The skill required to perfectly time the recording of the Song of Summer circa 1989 on your boombox was no joke. Kids today don’t know the struggle.
These songs probably haven’t shown up in heavy rotation on your local Top 40 radio station, but you may have heard a few pop up on XM or on Spotify’s glorious “Your Daily Mix” invention.
Big Boi (feat. Adam Levine) – Mic Jack
I am in love with this entire album. Outkast funkiness with a smidge of electronica thrown in for good measure. Kill Jill definitely has more Spotify plays but I’m digging Mic Jack just a tad more. It’s the perfect formula for a fun summer song. Hip-Hop + Catchy Hook + Nostalgia for Spottieottiedopalicious = My Jam.
Ok, so this video is bonkers. What is even happening here? So many questions. Why is he an astronaut? How did I not know Adam Levine’s arms look like that? Why are they washing cars all of a sudden? Credit for originality, though. I’ve never watched a hip-hop video that takes place in a dry cleaners.
Perfect Life Soundtrack Moment: Getting ready to go out with your coworkers, whom you hate, but know the bartender working the bar you’re going to is dreamy. Your hair is cooperating. Your cat-eye worked (on both eyes!). And you’re feeling fierce af.
Brothel. – Pairplay
Finding new music is a sport to me. I’m always pestering friends to share something (anything) they’ve discovered recently. So imagine my delight when I noticed that one of my favorite celebrities I follow on social media started tweeting artist and songs names! Honestly, if you’re not following Armie Hammer on Twitter and Instagram, you’re seriously missing out. Go ahead and follow his lovely wife Elizabeth Chambers while you’re at it. They’re adorable, their kids are adorable and I wish my life held an 1/8th of their charm and glamour. His artist and song tweets never come with any additional information or description, but they’ve been consistently good – and my new favorite way to learn about new music. His recommendation for this artist from Colorado has been my favorite of the bunch. After a super embarrassing search on Spotify (apparently, there are two Brothels and one has a penchant for assplay and poop, so . . . fair warning), I finally found the right Brothel. Not a lot of plays for this artist, but Soundcloud seems to have much more activity. Pairplay is your basic Chill Trap song, with a driving beat, sparse breathy female vocals, and suuuuper dramatic. The kind of song you put on when you want to pretend you’re in the middle of a well scored film, seducing some foxy dude. Like Armie Hammer! It all comes full circle, y’all.
Portugal, the Man – Feel It Still
This probably got the most airplay of the songs included in this list, but if somehow you haven’t heard it, take a listen now. This song is perfection. It’s the perfect driving song. I’ve most definitely embarrassed myself bopping around and singing this in the car more than once. And for those of you with kids, mine gave this a ringing endorsement and have requested it be added to our It’s Gonna Be A Good Day playlist. It’s rare that I can find something that’s not about princesses or dinosaurs that we can all enjoy – so when I find something, I hang on to it like grim death.
Perfect Life Soundtrack Moment: At a house party with just enough of a buzz to feel way cooler than you really are.
Violents – Equal Powers
So technically, this one came out right at the end of April, so not really summer. But I live in Florida and summer is essentially all the time so I’m going to cheat a little and count this one. If you haven’t yet discovered Violents, please do so immediately. Violents is a project by Jeremy Larson, an incredibly talented pianist and composer, who pairs up with different vocalists for each EP. Equal Powers appears on his most recent EP Awake and Pretty Much Sober (which, coincidentally, could describe most of my daytime hours). The music is beautiful, soulful, ethereal, and makes you want to wear gauzy dresses and huge mysterious sunglasses. The whole album is fantastic but this particular track has sucked up a huge amount of my Spotify airtime.
Perfect Life Soundtrack Moment: After leaving a shitty music festival, you drive off into the sunset with the windows down, heading to a place with clean bathrooms, bottled water under $14.00 and no body odor for miles in any direction.
Nico & Vinz – Intrigued
To be honest, I hated this duo’s big song a few years ago – Am I Wrong. Music writer Myles Tanzer described my feelings perfectly by saying the song was “like riding in the most sepia-toned car commercial.” This song however, is smooth, cool and just a little bit swoony. The lyrics remind me of your typical 90s declaration of love ballad, but with way better musical accompaniment. My only hope is that when I inevitably start hearing this on the radio, they don’t play it death like that other awful song and make me hate it – cause I love it.
Maybe I was on to something with the 90s love ballad thing. This video has some major Color Me Badd moments.
Hopefully, one of these songs is deemed worthy enough to make its way to your playlists. Did I miss any good summer tunes?! Please share. I’ve drained the well with my friends and there’s only so much a celebrity twitter feed can provide. Even if that celebrity twitter is also full of major woke king moments and teases about possible Green Lantern casting. Good music hunting, everyone!
