Memorial Day weekend is the unofficial start of summer, which means cookouts, pool openings, and rising temperatures. It also begs the question: what will be the Song of the Summer? Every year has that earworm you can’t shake, and whether it’s 2011’s “Sexy & I Know It” or “I Gotta Feeling” from 2009, it seems like there’s always one song that just can’t be escaped.
So what will be the “Call Me Maybe” of 2013? Here are my picks for the songs you can’t ignore this summer!
- Emeli Sandé’s “Next to Me” is my bet for the #1 song of the summer. Sandé is already huge in the UK, having broken a record set by the Beatles with her Our Version of Events album. The song is catchy, infectious, happy and fun – everything a summer song should be. “Next to Me” has been covered by Lea Michele and Idina Menzel on Glee, introducing audiences in the States to it, and Emeli followed that up with performances on both Dancing With the Stars and American Idol where the song was not only performed by one of the contestants, but she performed on the show as well. Add to it a rapidly growing arsenal of awards, and this song is ready to blow through the roof.
- “Cruise” by Florida Georgia Line is undeniably catchy and easy to sing along with from the first listen. Currently on a sold out tour with Luke Bryan and Thompson Square and racking up their own tidy stash of awards, this country song paints a drive on a summer day. It’s a must for any road trip mix this year!
- Daft Punk‘s new album Random Access Memories was a hit before its official street date, streaming in full on iTunes for a week ahead of its release. The single “Get Lucky,” featuring Pharrell Williams, is a perfect summer song – dancey with a great hook and story about a night of partying.
- The X-Factor alum Olly Murs recently released his new album with the lead single “Troublemaker.” It features Flo Rida, who is no stranger to making hit summer songs, and Murs isn’t short on promotion of the song – he performed on an episode of 90210 and Dancing With the Stars.
To hear these songs, along with other songs for the season, check out The Hudsucker’s Songs of the Summer 2013 Playlist on Spotify, and let us know what songs you hope hit this summer!
Excellent list, Des. Love seeing Olly up there!
I say, Avril Lavigne’s Here’s To Never Growing Up. The sing-along crowd chorus suggests it.