It's another lazy Summer Monday, so it's time of course to recount the greatest, hottest jams of the week. It's really turning upside down this season as we close out July and get into our final Sunny Month. In just a few more weeks it will be Labor Day and our search for the steamiest Summer Jam will be at an end. In the meantime, enjoy this week's Winners:
Hot Jam of the Week: "Safe and Sound" by Capital Cities
This is a peppy song with a trippy video that adds a bit to the idea that the Summer of 2013 is truly the Summer of Funk. It's a fairly competent pop rock track that had a nice upsurging week, though it is a bit too bland to really break out at this point.
Shippin Across the Border: "Cruise (REMIX)" by Florida Georgia Line ft. Nelly
This track manages to stay alive because even though I'm not really hearing the actual song as much, I'm still hearing people everywhere sing and hum this jam. It would seem that this truly has had an influence in pop culture - everyone knows this damn song. And it's just gotten to the point where it's pretty irritating to listen to. As "Cruise" hits its nather, what does that portend for its chances as Jam King? It's caught on for sure, but there are just more loved options out there - even though everyone has heard of "Cruise," everyone kind of hates it.
Reflect This: "Mirrors" by Justin Timberlake
I have been somewhat avoiding "Mirrors" all summer, despite its consistently good Billboard rankings. I just never thought it really caught on or got all that much airplay. That changed this week, though - suddenly this jam was everywhere. JT has another terrible new single out, too, but nothing in the next couple weeks is going to match his "Suit & Tie" from earlier this year.
Vanishing: "Blurred Lines" by Robin Thicke ft. T.I. and Pharrell
This will go down as one of the more significant videos and songs of 2013 for sure, whether or not it's really the King of Summer will be another debate, even though it's got a damn good argument. Half thanks to the most infectious beat of 2013, half thanks to the smooth crooning of the Son of Alan Thicke, and just about all thanks to Emily Ratajkowski, this song, regardless of its rapey feel, is a cultural phenomenon. Considering the misogyny, that really is a bit of a shame.
Homo Much: "Same Love" by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis ft. Mary Lambert
Is that Arrested Development reference too obscure to the point of perceived homophobia? This is still a great song, and when contrasted with just about anything else on this list, deserves to be more prominent. It's hopefully a good sign of progressive change that this song is getting well known and wide airplay. It's hard to even fathom that homophobia could exist anymore - it's so widely accepted. Of course, I live in the North.
Like Kaiju Blue: "Radioactive" by Imagine Dragons
I can't believe this jam is still crawling and scratching its way towards cultural significance, but it's turned into one of the cooler hits of the year. I blame those big brash drum smacks and the surreal muppet video that really doesn't match the passion and intensity of the song at all. Well, it does actually, but muppet intensity just seems a strange juxtaposition. Who cares, this song rules.
Smiley Miley: "We Can't Stop" by Miley Cyrus
Miley could have put out a jam like Carly Rae Jepsen last year, or something else that would play well with her built in Disney Crowd Fanbase. Instead she's dropped one of the strangest videos with some of the least classy lyrics ever. I really want to see her go toe to toe with Ke$ha at this point, who narrowly missed appearing on the list this week. The fact that we're even mentioning Miley as a solid Ke$ha competitor should attest to her successful re-branding. Whether or not that re-branding will turn out to be a good move for Miley is another debate entirely, but for now, this is a solid summer jam.
Like Lionel Ritche: "Get Luck" by Daft Punk ft. Pharrell
We're finally giving the Robots the top spot on the week's Jam list, because this track really still can't go anywhere but up - and we're pumped about that. Considering how long his has been fuddling around here and how enjoyable this track remains, that's quite an achievement. This still can only really succeed even more, and as one of the smoother, nicer tracks around these days that can literally be played at any Summer occasion, this could have a late season run to take it all.
Next week...
It was regrettable to leave off "Treasure," but there were just so many other deserving candidates this week. Don't count Bruno out of the race yet, though. I was also considering Anna Kendrick's "Cups" which has flirted with the list for a long damn time. Finally, considering the premiere of Smurfs 2 (2013), will Britney Spears' "Ooh La La" come back here? I can't believe I really wrote that. No, no one above the age of three cares about the Smurfs.
