In the summers of years past, there has been that one song that defined the summer. That loud and extremely catchy hit that captures the feeling of summer fun and beach decadence.
Gwen Stefani’s “Hollaback Girl” was last year’s, and Kelly Clarkson’s “Since U Been Gone” the year before that.
If you notice a female-pop trend here, you’re not alone. They’re the ones that usually deliver that poppy guilty pleasure that everyone blasts from the radio in their car on the way to the pool but would never let anyone know they actually listen to.
This year’s song of the summer was a little more difficult to find. Sure, there were the very popular songs that caught on with almost everyone, like the Red Hot Chili Pepper’s “Dani California,” Yung Joc’s “It’s Goin’ Down,” Chamillionaire’s “Ridin’ Dirty” and Cassie’s “Me & U.” But though these songs were very catchy and most people loved them, they didn’t really cause a stir of excitement like “Hollaback Girl” did.
Then there was the major disappointment of Beyonce’s first single off her sophomore album, “D‹¨j‹¨ Vu.” Aside from the awkward video where she seems to have a three-minute epileptic fit and quickly ho-dances around Jay-Z, she starts shouting through the ending chorus of the song, and frankly, I’d rather hear a bicycle run over a cat. She’s trying too hard, and she’s failing big time.
And the divorced couple of the year, Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey, both offered new singles with “Public Affair” and “What’s Left of Me.” And while Lachey’s was popular on radio, his wallowing in self-pity is getting old and hurting his image. Simpson’s single sounded like she stole every 80s clich‹¨ and threw it together for a quick party track to take people’s minds off her new trashy image, but her trademark constipated singing makes the song even less redeemable.
Other past pop stars that made a comeback were Christina Aguilera, who came back with a new sound to compliment her throwback look. Her single “Ain’t No Other Man” is a catchy, horn-blasted single that is in very high contention for song of the summer. And Justin Timberlake brought his blue-eyed soul back to the masses with “SexyBack,” an R&B-techno mash-up courtesy of Timbaland that is a great song but doesn’t seem to be catching on as much as people would’ve thought.
And speaking of Timbaland, that ominous former producer of Missy Elliot, he ushered in a new sound for the one-time one-hit wonder Nelly Furtado with her smash hit of the summer “Promiscuous.” If any sound could be the song of the summer, it’s “Promiscuous.” It’s pounding beat and sung rap lyrics made it easy to memorize, and the fact that Timbaland raps on half the track let’s guys not feel too guilty singing along to Furtado’s filthy flirtations.
But tight on Furtado’s heels is Rhianna. The songbird from Jamaica reinvented her sound after a dismal debut album and came back with a polished sound that got her single “S.O.S.” pumping through clubs around the country. Her follow-up single, “Unfaithful,” caused just as much commotion, if not more, and it was a ballad. But it touched on a subject that is apparently rampant in the world today. Her polished looks also make her look poised to take away Beyonce’s crown once the Destiny’s Child finally goes insane.
Then, Gnarls Barkley came along. Most people still don’t know who he is, but they have heard his single “Crazy,” a stirring soul sample layer underneath a throbbing bass line that is more gospel than Top 40. The weird mash-up of DJ Danger Mouse and singer Cee-Lo brought about the Gnarls Barkley moniker and the intensely weird but catchy album to follow titled St. Elsewhere. It’s still too soon if mainstream audiences can handle Gnarls Barkley’s eccentrics, but hopefully “Crazy’s” popularity shows it can.
So instead of just one song of the summer, it’s safe to say there’s probably a three-way tie for the honor between “Promiscuous,” “Ain’t No Other Man” and my personal favorite, “It’s Goin’ Down.” And in a perfect world, Kelis’ ridiculously off-the-wall “Bossy” would take the honor hands down. Who cares if no one star really shined enough to capture everyone’s attention with an out-right smash summer hit? In the ever-increasing days of red and blue states, it would be amazing to get any one song that everyone agrees on.
Nellyfurtado.tif, caption: Courtesy photo
Nelly Furtado’s “Promiscuous” was one of the more prevalent songs of the summer months.