My Top Ten Summertime Songs

As Martin pointed out, my Top Ten Hot Summer Songs was quite an all-encompassing topic for me, hence why I was barely able to scrape the surface of all the great summer songs in my collection. Here then, in an effort to narrow the field, are ten great songs with "Summertime" in the title...


10. Girls - Summertime

I've told you before, if you're going to name your band "Girls", don't expect anybody to find you on google... even if you do get Jim Jarmusch to direct your video. (In Iceland. Hardly the most summery of locations, Jim.)

9. The Supernaturals - Summertime

From the final Supernaturals album, What We Did Last Summer; the one that, sadly, only I bought.

8. The Flaming Lips - It's Summertime

Wayne feels sad in the summertime. We all benefit from his misery.

7. Lana Del Rey - Summertime Sadness

Lana Del Rey seems to exist in a world of perpetual summertime... from another era entirely. 

Yes, she is so impossibly beautiful we really should hate her... if only she didn't write such beguiling songs.

6. The Who - Summertime Blues

As I already gave Eddie Cochran pride of place in my Top Ten Hot Summer Songs, here's a somewhat rowdier version from the other side of the pond: Live at Leeds, to be precise.

5. Emiliana Torrini - Unemployed In Summertime

Sadly, from personal experience I can tell you it's not as much fun as Emiliana would have you believe.

Sorry don't get mad at me
I just did the sex quiz
From your magazine
You're my best friend in the world
Just like me you don't do
Anything you're told

Very cute song though.

4. DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince - Summertime

If ain't broke then don't try to fix it

22 years old.

Just sayin'.

3. Mungo Jerry - In The Summertime

Um-chi-chichi!

Man, that is some serious facial hair. Must get sweaty and itchy in the hot weather.

Famously used for a "Don't Drink & Drive" TV advert due to its lyrical suggestions...

2. The Sundays - Summertime

Harriet Wheeler. *Sigh.*

And it's you I need in the summertime
As I turn my white skin red
Two peas from the same pod, yes, we are
Or have I read too much fiction?
Is this how it happens?

1. Fun Boy Three - Summertime

According to Iffypedia, there are over 25,000 recorded versions of this song, originally written by Gershwin for the musical Porgy & Bess. I can't claim to have listened to them all, but I do own fine versions by Sarah Vaughan, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, Sam Cooke, Janis Joplin, Paul Robeson and Nick Drake (among others).

Fish are jumpin'
And the cotton is high
Your daddy's rich
And your momma's good-looking...

Why choose this early 80s reggae-lite version from Terry Hall and chums out of all those? I think it was Terry's hairdo... and the hay bales, hammock and hi-jinks of the video.





Those were my favourite summertime songs. I know there is one glaring omission, but I'm saving it for another list. (And I'm waiting for the Sabrina fans to come out of the woodwork...)

My Top Ten Boom Songs

It amazes me sometimes what I find to make a Top Ten out of...

There were many, many truly awful records with the word Boom in the title... but you won't find the likes of The Outhere Brothers, The Vengaboys, N-Tyce or Shaggy cluttering up this chart.

10. Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince - Boom Boom (Shake The Room)

You will, however, find Will Smith and that other bloke, if only because I'm feeling nostalgic for 1993. For a limited time only.

Don't worry, this list does get better...

9. Westworld - Sonic Boom Boy

...but perhaps not quite yet.

Those people who say the 80s have a lot to answer for... they might be right.

8. The Shangri-Las- Sophisticated Boom Boom

Now this, this is more like it.

Better yet, this is from a compilation album which describes the Shangri-Las as "The Myrmidons of Melodrama". Which would make Morrissey proud. Except for the fact that "Myrmidons", despite how fancy it sounds, were either vicious warriors, unscrupulous ruffians, loyal followers or "ant-people", depending on which Ancient Greek translation you want to follow. None of which does any kind of justice to the mighty, mighty Shangri-Las. Mermaids of Melodrama, perhaps?

7. James - Boom Boom

Tim Booth's tribute to Basil Brush. No, really, Mr. Roy.

6. Warren Zevon - Boom Boom Mancini

I was saving this for my Top Ten Boxing Songs, but who knows when I'll get round to that?

Hurry home early - hurry on home
Boom Boom Mancini's fighting Bobby Chacon

5. John Lee Hooker - Boom Boom

And now, I'm gonna shoot you right down.

4. Flight of the Conchords - Boom

Oh my God. She's so hot. She's so flippin' hot. She's like a curry.
I want to tell her how hot she is, but she'll think I'm being sexist.
She's so hot she's making me sexist.
Bitch.

3. Imelda May - Johnny's Got A Boom Boom

And Imelda's got a quiff to make Morrissey jealous.

2. The Crew Cuts - Sh-Boom (Life Could Be A Dream)

Hey nonny ding dong, alang alang alang
Boom ba-doh, ba-doo ba-doodle-ay

They don't write 'em like that anymore.

1. The Hives - Tick Tick... Boom!

The Hives were only supposed to blow the bloody doors off. But this one blows the roof off too.




Those were my boombastic belters... but which one makes your heart go boom?