Short answer
The best songs to wake up to are melodic and upbeat, and they start without a long quiet intro. Favorites: "Here Comes the Sun" (The Beatles) and "Lovely Day" (Bill Withers) to wake up gently, "Happy" (Pharrell Williams), "Levitating" (Dua Lipa) and "Wake Me Up" (Avicii) for energy, and "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" (Wham!) if you want to laugh. Heavy sleeper? Try "Thunderstruck" (AC/DC).
The right alarm song gets you out of bed in a decent mood. The wrong one either lulls you back to sleep or makes you hate a song you used to love. Below are 50 songs to wake up to, grouped by mood: gentle, upbeat, funny and loud enough for heavy sleepers. For each one, we say why it works as an alarm. Already picked one? Here's how to set a song as your alarm on iPhone and Android.
What makes a good song to wake up to?
There isn't much research on alarm sounds, but what exists points one way. A 2020 study from RMIT University in Melbourne (published in PLOS ONE) found that people who woke to a melodic alarm reported less morning grogginess than people who woke to a harsh "beep beep" tone. The researchers suggested that a melody you can follow helps your brain switch on more smoothly.
Combine that with what people who use song alarms say, and you get four rules:
- Melody you can hum. A clear tune beats noise or a flat beat.
- No long quiet intro. The alarm starts at 0:00. If the first 40 seconds are silence or soft piano, you'll sleep through them. Trim the song or choose one that starts strong.
- Upbeat, but matched to you. Light sleepers do better with a song that builds slowly; heavy sleepers need something loud from the first second.
- Like it, don't love it. Your alarm song gets linked with being dragged out of bed. Pick a song you enjoy, not your all-time favorite, and change it every few weeks so your brain doesn't learn to tune it out.
Gentle songs to wake up to
For light sleepers, early risers and anyone who hates being startled. These start soft and get brighter, which pairs well with a fade-in alarm (on Android, turn on Gradually increase volume; on iPhone, the Sleep schedule alarm in the Health app has softer wake-up sounds made for this).
| Song and artist | Why it works |
|---|---|
| Here Comes the SunThe Beatles | Soft acoustic guitar from the first second, then it slowly brightens. The classic sunrise song. |
| Lovely DayBill Withers | Warm, slow groove that builds. A regular at the top of best wake-up song lists. |
| Banana PancakesJack Johnson | Laid-back acoustic song made for lazy weekend mornings. |
| Three Little BirdsBob Marley & The Wailers | Easy reggae rhythm that calms a stressful morning. |
| SunriseNorah Jones | Quiet piano and voice. Best for light sleepers who hate being startled. |
| Don’t Worry, Be HappyBobby McFerrin | Whistling and a cappella vocals: gentle, but hard to stay grumpy to. |
| RiptideVance Joy | Bright ukulele that starts right away, no long intro. |
| Ho HeyThe Lumineers | Stomps and claps that wake you up a little at a time. |
| Feeling GoodNina Simone | Starts almost a cappella, then the big band bursts in. A built-in gradual alarm. |
| golden hourJVKE | Piano that swells into a full orchestra. Great with a fade-in alarm. |
Upbeat pop and dance songs to wake up to
The most popular alarm songs. They're energetic, feel good and almost all start with the beat, not a long intro.
| Song and artist | Why it works |
|---|---|
| HappyPharrell Williams | Claps and a bouncy beat from the start. Hard to hit snooze on. |
| LevitatingDua Lipa | Disco-pop that's energetic without being harsh. |
| Don’t Start NowDua Lipa | The bass line kicks in almost immediately: good for a quick start. |
| Wake Me UpAvicii | Acoustic guitar that turns into a dance drop. The title says it all. |
| LevelsAvicii | Pure build-up energy. Set the alarm to start on the drop. |
| Walking on SunshineKatrina and the Waves | Drums and horns that feel like a sunny morning even in winter. |
| SeptemberEarth, Wind & Fire | Funk and horns that make getting dressed feel like a party. |
| Can’t Stop the Feeling!Justin Timberlake | Feel-good pop built to make you move. |
| Uptown FunkMark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars | Big horns and a strong beat. Great for gym-before-work days. |
| Don’t Stop Me NowQueen | Opens with slow piano, so trim it to where the band comes in. |
| Shake It OffTaylor Swift | Drums from the first beat. Perfect after a bad night's sleep. |
| As It WasHarry Styles | Fast synth-pop that wakes you without shouting at you. |
| EspressoSabrina Carpenter | A coffee-themed hit for your first minute awake. |
| Good as HellLizzo | A confidence boost before a big day. |
| Mr. BrightsideThe Killers | Guitar riff from the first second, then it keeps speeding up. |
Rap, hip-hop and rock songs to wake up to
For gym mornings, exam days and anyone who needs a push more than a lullaby.
| Song and artist | Why it works |
|---|---|
| Hey Ya!OutKast | Upbeat and fast; nobody stays in bed through it. |
| Can’t Hold UsMacklemore & Ryan Lewis ft. Ray Dalton | Fast rap and a huge chorus for motivation mornings. |
| Lose YourselfEminem | The classic motivation track. The intro is quiet, so trim to the beat. |
| Eye of the TigerSurvivor | The training-montage classic. Instant fight-the-day energy. |
| Dog Days Are OverFlorence + The Machine | Starts soft with claps, then explodes. Great for slow wakers who need a push. |
| Viva la VidaColdplay | Strings and drums from the first beat, uplifting without being loud. |
Found the perfect song for someone else? With PingPal you pick the song (or record your voice) and it rings on their phone as an alarm.
