Modal Nodes: Top 7 Songs to get Pumped for Summer

Summer is fast approaching, and with only two weeks now until the launch of the Summer Movie Season with the premiere of Iron Man 2, and a lot of fun College breaks coming up, it's time to get into that spicy sunny mood. There are a few songs I feel are appropriate to get into a good Summer mood, which I would like to share with you today. Some of these are just staples of their respective summers which cause those memories to come flooding back, others just tend to have some intangible summer-y feel. Sit back, crack a brew and enjoy:

The Beatles - "Here Comes the Sun"



The night after a tip drill (keep reading if you don't get that yet), there's nothing like a summer sunrise and hungover morning like some George Harrison. Perfect for this time of year, this song reminds us of the warmth to come after the dark, shitty winter months (also foreshadowing the band's break up). It's a restrained, relaxed song best for those lazy summer days in between the Pop Chaos. Enjoy this 41 - year old song with Scotch blended the same year. Or maybe more recently, I don't care.

Sublime - "Badfish"



There's a lot of good summer Sublime songs but I think "Badfish" is the most tropical. In fact, almost all of Sublime's most popular songs were released in the Summer Season, and this one from '92 is no different. It's a classic chill-on-the-beach track with a mellow drawn out rhythm. Sublime is such a party band, any of their music should be an instant drinking throwback. Put this track on at the beach or chillin' on the porch grillin' some lunch with some cold Coronas. Classy.

The Allman Brothers Band - "Jessica"



This is the only video on YouTube to feature the entire Album version...pretty sweet stuff. Anywho, this is such an instant Lazy Summer Afternoon chill song. Its upbeat tempo and slow build lets it linger and permeate its joy-causing for just long enough to be lost in that Summer Sunny Haze. Wonderful. It was released the same summer as "Tequila Sunrise" (More on that one later), what a time to be alive. Best enjoyed with a nice tall cool Budweiser. Long live Southern Rock.

Black Eyed Peas - "I Gotta Feeling"



My ire for this song knows no bounds. Still, it's a good summer song. This is your late afternoon / early evening, get-pumped-for-a-night-of-summer-mayhem song and that is nothing to take lightly. This song was all over Summer of '09 and as stupid as this is I am actually grateful that this knocked out the much stupider "Boom Boom Pow" from King of Summer Jam 2009. It does have a good summer beat and if you're down in the winter dumparoos, this song should remind you of how fun last summer was and the hope for more ridiculous this time around. Best served with a steady steam of Captain Morgan pregame cocktails.

The Mighty Mighty Bosstones - The Impression That I Get



I'm not exactly sure what it is about this song that screams Summer to me. I think it's some of the upbeat Ska or maybe the Summer of '97 Nostalgia or something else entirely. Either way, this is a great Late to Mid-Evening song to be catered to with Landshark poured over a chilled glass with limes a plenty.

Nelly - Hot in Herre



Flash back to the Summer of '02 and in place of Black Eyed Peas garbage we had this. One of the sexiest videos of all time and one of the most overplayed songs of all time, Nelly's "Hot in Herre" is a must listen for anyone gearing up for summer. I mean, what other season is too hot to keep your clothes on? Fall? Winter? Please. Those are cold seasons. This video is awesome. Black people partying, hot chicks that are too hot to keep their clothes on going crazy everywhere. Almost as good as "Tip Drill." Also as easy it is to find an uncensored "Trip Drill" could not find an uncensored "Hot in Herre," so enjoy in its purest Radio-Only form. Enjoy this at night in the club with some Olde English. Err...make that some Dos Equis.

The Eagles - "Tequila Sunrise"



Here's a flashback far gone to the Summer of '73. A more literal ode to the Hangover than "Here Comes the Sun," "Tequila Sunrise" to me serves the same purpose. Almost ore perfect for droopy campfire nights than eponymous mornings, any song mentioning a favourite Mexican drink belongs on this list. Alternate this song with Jimmy Buffet while drinking alternating shots of Jose and Margaritas full of El Toro. See also, Cypress Hill version. Enjoy your summer.