top ten “summer” songs
As requested I’ll put together a proper top ten summer song list, but in the meantime here’s my favourite ten songs with “summer” in the title. It’s amazing how many there are to choose from!
#10 – “Summer… It’s Gone” – Grandaddy
So it’s a song about mourning the end of summer. Maybe not the best tune for your next patio party but might be a good one to put on the list of songs to play on the first day back at work from summer vacation.
#9 – “Summer Babe (Winter Version)” – Pavement
Doomed summer romances hurt just as much when they end even if you’re a Lo-Fi superhero. Kinda makes you wonder about Stephen Malkmus’ taste in girls though.
#8 – “Summerlong” – Kathleen Edwards
Sensing a theme here? Another summer romance, but this time it’s a plea for it to last. I guess Bon Iver must not have a fear of commitment.
#7 – “Where’s Summer B?” – Ben Folds Five
Finally a summery sounding tune, but not actually about summer – rather about girl named Summer.
#6 – “Summertime Clothes” – Animal Collective
I’m one of the few indie fans who can’t stand Animal Collective but this song (and most of the rest of Merriweather Post Pavillion) is fantastic, and it’s actually about enjoying summer. I love the idea of walking around in the summer rain with a friend.
#5 – “I Know Where The Summer Goes” – Belle & Sebastian
I’m not entirely sure why B&S won’t just tell us where the summer goes so the rest of us can find it when it’s gone.
#4 – “In The Summertime” – The Rural Alberta Advantage
I don’t know how these guys have the ability to only play this beautiful song for 2 and a half minutes. Maybe has something to do with the actual length of summer in rural Alberta?
#3 – “It’s Summertime” – Flaming Lips
“Look outside, I know that you’ll recognize it’s summertime.” It’s like Wayne Coyne has found the cure for all sadness as he prescribes us a view of the outdoors to wipe away the blues. There shouldn’t be so much truth in the words of a crazy person.
#2 – “Constructive Summer” – The Hold Steady
Like all Hold Steady songs, it shouldn’t be taken on it’s own but rather in the context of not only the rest of an album but their entire catalog. On it’s own it’s an anthem to drinking the summer away, but Hold Steady fans know it’s just a phase Craig Finn’s (fictional?) characters are going through in their search for something deeper.
#1 – “It Must Be Summer” – Fountains of Wayne
It might seem strange that my favourite “summer” song is actually focused on a negative aspect of summer. It’s maybe even stranger that it’s sung by the band I perhaps associate with summer the most. But FOW have a point. What good is all that beautiful weather and time off if you aren’t able to spend it with the one you love? I can’t identify with the lyrics anymore, but I can remember and sympathize with them.
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