Oh summertime, you are such a beautiful thing. Not only are you warm, sunny, and the perfect weather for making memories with friends, but you also give the music industry a chance to give us songs to listen to over and over…and over again. Every summer there is one song that sticks with us. Go ahead, turn the radio on, you will probably hear it playing right now. Turn your radio on again in an hour and you will hear that same song again. Go to a party with some friends and that song with be playing and you know everyone will be singing along. Last summer it was the infectious “Call Me Maybe” by Carly Rae Jepsen. But that was a year ago and it has been (mostly) forgotten. So, what is the new song that we will soon tire of? Here are some contenders.
“Blurred Lines” by Robin Thicke featuring T.I. and Pharrell has been playing on every radio station, every fifteen minutes since it came out. The song lyrics are catchy and the beat will get you dancing. However, I have huge issues with this song and music video. Not only is this a thinly veiled song about date rape, the music video (like most) uses women as props. Also to add insult to injury, they released another similar video for the song, except for this one, the women are stripped down to just a flesh colored thong. Hopefully this song and music video will die out very soon.
Another summer anthem is “Get Lucky” by Daft Punk featuring Pharrell. Let me just start off by saying that I really hate this song. It really is not a great song and I am bewildered as to why this song is so popular. I think this song is incredibly bored. I mean it is really, really repetitive and mind-numbing. We get it, Pharrell and robots; you are up all night to get lucky. Do you really need to tell us that about 35 times in a four-minute span? This song is the equivalent of your friend telling you they are thirsty 35 times while in an elevator that plays slow jazz.
This summer, Miley Cyrus released her new infamous song, “We Can’t Stop”. While at first I did not want to listen to this song, watch the video, or even think about Miley Cyrus being anything other than Hannah Montana; I finally gave in and gave it a shot. Turns out, I actually liked the song. The video was beyond weird, like some sort of high school film project gone wrong, but the song is great. It was a perfect summer party anthem and it rightfully deserves a spot for any greatest songs of the summer list. Whether or not your agree with Miley’s risque new attitude or her twerkathons, “We Can’t Stop” turned out to be a pretty catchy song and it will have us talking about her for awhile.
While Vampire Weekend is not your typical song of the summer band, they did release a pretty big hit, “Diane Young”. Maybe this song was not even on your radar, but it should have been. Even if you are not a fan of indie alternative music, “Diane Young” is a good song to rethink that unfortunate way of thinking. This song was certainly played often on radio stations and I never minded if I heard it 50 times a day. Good job, Vampire Weekend, on not being some typical Top 40 artist, and still making a hit summer song.
The last well-deserving song of the summer would have to be “Safe and Sound” by Capital Cities. Not only was this song popular on the radio, it also was played at the Blackhawk’s rally after their big Stanley Cup win. This is the kind of song where you drink far too much “soda” and then serenade your friends whether they like it or not.
Sadly, none of the above songs were deemed “official songs of the summer” according to the VMA’s. That is, if you think a song is not official unless it wins some sort of award. Thanks to the flawed viewer voting system of the VMA’s, their Moon Man for “Song of the Summer” went to One Direction for their song, “Best Song Ever”. Ironically, this song is most definitely not the best song ever…not even close. Way to keep on doing what you do, MTV. You know, disappointing millions of people who listen to music that requires talent. Oh, and by still having an annual music video awards show despite the lack of music videos on your station. Congratulations.
Lauren Dwyer
Senior Features Editor
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