Beach Boys - Kokomo

I don't know how I've not talked about The Beach Boys yet. There is much to discuss on this topic however today I am just going to leave this here. Kokomo, one of the best summer songs ever and perfect for this scorching weather. I wish I was in Aruba, Jamaica, Bermuda, Bahama...

Summer songs: Astrid Gilberto, The Girl From Ipanema

It's with great excitement I bring you my first summer song of the season. Yes, today was officially warm.  I sat on a hot train and I didn't even mind as it was such a novelty. Sunshine and happiness is mine.

It's possibly going overboard to choose this great classic as it really is a boiling hot summer's day song but I am giddy and overwhelmed by the novel notion that my feet got hot today. HOT! So The Girl From Ipanema is what I bring you. A gorgeous, swaying, fabulous song that evokes palm trees, bikinis, sun tan lotion and warmth. Joyous joy!

This is a rather odd rendition of it but frankly, nothing ruins this song for me. I just adore it's summery goodness. Astrid was the very definition of cool by the way. Still is no doubt, she's very much alive. Here's to a long, hot summer my friends.

Tears for Fears

Songs From The Big Chair is a seminal 80s album. Every teenager in the 80s owned this I am sure. I certainly did and I loved it. I rarely listen to it now but I could tell you every song on it and the order too.

Tears For Fears were a great band held back by Roland's totally bizarre teeth and singing style. He was very off-putting. But they had some cracking tunes. Let's revisit a few shall we?

Shout. Look at the freeze frame! See what I mean about Roland? A great pop song.

Head Over Heels - this song is my desert island TFF song. I love it so much.

A close second for me is Everyone Wants to Rule The World. This is a perfect summer song.

I am aware they had other hits - Pale Shelter, Mad World, Sowing The Seeds of Love to name a few (all excellent) but this was their big album and these are the songs I will remember them for.  Songs from the big chair indeed. Thanks boys.

A celebration of summer one-hit wonders

At last we have some sunny hot weather in London and my thoughts turned to cheesy summertime hits. These fall into two categories: classic summer hits (Club Tropicana, La Isla Bonita etc) and one-hit wonders that remind you of two weeks in the Costa Del Sol. Today we shall be focusing on the latter.

First up, Sabrina with Boys Boys Boys. There are no words for this other than to say this was before FHM magazine and teenage boys had to look at something. Really one of the worst songs ever made but without a doubt, a summer song.

Baltimora, Tarzan Boy. I have something of a soft spot for this. It's so ridiculous, how could you not smile when you hear it?

Moving into the 90s, we have Saturday Night by Whigfield. It's worth remembering that a dance routine being involved adds to the summer fun.

Speaking of which, Macarena! I love this one. The two old dudes look like they can't believe their luck!

Finally, Las Ketchup! I kid you not when I say this is Teenboy's favourite song. Maybe not of all time but he certainly likes it enough to comment when it comes on the radio. It's worth pointing out he is a Motorhead fan. I also like this, it's very summery and happy.

What have I missed? I know there are loads so comment me up people. You've all been very quiet recently, are you on a Spanish beach somewhere sipping sangria?

The Eagles

I actually can't think of a less 'teenage' band than The Eagles but I don't care. Sometimes a girl needs some American classic rock love. The Eagles are one of my favourite bands and it always surprises people how much I love them. I can see why since I am quite vocal in my love for Barry Manilow, Neil Diamond, Barbra Streisand, Take That and 80s pop. The Eagles seem like a strange band to throw in the mix but if you like well-crafted songs (and I do) then The Eagles are your band.

My thoughts turned to them tonight as I am off to Palm Springs in November (for work) and a colleague  suggested we do Vegas the weekend before. I don't need any encouragement to go to Vegas but then I found out The Eagles were playing the very same weekend. Is it fate?! I think it might be.

10 reasons I love The Eagles:

1. Take It Easy. The American road trip song.

2. Winslow, Arizona. Yes, we drove two hours out of our way so we could stand on a corner there. It's so cool, look:

3. Tribute band, The Alter Eagles. A friend plays in this band - they are actually really good and if you aren't lucky enough to be going to Vegas to see them, I can recommend.

