Seasonal Style: Summer '24

    What is it about summer that is so magical and mystical? It's downright romantic. Artists dedicate whole albums to this season probably more than any other. So let's get into this Seasonal Style and talk summer songs and albums: 

Songs:

1. Luke Combs' "Fast Car"

    Odds are you probably know "Fast Car" whether it's Tracy Chapman's original or Luke Combs' explosive cover that dominated the summer last year. (Remember that Taylor Swift vs Luke Combs battle on the charts?) I love Combs' version. Everything about it. His voice is so emotive and expressive. It makes for a nostalgic summer. Plus with country's dominance here lately, you can't go wrong. But. I mean. Who knows summer better than us southerners?

2. Katy Perry's "Waking Up In Vegas"

    I love Perry's obvious summer smashes like "California Gurls" and "Teenage Dream," but I also really love "Waking Up In Vegas." It doesn't get enough attention, so here it is, people! It's upbeat, it's fun, and it's perfect for those car rides with the windows down and singalongs. 

3. Lana Del Rey's Summertime Sadness

    Del Rey's special brand of Americana and nostalgia is perfect for any and every summer. The woman is pretty much the embodiment of the Fourth of July. There's a reason Born to Die has charted for so long. 

4. Aran Tomoko's "Body to Body"

    This song is so fun and sensual. It's upbeat nature makes it perfect for the summer heat! Be expecting an article about the album this song is from this month!

5. DANCE EARTH PARTY's "Anuenue"

    Everything about "Anuenue" screams summer vacation. It's just a beautiful song from the first bird chirp to the last beat. It was kinda overlooked, but it's definitely on my summer playlist!

6. Wasuta's "Tapioca Milk Tea"

    Idols definitely make the best summer songs, so I'm going to close out our 6 summer songs with "Tapioca Milk Tea." It's sunny and fun. And not to mention, very cute.

Albums: 

1. Beyoncé's Lemonade

    Not only does it share its title with the delicious summer-time beverage, but Lemonade lit up summer of 2016. It's since gone on to become a summer staple ever since! There's so much to like here including the hit singles "Formation" and "Sorry." So much of the album just screams summer!

2. The Carters' Everything Is Love

    I hesitated to feature two Beyoncé projects on the same list, but I recently dove back into her discography. Needless to say, I truly discovered Everything Is Love, and I've not been the same since. It's high art. 

3. Bruce Springsteen's Born in the U.S.A

    That iconic cover art speaks for itself.

4. Hamasaki Ayumi's RAINBOW

    The "H" single alone makes this a summer album, but Hamasaki ensured this by adding other delectables such as "WE WISH," "Real Me," and "+."

5. RADWIMPS' Kimi no Na wa.

    This soundtrack and its single "Zenzenzense" were unstoppable back in the summer of 2016. RADWIMPS were practically inescapable and for good reason!

6. Amuro Namie's FEEL

    Amuro has many albums that could be on a summer list. Look forward to that in the future, but I chose 2013's FEEL because she dropped this album with little promotion and with only one proper single taken from it. Plus it has "Hands On Me" and "Heaven" on it. So what more could your summer want?

    I hope everyone has the best summer ever! Listen to lots of music, be outside a lot, and do a lot of cool activities!