summer songs

There’s something about a song that becomes a hit in summer. Hear it again on the coldest day in January and you are immediately transported back to the top-down, sunglasses on, sun on your skin, scent of Coppertone kind of summer living. Ahhhh.

You know the drill. Summertime, and the living’s easy. Yes, In The Summertime (when the weather is high), you might be Sittin’ On The Dock Of the Bay, you Girl Watcher, you, hoping to just Drift Away. You’ve got Good, Good, Good, Good Vibrations because you’ve just seen the cutest Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini! Hey, that means V-A-C-A-T-I-O-N, in the summertime!

School’s Out for summer. Kids say, “See You In September!” (or will I lose you to a summer love?). Hang On, Sloopy. I’m going to Build You Up, Buttercup. My Hips Don’t Lie — I promise it’ll be a great summer. You’ll be Groovin’ on a Sunday afternoon. Or Cruisin’ — remember: if you want it, you got it, forever.

Yeah, we’ll go cruising. Just Me And You And A Dog Named Boo, in your Little Deuce Coupe. I’m thinking Myrtle Beach Days, having fun in the waves. Hey, Hey, Baby, you’ll be wearing your Swingin’ Medallions, on the cutting edge of fashion like always.

Just a tick, I’ve got an idea. Let’s go surfing now, everybody’s learning how — we’ll be Surfin’ USA. Oh, no! The Tide Is High! Help Me Rhonda — it’s a Wipeout! Hey Ya, let’s try something else fun — all the Summer Girls go to Kokomo to learn the Macarena. Want to join me?

Hello Muddah, Hello Faddah, there’s going to be a Stoned Soul Picnic this summer. Uncle George will be Grazin’ In The Grass, you’ll be Drinking Wine, Spo-Dee-Oh-Dee, Aunt June will be Walkin’ On Sunshine. What a Sweet Escape.

Can’t get away? And it’s Summer In the City, back of your neck feeling dirty and gritty. It’s like a Heat Wave, burning in your heart. “My,” you say to yourself, “It’s Hot In Here. I best be Gettin’ Jiggy Wit It.” So get yourself Up On The Roof. From high above the city, you can see it’s really a Funkytown. And, oh, ho, ho, ho those Summer Nights!

You, in your plain white tee, see a friend and shout “Hey There, Delilah!” — but she’s no Hollaback Girl. She’s feeling the Summer Breeze as she says, “I Don’t Want No Scrubs! What you trying to do — Steal My Sunshine?” No, our Delilah’s Dancing in the Street. The way she dances Mambo No. 5, she might as well be Walking On The Sun.

So, girl, Put Your Records On, play me your favorite song. Go ahead. Let your hair down. It’s time for some Hot Fun In The Summertime.

And next January, you’ll hear one of these songs — and it’ll be just like having a Pocketful Of Sunshine.