Now that it's offically Winter, how does falling back to warmer, (maybe) simpler times sound? Here's a playlist of singles released on or around the months of Summer to keep your daydreaming of Summer daze alive.
Find out what songs made the list and why below then listen to my summerrrrr 018 playlist on Spotify to keep the good times rolling.
1. "Balla Balla" - Brazilian Girls (Let's Make Love)
It had been 10 years since the dancey, downtempo fusion band from New York known as Brazilian Girls released an album. That changed on April 13th when they dropped their fourth studio album, Let's Make Love.
The track "Balla Balla" reminds me of the beautiful, tropical queen Carmen Miranda: it's foundation is a mix of Tango meets Flamenco, rich with horns and percussion layered with looped lyrics and sample vocals that sweep you to a 1940's ballroom atmosphere.
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| LP Giobbi @ The Fox Theater 5/18/2018 photo by Marc Fong |
This fiery song from the rising DJ starlet, LP Giobbi, is her most popular one to date. Named after the Walk of No Shame bombshell Amber Rose, the song asks a flurry of questions starting with "Do I need a hook to live? Am I just a lyric in a rap song?" backed with affirmations like "Yeah I got ass shots and lace" then the chorus drops "So I just Amber Rose on these hoes".
It's an unapologetic dance song with deeps beats and heavy drops with shimmery dance-hall melodies in between and a great build-up. "Amber Rose" is your new anthem to listen to when you're getting ready for girls night.
3. Bat Shit - Sofi Tukker (Treehouse)
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| Sofi Tukker @ The Fox Theater Oakland 5/18/2018 photo by Marc Fong |
Electro-pop duo Sofi Tukker already got the dance party started long before their debut album Treehouse dropped earlier this year with their single "Best Friend". They have a Carnival,
college party vibe heard all throughout the album which is vibrantly brought to life at their live show. A lot of tracks from Treehouse are Summer playlist worthy, like my favorite, the Portuguese lyriced single "Drinkee".
But with it's nostalgic "I'm Too Sexy" opening this late night hook-up inquiry themed song is a perfect fit for those "carefree" late Summer nights that could leave you feeling and or looking a little bat shit after.
4. "Worry No More" - Diplo fest. Lil Yachty & Santigold (California)
The light yet colorful complexity of the melodies of "Worry No More" quickly caught my attention and Santigold's sweet, raspy vocals locked me in. This isn't the first time Diplo's genius hit us during Summer, three years ago he gave us "Lean On" by way of Major Lazer and MO and "Worry No More" has the potential to be just as popular. Like Summer, the song is carefee and youthful and it wants it to stay that way.
"I don't want to worry no more
I just want to ball like the big league
I just want a nice house on the shore
I just want a big house like Gatsby
So catch me if you can
\I'm chasing after my dreams
I want to be the man
I want to be the star on the scene"
Lil Yachty's charismatic contribution to the song and the overall easygoing vibe reminds us that even when you're working hard to meet your goal, what ever it may be, you should never take yourself too seriously. The music video is fun and bright, too which of course is the icing on the cake of one of my favorite songs of this Summer.
The light yet colorful complexity of the melodies of "Worry No More" quickly caught my attention and Santigold's sweet, raspy vocals locked me in. This isn't the first time Diplo's genius hit us during Summer, three years ago he gave us "Lean On" by way of Major Lazer and MO and "Worry No More" has the potential to be just as popular. Like Summer, the song is carefee and youthful and it wants it to stay that way.
"I don't want to worry no more
I just want to ball like the big league
I just want a nice house on the shore
I just want a big house like Gatsby
So catch me if you can
\I'm chasing after my dreams
I want to be the man
I want to be the star on the scene"
5. &Burn - Billie Eilish feat.Vince Staples
Billie Elish has been hot this year and she's only getting hotter. With her debut album slated for early 2019, Billie has been busy on the2018 festival circuit (Governors Ball, Bonnaroo, ALT 105's BFD, Outside Lands, Music Midtown, Camp Flog Gnaw) as well as launching her own headlining tour across North America. She's been dropping singles along the way, including her brand new, brooding track "See Me in a Crown".
But before that there was "&Burn" which was released late in 2017. Her collab with Vince Staples dropped a couple of weeks shy of 2018 and it fits so well with how a Summer fling can leave you feeling burned I had to add it to this year's Summer playlist.
Also, burn like sunburn, right?
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| Billie Eilish at ALT 105's BFD @ The Concord Pavilion 5/13/2018 photo by Marc Fong |
But before that there was "&Burn" which was released late in 2017. Her collab with Vince Staples dropped a couple of weeks shy of 2018 and it fits so well with how a Summer fling can leave you feeling burned I had to add it to this year's Summer playlist.
Also, burn like sunburn, right?
6. "Spicy" - Lil Kim feat. Fabolous
The original queen bee has been back for a bit and she has released new music since being freed as a jail bird but this is her best new one yet. It features Fabolous and she's just as fiesty and sassy as ever before. This hot track rings Notorious K.I.M and while it might sizzle, don't be confused cause it isn't Lil Kim who's spicy, it's all the haters who are spicy.
