Monday, August 18, 2014

Forget ‘Fancy’, here are my picks for song of summer 2014

Summer is nearing an end, so it’s time to crown the “song of summer.”
Based on its dominance on the Billboard Hot 100 music chart, “Fancy” by Iggy Azalea and featuring Charli XCX looks like a lock to be the song of summer for 2014. It was No. 1 for seven straight weeks.
Billboard ranks the most popular songs across all genres from Memorial Day through Labor Day, based on cumulative performance on the weekly Billboard Hot 100 chart. It factors in radio airplay audience impressions, sales data and streaming activity for the chart.
Last year, Billboard crowned Robin Thicke’s “Blurred Lines” as song of the summer. It was No. 1 for 12 weeks.
Basically the official song of summer is objective, based on popularity, rather than something more subjective, like a tune that captures the feeling of a particular summer. It doesn’t even have to be about summertime activities.
Music has the ability to take people back in time in their memories. Certain songs make me remember where I was when a track was popular, especially summer songs.
Just check out this Billboard list of the top 10 songs of summer from 1985 through 2013. Many haven’t held up very well. And often lower-numbered tracks get more airplay today than the No. 1s from summers past.
For me, “Fancy” is a faddish track that’s more about swagger and attitude than melodies.
Songs that best capture the summer of 2014 for me include “Summer” by Calvin Harris, “Am I Wrong?” by Nico & Vinz and “Turn Down for What?” by DJ Snake and Lil Jon.
To those chart toppers I’d add an Internet meme tune – “Apparently” by the Gregory Brothers. Seriously.

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