4. Desperado - after Take It Easy, my favourite Eagles song.

5. One Of These Nights - one of the best intros to a song. Like ever.

6. Their epic falling out and fighting. I love a band that fights and bickers like small children. It's so rock and roll.

7. Don Henley - he gave us Boys of Summer and In A New York Minute.

8. Glenn Frey. He did the theme song for Thelma and Louise.

9. Tequila Sunrise - a great song and a great cocktail.

10. The sleeve notes to The Eagles Greatest Hits (bought on a corner in Winslow, Arizona), written by Glenn and Don. Totally brilliant and educational.

Desperado, why don't you come to your senses... it makes me want to go and ride fences in the wild west. Even though I can't ride and there are no shops there.

Summer songs - Hips Don't Lie, Shakira

I admit to having a soft spot for Shakira. I think she has a great voice and is more than just a pretty blonde shaking her booty. Anyone who can sing "lucky that my breasts are small and humble so you don't compare them to a mountain" is a legend in my book.

This song is featured in Dirty Dancing 2 (which is honestly, I promise you, worth a watch) but not with Shakira singing it. Once she came along it was a mammoth hit and rightly so. It's the very definition of catchy. I love it and it is, without a doubt, a proper summer song.

It's overcast and rainy here after our one day of 90 degree heat yesterday. So let's watch this and pretend we are in Cuba or somewhere sexy and steamy and are dancing with some handsome Latino man.

Summer songs - La Isla Bonita, Madonna

This is one of the all-time great summer songs. It simply oozes sunshine and sangria. Listening to this song in the winter is all wrong but listening to it on a sunny day in June transports you to the Costa Del Sol and the whiff of Ambre Solaire.

Another fab video from Madonna. I never quite got the appeal of the long haired geezer but she looks amazing. As usual, I can't embed it but you can watch it here. I am typing this as the sun finally makes an appearance in London after days and days of grey skies and rain. Here's hoping it's the start of a heatwave.

Summer songs - Summer Night City, Abba

To celebrate the longest day of the year, I bring you Summer Night City. This has long been one of my favourite Abba songs and it's nice to see them doing a happy video, I love Anna's disco dancing! Look how happy they look in this picture. Ahhh Abba, no band does it like you.

I must book a city break to Stockholm...

Summer songs - Boys of Summer, Don Henley

With this song we may have our first summer song AND power ballad. How exciting. I plumped for summer song in the title as it is summer. Apparently. Although it's not summer in London today. It's cold and wet.

I thought we could do with some sunshine and California dreaming and what better way than with this gem? The Eagles are one of my favourite bands and I always look with interest at any solo Eagles. I've always adored this song, it's so atmospheric. The video is hard to find but I tracked it down on YouTube. It may well be taken down soon as Don (or his record company) is a bit obsessive about copyright. Enjoy it while you can and pretend you are running along a sunny beach in Santa Monica. Ahhhh.

Summer songs - Daydream Believer, The Monkees

Cheer up sleepy Jean, oh what can it mean to a daydream believer. What a wondrous song this is, even Dawson and Joey warbling it on Dawson's Creek cannot ruin it for me.

In case you missed it:

I am cringing for them.

This is one of those wonderful all-time classic American songs that make you want to eat ice cream cones and rollerskate down a promenade. I love its innocence. Sing it boys.

Summer songs - Hollaback Girl, Gwen Stefani

I love Gwen. She's a teenage girl's total dream. Who doesn't want to be Gwen? She's just so cool and funny. I like her music because it's such fun.

This song is all boppy and fab. I mainly love it for Sebastian Bach's rendition of it in Gilmore Girls though. I can't find it on YouTube but it is one of the best two minutes of television ever. It's in Season 6 somewhere when the band split up briefly.

Anyway, for a sunny Saturday morning, here's Gwen.

Summer songs - All Night Long, Lionel Richie

As far as I am concerned Lionel Richie is God. I'm prepared to overlook Nicole and the terrible Hello video because he is a genius.

Nothing sums up his talent quite like All Night Long (All Night). It's a song that makes you want to dance in the streets and kiss strangers. I love it and it sums up summer for me. It's also the perfect wedding song - everyone dances to this.

So, kick back, get a Freeze popsicle out and remember the 80s. I'll be back with a wider Lionel appreciation post soon.