(instead of salty, maybe it'll catch on?)
The original queen bee has been back for a bit and she has released new music since being freed as a jail bird but this is her best new one yet. It features Fabolous and she's just as fiesty and sassy as ever before. This hot track rings Notorious K.I.M and while it might sizzle, don't be confused cause it isn't Lil Kim who's spicy, it's all the haters who are spicy.
(instead of salty, maybe it'll catch on?)
7. "Gravity" - MNDR
MNDR hasn't released a full studio album since Feed Me Diamonds in 2012. But, for the last few years she has released, or been featured in singles that have dropped around the Summer months.
In 2013 RAC released Don't Talk To which featured MNDR and Bloc Party's Kelle on was featured in "Let Go".
Three years ago, in 2015, I was convinced she was gearing up to release her second album after the release of the single "Kimono" and her "Dance for a Dolla" EP.
In 2016, MNDR announced on Instagram that her second album, The Mainstream was finished but still has yet to be released.
2017 saw two more MNDR collaborations: "We Love" with TOKiMONSTA and in celebration of
Pride month "SWERLK" with Scissor Sisters dropped in June. The catchy dance-club song was also in honor of the one year anniversary of the mass shooting at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando Florida.
Pride month "SWERLK" with Scissor Sisters dropped in June. The catchy dance-club song was also in honor of the one year anniversary of the mass shooting at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando Florida.
'cause I feel your Gravity all around me
My heart in agony when your around me
So why you pull me down?
Why you pull me down?
Why you pull me down?
Why you pull me down?
"Gravity", produced my Hudson Mohawke, is another smart, well polished, experimental pop song. It's not your typical Summer anthem. It's an earnestly sweet reality check for anyone with their head in the clouds about being in love.
It's rumored to be the first single off a new album titled COM COY (Cult of Me, Cult of You). Hopefully the rumors are true and a new MNDR album will land soon.
8. "Sangria Wine" - Camila Cabello feat. Pharrell Williams"Havana" off of Camila Cabello's debut album might have lit up the airwaves for the better part of the year but her song with Pharrell, "Sangria Wine" is fire, too. Released May 18th, the Salsa influenced pop song is laced with South American flavor features Cabello singing verses in Spanish.
Sangria, red or white, frozen or not is a perfect Summer day pairing and even though "Sangria Wine" didn't make it to the album it's a great addition to any Summer playlist to get you feeling good.
9. "Summer Games" - Drake (Scorpion)
Drake may have fallen from Riri's grace and this song might be about just that. "Summer Games" has Summer in the name so it's kind of a given that this song off of Scorpion made the Summer playlist cut.
10. Kream - Iggy Azalea feat. TygaIt’s been four long years since getting “Fancy” with Iggy Azalea and the blonde Aussie bombshell hasn't really given us anything quite as buzz-worthy since. This past August though, she released her six song EP, Survive the Summer and on it, the attention grabbing track "Kream". The only single released off the extended play features Tyga and a slow bounce-back beat giving it a throw back vibe. This sexy + boss bitch track knows exactly what it wants and doesn't shy away from going after it. Iggy's one and only, hot new single off her aptly named EP dropped just in time for Summer festivities.
11. "Bring It On" - Deap Vally I'm a rock N roll girl at my core but songs that truly rock don't make my Summer playlist cut too often because they tend not to have that certain Summer appeal. But, back in June the ladies of Deap Vally released "Bring it On". With the November elections not too far off, their timing couldn't be better.
"Bring It On" came as a shout out to those politicians trying to keep us ladies down and like Lindsey and Julie say, we say, bring it on.
Flush with the duo's fashionable, garage riffs, licks, hooks and plethora of crashing symbols all whirling around the background psychedelic harmonies this new Deap Vally song isn't shoving politics down your throat and it rocks, that's what makes it work.
Hopefully it's a tease of more new stuff to come from these two in the new year.
12. Hallelujah - Years & Years (Palo Santo)
Thanks to a friend, one of my favorite finds this year is Years & Years . Their debut album, Palo Santo, dropped on July 6th and the infectious "Hallelujah" is not another take on the religious hymn (hallelujah!). It's a bombastic track full of dance-able melodies that will effortlessly draw you to the dance floor.
Crushing lyrics of the effects of lust:
"Was I just something for the moment?"
"I wanna dance til I'm drunk on the feeling"
"Somebody like you that I could dance to this to, that knows what to do
Somebody like you that I could move to this to
Until our bodies are singing hallelujah"
It's a song about those feelings that get our blood pumping, making us want to move our bodies like the heavenly creatures that we are.
I know you know the ones.
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| Years and Years @ The Warfield 10/26/2018 photo by Marc Fong |
Crushing lyrics of the effects of lust:
"Was I just something for the moment?"
"I wanna dance til I'm drunk on the feeling"
"Somebody like you that I could dance to this to, that knows what to do
Somebody like you that I could move to this to
Until our bodies are singing hallelujah"
It's a song about those feelings that get our blood pumping, making us want to move our bodies like the heavenly creatures that we are.
I know you know the ones.
