Perhaps ELO's Mr. Blue Sky is an obvious choice, but it is a damn good song and how could it not put a smile on your face?
What are your picks?
Here's a few different flavors of summer: Violent Femmes - Blister in the Sun
Oh, wow that Allman Brothers tune brings back memories. My first high school girlfriend made me a mixtape with that on it one year, and as she had no idea what my music taste was really, this was the only song on it that I actually enjoyed. But what the hell, it's Duane and Gregg.
It's actually Duane and Dickey. Dickey Betts was the one who composed Blue Sky. People always seem to forget about him since he wasn't, well, Duane or Gregg, but he was still one hell of a musician. Still is really, I saw him 3 years ago and while he's really old and not looking so great nowadays, the guy can still play with the best of them.
I'm with flagamuffin, that Allman Bros tune really brings back some memories. I had a roommate in college that was a big Allman Bros fan. Blue Sky and Sweet Melissa are two of the songs that always take me back to that time.
That Kurt Vile tune was great. I had not heard it before, glad I did. Thanks.
I'm a huge fan of anything Kurt Vile. Glad you liked the song!
This thread knocked loose something in my brain. I used to listen to a local band called Percy Hill in high school. I'm not much of a jam band guy, but I loved the shit out of their CD, Color in Bloom. I was looking for a particular song that I remember as being particularly great, called Sun Machine. It wasn't until yesterday that I could remember the name of the band though! Cut to today, I've been scouring the internet for a copy of that CD and so far I've discovered that they've broken up and that their CDs are no longer pressed. Amazon has one or two new copies listed at around $53. Fuck that. I may get a used copy if I can find a good seller. Unfortunately, YouTube does not have the song I was looking for, but they do have one of the other tracks I particularly like from that CD, called 313. If that's not "sunny day" music, then I don't know what is.
Both are great picks. I spent a whole summer listening to Donovan tunes when I was about 15 years old. The Beach Boys don't get enough mention on Hubski imo. What a great, great band. Truly one of the best
Supposedly they do rip a lot of "nostalgic" sounds from past decades (60s-80s) so I guess I can see that. However, I'm in a odd position, having grown up in the 2000s, so none of these cultural touchstones mean anything to me. So where you hear old sounds in this new music I just hear new music.
Blur-Country House I like to skip work and drive around with the windows down and this playing. Makes me feel good.
I don't drive with the windows down enough these days. Great song, thanks for posting the link.
Here are some songs I like for sunny days. I probably wouldn't put them together though. The Toadies - Possum Kingdom Led Zeppelin - The Lemon Song Fishbone - Lemon Meringue
A few years ago In the Summertime by Mungo Jerry was the song for the entire summer. We would sing it everywhere we would go.
When I look back at the summers of my life, many of them were colored by specific songs, some of which were amazing and some in hindsight a bit silly.
Mine is worse. My good friend went to Malta for the first part of the summer and all the night clubs there were playing Please Don't Go, a really horrible song and he forced us all to listen to it when he got back. The awful truth is that I ended up liking it. -Feels good to finally admit that.
My Girl. An oldie, but a goodie. The song always bring a smile to my face.
One of the first guitar lines I ever learned, and still a favorite of mine. Great tune.
My mood driving music for some time has been the album Man Mountain by Blue States. Here's a representative track: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NsrQU7oe9fw I discovered Blue States from the end-credits music to "28 Days Later", which is an achingly good song with a children's chorus as backing vocals, and is on the same album: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F9IE7NXSSms But it became associated with long road trips for me by accident, I think. And not necessarily summer days either, but sunny winter days. This is the music for getting lost on i80 in Pennsylvania, red barns and bare trees sliding by. Even the album cover supposes getting lost in America somewhere (it's the eponymous landmark of Twin Arrows, Arizona).
Here's the one to play, after the sun goes down :
These are some lovely chillout summer songs: Morcheeba - The Sea Chrome Sparks - Marijuana Also can't have summer without some afrobeat in my opinion:
WOW. That Chrome Sparks tune is intense. I dig it.
Can't believe no one has posted Tom Petty - Running Down A Dream yet... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dXYl5NrHPb4 Dynamite Hack - Boyz in The Hood. Easily one of my all time favorite "acoustic rap" songs and song to roll around to on a nice day. If you haven't heard this before... enjoy. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIo81Fk6J5g I have many of rock hits that are go-tos, pretty much anything by The Darkness... but this thread is severely lacking in some hip-hop/rap. Many people might poo-poo Tupac or G-unit, but honestly, they had some classic hits, and if you listen to the links I've posted below you'll realize they are definitely more chill and fun songs than anything remotely "hardcore" or overly thuggy. Unknown Prophets: (Local group from Minnesota) Very relevant song for me this time of year that I listen to every spring. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hA23fyYGHvg Tupac - Better Days http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hrAAXq_lyN0 Some G-Unit - Hate it Or Love It: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1Z-coOymzs Game - Let's Ride:
Some good choices there, and some varied genres too. Very nice. As it is, I'm traveling and in a small town listening to two local trust-afarians regale us with their take on "take me to the river". Pretty bad.
Sounds like a good time none the less. Also, LOVE the term trust-afarian, never heard it before, but instantly knew exactly what you were talking about.
If I can manage an incognito photo, ill snap one ;-)
That's a pretty touching tune. Given the style of the song, I didn't really expect those lyrics.
Neither did I, and the chorus is very beach boys which I love.
I have a sublime/rebelution/dirty heads/red hot chili peppers playlist. There are also these two playlists I've found on Spotify that do the job: No Worries: http://open.spotify.com/user/bledarno/playlist/62P9MRU5t5Njm... Summer songs: http://open.spotify.com/user/mollyhermiller/playlist/22Iq5wS... Oh and my favorite: accurately named "INSTANT HAPPINESS" http://open.spotify.com/user/curiousgeorgie/playlist/5NYqCdv...
Thanks, glad to see some Belle and Sebastian in the summer songs.
Great tune. Great band! Malkmus looks so young in that video.
Cranes - Driving in the Sun Dropkick Murphys - Sunshine Highway I might be a tad too literal this morning.
I don't think you are being too literal considering I started us off with "Mr. Blue Sky." I look forward to checking these out.
Listening now, great beat, nice groove. I'm a sucker for horns. I have a drive ahead of me and I'll put this in the queue. Thanks.