School’s been out for a while and with summer fully upon us, the discussion begins for this year’s summer songs. It’s no coincidence that summer is the season with the most emphasis on picking a certain song or two to associate it with. The other seasons have a few ditties but there’s nothing like celebrating the end of school and the commencement of…whatever. My memories of summer consist of sleeping late and going to the beach with friends…each day as spontaneous as the next. Once you’re out of school and “all grows up” (so money…NOT), the dawn of summer isn’t as spectacular. That is, until you become a parent…and then it’s an entirely different, somewhat vicarious ballgame. We tend to mostly embrace the summer songs of our own youth as music becomes the celebration of our emancipation of teachers, homework, alarm clocks, etc.
So for me, the songs that make me time-travel back to summers past include “Everybody Wants To Rule The World” by Tears For Fears, “The Reflex” by Duran Duran and “The Power Of Love” by Huey Lewis and The News. Yup, these songs disclose that I am of the MTV generation and the revelation that these tunes came out of my TV speakers as well as my car’s stereo system. The delivery of these songs is indicative of the time period as previous generations would think of a small transistor radio and current generations have their smartphones to convey their music (coincidentally both with miniscule speakers).
Whenever I hear those songs, it’s like a Peppermint Patty for my ears…I get the sensation of coolness, freedom and utter joy that only summer and sun can enhance. And each generation uses that music as a way to relive a feeling that’s so unique and utterly tied to the season. The power of music is such that merely the opening notes will take one away from the present and put them squarely in the wayback machine. Play “School’s Out” to anyone over the age of 40 (!) and watch their eyes glaze over…Alice Cooper nailed it!
Feel free to think about and share your favorite songs of summer…I highly recommend it.
All that being said, I would nominate “Fancy: by Iggy Azalea or “Summer” (duh) by Calvin Harris as 2014’s summer songs. But what the heck do I know…I just want to jump in a DeLorean and go back to 1985.
– Submitted by Eric Martinez, Music Design