http://cptv.vo.llnwd.net/o2/ypmwebcontent/Chion/Colin%20McEnroe%20Show%2008-05-2011.mp3
What makes a summer song?
Joan Holliday says two things: heat and joy. The Internet has sort of informally agreed Katy Perry's Last Friday Night is the 2011 song of the summer, but our panelists weren't so sure.
It's certianly true the song of the summer is NOT the best song released in the vicinity of one given summer. If it were otherwise, the song of the summer of 1989 would be "Here Comes Your Man" by the Pixies instead "Right Here Waiting" by Richard Marx.
I know. A little shudder there, right? The song of the summer -- and I admit, that was an especially loathsome example -- may not even be something you like very much.
In fact, if you're uncertain about what the song of the summer was, probably you're inserting your own preferences. I liked Cee-Lo's unmentionable hit from last summer so much better than Katy Perry's "California Gurls" I persuaded myself that the former was the song of the summer when it really was the latter.
I may have done the same thing in 1995 with Seal' "Kiss From A Rose," which spoke to me more deeply than TLC's "Waterfalls," which producer Patrick Skahill says really owned that season.
What do you think is the 2011 song of the summer? Leave your comments below, e-mail colin@wnpr.org or Tweet us @wnprcolin.
In the meantime, have a listen to our show and check out the music videos for some of the nominees:
Adele, "Rolling In The Deep"
Blake Shelton, “Honey Bee”
Bruno Mars, "The Lazy Song”
Katie Perry, "Last Friday Night"
Foster the People, “Pumped Up Kicks”
Lady Gaga with Clarence Clemmons, "Edge of Glory"
LMFAO, "Party Rock Anthem"
L’il Wayne, “How to Love”
Pitbull featuring Ne Yo, "Give Me Everything"
Wiz Khalifa & Snoop Dogg, "Young Wild & Free"
