It’s way too hot, so we won’t waste many words on an introduction. Here’s your playlist for this hot summer.
Ella Fitzgerald: Too Darn Hot
Ella sums it up:“I’d like to sup with my baby tonight/Refill the cup with my baby tonight/But I ain’t up to my baby tonight/’Cause it’s too darn hot“. With every milliliter of sweat, physical closeness becomes a sheer impossibility. A fact we can all agree with and no wonder the song has been covered so often and used by Adidas for a commercial.
Snail Mail – Heatwave
Ever since the hot summers started, this song has been on my playlist every June/July. “Heatwave, nothin’ to do“ – because the heat wears your head down and makes your thoughts slow. And of course Heatwave is also about unrequited love, queer love:“I’m feeling low/I’m not into sometimes.” Lindsey Jordan was 18 years old when this recording was made.
Bronski Beat – Heatwave
Same song name, different band: Bronski Beat still resonates with a lot of expectation and optimism.“We’re heading for a summer heatwave“, yes, but it had a completely different sound in the 80s. In 2022, the chorus takes on a completely different meaning. “Yay, heatwave” has become “Oh, climate change”.
People Under The Stairs – The Effects of Climate Change on Densely Populated Areas
Anyone familiar with Spike Lee’s Do The Right Thing will know how heat can quickly escalate into unpleasant confrontations. “Hundred degrees at midnight for the third day in a row/Nobody sleepin’ well and I can feel the tension growin'” and then:“Everybody’s windows open there’s not a moment of silence/Alcohol heatin’ frustration that’s increasing domestic violence/9-1-1 is overwhelmed, homie, guess you on your own/The hills are still on fire, I recommend you stay at home“.
Bruce Springsteen – I’m on Fire
Bruce, the car mechanic, is haunted. By the woman who will pick up the car tomorrow, by her red-painted fingernails, by the possibilities. “At night I’m waking with the sheets soaking wet/and a freight train running in the middle of my head“ – we feel it too, Bruce.
The Chromatics’ version has its own charm.
Childish Gambino – Feel like Summer
We may all be complaining, but by October at the latest we’ll be wishing for summer back in all its fascinating and unbearable facets. As Childish Gambino, Donald Glover captures this summer feeling more succinctly than anyone else in recent years. Don’t pretend, the first few notes will send a sweet shiver down your spine: “Every day is hotter than the one before.” The accompanying video features pretty much everyone who’s anyone in rap.
Nura – A lot to do
I always have a lot to do in midsummer too. “Because it’s going to be 30 degrees today, so don’t ask what I’m doing today.” A lot of things go wrong in German rap, but this one goes well.
Mobb Deep – Temperature’s Rising
For once, the third single from the debut album The Infamous was not produced by Havoc, but by Q-Tip. You can hear it in the smoothly placed sample by Patrice Rushen, which softens the relentless snare somewhat. The story behind the song is a real one and can be read on the Wikipedia page. The lyrics combine hopelessness and heightened adrenaline levels and offer a level of storytelling that has rarely been achieved in US rap.
Caroline Polachek – So Hot You’re Hurting My Feelings
If this heatwave doesn’t hurt your feelings, then you don’t have any left. Caroline sings about a lover who drives her to self-deprecation, but we think it translates quite well.
Read more: 5 places where you can escape the heat
This article was originally written by Anton Dechand for Secret Berlin.