Bitch Tapes: Summertime, and the Living’s Easy

It's nearly officially summer, and in the Northwest, the sun takes its sweet time getting here and staying for the season. So, for those that need some help getting into the summertime mood, or just want a soundtrack for the season, here are some literal and figurative songs about summer, warm weather, and their varied effects on us.

1. Cruel Summer – Bananarama

Remember Bananarma? I loved this video...girls working on cars, dancing and singing all over the hot city. This is such a classic 80’s poppy, upbeat song and video that you barely notice the lyrics are about everyone “leaving me here on my own...”

2. Cold Beverage - G. Love & Special Sauce

Hot weather...cold beverages. Don’t need to say much more.

3. The Boys of Summer - The Ataris
I love this version, especially the part where The Ataris see a different sticker on a Cadillac than Don did.

4. Popsicle - Talking Heads

All kinds of hot, sticky, sweet lyrics about...a popsicle! Too much? Nah, it’s the Talking Heads, and it’s summertime!

5. Summertime - Janis Joplin & Big Brother & the Holding Company

Can’t have a summer-themed mix without some bluesy, sultry Janis making you feel ok about doing nothing, cause the living’s easy.

6. Float On - Modest Mouse

Although not specifically about summer, for me this song personifies that laid back feeling that comes so much more easily when the sun is shining. I don’t know when else you’d be able to so easily let the negative stuff slide, so much so that you lose your job, get scammed, etc., and you easily rise above it.

7. Heatwave - Martha and the Vandellas

Sometimes the heat is too much...when you don’t have it, you can’t wait for it, but once the intense summer sun is heating things up, it can burn.

8. Summertime Rolls - Janes Addiction

This song makes me nostalgic about summers growing up in the midwest, languidly hanging out, nothing to do but let the heat and summer soundtrack roll over me...