Welcome to the final Sun-Soaked episode of The Songs Of The Summer Series from friend and Contributing Author Ozmoe!
This week:
The Series Recap
As a reminder or for those just joining us, I categorize a summer song basically as the fun tune you’d like to do at karaoke with your friends. It’s hummable, singable, danceable, and probably some other kind of optimistic labels I can’t think of right now.
tnocs.com summer charts expert ozmoe
What a short, fun trip it’s been!
As I finish this series on what readers think are the best summer songs (meaning upbeat and fun to sing and dance along with) by year, I’m elated.
Exhausted, too.
But a good kind of exhausted.
When I pitched this series to mt58 back in May, I did so without knowing exactly what years I’d profile.
I knew that I’d do 1984 for the start because it was one of the favorite years for TNOCS voters. And I thought it would be fun to do 1976 during the July 4 weekend due to the Bicentennial observation.
Beyond that? I only knew that I favored starting after 1964, when the Beatles began the English invasion and set most of the standard music favorites for Boomers. I didn’t want to go beyond 1989 either.
That marked a healthy 25-year span to cover.
Also, by the 1990s, the songs that Billboard ranked on the Hot 100 didn’t include many hits that weren’t released as singles.
I’ve tried to include a wide variety in that quarter century of eligibility. Based on the quantity and quality of comments, I think most readers enjoyed what I offered.
For that, I’m grateful.
Now it’s Labor Day weekend, and as summer is ending…
so is this series.
And with that, I want us all to pick the Ultimate Summer Song (patent pending).
Here are the following contenders to choose, based on the tnocs.com readers’ results for the top three for each year surveyed.
Pick your top three – among any listed in any years, – with “One” being your favorite.
We’ll see which one is the top pick to deserve this honor.
Episode #1: 1984
Bruce Springsteen: Dancing in the Dark
ZZ Top: Legs
Dan Hartman: I Can Dream About You
Episode #2: 1967
The Rascals: Groovin’
The Monkees: Pleasant Valley Sunday
The Association: Windy
Episode #3: 1974
The Hues Corporation: Rock the Boat
George McCrae: Rock Your Baby
ABBA: Waterloo
Episode #4: 1982
The Go-Go’s: Vacation
Survivor: Eye of the Tiger
Tommy Tutone: 867-5309/Jenny
Episode #5: 1976
Andrea True Connection: More, More, More
Starbuck: Moonlight Feels Right
KC and the Sunshine Band: (Shake, Shake, Shake) Shake Your Booty
Episode #6: 1965
The Beach Boys: California Girls
The Four Tops: I Can’t Help Myself
The Rolling Stones: (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction
Episode #7: 1988
INXS: New Sensation
Johnny Kemp: Just Got Paid
Def Leppard: Pour Some Sugar on Me (a popular write-in vote)
Episode #8: 1970
Stevie Wonder: Signed Sealed Delivered I’m Yours
The Jackson Five: The Love You Save
Freda Payne: Band of Gold
Episode #9: 1978
Olivia Newton-John (RIP) and John Travolta: You’re the One That I Want
Frankie Valli: Grease
A Taste of Honey: Boogie Oogie Oogie
Episode #10: 1985
Katrina and the Waves: Walking on Sunshine
Huey Lewis and the News: The Power of Love
Tears for Fears: Everybody Wants to Rule the World
Episode #11: 1966
The Lovin’ Spoonful: Summer in the City
The Capitols: Cool Jerk
The Cyrkle: Red Rubber Ball (a popular write-in vote)
Episode #12: 1972
Alice Cooper: School’s Out
The Hollies: Long Cool Woman (in a Black Dress)
The Looking Glass: Brandy (You’re a Fine Girl)
Episode #13: 1977
The Emotions: Best of My Love
Jimmy Buffett: Margaritaville
Fleetwood Mac: Don’t Stop
Happy voting, everyone!
Thank You For Your Vote!
Sorry You have Already Voted!