Summer songs - Rapture, Blondie

The epitome of cool with an amazing talent to boot, I almost hate Debbie Harry as I am so envious of her. She was so gorgeous (still is actually) and effortlessly cool. Everyone wanted to be Blondie. With my New York obsession, I still want to be her. I never outgrew this. My arrested development is really a theme on this blog.

What a band. No matter what my mood is, I can always listen to some Blondie and bounce around my flat.

Rapture is my desert island Blondie song. It has the most perfect opening.  And she raps. Credibly. The video is great too - I love the guy at the beginning. Basically it's Debbie's world and we live in it.

Summer songs - Club Tropicana, Wham!

Club Tropicana is the definitive summer song. Fun and sunshine, there's enough for everyone! It's the perfect marriage of song and video too, who doesn't want to be on that lilo in the pool sipping pink drinks (personally I wouldn't pour it in the pool but hey ho, whatevs George).

This is Wham at their joyous best. When this song came out, I was obsessed. Obsessed I tell you. I listened to it over and over. It was the theme for all the 13 year old parties at the time. We all wanted to be Pepsi or Shirley. Some of us still do. Happy days.

It's a Friday treat for us all. Enjoy!

Summer songs - We Used To Be Friends, The Dandy Warhols

I don't know why I associate this song with the summer but I do. I have a soft spot for The Dandy Warhols even if they did let one of their songs be used in a Vodafone advert. This is a great song and of course, was the theme to Veronica Mars.

I love how cool and hippy they are. Look at that photo. I want to be them. I hope this is them, I googled them and it came up with this!

Summer songs - Sweet Child O' Mine - Guns 'n' Roses

I don't think we've delved into my rock chick side enough. In a parallel universe, I am a rock groupie hanging out in LA with bands like Guns 'n' Roses circa 1987. I love Appetite for Destruction possibly more than words can describe. It's hard to pick a favourite as I adore Paradise City and Welcome to the Jungle but if pushed, it would have to be Sweet Child O' Mine. It took me a lost weekend to master it on Guitar Hero. Which everyone knows is the same as real guitar.

Guns 'n' Roses were the perfect rock band. They looked the part. They had the best band name ever. They did copious amount of drugs and they wrote songs like this. A song that makes you want to throw open all the windows, crank up the volume and move somewhere with 365 days of sunshine and a beach. Somewhere like LA.

When I lived in Albuquerque, this song was on the jukebox all the time in the one and only Joe's Bar (I hear on good authority it is still there). Every time it came on me and my partner in crime would wig out maaaaaaaaaaan. We loved it. Especially if we were playing pinball at the same time. Living the dream baby.

It goes without saying that I had a crush on Slash. Over 18 million views on YouTube and we're allowed to share it. Thank you Axl.

Summer songs - Kid Creole and the Coconuts, Stool Pigeon

I think Kid Creole and the Coconuts win the award for most summery sounding band. The name makes you want to hang out in a bar on a Caribbean island drinking rum punch. I consider Stool Pigeon to be their masterpiece. I do love a song that tells you a whole story and Stool Pigeon does it so well. My favourite lyric: "So go on and squeal said the FBI, we can make a deal, make it worth your while." Cha ha ha ha!

I can't find the video on YouTube which is a crying shame but here's the song. Throw the windows open and dance like nobody's watching. Enjoy!

Summer songs - DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince, Summertime

Oh come on, of course you love this song. Everyone loves this song. I have such a soft spot for Will Smith's singing career. I love Miami and Boom Shake the Room! I love Miami so much than when TeenBoy and I went to Miami, I insisted on playing it as we drove to South Beach. Don't you wish you were as cool as me?

Summertime is the sound of summer coming. I adore it, it's all fresh like a cotton t-shirt and rollerskates on a promenade. You can watch the video here or listen to the song below. It's got one of the great introductions in pop.

Summer songs - La Dolce Vita, Ryan Paris

There is nothing like a summer song to make you feel at one with the world. Today was a glorious sunny day (except for the thunderstorm that hit later on this afternoon).  To mark the rare occasion of a sunny and hot Easter weekend, I am starting a new series of classic summer songs. And I start with this little gem. Some may have forgotten it but not me. I still love it. Over 235,000 have joined me in watching it on YouTube. God bless you one and all.

Enjoy! And here's to a long hot summer.