Certain songs evoke sunny beaches, drinks with umbrellas, and spring vacations. The clothes are skimpy and love abundant! Here are songs that endure the winter blahs and spring up year after year like hearty annuals.
1962-1996 - Summer Songs by The Beachboys
If there is ONE group that embodies spring and summertime, it's the Beachboys. Per Wikipedia, "The group has had thirty-six U.S. Top 40 hits (the most of any U.S. rock band) and fifty-six Hot 100 hits, including four number one singles." A short list : "Surfin' Safari, Little Deuce Coup, Surfin' USA, Surfer Girl, Summer Days, All Summer Long, California Dreamin', California Girls, Fun, Fun, Fun, and Hot Fun in the Summertime". The entire list is truly amazing.
1962 - "Wipe Out" - The Surfaris
The Surfaris were an American Surf Music Band that wrote what is considered the surfing anthem, a wild instrumental with only two lyrics. Guess them!
1963 - "Surf City" - Jan and Dean
William Jan Berry and Dean Ormsby made up this rock duo, popular from 1958 to 1966. It hit #1 for two weeks. All about Woodys and two girls for every boy!
1966 - "Daydream" - Lovin' Spoonful
Lovin' Spoonful was an American pop rock band with roots in the folk music scene, named to the Rock'n'Roll Hall of Fame in 2000. This song was written by John Sebastian and went to #2 on Billboard's Hot 100s. It's full of love, walking in the sun and falling on a newly mown lawn.
1966 - "Sunny Afternoon" - The Kinks
The Kinks were an English rock group from 1963-1996. Written by Ray Davies, lead vocalist, the song went #1 in the UK for 2 weeks, but only made #14 in the U.S. The song is about a guy who is down on his emotional and financial luck but makes the best of it. His girl's run off, but he's drinking beer, lazing on a sunny afternoon.
1969 - "Here Comes the Sun" - The Beatles
Written by George Harrison, this song was performed without John Lennon who was recovering from a car accident. Per Wikipedia, George stated in The Beatles Anthology, " I walked around the garden with one of Eric's (Clapton) acoustic guitars and wrote 'Here Comes The Sun'. " The song talks of a long, cold, lonely winter, but here comes the sun!
1977 - "Margaritaville" - Jimmy Buffet
No summer song list would be complete without this drinking anthem, written in Key West, released on Jimmy's "Changes in Lattitudes, Changes in Attitudes" album. It reached #8 on Billboard's Hot 100s, #1 on Easy Listening, #13 on Hot Country Songs. It was his highest charting solo single. Go Parrotheads!
1981 - "Sailing" - Christopher Cross
Who isn't mentally wisked away to the ocean when they hear this song written about the joy of sailing? It was on his debut album that won him the big four Grammys all in one year: Best record, song, album and new artist. It reached #1 on the U.S. charts.
2005 - "Summertime" - Kenny Chesney
Written by Craig Wiseman and Steve McEwan, sung by one of country's greatest. It hit the #1 spot on Billboard's Hot Country, and #34 on Billboard's Hot 100. Two barefeet on the dashboard and a bottle of Yoo-Hoo on the floorboard!
2008 - "Summertime" - New Kids on the Block
Written by Nasri Atweh and Donnie Wahlberg, this song and related video is about half shirts, flip flops, boy meets girl in a strapless sundress and almost every sensual thing about summertime. It is the first single released by the group since 1994. Shouldn't they be The New Men on the Block now?
Get a pedicure and unpack the sandals. The sun is shining!
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