Wow — what a challenge! I tried to figure it out by picturing myself at a beach and hearing a transistor radio and saying, “Crank that up!” With that in mind, my top three from this list would be:
3) Summer in the City
2) Best of My Love
1) Rock the Boat
There are *so* many runners-up, but let’s just say I can’t quibble with any of these finalists. Great job, Ozmoe, and TNOCS folks, for a fun seasonal set.
1. Vacation – Go-Go’s
2. Walking on Sunshine – Katrina and the Waves
3. Red Rubber Ball – The Cyrkle
Honorable mention: Signed Sealed Delivered I’m Yours, School’s Out, Grease, Rock Your Baby, The Love You Save, Best of My Love
Tough call, I hadn’t realised there was going to be a follow up with an even more difficult decision to make.
Best not to overthink it, I’m going route one with songs with a direct summer theme.
3) Pleasant Valley Sunday
2) School’s Out
1) Summer In The City
I say I’m not overthinking it but I typed them in and immediately rearranged the order. Leave it there before I change my mind again.
Look forward to the lavish ceremony where the winner is presented with their prize – the budget stretches that far mt?!
Goodboy just checked the petty cash drawer. We’ll need to find an alternate source of funding for the trophy. .
We may or may not qualify as an “essential public resource.” I’m negotiating with the GoFundMe people as we speak.
I’m sorry. There’s no way I can limit it to three.
Thanks for this series, Ozmoe. It’s been a blast.
I think I would have to go:
3) Vacation
2) School’s Out
1) California Girls
But obviously, if we’re talking best summer song of all time, there’s only one king:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E1fzJ_AYajA
It’s difficult to choose to me, because there are many great songs.
All I can say Ozmoe is congratulations on this series, I really enjoyed it.
It’s not easy judging art(for me, music, film, literary fiction) from different decades. This is hard.
1) Brandy(You’re a Fine Girl)
2) Dancing in the Dark
3) Grease
I’m going to miss this series, Ozmoe.
Congrats to Ozmoe for a job well done!
As to our songs
“Vacation” naturally
“Walking On Sunshine” of course
“Everybody Wants to Rule the World” definitely
But, wait a minute, those wiley veterans are at it again!
For longevity (fifty seven years and counting) and worldwide renown (the best opening chord in pop music), it’s the Rolling Stones and “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” walking away with first (annual?) Ozmoe Summer of Music championship.
Great series Ozmoe!!
I tried to break the #3 tie, but even when I flipped a coin it landed on the edge, so there you go:
1. Walking On Sunshine
2. California Girls
3. School’s Out / Vacation
Safe to assume that next Summer you’ll take on the other years from 1964-89 that didn’t make this year’s cut? (I hope I hope I hope)
Here is my top three, plus seven more:
1. The Go-Go’s: Vacation
2. Katrina and the Waves: Walking on Sunshine
3. The Beach Boys: California Girls
4. Jimmy Buffett: Margaritaville
5. Frankie Valli: Grease
6. Tommy Tutone: 867-5309/Jenny
7. The Monkees: Pleasant Valley Sunday
8. Stevie Wonder: Signed Sealed Delivered I’m Yours
9. Tears for Fears: Everybody Wants to Rule the World
10. Dan Hartman: I Can Dream About You
There are better songs not on this list, but not better summer songs (IMO)
Oh that’s just not right!!! There’s too much to consider, ack!
Ok, so these probably don’t match what I chose before, but when looking at the finalists, I went by a gut reaction of ‘what screams summer vibes to me?’
#3. Vacation – the Go-Gos
#2. Pour Some Sugar On Me – Def Leppard
#1……
School’s Out – Alice Cooper.
Thanks for being our tour guide with this all summer, ozmoe!!
So hard, but here goes.
3) Brandy
2) Walking On Sunshine
1) Rock The Boat
Honorable mention : Groovin’, Summer In The City.
Great series – lots of fun!
#BRANDYYOU’REAFINESONG