Summer’s here and the time is right . . . For awesome Summer playlists. Suite101 has compiled the greatest, the cheesiest, and the most obscure songs to be this Summer’s soundtrack. Below is that list, including a summary of some of the lesser known (but no less fantastic) songs. Enjoy the Summer, and go and catch those waves!
Snow Is Gone--Josh Ritter
Josh Ritter has a talent for turning eloquent speech into catchy songs. This is exactly what he does on his song “Snow Is Gone,” off of his album, Hello Starling. With lines like: “You were beautiful when I first saw your feathers and confectionery airs/ The Earth lit up and promised you the stars but you really didn't care” Ritter manages to talk over the head and still find the heart.
This song belongs on any Spring or Summertime playlist. It captures the joy and exultation of realizing that Winter is over, and the “snow is gone.”
Easy In the Summertime--Allison Moorer
Taken out of the context of her stunning 2010 album, Crows, “Easy In the Summertime” is a beautiful song about Summer as a child. Images of an Alabama summer, going down to the fishing hole, eating fresh watermelon, chasing fireflies, softly float across the listener’s mind.
Within the context of Crows, “Easy In The Summertime” takes on a more foreboding tone. Much of Crows deals with the murder-suicide of Allison’s parents, just five years after the “July 1981” day described in “Easy In the Summertime.” Within Crows, this song is like waiting for the Sword of Damocles to fall.
Summertime Thing--Chuck Prophet
“Summertime Thing” is off of Chuck Prophet’s album, “No Other Love,” and is as cool as a Malibu Bay Breeze. Its easy groove is perfect for sitting out on the patio, hanging out at the beach, or just drinking in the shade. A must for barbeques this Summer.
Summer Playlist Expanded
- Summertime--George Gershwin
- Here Comes the Sun--The Beatles
- Cold Beverages--G Love and Special Sauce
- Vacation--The Go-Gos
- Summertime Blues--Eddie Cochran
- Boys of Summer--Don Henley
- Dancing In the Streets--Martha and the Vandellas
- Sunny Afternoon--The Kinks
- In the Summertime--Mungo Jerry
- Under The Boardwalk--The Drifters
- Margaritaville--Jimmy Buffet
- Alice Cooper-- School’s Out
- Summer of ‘69-- Bryan Adams
- Summer In the City--The Lovin Spoonful
- Saturday In the Park--Chicago
- Just about anything by the Beach Boys
This Summer make sure the iPod is loaded with some of these songs. Better yet, load them all in, and have a Summer to remember. Don’t forget to wait 30 minutes after eating before going in the pool.
Craig Sanders - Craig Sanders is happy to be the Suite101 Feature Writer for Folk Music, as writing and music have been his twin loves his whole ...
