There are different interpretations of what makes a great Summer song. Some may feel the song has to be specifically about and/or reference the hottest season. Maybe it was because a song has a special meaning for you that ties back to younger days in Summer—family vacation, that awkward first kiss, camping, time at a lake, whatever.
Here are my four Mt Rushmore Summertime songs. I would say ‘in no particular order,’ but the first one is definitely my all-time favorite:
“In the Summertime” By Mungo Jerry, 1970 (not sure of month?) This song reminds me of a Summer my brother and I spent with our Dad in North Carolina. I think it may have been the first Summer after our parents divorced, and our first time being just with Dad. Sort of a bittersweet memory, but seems like every time we hopped in the car to go somewhere, “In the Summertime” was on his Oldmobile’s AM radio. I even like Shaggy’s version.
“Hot Fun in the Summertime” by Sly and the Family Stone, July 1969. Just really reminds me of Summers when I was young, that’s all. Living in a small town in Arkansas, I recall playing in the sprinkler one day when it was super hot, and hearing this song.
“Dance the Night Away” by Van Halen, April 1979. I graduated high school in 1980, so this one was on heavy rotation Summer between 11th grade and Senior year. It was a great Summer. I had a smokin’ hot girlfriend, my own car, and it was just a very carefree, party-hard time in my life. And this song was on a lot that Summer. I’m not a huge VH fan, but always liked the catchy pop goodness of this tune.
“Summer Girls” by LFO, June 1999. I mean, who didn’t like girls who wore Abercrombie & Fitch? Just a fun, silly Summer song that my young daughter (11 at the time) and her friends loved, and made me crank every time it came on.
Can’t talk Summer songs without special mention of The Beach Boys. While none of their songs made my Mt Rushmore, their favorite of mine is probably “Surfer Girl.”
Here are my four Mt Rushmore Summertime songs. I would say ‘in no particular order,’ but the first one is definitely my all-time favorite:
“In the Summertime” By Mungo Jerry, 1970 (not sure of month?) This song reminds me of a Summer my brother and I spent with our Dad in North Carolina. I think it may have been the first Summer after our parents divorced, and our first time being just with Dad. Sort of a bittersweet memory, but seems like every time we hopped in the car to go somewhere, “In the Summertime” was on his Oldmobile’s AM radio. I even like Shaggy’s version.
“Hot Fun in the Summertime” by Sly and the Family Stone, July 1969. Just really reminds me of Summers when I was young, that’s all. Living in a small town in Arkansas, I recall playing in the sprinkler one day when it was super hot, and hearing this song.
“Dance the Night Away” by Van Halen, April 1979. I graduated high school in 1980, so this one was on heavy rotation Summer between 11th grade and Senior year. It was a great Summer. I had a smokin’ hot girlfriend, my own car, and it was just a very carefree, party-hard time in my life. And this song was on a lot that Summer. I’m not a huge VH fan, but always liked the catchy pop goodness of this tune.
“Summer Girls” by LFO, June 1999. I mean, who didn’t like girls who wore Abercrombie & Fitch? Just a fun, silly Summer song that my young daughter (11 at the time) and her friends loved, and made me crank every time it came on.
Can’t talk Summer songs without special mention of The Beach Boys. While none of their songs made my Mt Rushmore, their favorite of mine is probably “Surfer Girl.”
