Summer music isn’t necessarily more energetic, but it’s certainly thicker, sweatier, bouncier and more nostalgic. Crowds congregate in the summer and the music played on booming speakers creates a collective memory of these events, capable of leaving a greater impression on the culture than tunes from the other seasons.
Summer crowds create an opportunity for artists to prove themselves in front of the masses. Remember when Carly Rae Jepsen introduced herself with “Call Me Maybe?” Outside of the crowded bars, parties and beaches, there’s an intimate escapism to the season.
For young Minnesotans, who don’t get to enjoy rolled-down car windows most of the year, these songs serve as the diegetic sound in one’s own coming-of-age film, setting the tone for late night driving scenes through the pines. Here are the A&E desk’s thoughts on some of the best songs of summer, perfect for that summer heat and humidity. – James Schaak
“Umbrella” by Rihanna ft. Jay-Z: “Under my umbrella, ella, ella, eh, eh, eh,” Rihanna sang on this deceptively straightforward earworm in summer 2007, back when the iPod Classic ruled supreme and the Kardashians were a mere sideshow. Before “Umbrella,” Rihanna was another face in the crowd; she couldn’t muster up powerhouse vocals like Mary J. Blige, nor could she dance like Britney Spears, plus Beyoncé’s superhuman ability to perform both simultaneously was beginning to cast a shadow over her peers.
“Umbrella” works as the ecstatic moment that Rihanna set herself apart, harnessed her harsh voice and learned to use her stylish sex appeal for dance party purposes. Upon its release, the song was so popular that some listeners half-jokingly attributed its weather-themed lyrical content to natural disasters as it topped the charts in one country after the other. Every summer since then, this karaoke classic, beach-day-must-play of a summer hit returns with a grandeur unlike any other. – James Schaak
“Perfect Places” by Lorde: Off of her sophomore album, “Melodrama,” “Perfect Places” takes listeners through almost four minutes of chaos, yearning and every other feeling of young adulthood. On its surface, the song may lead listeners to believe it is about finding a long-awaited safe space, but the true intent of “Perfect Places” is to highlight the spectacular bit of perfection within every imperfection. The song’s best quality is its versatile listenability. “Perfect Places” fits any direction a summer night may take, from blasting through crowded house parties where you barely recognize anyone to playing over a car stereo during intimate drives down country back roads with your favorite person. – Maya Marchel Hoff
“Heat Waves” by Glass Animals: There are those of us who have been around since the 2014 “Gooey” days. Then, there are others whose love affair with the English psychedelic pop-rock band began when “Heat Waves” re-introduced the band in the summer of 2020 with their biggest hit yet. It’s moody enough to make you think but still catchy enough for blasting during a late-night car ride. The chorus makes “Heat Waves” a great alternative for those unready to slip into the sort of nostalgia-fueled spiral that “Ribs” by Lorde tends to encourage. Between the electronic bass, guitar loop and mellow vocals, it’s a wonder it took a record-breaking 59 weeks after its release for this sleeper hit to top the Billboard Hot 100.- Sophia Zimmerman
“Silk Chiffon” by MUNA feat. Phoebe Bridgers: Sapphics everywhere collectively breathed a sigh of relief at the release of this bubblegum-pop celebration of women who love women. At a time when most Pharbs were vaccinated and large gatherings were just starting to be safe again, queer pop-rock trio MUNA signed on to indie sad girl icon Phoebe Bridgers’ label, Saddest Factory Records, and released an utterly addictive, saccharine sweet pop love jam. The song always warrants a windows-down-on-the-highway, scream-along moment. – Bel Moran
