Is there a song for summer 2007 yet? Something along the lines of Crazy in Love in 2003 and, what, Since U Been Gone in 2005...a song that comes to identify the summer to a wide variety of people. There's been some discussion of this question, but no definite answers yet. I've heard MIMS' This is Why I'm Hot in a wide array of contexts...might be a contender, but does it have the mass popularity and longevity?
There are 61 reader comments
• May 22 2007 • 11:35AM
agreed! "feel it all" by feist is my choice for summer song '07.
• May 22 2007 • 11:38AM
wow. before seeing these comments I was thinking "One Two Three Four". There's a complete consensus for Feist so far. . .
• May 22 2007 • 11:40AM
Hasn't the MIMS song been out for a little too long to be the song of the summer? I'm sure it will still get plenty of air time, but I don't know that it should hold the title.
• May 22 2007 • 11:48AM
Mims is terrible, absolutely terrible. I can't believe this is what passes for rap these days. It's like you take something vapid and harmless like Will Smith (the lousy rapper, not the decent actor), and give him brain damage.
• May 22 2007 • 11:48AM
It sounds silly, but if BP would release "Say Hey" from their commercials, I'd make it the "summer hit" darkhorse. Message of the Blues's "LA" (the song it was based on), is rocking my socks right now.
• May 22 2007 • 11:57AM
The Broken Social Scene vs R. Kelly mashup - I'm a Flirt (Shoreline) is by far, the best summer song ever.
• May 22 2007 • 11:58AM
It's been out for a bit, but Mika's "Grace Kelly" also has that "summer song singalong" vibe, and has been getting a ton of radio play.
(I'm only thinking of bands with that wide popular appeal and feel-good vibe, not necessarily my personal favorites.)
• May 22 2007 • 12:00PM
What about "Young Folks" by Peter Bjorn and John? But probably we'll have to wait another short while.
• May 22 2007 • 12:14PM
Modest Mouse's "Dashboard" will probably be my personal soundtrack for 2007.
• May 22 2007 • 12:17PM
I think it's the Vista startup sound.
• May 22 2007 • 12:22PM
My vote: Bloc Party's "I Still Remember."
• May 22 2007 • 12:36PM
Either Modest Mouse or Kings of Leon.
• May 22 2007 • 12:42PM
Rihanna's "Umbrella"
• May 22 2007 • 12:45PM
I think perhaps we're forgeting that thirteen year old girls are deciding what song will be big for summer. I think it's time to grit your teeth and brace yourself for something very Fergie. I mean, she does still eat at Taco Bell.
• May 22 2007 • 12:50PM
I think everyone's summer song should be, well, my summer song: Page France's "Hat and Rabbit":
http://pdl.stream.aol.com/aol/us/aolmusic/spinner/mp3s/page-france_hat_rabbit_dl.mp3
"Guns and Dolls" by the Bastard Fairies is a strong contender, though:
http://www.last.fm/music/The+Bastard+Fairies/_/Guns+And+Dolls
• May 22 2007 • 12:52PM
My song of the summer has been Amy Winehouse's "Rehab." It's catchy.
• May 22 2007 • 12:58PM
In my opinion,
"D.A.N.C.E." by Justice is going to be the hot jam of the summer. If you can't dance to this, it's a bloody shame.
http://www.kitsunenoir.com/blogimages/justice-dance.mp3
(Cut and paste in a new browser, duh)
ENJOY!
• May 22 2007 • 12:58PM
Now I only listen to interent radio, so with a grain o' salt:
Jill Cunniff's 'Lazy Girls' really gets under your skin in a great way.
http://themilitiagroup.com/mp3/jillcunniff/01%20Lazy%20Girls.mp3
• May 22 2007 • 1:00PM
Good question, and I find none of the answers satisfying as a cultural summer moment so far.
Perhaps something on the new Wilco or White Stripes albums will break. I'd like to say that new Battles song will bust open on the masses, but it probably won't.
Or we could all keep chanting....
THIS IS WHY, THIS IS WHY, THIS IS WHY I'M HOT!
• May 22 2007 • 1:01PM
My money is on Kelly Clarkson's new song. It kinda kicks ass. All the kids will be pumpin' it.
