The Farr Side: Remembering the best summer songs

The other day, I went for a drive, something I usually do when I need to clear my head out a little bit. Just me, the open road, wind in my hair and some tunes, of course.

I was listening to an old Casey Kasem “American Top 40” countdown. This time, it was from this week in 1987. Gosh, the ’80s were the best ever for music. Kasem was at the top 3 when my mind started to remember what No. 1 would be. I’m good at remembering that kind of stuff. “Shakedown” (Bob Seger) was at No. 3. I remember this like it was yesterday, even the little story that Casey told of how the song originally was to be recorded by Glenn Frey, but he was sick at the time. The song was given to Seger and eventually became his one and only No. 1 hit. That sounds even more preposterous today as it did back then. How could Seger with all of his hits never have had a No. 1 until “Shakedown” from the “Beverly Hills II" soundtrack came along?

The No. 2 song that week in 1987 belonged to Heart. The song “Alone” was one of the biggest songs that year. It eventually topped the Hot 100 for three weeks. “Alone” was the band’s second song to hit No. 1, the first being “These Dreams.”

As I was driving and listening through the Top 40, I knew the No. 1 was going to be “I Wanna Dance (With Someone Who Loves Me)” by Whitney Houston. I was right. Houston was spending her second week atop the countdown. “I Wanna Dance (With Someone Who Loves Me)” was her fourth consecutive single to reach No. 1. She would eventually release three more songs that would all reach No. 1 giving her 7 consecutive

No. 1s. You just don’t hear things like that happening anymore on the charts.

What a great song “I Wanna Dance” was that year. It was the song of the summer, if I remember correctly. That got me to thinking: Each year, specific songs t have owned the summer. Songs like “Dancing In The Streets” (Martha Reeves & The Vandellas), “Sittin’ On The Dock Of The Bay (Otis Redding), “Summertime Blues” (Eddie Cochran) and “Margaritaville” (Jimmy Buffett).

Summer songs are a rite of passage for every generation. Those I remember most include Houston’s “I Wanna Dance,” “Pour Some Sugar On Me” (Def Leppard), “Sweet Child O’ Mine” (Guns N’ Roses), “The Boys Of Summer” (Don Henley) and “My Prerogative” (Bobby Brown).

Who can forget “Baby, Don’t Forget My Number” (Milli Vanilli), “She Drives Me Crazy” (Fine Young Cannibals), “Love Will Never Do Without You” (Janet Jackson),” “Vogue” (Madonna) or “Gonna Make You Sweat” (C&C Music Factory)? These are songs that make you want to get up and dance. Isn’t that something you want to do during your summer fun?

There have been some memorable ones in the 2000s, like “Hot In Herre” (Nelly), “Umbrella” (Rihanna), “I Gotta Feeling” (Black Eyed Peas), “Crazy In Love” (Beyonce), “Party Rock Anthem” (LMFAO), “Call Me Maybe” (Carly Rae Jepson) and “Blurred Lines” (Robin Thicke). I feel the need to mention Katy Perry, who managed to get a few,like “I Kissed A Girl” and “California Gurls.”

Lately, there truly hasn’t been an attention-grabber, in my opinion. This year seems blah, so far. Harry Styles is big right now, but “As It Was” isn’t all that great. Sure, it hit No. 1 for six weeks, but it’s boring. Others might argue for Beyonce’s “Break My Soul” – again, it’s no “Crazy In Love.” This summer’s choice are slim pickings. And, no I’m not getting older. The songs just don’t do anything for me.

When I got home from my drive, I asked Alexa to play some new, upbeat music to change my mind. On came “About Damn Time” from Lizzo. The title even sums it up for me. This might be the song of summer and it’s about damn time!

David T. Farr is a Journal correspondent. Email him at farrboy@hotmail.com.

This article originally appeared on Sturgis Journal: Entertainment