Funny alarm songs
Waking up is easier when the first thing you do is laugh. These also make great alarms to set for a friend, a partner or a roommate.
| Song and artist | Why it works |
|---|---|
| Wake Me Up Before You Go-GoWham! | The most on-the-nose alarm song ever made. |
| Never Gonna Give You UpRick Astley | Rickroll yourself every morning. |
| The Final CountdownEurope | That synth fanfare makes every Monday feel epic. |
| SandstormDarude | Instant energy, zero words, endless memes. |
| All StarSmash Mouth | Starts with vocals right away. Peak meme alarm. |
| Who Let the Dogs OutBaha Men | Barking alarm, but make it a song. |
| The Fox (What Does the Fox Say?)Ylvis | Weird enough to make you laugh before you open your eyes. |
| Yakety SaxBoots Randolph | The chase-scene saxophone. Your morning routine, sped up. |
| Gonna Fly Now (Theme from Rocky)Bill Conti | Trumpets for anyone who has to get up at 5 AM. |
| Cotton Eye JoeRednex | Fiddle and a stomping beat: chaotic in the best way. |
| Wake Me Up When September EndsGreen Day | Funny as an alarm in September only. It's slow, so keep a backup alarm. |
| ReveilleTraditional bugle call | The military wake-up call. Old-school and very effective. |
Best alarm songs for heavy sleepers
If you sleep through anything, skip the gentle list. These are loud from the very first second, with no soft intro to sleep through. Turn the alarm volume all the way up and test it once while you're awake.
| Song and artist | Why it works |
|---|---|
| ThunderstruckAC/DC | Fast guitar from the start that keeps building. |
| Turn Down for WhatDJ Snake & Lil Jon | Huge drop and a shouted hook. Not for light sleepers. |
| BangarangSkrillex ft. Sirah | Loud dubstep bass. Roommates may complain. |
| Chop Suey!System of a Down | Guitar that hits like a wake-up slap. |
| Seven Nation ArmyThe White Stripes | The riff starts right away and gets louder. |
| FaintLinkin Park | Strings and drums from the very first second. |
| Welcome to the JungleGuns N’ Roses | A screaming guitar intro you can't sleep through. |
Still sleeping through it? A song alone is rarely enough for very deep sleepers. See why you sleep through your alarm (and 11 fixes) and the best alarm apps for heavy sleepers. Waking a teenager? Here's how to wake up a teenager without a fight.
How to set your song and get the most out of it
- Setting it up: on iPhone, Clock > alarm > Sound > Pick a Song uses Apple Music; on Android, Google Clock and Samsung Clock can play Spotify directly. Step-by-step for every phone, plus MP3s and voice memos: how to set a song as your alarm.
- Start at the best part. With a song file, trim it to the chorus or the drop. With Apple Music or Spotify you can't choose the start, so pick songs from the tables above that start strong.
- Download it. A streamed song needs internet when the alarm rings. A downloaded song or file always plays.
- Make a wake-up playlist. On Android, set a Spotify playlist as the alarm and hit shuffle for a different song every day. That also stops your brain from getting used to one song.
- Keep a backup. For a flight or an exam, set a second alarm with a built-in tone a few minutes later.
Wake a friend up with a song
Some of these songs are even better when someone else picks them for you. With PingPal, you choose a song from the lists above (or record a voice message), set the time, and it rings on your friend's or partner's phone as a real alarm, even on silent. It works between iPhone and Android. "Happy" on a birthday morning or "The Final Countdown" on exam day beats a text. Prefer words? Try our funny wake-up texts.
FAQ
What is the best song to wake up to?
There's no single winner, but "Lovely Day" by Bill Withers, "Here Comes the Sun" by The Beatles, "Happy" by Pharrell Williams and "Wake Me Up" by Avicii come up again and again. They're melodic, positive and start without a long silent intro.
What songs wake you up gently?
Songs that start soft and build: "Here Comes the Sun" (The Beatles), "Sunrise" (Norah Jones), "Feeling Good" (Nina Simone), "golden hour" (JVKE) and "Banana Pancakes" (Jack Johnson). Pair them with a fade-in alarm.
What are good alarm songs for heavy sleepers?
Songs that are loud from the first second: "Thunderstruck" (AC/DC), "Turn Down for What" (DJ Snake & Lil Jon), "Bangarang" (Skrillex) or "Faint" (Linkin Park). Avoid anything with a quiet intro.
Is it bad to wake up to your favorite song?
It's not harmful, but many people end up disliking the song they wake up to every day. Choose a song you like rather than one you love, and switch it every few weeks.
Is it better to wake up to music or an alarm tone?
Research from RMIT University (2020) found that people who woke to melodic alarms felt less groggy than people woken by harsh beeps. A tune you like is a good choice, as long as it's loud enough to actually wake you.
Can I use a Spotify song as my alarm?
On Android, yes: Google Clock and Samsung Clock support Spotify. On iPhone, the Clock app can't play Spotify, but a Shortcuts automation can start a Spotify song when your alarm rings. Details in our song alarm guide.
Related: how to set a song as your alarm · why you sleep through your alarm · funny wake-up texts · all blog posts