Each summer means sun, bathing suits, long days, and if you are lucky a vacation at a beach somewhere. What it also means are summer parties and pumping up the car stereo to listen to tunes at eleven on the volume. What songs will you be listening to this summer? Summer time when the living is easy. Music has that ability to make you feel and who amongst us does not have vivid memories attached to certain songs. Every summer party or BBQ you go to this summer needs a soundtrack. Previous songs of the summer include Foster the People’s “Pumped Up Kicks” (2011), Katy Perry’s “California Gurls” (2009), and Rihanna’s “Umbrella” (2007). The songs of the summer of 2012 come from all different walks of life. Some have been around for a while and others are just now getting their due. Here is my list in order of the top ten tunes for the summer of 2012:
1) Carly Rae Jepsen – “Call Me Maybe”: Just accept it already, people! The top song of the spring and summer. A pop song that seems to be everyone’s favourite. This Canadian has everyone singing it including big pop stars like Justin Bieber and Katy Perry, who have put videos on YouTube of themselves singing the song. Much of the appeal is that oh so catchy chorus.
2) Gotye feat. Kimbra – “Somebody That I Used to Know”: This song seems to never go away. It has been played on the radio for months now. This song is never going away, not this year. It is really not your typical summer (light) song. A song that is about a guy who screwed over his ex-girlfriend. It becomes appealing because Gotye tells the guy’s side of the story so smoothly. It is hard not to forgive him. Also the strings and all the ahhhh, ahhhs are catchy elements.
3) Fun. feat. Janelle Monae – “We Are Young“: It does sound like something that should be in a Broadway musical like Rent or the like. Over-the-top? Yes, a little. The best part of the song is when the lead singer of Fun., Nate Reuss, plays the piano. It is a song that begs to be sung along with.
4) Maroon 5 feat. Wiz Khalifa – “Payphone”: Followup to “Moves Like Jagger” and it is another big hit. It has lots of winning elements. Falsetto. Yes. A melody that worm its way into your brain. Yes. A coolness boost gained from the guest appearance by rapper such as Wiz Khalifa. Yes. All the ingredients of a hot summer song are there.
5) One Direction – “What Makes You Beautiful”: They are the latest boy band from the U.K. The song will instantly make your day brighter. Once you hear it you won’t be able to get it out of your head.
6) Flo Rida feat. Sia – “Wild Ones”: Every one of Flo Rida’s songs is like a party that goes on until noon the next day. A great chorus. It does sound like most of his other singles but why would the guy abandon a winning formula? It is all about the killer hook.
7) Usher – “Scream”: I predict this will be one of the biggest releases of the summer. It is the most hyped song from his new album. The song was created by Max Martin and Shellback, who are also responsible for the previous summer hit for Usher, “DJ Got Us Fallin’ in Love”.
8) Rihanna – “Where Have You Been”: A summer song list without a Rihanna is out of the question. Even the way she sings this song is cool. Johnny Cash level cool. You’ll need your dancing shoes for this one.
9) Calvin Harris feat. Ne-Yo – “Let’s Go”: Calvin Harris has another hit on his hands and this time he has teamed up with R&B singer Ne-Yo. He uses the same formula as he did for the huge hit “We Found Love”. It’s got a huge sound. Ne-Yo’s voice is once again as smooth as honey. As the summer goes on it will just keep getting bigger.
10) The Wanted – “Chasing the Sun”: Another boy band and another sunny pop classic. It will be a tune that people will dance to all summer long. Not as catchy as “Glad You Came” but still a winner. Sun worshippers will keep this on heavy rotation all summer. As it is part of the Ice Age 4 soundtrack which comes out soon it will get another big push.