My personal pick is The White Stripes - Icky Thump.
• May 22 2007 • 1:05PM
Rihanna's "Shut Up And Drive" is both theme-appropriate and just inane/repetitive enough to be a real contender.
http://cache.idolator.com/assets/resources/mp3/rishut.mp3
• May 22 2007 • 1:06PM
Seconding D.A.N.C.E. by Justice!
• May 22 2007 • 1:08PM
Justin Timberlake - Summer Love
How can this go overlooked :)
• May 22 2007 • 1:10PM
I agree with the Justice suggestion. Perhaps the B.E.A.T. remix.
It might be too house-y though. It's lacking that real addictive grab that a great pop song has.
Gwen Stefani's The Sweet Escape probably could've been it had the verses been half as solid as the excellent hook. It was also probably released a bit too early.
Rihanna - Umbrella's got the magic(?) Jay-Z touch. And some of the synths are beyond epic. But it doesn't seem to be everywhere... or anywhere actually.
• May 22 2007 • 1:14PM
2002 was certainlyHot in Herre - Nelly http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hot_in_Herre
• May 22 2007 • 1:18PM
Keeping in mind that it is 13 yr olds picking the summer song, and that most girl 20-somethings I know babysit those girls. I'd have to say "AvriL laVignE - GirLfrieNd" as typed in many myspace posts.
• May 22 2007 • 1:23PM
If you can imagine the underpinnings of Depeche Mode, Bloc Party, Talking Heads, and The Cars all mashed into a coherent sound, I'd HIGHLY recommend the musical stylings of Kenna. The first single from his forthcoming album, Make Sure They See My Face (a play on the fact that he chose not to appear in any of the videos from his debut album) is entitled Out of Control (State of Emotion) and, to me at least, has all the characteristics of a summer hit, one that instills a severe desire to just hop in the car, windows down, and take a long drive sans destination.
A sampling that's Out of Control
You might recognize the Kenna name if you've ever read Blink. Malcolm Gladwell devoted an entire chapter to Kenna and how his first album, New Sacred Cow, bombed on the charts back in 2003 because record executives had problems categorizing Kenna's music, believing it to be unmarketable to the masses. This lack of initiative on the part of the label eventually kept this gem of an artist away from the ears of many who would've appreciated something that strayed from the norm. By all means, I urge you all dearest Kottke Lovers™, please do check out New Sacred Cow if you ever get the chance.
• May 22 2007 • 1:30PM
i would agree that "Young Forks" is this year's summer anthem.
• May 22 2007 • 1:45PM
Another idea: M.I.A.'s album comes out in late summer. I bet someone could leak a single in June that everyone goes crazy over.
• May 22 2007 • 1:54PM
Justice's D.A.N.C.E
• May 22 2007 • 1:57PM
Isn't it a bit early to choose an anthem that captures the feel of the summer of 2007? Summer hasn't even started yet!
• May 22 2007 • 2:09PM
Fanfarlo, you are one of the few outsiders that understands us
http://www.myspace.com/fanfarlo
• May 22 2007 • 2:29PM
maroon 5's new song is gonna be huge!
• May 22 2007 • 2:46PM
It pains me to say this but I have a strong feeling that Avril Lavigne's "Girlfriend" is going to be/already is the song of the summer.
• May 22 2007 • 3:24PM
Oh, God Jake. Say it isn't so. You are probably right -- although the JT "Summer Love" is a close second.
• May 22 2007 • 3:35PM
Avril Lavigne's "Girlfriend" is like fingernails on chalkboards. Yes, multiple chalkboards.
Outside shots, but helping define my summer:
Keep the car running – Arcade fire
North American Scum - LCD Soundsystem
The Prayer - Bloc Party
• May 22 2007 • 3:40PM
Chemicals Collide, by Cloud Cult... or not.
Modest Mouse is DQ because of Float On in 2004.
• May 22 2007 • 4:13PM
"So Real" by Jeff Buckley has my vote, a classic to commemorate the 10th year anniversary of his passing...
• May 22 2007 • 4:16PM
hot shot city, by david hasselhoff
• May 22 2007 • 4:21PM
I think it should be the Ratatat remix of Notorious B.I.G.'s "Party & Bullshit"
• May 22 2007 • 4:38PM
What? No Pretty Ricky on anyone's list?
