![]() The group features Steve Wyreman, Rob Kinelski, Kevin Randolph, James Fauntleroy and Makeba. The timbre of the vocals on the chorus and the hastened guitar chords reflect the intensity of heat and the “summer madness” theme. Common’s lyrics on wayward youth, tragic killings and gang warfare create a picture of despair with subtle hints of hope. It turned many inner-city neighborhoods into urban warzones. Common’s wordplay captures that era on this reunion with original collaborator No I.D. ![]() #Summertime madness with lyrics crack#The product that encapsulates the era more than anything else was cocaine (specifically crack cocaine). Click to load video 49: Mungo Jerry: In the SummertimeĮven in 1970 hit singles seldom got goofier than this one, with its silly rhymes, its one endlessly repeated melodic lick, and its vocalized sound effects.“When you go outside you still have to look within…” Of course, the record’s very silliness made it a classic, though leader Ray Dorset tried in vain to pursue a tougher image afterward. For added hilarity, seek out the version from one of those English hit-soundalike albums, sung by an incognito Elton John. Surely you don’t need to be reminded of this one, which showed its mettle as a summer song by topping the Billboard Hot 100 for the entire summer of 2019. But “Old Town Road’s” success was not predictable. A chart-topper (in its original version) under two minutes long? A No.1 featuring Billy Ray Cyrus, three decades after “Achy Breaky Heart”? And above all, a song that could top the country music and hip-hop charts simultaneously? Just plain impossible, but Lil Nas X did it. Given the breezy feel of this song, you might expect it was originally French or Brazilian. But it was originally German, given a fresh coat of sunscreen by longtime Frank Sinatra collaborators Nelson Riddle (arrangement) and Johnny Mercer (lyrics) – the latter with the final hit of his lifetime. It was his second hit of 1966 after “Strangers in the Night.” 46: Nat King Cole: Those Lazy Hazy Crazy Days of Summer For Sinatra, the song continued a remarkable mid-60s run. Nat King Cole was not too down with the kids’ style of music – on one of his live albums, he even recorded a sendup number called “Mr. Cole Won’t Rock & Roll.” This 1963 hit was about as close as he got, with an odd hybrid of early rock and German oompah music (like Sinatra’s “Summer Wind,” it was originally a German pop song). Cole’s sophistication carried the day this and the similar follow-up “That Sunday, That Summer” were his last Top 20 hits. It was a huge hit all over Europe, but it somehow managed to pass America right by.Ĭlick to load video 44: The Lovin’ Spoonful: Summer in the City With its layered harmonies and big beat, ABBA’s “Summer Night City” is not only one of the greatest summer songs, but one of the Swedish foursome’s sexiest records. It’s hard to pick a favorite Lovin’ Spoonful hit, since they managed so many good ones in a few short years. ![]() ![]() This one’s a sure contender though, and it may be the toughest rocker they ever cut – though its lyrics, about how much better things get in the nighttime, are right in line with the band’s good-time philosophy. “Surf’s up!” Debbie Harry’s shout as the song kicks off lets you know that beach party time is here. Much of Blondie’s first album was a loving homage to different styles of 60s pop, this one covers both surf and garage as Jimmy Destri takes the lead with some vintage-sounding Farfisa organ. Though never a hit single (and originally a B-side) it’s a fan favorite that they still played live well into the reunion era. The miserable summer song is a genre in itself, and this one did a lot to establish Lana del Rey’s tragic, romantic persona – especially the video, which shows a female couple saying their final goodbyes. But the song is haunting enough on its own, with its tearful vocal and synth orchestration.Ĭlick to load video 41: Bill Withers: Lovely Dayīill Withers was no stranger to darker lyrics in his hits his “Use Me” had one of the messiest relationships ever celebrated in a pop song. ![]()
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