My album of the week is Slow Club’s Complete Surrender, but since this is the last Iron Warrior of the term, I figured I would write about something different. I’ve already done a mid-year countdown and an anniversary review this term, so today I’ll cover something different: the Song of the Summer. It’s a phrase that’s often repeated around now, when the days are hot and long and we want a song to complement that weather. But actually determining a Song of the Summer is a different beast entirely, and ten people could very well ten songs they think are Song of the Summer.
Although not a rule, many times Song of the Summer does not mean the same thing as “best song of the summer.” For example, I consider Ariana Grande’s “Problem” to be the best song on the radio currently, but it’s most definitely not my radio song of the summer. That distinction goes to Norwegian duo Nico & Vinz’s gorgeous and out-of-nowhere “Am I Wrong.” But why? What makes “Am I Wrong” my SOTS over “Problem” or “Fancy” or whatever else? Maybe the longing in the singer’s voice somehow matches the languor of the most humid summer days, or maybe how the syncopated drums bring to mind calypso or tribal African music, where summer never really ends. Maybe it’s how everything combines into a song that’s as relaxing as it is world-beating in a way that no other song currently is.
In order to attempt to corroborate these assumptions, let’s look at some previous SOTS, both of which were pretty unanimous decisions in their respective years. 2013 had Daft Punk’s monster retro-jam “Get Lucky,” while 2012 produced unassuming Canadian Carly Rae Jepsen’s inescapable “Call Me Maybe.” What common themes tie these songs together, why were they better suited for the sunny days of July and August than any other song? Most strikingly, each singer carries the song with a sense of effortless fluidity, riding on top of the music. It’s always nonchalant, and yet still commanding in a very non-committal way. The music too is shiny and bright without ever being in your face, full of lush orchestration and major key chords. In each of these songs, as well as “Am I Wrong,” the music is almost tactile in its smoothness. With these characteristics in mind, below are five songs, some old and others new, each of which perfectly encapsulates the ideals of a Song of the Summer:
Don Henley – The Boys of Summer
In my opinion, this song is miles better than anything Don Henley recorded while he was with the Eagles. For lack of a better way to describe it, this song sounds like what summer feels like, with Henley’s strained yet warm vocals sounding like they’ve been baked under the sun. And the unforgettable chorus is as beautiful and desperate the 100th time as it is the first.
Soulja Boy – Xan With That Lean
Wherein Soulja Boy sing-speaks his way through narrating a day in his life, where he “keep the hammer on me, I ain’t worried ‘bout a thing.” His Autotuned drawl perfectly matches the lazy synths and makes the song an exhibit on why Autotune is an amazing tool when used properly. If Soulja Boy disappears into the annals of rap history in the next couple years, this should be his swan song.
HAIM – If I Could Change Your Mind
HAIM came from nowhere in 2013 to release an album chock full of songs perfect for summer. Among them, “If I Could Change Your Mind” is a perfect microcosm of HAIM’s aesthetic, longing and wounded while still musically warm and sprightly. It’s a perfect song for dancing, crying, and anything in between.
Blood Orange – Chamakay
The most heartbroken song in a list full of them, “Chamakay” backs up its boy-girl vocals with airy jazz and calypso. The verses are whispered and intimate. But then the sky opens and the chorus hits the rafters, lingering on its last line: “Baby girl you’re wrong.” It’s absolutely crushing, perfect for those humid days by yourself.
The Beach Boys – Don’t Worry Baby
The original Song of the Summer by the original purveyors of summertime songs, “Don’t Worry Baby” is three minutes of beautiful harmonizing and plucked guitar. Throughout the song, the narrator is told that “everything will turn out alright,” and listening to this song gives you the impression that it probably will.
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