A couple days ago it kinda hit me in a really really cold sweat at work. There isn't a song of the summer this year. There isn't. You can toss "One Dance" at me, but that was bumping prior to the godawful heat that's been bearing down this year (this summer has been projected to be one of the worst in recent memory) and not during the summer. No one is listening to that right now anymore.
But why am I freaking out? Because this is uncanny. For the past couple of years that I can recall, there has always been one single song that's taken over the summer. For example, last year's Jack U single "Where Are U Now" arguably took over the airwaves to take that crown. But why hasn't there been one concrete one this year? And although the debate over which one is truly the song to end them all, there's always one that sticks it out from June to September and finds its way into clubs and hidden house parties come autumn. As much as I don't really study the mainstream and always strive to be edgy in only investing in the underground, internet sub-genres, and other things only people that read the ever-snobby publication Pitchfork and obscure music blogs care about, the song of the summer always makes it in my playlist, regardless of quality. Because it wouldn't be one without it being accessible, catchy, and hitting all the right areas that a popular song would hit right? It requires a level of easy listening and doesn't challenge the ear that much by deploying easy to digest textures and samples. But I digress.
The song of the summer is also a necessity due to its power to change the mood of the nation. Amid this summer of endless tragedy, heartache, controversy, and the killing of my unarmed brothers and sisters for some of the most insane and headass things, along with the murder of officers literally 30 minutes away from where I live, the song of the summer is important due to its ability to take one's mind off of the lack of metaphorical sunshine of late. If anything, although it's almost too late, this summer needs (or rather needed) something to get folks blowing steam off.
So today I'm asking you all to make a hit track to close this year's dark summer. Open up some clouds with something worth playing. Or we could all just ask Drake, who although I'm not a big fan of because all he is is a broken rib of Kanye circa 808's, knows how to make something special for the time. Or I could try my hand at that one special track.
I'll see you all next time.
