Daft Punk’s “Get Lucky” and Robin Thicke’s “Blurred Lines” are close, but not quite there. But if it’s not those songs, what could it be?
Every summer, like clockwork, we get a song that stands out as The Song of the Summer. It's the pop song you can't escape, the feel-good tune that's blaring from every car stereo and played at every club and cookout. Most of the time, there's a clear consensus on what that song is — there is no doubt that Beyoncé's "Crazy in Love" owned 2003, or that Lil Wayne's "A Milli" dominated 2008, or that Carly Rae Jepsen's "Call Me Maybe" was unequivocally it last year. But sometimes we have a lot of great options, and it's more subjective. Take 1999, for example: It was the summer of Ricky Martin's "Livin' La Vida Loca," Backstreet Boys' "I Want It That Way," Christina Aguilera's "Genie in a Bottle," Destiny's Child's "Bills, Bills, Bills," LEN's "Steal My Sunshine," and Smash Mouth's "All Star" all at once.
It's pretty obvious when the Song of the Summer has arrived — usually it's a done deal by the beginning of July — and that's why this summer is a bit strange. Right now, the most obvious contender for the crown is Daft Punk and Pharrell's "Get Lucky" — it's a huge radio hit, it's selling very well, it has inspired viral parodies, and it will definitely be played at most parties you will attend through September. But all the same, it feels just slightly off: Too mellow, maybe? It's groovy and fun, but conspicuously lacking the bombast and urgency of a classic summer hit. It sounds like a song of the summer, but not the song of the summer.
Source: youtube.com
The second-best contender is Robin Thicke's "Blurred Lines." It's been around a little longer than "Get Lucky" and has more traction on the radio; it's one of the biggest songs of the year so far, no question. (It also features Pharrell on guest vocals, which guarantees that you can't listen to pop radio for more than a half hour without hearing his voice right now.) But just like "Get Lucky," it's just a touch too chill — definitely not a bad quality for summertime music, but it doesn't quite scratch that summer-jam itch. Also, for a song that is so popular, it hasn't yet inspired any notable memes or parodies. It occupies a similar space as Maroon 5's "Payphone" last year: a ubiquitous hit that has very little cultural impact.
