Memorial Day weekend is here... time for a look at some of the all-time best Songs of Summer.
And I'm intentionally excluding anything by the Beach Boys or anything older than me.
Let's start with a song that puts all of us Philly people in the right frame of mind -- Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince's 1991 smash "Summertime". It was destined to be a true Song of Summer, and despite some funny styles and outmoded dancing, it still holds up. Although Will Smith's rhymes at times seem a bit forced ("As I think back makes me wonder how/the smell from a grill can spark up nostalgia"?)
Last Summer, the world couldn't escape "Pumped Up Kicks" by Foster the People. Even Weezer was bitten by the bug -- here's their version, live from August 4, 2011 in Costa Mesa. It's pretty true to the original.
(By the way,: Foster the People actually returned the favor a week later, covering Weezer's "Say it Ain't So" in Brooklyn and again in San Francisco and here. Total props to FTP for that classy move.)
This year, Gotye seems to have the inside track to Summer Supremacy with "Somebody I Used to Know".
But I'd argue that it's been ubiquitous all Spring so it may have peaked too soon.
Peter, Bjorn and Jon's "Young Folks" was everywhere in the summer of 2006.
But to me, the greatest summer song of all time remains "Steal My Sunshine" by the Canadian hip-hop band Len. Each year, Summer truly begins when I put the windows down and play this one.
Sorry for the delay on this. I have been swamped, but called Court to talk about this. I was extremely disappointed in the selections that NME came up with for the best songs over the past 15 years. I KNOW I can come up with 15 great songs that were not even considered. So, based off of their list, here is what I came up with.
#15 - Smile, Lily Allen (NME's rank - 104)
A cute little song about bad boyfriends and revenge. Pretty "poppy," but I think it earned its stripes.
#14 - Bloc Party, Banquet (20)
Court turned me on to this. I think we will never hear from them again, but pretty cool song.
#13 - Pumping Up Your Stereo - Supergrass (124)
Such an upbeat, moving song. I think if I were cleaning the house, this would keep me motivated.
#12 - Young Folks, Peter, Bjorn, & John (93)
I don't know if I would really want to listen to this song at this very moment due to overplay, but it doesn't take away from the fact that it's a great song, that YOU KNOW you were whistling along too!
#11 - Take Me Out, Franz Ferdinand (27)
I am not one who loves to dance, but I find myself tapping my feet to this one. It's that driving beat! I love the way the song changes ala Paul McCartney (1971-1979). Terrific.
#10 - Paper Planes, MIA (15)
This song took a long time to warm up to. My kids like it. They would play it, and it grew on me. I know they have no clue what the song is about.
#9 Paranoid Android, Radiohead (1)
I must admit, I am not crazy about Radiohead like others are. I respect them. This song and video intrigued me. I bought OK Computer and enjoyed it. I am not as warm on Kid A, or others like so many others are.
#8 - A Punk, Vampire Weekend (62)
Probably the most exciting new thing that I bought into when it came out. I just felt they were so fresh. I can still enjoy this song now.
#7 - Song 2, Blur (79)
It's a shame Blur is best know for this 2:00+ "grunge" song, when they are so talented. Many great songs to chose from, but man this song gets you pumped up!
#6 - Ms. Jackson, Outkast (81)
Next to the B-Boys, I feel these guys are it in the hip-hop world. Andre 3000 is the thinking man's wrapper. Here he promises to be a good father to his child with Erikah Badu, even if they aren't together. "I am for real!"
#5 - Clint Eastwod, Gorillaz (141)
141, really? A weird concept, but works in all dimensions. Plus, it revived the career of Del, the Funk Homosapien!
#4 - Reptillia, The Strokes (129)
I love the Strokes. It may not be their best song, but ti gets stuck in my head anythime I hear it.
#3 - Maps, Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs. (55)
Man this song is moving. Such emotions when listening to this song. I love how, much like the Velvet Underground, the song goes form soft to hard. Terrifc song.
#2 - Jesus Walks, Kanye West (69)
I'm sure it might be shocking that Kanye makes my list, especially this high. The College Dropout is a fantstic album before West cracked and let stardom get to his head. A very heartfelt and honest song about religon in pop culure with the dramatic strings and chanting. I would say it is in constant rotation on my iphone.
#1 - Where It's At?, Beck
One of the most creative and innovative musicians out there today. Has tried (and succeeded) with many different styles and genres, but is at his best with the non-sensical rhymes and the Dust Brothers sampling. I don't think there was a record like thsis ever made again.
Well, that's my list. "I Bet You Look Good on the Dance Floor," by the Artic Monkeys, "Hate to Say I Told You So," by the Hives, "Firestarter" by Prodigy, "The Hindu Times" by Oasis, and "The Scientist" by Coldpay all got consideration. Once again, the list left off soem great songs & heavy hitters.
You figured Peter Bjorn and John were destined for one-hit wonder greatness. After all, can you think of a song that was more ubiquitous in 2006 than "Young Folks"? Everyone could whistle along with it... and did. It was everywhere. And then it wasn't. And I figured, much like Swedish compatriots Saab, that would be the end of that.
Only it wasn't. I keep hearing their follow up song, the aptly titled "Second Chance", and it's not half bad.
