The weather’s getting warmer and the lazy days of summer are only a few short weeks away. With the warmer weather comes an upbeat, positive vibe — here are a few of my favorite summertime jams that let the good times continue to roll.
1)Atmosphere – “Sunshine”
The laid-back beat perfectly compliments emcee Slug’s cadence and flow and fits well with the rapper’s tale of a summer morning hangover. The story is captivating in its simplicity; weaving a story and feeling many college students can relate too. Play this Sunday morning after Spring Fling, you’ll understand.
2)Fight Fair – “Pop Rocks”
This bouncy pop-punk song is a tribute to the perfect girl. Lead singer Alex Bigman paints a picture of all the things he’d do to get with his dream girl. The song is straight-forward, upbeat, and catchy. Play this midway through Spring Fling weekend, somewhere outside.
3)Lupe Fiasco – “Kick, Push”
Lupe’s tribute to skateboarding is chock full of tongue-twister rhymes, catchy beats, and pop culture references. Beneath it all, however, is an intriguing love story of a skater boy meeting his other half in a skater girl. Brass horn overtones and simplistic drum patterns make for a sunny track. Play this all Spring Fling weekend, every day, twice a day.
4) Yellowcard – “Ocean Avenue”
Although unheard from in years, Yellowcard did an incredible job of penning a perfect summertime rock jam. Beaches, youthful innocence, and first loves are all
touched upon. With upbeat instrumentals, pounding drums, and even a violin, these guys keep the positive vibes coming for all 3 minutes and 18 seconds of the song. Play this while cooking burgers and dogs on the grill for your friends this upcoming weekend.
5) MURS & 9th Wonder – “L.A.”
In emcee MURS’ tribute to his hometown Los Angeles, he references several distinguishing features of the city. Certain fashions, mentalities, and spots in and around the city are all described in detail; a perfect example of MURS’ incredible story-telling through the use of hip-hop. Play this while sitting on a porch, roof, or stoop waiting for the Spring Fling activities to start.
Even though there are only five songs listed, there are tons and tons of other songs that remind people of warm weather and relaxation. These are mine, and I hope you, the reader, can find some space in your playlist to include them. Keep it safe and have fun.