Summer song battle

Summer song battle

Hey guys, it's summer!

It's the season for fun in the sun - dancing, swimming, BBQing, falconry - and music makes those special moments even more memorable. The Song Of The Summer has become a thing over the past couple of years, because God forbid we should simply enjoy music without somehow turning it into a contest.

Last year saw Daft Punk, Robin Thicke, Miley Cyrus and Imagine Dragons battling it out for the coveted title, with Thicke's Blurred Lines finally coming out tops.

This year, the tunes are just as catchy, and here are our nominations...

FANCY - IGGY AZALEA

"I'm so fancy / You already know / I'm in the fast lane / From L.A. to Tokyo"

Fanciness is the best! You have to give credit to the Australian rapper for tapping into our collective desire to be super fancy.

The song is basically your typical rap about how Azalea has great flow and she's hot and has lots of cash.

Then the chorus, featuring some gal named Charli XCX, comes in sounding exactly like Harajuku Girl-era Gwen Stefani.

Perfect trashy summer fun.

WHY IT COULD BE THE SONG OF THE SUMMER: Azalea is the hottest thing going right now, holding down the two top spots on the Billboard Hot 100 with this tune and Problem.

SING - ED SHEERAN

"This love is a blaze / I saw flames from the side of the stage / And the fire brigade comes in a couple of days"

Little did we know that sensitive ginger English balladeer Sheeran aspired to be the next Justin Timberlake.

In his new hit Sing, his pretty falsetto sounds just like Timberlake; the lover-boy lyrics sound just like Timberlake; and the dancey R&B rhythm with the jang-janga-jang guitars sound just like Timberlake.

Let's call him Gingerlake.

WHY IT COULD BE THE SONG OF THE SUMMER: The track was produced by Pharrell Williams, who was an integral part of last year's summertime hits Get Lucky and Blurred Lines.

SUMMER - CALVIN HARRIS

"We fell in love / As the leaves turned brown / And we could be together baby / As long as skies are blue"

Scottish DJ-producer-singer-songwriter Harris could be this year's Robin Thicke - no one knew who he was, but now he's taking over the planet with a silly song and a sexy video.

Summer is basically a slow-fast EDM track - the verses simmer as Harris mumbles his simple-minded lyrics, then the bass drops and we're in full-on party mode with a goofy stand-alone synth line.

As for the vid, it's filled with very nice butts and muscle cars. Can't complain.

WHY IT COULD BE THE SONG OF THE SUMMER: It's called Summer. Duh. Also, it makes a whole lot more sense if you're good and rummed up.

SHE LOOKS SO PERFECT - 5 SECONDS OF SUMMER

"You look so perfect standing there / In my American Apparel underwear"

If One Direction is already too old and ugly for you, it's time to move on to these dudes!

The song sounds very Direction-y, but the Aussie boys behind the music actually play their own instruments!

In the music video, a bunch of random citizens strip down to their underwear. Isn't that what summertime should be all about?

WHY IT COULD BE THE SONG OF THE SUMMER: It's this generation's What Makes You Beautiful.

AIN'T IT FUN - PARAMORE

"Ain't it good to be on your own? / Ain't it fun, you can't count on no one"

This tune from the US rock band has been out a few months already, but it's finding its stride only recently as the perfect summer jam.

Currently holding the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Hot Rock chart, Ain't It Fun is a celebration of being out on one's own and facing the world head-on.

It proves that summer songs don't have to be 100 per cent dumb - even just 43 per cent will do.

WHY IT COULD BE THE SONG OF THE SUMMER: Every contest needs a lovable dark horse, and this is it.

jjohnson@sph.com.sg


This article was first published on June 18, 2014.
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