Dog Days are (Almost) Over

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I’m not bitter.  No, no, the fact that summer weather has JUST now descended upon us in So Cal does not upset me one bit.

You see, as the rest of the country’s weather starts dropping to fall-like temps in the coming weeks, our summer will still be raging.   So, really, it’s all beginning…

In fact, I’m completely ignoring the fact that school is starting for kids…

that the nation’s gearing up for the start of football…

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or that the stores are hawking their fall lines.

I just don’t care.  It’s summer here in So Cal, and I’m gonna m-i-l-k it, cause it’s warm and beautiful and sunshine-y out, and I am embracing it.

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With this in mind, I’ve compiled a selection of songs I’ve fallen for over the summer.  Disclaimer: It’s a totally random grouping. Some songs are embarrassing to admit I like, others embarrassing to admit I’d never heard before. All in all, these tunes have been keeping me humming along in summertime bliss.

1. Matt and Kim – Daylight – Oh how I love this sweet, upbeat song from Brooklyn duo Matt and Kim.  What’s so interesting is that just six years ago, drummer/vocalist Kim and keyboardist/vocalist Matt had no idea how to play any instruments.  After being dared to play a live show with their newfound talents, word spread and two albums later, they’re blowin’ up.

2. Florence & The Machine – Dog Days Are Over – Darn you, Elizabeth Gilbert. Why’d you have to go through a spiritual awakening and write a huge bestseller based on your exploits during said awakening, resulting in a gigantic movie star to play you in the feature film version of your life? For the past couple months I’ve seen nothing but your movie trailers with this song as the theme music.  But it’s so great, so I don’t really mind that every time I hear it I think of you gorging on Italian fare.

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3. Emiliana Torrini – Jungle Drum – Move over, Bjork.  This Icelandic queen’s super talented, and her sounds range from ethereal to fun and cheeky, like this lil’ tune.

4. Enrique Iglesias – I Like It – The fact that the video for this song features the cast of Jersey Shore is so brilliant.  Every time I hear it I want to slather self-tanning bronzer on, get my Bump It in place and down a giant margarita.

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5. Black Eyed Peas – Rock That Body – I’m past commiserating on the BEPs’ old school sounds and original style from the late 90s/early 2000’s.  I’ve succumbed to their highly produced Top 20 hits, and even quite enjoy a couple from time to time. This song’s another new entry on my running playlist.

6. Shakira – Waka Waka Esto Es Africa – Not only the anthem for the World Cup, it became the anthem for women in Zumba classes around the world.  Case in point: Me. My mom. Southwest Florida this summer.  Zumba class.  It was on.

7. La Roux – Bullet Proof – If you ask my fabulous Brit colleagues, they’d tell you La Roux’s been around for aaaa-ges.  Dunno why it’s taken so long to bring Ms. La Roux across the pond, but better late then never..

8. The Knife – Heartbeats (Live) – I’m not sure where I first heard this song from the Swedish techno duo, but their dark, obscure concerts (as seen in this link) showcase the way they combine sound, light, and music to create a real theatrical performance.  Would love to see them in concert.

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9. Tegan & Sara – Back in Your Head – Tegan and Sara are twinsies who started touring after high school graduation in ’98.  The summer after I graduated from high school, I worked at an ice cream shop.  Whatever, just as cool.

10. Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros – “Alabama, Arkansas/ I do love my Ma and Pa/ But not as much as I do love you.”  Such a catchy song, and I love the refrain the best: “Home, let me come home/ Home is wherever I’m with you.”  Ain’t that the truth.

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11. Temple of the Dog – Hunger Strike – No idea why I’ve been hearing this so often in LA this summer.  Released in 1991, it came about when Chris Cornell asked a friend, then-unknown Eddie Vedder to help him with vocals on this song.  Each time I hear it, it takes me back to an era when Vedder and friends reigned the musical landscape.

12. Jeff Buckley – Lover You Should’ve Come Over – Oooh, most. romantic. song. ever.

13. Scala & Kolacny Brothers – Creep (Radiohead cover) – Lawd knows my ears will always perk up at anything Radiohead, a band that truly changed my life back in the day.  This cover’s been in rotation on a movie trailer and various TV shows this summer, and I heart it.

Here’s to those of us enjoying the beginning of this amazing season, and to the rest of you eeking out the remaining hours of sunshine and sunblock.

xoxo,