Hot Jam of the Week: "Safe and Sound" by Capital Cities
This is a peppy song with a trippy video that adds a bit to the idea that the Summer of 2013 is truly the Summer of Funk. It's a fairly competent pop rock track that had a nice upsurging week, though it is a bit too bland to really break out at this point.
Shippin Across the Border: "Cruise (REMIX)" by Florida Georgia Line ft. Nelly
This track manages to stay alive because even though I'm not really hearing the actual song as much, I'm still hearing people everywhere sing and hum this jam. It would seem that this truly has had an influence in pop culture - everyone knows this damn song. And it's just gotten to the point where it's pretty irritating to listen to. As "Cruise" hits its nather, what does that portend for its chances as Jam King? It's caught on for sure, but there are just more loved options out there - even though everyone has heard of "Cruise," everyone kind of hates it.
Reflect This: "Mirrors" by Justin Timberlake
I have been somewhat avoiding "Mirrors" all summer, despite its consistently good Billboard rankings. I just never thought it really caught on or got all that much airplay. That changed this week, though - suddenly this jam was everywhere. JT has another terrible new single out, too, but nothing in the next couple weeks is going to match his "Suit & Tie" from earlier this year.
Vanishing: "Blurred Lines" by Robin Thicke ft. T.I. and Pharrell
This will go down as one of the more significant videos and songs of 2013 for sure, whether or not it's really the King of Summer will be another debate, even though it's got a damn good argument. Half thanks to the most infectious beat of 2013, half thanks to the smooth crooning of the Son of Alan Thicke, and just about all thanks to Emily Ratajkowski, this song, regardless of its rapey feel, is a cultural phenomenon. Considering the misogyny, that really is a bit of a shame.
Homo Much: "Same Love" by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis ft. Mary Lambert
Is that Arrested Development reference too obscure to the point of perceived homophobia? This is still a great song, and when contrasted with just about anything else on this list, deserves to be more prominent. It's hopefully a good sign of progressive change that this song is getting well known and wide airplay. It's hard to even fathom that homophobia could exist anymore - it's so widely accepted. Of course, I live in the North.
Like Kaiju Blue: "Radioactive" by Imagine Dragons
I can't believe this jam is still crawling and scratching its way towards cultural significance, but it's turned into one of the cooler hits of the year. I blame those big brash drum smacks and the surreal muppet video that really doesn't match the passion and intensity of the song at all. Well, it does actually, but muppet intensity just seems a strange juxtaposition. Who cares, this song rules.
Smiley Miley: "We Can't Stop" by Miley Cyrus
Miley could have put out a jam like Carly Rae Jepsen last year, or something else that would play well with her built in Disney Crowd Fanbase. Instead she's dropped one of the strangest videos with some of the least classy lyrics ever. I really want to see her go toe to toe with Ke$ha at this point, who narrowly missed appearing on the list this week. The fact that we're even mentioning Miley as a solid Ke$ha competitor should attest to her successful re-branding. Whether or not that re-branding will turn out to be a good move for Miley is another debate entirely, but for now, this is a solid summer jam.
Like Lionel Ritche: "Get Luck" by Daft Punk ft. Pharrell
We're finally giving the Robots the top spot on the week's Jam list, because this track really still can't go anywhere but up - and we're pumped about that. Considering how long his has been fuddling around here and how enjoyable this track remains, that's quite an achievement. This still can only really succeed even more, and as one of the smoother, nicer tracks around these days that can literally be played at any Summer occasion, this could have a late season run to take it all.
Next week...
It was regrettable to leave off "Treasure," but there were just so many other deserving candidates this week. Don't count Bruno out of the race yet, though. I was also considering Anna Kendrick's "Cups" which has flirted with the list for a long damn time. Finally, considering the premiere of Smurfs 2 (2013), will Britney Spears' "Ooh La La" come back here? I can't believe I really wrote that. No, no one above the age of three cares about the Smurfs.
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