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Sunday, August 18, 2019

THE BEST SUMMER SONGS

After I wrote SIMPLE SOLUTIONS for Planet Earth, next came SIMPLE SOLUTIONS for Humanity, topics that intrigued me, but way below my knowledge level.  For example, for the chapter on The Golden Evolution, I started by reading Religion for Dummies.

Similarly, as I approach commenting on the top summer song of 2019, I got to admit that I possibly have never before heard any of the candidates:
Incidentally, that last contender, by Korean boy band BTS, I reported on them during my Orient tour this past spring, and the number of pings to this blog site jumped by a factor of a hundred.  In case you haven't figured it out by now, "feat." should say featuring,  as Halsey, that gal in red hair, who is an addition to the group.

I can't possibly predict #1 for the summer of 2019, so let me send you to Billboard, for they today released their Top Twenty, with Old Town Road (Remix), Lil Nas X feat. Billy Ray Cyrus, as the best.




So much for the music of today, of which I know nothing.  Conversely, I am quite familiar with yesterday of a long time ago.  Here is a list of the top summer songs from 1900 to 1959, with #1 being particularly memorable, for that was the summer I left Hawaii for the very first time, on my to college.  What I did not know then was that Eddie Cochran was British, and he died only two years later in 1960.  Nothing particularly dramatic.  A road accident on a rock tour.

1.Summertime Blues – Eddie Cochran, 1958
2.Take Me Out To The Ball Game – Billy Murray
(or many others), 1908
3.We’re Gonna Rock Around The Clock – Bill Haley
& His Comets, 1955
4.Summertime – Sam Cooke, 1957
5.Sleepwalk – Santo & Johnny, 1959
6.Sh-Boom – Crew Cuts, 1954
7.Heartbreak Hotel – Elvis Presley, 1956
8.Little Darlin’ – The Diamonds, 1957
9.School Days – Chuck Berry, 1957
10.When Irish Eyes Are Smiling – Chauncey Olcott,
1913 (later associated with St. Patrick’s Day)

Click on this to see #11 to #100.  I actually know all 100--honestly, every one--and, #100 is 1909's Shine On, Harvest Moon, by Ada Jones and Billy Murray.  Billy was particularly productive, for he made perhaps 10,000 records and sold 300 million of them, holding that record in his heyday.  I was not born yet, and, yes, that was not the Bill Murray you might know, although he, too, is noted for this 7th evening stretch song that ranks #2 on this list.

Not surprisingly--in that I don't recognize the top two--the all-time best summer songs from Billboard Hot 100, 
  1. I'll be Missing You                        Puff Daddy & Faith Evans, 112   1997
  2. The Boy is Mine                            Brandy & Monica                        1998
  3. Tossing' and Turnin'                    Bobby Lewis                                        1961
  4. Blurred Lines                                Robin Thicke, T.I. and Pharrell            2013
  5. Every Breath You Take                The Police                                             1983
  6. We Belong Together                     Mariah Carey                                        2005
  7. I Just Want to Be Your Ev'thing  Andy Gibb                                            1977
  8. When Doves Cry                          Prince                                                     1984
  9. Do it for You                                 Bryan Adams                                         1991
Click on this for all 100, with #100 being Honky Tonk Woman, The Rolling Stones, 1969. 

About #4, Blurred Lines, Robin Thicke and Pharrell Williams lost a suit by the children of Marvin Gaye that they copied their father's Got to Give it Up.  Sounds different enough, but the family received $5 million plus future royalties.

Bring back any summer memories?

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