I think this theme can capably speak for itself. Most people mark Memorial Day weekend as the unoffical beginning of summer (seriously, Summer Solstice: who are you kidding? You're way too late and we both know it), so I thought it'd be appropriate to break out a few of my favorite summertime anthems. And not just "summer anthems" in the traditional what's-popular sense, but songs from all eras that actively remind me of the warmth, relaxation, and laidback atmosphere of the year's most carefree season.
Go go Gadget summer.
The B-52's - "Rock Lobster" (mp3|6.23MB)
Really, it was only a matter of time before one of us found an excuse to post this song. Don't say you weren't expecting it. Maybe I suffer from an acute tunnelvision, but I can't conceive of how it would be possible for someone to dislike this song. I mean, seriously. It's so exuberantly, shamelessly cracked out that it's got to be some kind of insane musical landmark. At the very least, it's the perfect encapsulation of the "sunny" side of late-70s New Wave (of course there was a very dark side, too -- see: Joy Division, The Cure, etc.), and one of the funnest songs you're ever likely to hear. Plus, it has the best bassline ever. Bar none. No contest. That bassline can have my babies.
(from the 1979 album The B-52's)
The Fiery Furnaces - "Here Comes the Summer" (mp3|4.94MB)
It's songs like this that make me not care for The Fiery Furnaces all that much. Hear me out: I really like the song. I wouldn't post it otherwise. But it serves as a somewhat frustrating reminder of what this brother-sister team can do when they stop being self-consciously weird and "quirky" and actually sit down to write a pop song. I have no doubt, were they to invest the appopriate amount of effort in the endeavor, they could be one of the best indie-pop acts around; instead, they opt for being weird and "difficult," which often makes listening to their albums an aggravating experience. Still, even though the grass is always greener, they've at least been kind enough to give us a taste of the other side: "Here Comes the Summer" is delightful. It's warm and catchy, though tinged with a healthy dose of wistfulness and melancholy, while still sounding inherently like The Fiery Furnaces. So: it's a solid pop song that sounds like the work of a unique band. That's most artists' dream. Why would you want to complicate that?
(from the 2005 album EP)
The Lovin' Spoonful - "Summer in the City" (mp3|2.46MB)
I couldn't care less if it's an overly obvious choice; it's one of the finest pop songs ever recorded. What might not be immediately apparent to today's retroactive listening crowd is how innovative the production is. This was 1966. Recording technology was still relatively simplistic. Still, these guys manage to pepper their best-ever song with spiffy car horn and jackhammer sound effects while also making use of, to my knowledge, one of the earliest instances of synthesizers in rock. Of course, none of this would be important if the song itself wasn't phenomenal, but it is. The result is one of the best songs of the mid-60s: it's one whose timelessness has allowed it to endure, and I'm sure kids will still be humming it in another 43 years.
(from the 1966 album Hums of the Lovin' Spoonful)
See you folks next week! Enjoy the beginning of your summer! Have a barbecue, jump in the pool, crank up that AC. Bonus points if you can do all three at once.
As always, lovemail/hatemail/anymail related to the Sunday Superlative is welcomed at fridayfiveradio@gmail.com. All flames will be gleefully ignored, and therefore should be sent here instead.
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