-Ups
- Play on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/2UJesnGdalQaywJendkm10
“Monday morning feels so bad
Everybody seems to nag me
Coming Tuesday, I feel better
Even my old man looks good
Wednesday, don’t go
Thursday goes too slow
I’ve got Friday on my mind.”
Quite self-descriptive, there seem to be no hidden gems in this David Bowie track. Generally known for his avant-garde vision, this tune does what it says on the tin. It is a song describing the problems of each day of the week till Friday.
As Bowie reaches Friday, we hear the unstoppable feeling of excitement with the background singers getting out of control.
11. Thank God It’s Friday- Nikki Williams (2013)
- Artist: Nikki Williams
- Song Name: Thank God It’s Friday
- Year released: 2013
- From Album: Thank God It’s Friday
- Play on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/2Vn2yw1kwtFUIsgl098OGL
As one of the popular party songs on our playlist, this one is about partying till the sun comes out the following day! Being super excited about getting paid, Nikki announces that all the drinks are on her.
There are no twists to the plot, heartbreaks or surprise boyfriends. This song is pure fun.
With a D.J. playing her favourite songs and a backup team ready to cover any shortfalls, this is no ordinary party!
12. Black Friday Rule – Flogging Molly (1997)
- Artist: Flogging Molly
- Song Name: Black Friday Rule
- Year released: 1997
- From Album: Alive Behind the Green Door
- Play on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/40jxxlPvRrvPLPyAb22bSu
This Irish-American seven-piece Celtic punk band formed in Los Angeles in 1997 makes a surprising entry onto our list. As the lyrics pass at lightning speeds, we’re subject to a blast of angry guitars.
The story began when the Irish vocalist migrated to California. Due to visa regulations, he couldn’t find a way to go back. They cite the bombings on Friday, May 17th 1974, in Ireland, along with homesickness.
They end with a Celtic folk dance with accordion and bagpipes. This is a tribute to those who died in the bombings.
13. Party People… Friday Night – 911(1998)
- Artist: 911
- Song Name: Party People… Friday Night
- Year released: 1998
- From Album: Moving On
- Play on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/0Om0mZ65ovRT6rGDaeA3yb
This fun-filled party anthem by the British boy band 911 makes its way into our playlist in grand style.
“Forget Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday,
hey, it’s Friday night.”
What makes this 90s anthem different from the others is its motivational spirit. Instead of asking us to enjoy every Friday, 911 asks us to transform our whole life in the spirit of Fridays.
“But I swear that ship is coming my way
I’m gonna kiss this place goodbye
I’m gonna chase my destiny
I’m gonna make it Friday every day.”
14. Friday’s Angels – Generation X (1979)
- Artist: Generation X
- Song Name: Friday’s Angels
- Year released: 1979
- From Album: Valley Of The Dolls
- Play on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/7hAlC3eJfr96lZeXTFIGGP?autoplay=true
This alternative rock song breaks the spell of the party tune and asks us to question the idea of dressing up on a Friday night.
Stating that one can never be like their heroes by only dressing up like them, this excellent band points a mirror at our faces.
“Your heroes stare with glossy smiles (Friday’s Angels)
They always had that special style (Friday’s Angels)
Standing naked dressings at trial (Friday’s Angels)
You’d give anything to be there for a while (Friday’s Angels)
You’re made up, played up and feeling great.
But the mirror knows
You’re a proper state.”
15. Friday – Rascal Flatts (2012)
- Artist: Rascal Flatts
- Song Name: Friday
- Year released: 2012
- From Album: Changed
- Play on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/4HasZnsHNOXYGBCyKqWBgT
“Coffee, cigarette, blue-collar breakfast
Hard hat, forklift, dragging through a swing shift
Stacking up the boxes, watching that clock.”
This country song describes an average middle-class blue-collar worker’s regular workweek.
Unlike the other party songs on the list, this one is a sigh of relief on a Friday. Instead of partying, he wants to unwind with a quiet drink and sing along with a few close mates.
16. Friday – Rebecca Black (2011)
- Artist: Rebecca Black
- Song Name: Friday
- Year released: 2011
- From Album: Friday
- Play on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/2XjJSWl5dMWv5NtmDetreB
It’s Friday, and it’s time to party again! This time around with teen pop sensation Rebecca Black. This pop hit connects with teenagers who feel the pressures of school, homework and deadlines.
Hopping onto her friend’s car on a Friday morning, the school-goers seem excited about the weekend ahead.
“It’s Friday, Friday
Gotta get down on Friday
Everybody’s lookin’ forward to the weekend, weekend
Friday, Friday
Gettin’ down on Friday
Everybody’s lookin’ forward to the weekend.”
17. Working For The Weekend – Loverboy (1981)
- Artist: Loverboy
- Song Name: Working For The Weekend
- Year released: 1981
- From Album: Get Lucky
- Play on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/35k31HZI4z9PbBOioaI4dZ
We’re sure you might have heard of this 80s song somewhere. This famous party anthem has appeared in countless T.V. shows and films.
Zoolander, Saturday Night Live, Scrubs, Ladder 49, Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle, and Click all have this tune in common.
18. Aloha Friday – Kimo Kahoano (2007)
- Artist: Kimo Kahoano
- Song Name: Aloha Friday
- Year released: 2007
- From Album: Aloha Friday
- Play on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/21dqFB02mxFTW7OuWJVO5W
You cannot help but find yourself a recliner to relax once you hear this tune. Kimo Kahoano & Paul Natto seem to have created an absolute stress-buster Friday chill song!
The duo describe the feeling of romanticism that comes along with Fridays in Hawaii. The simple life with cousins coming over for the weekend.
Their children or ‘Keikies’ are running everywhere, and mama is hiding their beers. It is a simple song with a memorable chorus.
“It’s Aloha Friday, no work ’til Monday.
Doo be doo, doo doo be, doo be doo be doo be doo!”
19. I Gotta Feeling – The Black Eyed Peas (2009)
- Artist: The Black Eyed Peas
- Song Name: I Gotta Feeling
- Year released: 2009
- From Album: The E.N.D.
- Play on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/21dqFB02mxFTW7OuWJVO5W
The Black Eyed Peas describe this song as “A college anthem for people looking forward to escaping life’s pressures by going out and having a ball.”
This mega-hit experienced great commercial success. It replaced “Boom Boom Pow” at #1 on the Hot 100. The Black Eyed Peas thus became the ninth act in the chart’s history to succeed at the summit.
When this song logged on for its eighth straight week on top of the Hot 100, The Black Eyed Peas broke the record for most consecutive weeks at #1 in the rock era.
20. Friday Is Forever – We The Kings (2013)
- Artist: We The Kings
- Song Name: Friday Is Forever
- Year released: 2013
- From Album: Friday Is Forever
- Play on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/5oiPqgYe9FCfSbnzuczzND
The video starts with the band playing their guitars, basses and drums on a boat.
The boat goes onto the streets, towed by a truck after starting in the water. The band perform the entire song on the same boat, across the city.
Accompanied by cheering fans, this video seems to be the best way to end this fun-filled playlist.