It's another Summer Monday, so of course it's time to recount the hottest Summer Jams of the week. Now, to be sure, we've been all over the place this year. We've got some nice doses of country, pop, hip-hop, and rock all sprinkled in all over the place. As Independence Day has come and gone, how has this year's Jams helped us cool down and celebrate this great nation?
Hot Jam of the Week: "Sweater Weather" by The Neighbourhood
This song is a bit old, but it had a pretty big week this week. It's also not that great, but it's the closest Rock Track that's going to threaten "Radioactive" any time soon. It's kind of catchy in a background sort of way, but I can't see it lighting up any time soon. Like Fall Out Boy, of course.
Shave It All: "We Can't Stop" by Miley Cyrus
It seems that every chick pop song this summer is just a party song, and Miley's about the best one. She's done a great job shedding her Disney Girl image lately, although I'm not sure anyone actually cares that much. Still, good for her that she's already got a bit more than "Achy Breaky Heart" to her name. This song's suitable enough to have a nice summer, but I can't see it getting much hotter.
Funkadelic: "Treasure" by Bruno Mars
This may be one of the more positive tracks on this list, and I love the sheer funky homage to the 70s that lil' Bruno has created here. As far as dude pop crooners go, Bruno's the man and this is one of the more listenable songs he's ever put out. It hasn't caught on that much, yet, but it's still fairly new. It could go places.
Brick by Brick: "Lego House" by Ed Sheeran
This song isn't quite great, but it is super mellow to the point of being wienery. It's kind of getting to be everywhere, though, so whatever. It's also fairly forgettable, especially considering how much better Phillip Phillips is at doing the same kind of schtick. As soon as a couple singles from Jack Johnson's new album drop, we'll also not be caring any more about Sheeran.
The Night Away: "Get Lucky" by Daft Punk ft. Pharrell
Why not add some dance music to the list already filled with wuss rock and chick pop? "Get Lucky" wasn't nearly as ubiquitous this week, but it's still one of the bigger and better true dance hits in years, although it may be more appropriately categorized as a funk song along with "Treasure." Either way, it can stay. And it doesn't even really have a video yet.
Across the Rio: "The Way" by Ariana Grande ft. Mac Miller
After hanging out for a while this track suddenly blew up a little bit this week. I used to defend Mac Miller from people who called him a douche because I genuinely dug his tracks, but his show has corrected my viewpoints. He is a huge douche and can't add much to this track which Ariana already makes pretty damn good.
Get Beats Pill: "Blurred Lines" by Robin Thicke ft. T.I. and Pharrell
Has this ever happened before? Has an artist recreated his or her own music video to become a commercial instead? It's just a small example of how much this people can sell out. I still don't really buy Thicke's explanation of the chauvinism in the video that they're all married so it's OK and more of a parody. It remains one of the more popular summer songs, though, because its catchiness is totally cray cray.
On a More Homosexual Note: "Same Love" by Mackelmore & Ryan Lewis ft. Mary Lambert
After the super-hetero "Blurred Lines," it's fitting to cap this week with an ode to love and acceptance of all sexual beliefs with "Same Love." This song really took off this week and seemed to be everywhere. It's a great song with a great message, even if it's not really a typical summer song. After Carly Rae's Maybe Boyfriend turned gay last year, anything can happen. The best part is, though, that a song like this is even getting the kind of airplay it has - that's a pretty good sign of progress. It's also fitting that this is as hot as it is a week after DOMA was shot down.
Next week...
Jay-Z dropped Magna Carta...Holy Grail today, seeming in an effort to see which one, him or Kanye has the smallest, humblest ego. No word on a hot single yet, but we'll be looking to see what happens with that. Like I said earlier, I'm also looking to Jack Johnson, who crafts some of the best smooth jams that fit perfectly with a chill Summer sunset. His album From Here to Now to You drops in September, but we'll see how the promotional single "I Got You" lands. Bon voyage, campers!
Hot Jam of the Week: "Sweater Weather" by The Neighbourhood
This song is a bit old, but it had a pretty big week this week. It's also not that great, but it's the closest Rock Track that's going to threaten "Radioactive" any time soon. It's kind of catchy in a background sort of way, but I can't see it lighting up any time soon. Like Fall Out Boy, of course.
Shave It All: "We Can't Stop" by Miley Cyrus
It seems that every chick pop song this summer is just a party song, and Miley's about the best one. She's done a great job shedding her Disney Girl image lately, although I'm not sure anyone actually cares that much. Still, good for her that she's already got a bit more than "Achy Breaky Heart" to her name. This song's suitable enough to have a nice summer, but I can't see it getting much hotter.
Funkadelic: "Treasure" by Bruno Mars
This may be one of the more positive tracks on this list, and I love the sheer funky homage to the 70s that lil' Bruno has created here. As far as dude pop crooners go, Bruno's the man and this is one of the more listenable songs he's ever put out. It hasn't caught on that much, yet, but it's still fairly new. It could go places.
Brick by Brick: "Lego House" by Ed Sheeran
This song isn't quite great, but it is super mellow to the point of being wienery. It's kind of getting to be everywhere, though, so whatever. It's also fairly forgettable, especially considering how much better Phillip Phillips is at doing the same kind of schtick. As soon as a couple singles from Jack Johnson's new album drop, we'll also not be caring any more about Sheeran.
The Night Away: "Get Lucky" by Daft Punk ft. Pharrell
Why not add some dance music to the list already filled with wuss rock and chick pop? "Get Lucky" wasn't nearly as ubiquitous this week, but it's still one of the bigger and better true dance hits in years, although it may be more appropriately categorized as a funk song along with "Treasure." Either way, it can stay. And it doesn't even really have a video yet.
Across the Rio: "The Way" by Ariana Grande ft. Mac Miller
After hanging out for a while this track suddenly blew up a little bit this week. I used to defend Mac Miller from people who called him a douche because I genuinely dug his tracks, but his show has corrected my viewpoints. He is a huge douche and can't add much to this track which Ariana already makes pretty damn good.
Get Beats Pill: "Blurred Lines" by Robin Thicke ft. T.I. and Pharrell
Has this ever happened before? Has an artist recreated his or her own music video to become a commercial instead? It's just a small example of how much this people can sell out. I still don't really buy Thicke's explanation of the chauvinism in the video that they're all married so it's OK and more of a parody. It remains one of the more popular summer songs, though, because its catchiness is totally cray cray.
On a More Homosexual Note: "Same Love" by Mackelmore & Ryan Lewis ft. Mary Lambert
After the super-hetero "Blurred Lines," it's fitting to cap this week with an ode to love and acceptance of all sexual beliefs with "Same Love." This song really took off this week and seemed to be everywhere. It's a great song with a great message, even if it's not really a typical summer song. After Carly Rae's Maybe Boyfriend turned gay last year, anything can happen. The best part is, though, that a song like this is even getting the kind of airplay it has - that's a pretty good sign of progress. It's also fitting that this is as hot as it is a week after DOMA was shot down.
Next week...
Jay-Z dropped Magna Carta...Holy Grail today, seeming in an effort to see which one, him or Kanye has the smallest, humblest ego. No word on a hot single yet, but we'll be looking to see what happens with that. Like I said earlier, I'm also looking to Jack Johnson, who crafts some of the best smooth jams that fit perfectly with a chill Summer sunset. His album From Here to Now to You drops in September, but we'll see how the promotional single "I Got You" lands. Bon voyage, campers!
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