13. Boys - Lizzo
Lizzo has a way to make any and every girl feel fierce!
She's all about self-love and sexuality and expressing them loudly and proudly. She released two singles this year, "Fitness" and "Boys". This Twin Cities dweller taught us that everybody is a beach body and even though being boy crazy happens year round, Summer really is the perfect time for being full-on boy crazy and this is the song for it.
Remember boys, we don't need you, we just wanna freak you.
14. Secrets - P!nk (Beautiful Trauma)
What happens during the Summer, stays in the Summer, amiright?
Maybe it's a secret lover or a Summertime fling or just a romp on the beach. P!nk knows we all have secrets, she does too. It's a track off her seventh studio album, 2017's Beautiful Trauma and if you ever needed a reason to love this hot, power-pop mama anymore, this is it.
The music video for "Secrets" came out this July and we couldn't be happier to ad this classy exposure of "Secrets" to our playlist.
What happens during the Summer, stays in the Summer, amiright?
Maybe it's a secret lover or a Summertime fling or just a romp on the beach. P!nk knows we all have secrets, she does too. It's a track off her seventh studio album, 2017's Beautiful Trauma and if you ever needed a reason to love this hot, power-pop mama anymore, this is it.
The music video for "Secrets" came out this July and we couldn't be happier to ad this classy exposure of "Secrets" to our playlist.
15. Coo Coo Coo - Santigold (I Don't Want: The Gold Fire Sessions)
Santigold released I Don't Want: The Gold Fire Sessions on July 27th, 2018, just one day after announcing it. The dance-hall inspired album comes as a follow up to 2016's 99cent and it's her fourth studio album to date.
An Afro-Caribbean influence, used to evoke a "looser, summer spirit of Summer" is heard through out the whole album and really stands out on "Coo Coo Coo" and the track that could be considered a single from the album, "Run the Road".
"Coo Coo Coo" is a bubbly dis to all those cat callers out there:
"Do you coo coo coo if you want me?
You don't want no love"
It's witty and fun and will have you smiling and feeling warm as you parade down the street with your head held high.
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| Santigold @ Treasure Island Music Fest 2018 photo by Nikki DeMartini |
Santigold released I Don't Want: The Gold Fire Sessions on July 27th, 2018, just one day after announcing it. The dance-hall inspired album comes as a follow up to 2016's 99cent and it's her fourth studio album to date.
An Afro-Caribbean influence, used to evoke a "looser, summer spirit of Summer" is heard through out the whole album and really stands out on "Coo Coo Coo" and the track that could be considered a single from the album, "Run the Road".
"Coo Coo Coo" is a bubbly dis to all those cat callers out there:
"Do you coo coo coo if you want me?
You don't want no love"
It's witty and fun and will have you smiling and feeling warm as you parade down the street with your head held high.
16. Smoke. Netflix. Chill - Tank and The Bangas
NPR's 2017 Tiny Desk winner, Tank and the Bangas haven't released an album since their debut in 2013 but, this year alone they did release "Smoke. Netflix. Chill" and "Spaceships".
What modern pass-time says Summer better than, "Smoke. Netflix. Chill"? The song carries the same chillax feeling that it's title suggests it would.
NPR's 2017 Tiny Desk winner, Tank and the Bangas haven't released an album since their debut in 2013 but, this year alone they did release "Smoke. Netflix. Chill" and "Spaceships".
What modern pass-time says Summer better than, "Smoke. Netflix. Chill"? The song carries the same chillax feeling that it's title suggests it would.
17. Make Me Feel - Janelle Monae (Dirty Computer)
This song had me movin' and groovin' the first time that I heard it in April and the same thing has happened every time I've heard it since then. I venture to say that "Make Me Feel" off of Janelle Monae's risque Dirty Computer is the album's sleeper hit.
The titillating song has a strong, undeniable Prince vibe: it's sexual, outspoken and seductively vulnerable. And the music video is just as titillating. Great for those warm Summer nights or cold Winter ones at that, and will brighten up any day in between.
18. Miami - Kali Uchis, BIA (Isolation)
When you think of Miami do you think of bright colors, beaches and sunshine or is that just me? Latin, neo-soul singer Kali Uchis blazed trails in 2018 with her headlining North American tour and she'll continue to spread her sound in 2019.
When you think of Miami do you think of bright colors, beaches and sunshine or is that just me? Latin, neo-soul singer Kali Uchis blazed trails in 2018 with her headlining North American tour and she'll continue to spread her sound in 2019.
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| Kali Uchis @ The Warfiled 9/17/2018 photo by Marc Fong |
19. Might Not Make It Home - LPX
Lizzy Palpinger of MSMR, emerged as a solo artist LPX at the beginning of this year. Released in August, "Might Not Make It Home" wasn't on her EP, Bolt in the Blue but we think it's sentiment is a perfect ending to this Summer playlist.
Lizzy Palpinger of MSMR, emerged as a solo artist LPX at the beginning of this year. Released in August, "Might Not Make It Home" wasn't on her EP, Bolt in the Blue but we think it's sentiment is a perfect ending to this Summer playlist.
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