• May 22 2007 • 5:06PM
Uffie - Pop the Glock
I highly doubt this song will be widespread by summer, mainly because she's up and coming, but the song is very worthy of being crowned song of.
• May 22 2007 • 5:07PM
5th for Justice - D.A.N.C.E.
• May 22 2007 • 6:58PM
Fergie's Glamorous, which I admit to actually liking, thanks to the Ludacris verse. For some reason I'm a total sucker for his guest appearances. I must have put Ciara's "Oh" on my on-the-go mixes a hundred times. And Usher's "Yeah!"
• May 22 2007 • 8:10PM
tim is right.
http://ratatatmusic.com/mp3/02%20Party%20and%20Bullshit%20(Ratatat%20remix).mp3
• May 22 2007 • 9:22PM
I wish Tim was right. Ratatat's Biggie Remix is rad. But you won't hear it coming out of every radio all over the place all the time.
I'll guess Gwen Stefani's Sweet Escape, even though Jodi said no. ;)
• May 22 2007 • 11:07PM
What world are you living in that "since you've been gone" was the song of the summer? That is pretty sad and I'm glad I don't live in it.
• May 23 2007 • 2:09AM
how about that girlfriend song. you know the, Da, da, da da...
that seems to capture the zeitgiest.
• May 23 2007 • 2:37AM
did everyone forget about Chamillionaire's "Ridin Dirty" ?
• May 23 2007 • 10:04AM
Justice - D.A.N.C.E.
• May 23 2007 • 11:40AM
There's a song for *early* summer 2007 already:
Rihanna's 'Umbrella' by Ne-Yo and feat. Jay-Z is wickedly catchy, sexy, fun, and has a killer beat bulding to an unforgettable chorus. Ella ella, ey ey ey.
Video of Rihanna's 'Umbrella' feat. Jay-Z
• May 23 2007 • 11:41AM
My vote is for "Summer Love" by Justin Timberlake. It's just too perfect, and extremely catchy. Everyone I know that hears it loves it.
• May 23 2007 • 11:53AM
I agree, it's Rihanna's "Umbrella." It's only just starting to break and will be all over the place come June. The first two listens it sounds like nothing, by the third it's all you'll want to hear.
• May 23 2007 • 1:34PM
RJ, it's not that Kelly Clarkson song. It's the very new one on the yet-to-be-released album ("Never Again.")
• May 23 2007 • 4:02PM
I'm going to bet a quarter with the faceless internet masses that it will be something off Kanye's album if it drops in time. Maybe the Daft Punk single I've been hearing about. (I also think "Watch The Tapes" by LCD Soundsystem could make an awesome summer jam.. it's got "woohoo"s)
What was last year, Crazy by Gnarls Barkley?
• May 24 2007 • 2:02AM
last year...Crazy by Gnarls Barkley for sure.....
very close runners up...
Nelly Furtado - Promiscuous Girl....Panic! at the Disco - I Write Sins Not Tragedies...Shakira - Hips Don't Lie
• May 24 2007 • 9:33AM
I'm only 25, but I'm completely unfamiliar with any of the songs you mentioned in the original post.
Perhaps it's because I don't listen to top 40 radio and Tivo allows me to ignore the vast majority of ads. Thus my exposure to many of these songs is severely minimized.
• May 24 2007 • 2:11PM
aha I want it to be Jack Penate - Spit at stars =D
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5TJOjIgxxWY&NR=1
• May 24 2007 • 2:18PM
Or or or Enter Shikari - Jonny Sniper ;)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dsbw8gmejX8
Yer that one Instead!!!
• May 25 2007 • 2:07AM
CSS will be kicking 2007's summer!! they've been making huge success in festivals lately, including a great participation at Coachella.. and they are featured in NME this week.
It is very hard to choose one song.. Alala, Patins, Music is my hot hot sex and Meeting Paris Hilton are my favorites..
This thread is closed to new comments. Thanks to everyone who responded.
glenn • May 22 2007 • 11:32AM
Well if there's justice, it'll be something by Feist...