Summer Song Selections Pt. I

I have put this altogether onboard a train to the French Riviera, as summer has not yet begun, with the days still carrying the lingering chill of spring. Nonetheless I feel inspired to share with you all a selection of songs for the summer season. Music, poetry and art holds significant meaning for me and has always had profound impact on me. Some of these tracks were on repeat for me all throughout last summer, and some will be part of my discerning playlist all this summer. I hope you discover a musical gem in this selection that resonates with you and becomes part of your collection...

Mr. Tambourine Man, by Bob Dylan

This song is beautifully written and expressed! Bob Dylan is a favorite lyricist of mine, and spoken word poet in his folksy way.

I love it when he goes on his sing-song tangents. My favorite within Mr. tambourine Man goes, "... And take me disappearing through the smoke rings of my mind... Down the foggy ruins of time, far past the frozen leaves... The haunted, frightened trees, out to the windy beach... Far from the twisted reach of crazy sorrow... Yes, to dance beneath the damning sky with one hand waving free... Silhouetted by the sea, circled by the circus sands... With all memory and fate driven deep beneath the waves... Let me forget about today until tomorrow." Beautiful! Expressed by him with such sincerity and earnestness, couldn't you cry? Have we not all been there at some point or another, needing a Mr. Tambourine Man to play us all a song? I have.

It is no such mystery to me as to why Dylan had received a Nobel Prize in literature for his songwriting; not merely a reflection of his ability to craft memorable melodies, but rather an acknowledgement of the profound impact of his lyrics.

Aladdin Sane

Lady Grinning Soul, by David Bowie

The song brilliantly begins with a commanding piano then, "... She'll come, she'll go... She'll lay belief on you... Skin sweet with musky oil... The lady from another grinning soul..."

Doesn't this song belong in an electrifying Quentin Tarantino film scene, if not already? Can't you picture that?

My favorite verse within the song captures a multifarious experience of intimacy that intertwines physicality and emotional depth, "... And when the clothes are strewn, don't be afrai-ai-aid of the room... Touch the fullness of her breast... Feel the love of her caress... She will be your living end..." The opening line, "... And when the clothes are strewn," paints a picture of a moment that is both chaotic and intimate. The disarray of clothing suggests an impromptu encounter, one that is filled with passion and a sense of abandon. This imagery invites us listeners to see a space that is not just physical but also emotional -- a room where barriers are broken down, and true selves revealed. I believe the mention of clothes scattered about symbolizes a shedding of societal norms and expectations, allowing for a raw and genuine connection to flourish. Then the line "don't be afrai-ai-aid of the room" serves as the important aide-memoire to embrace letting down our barriers. It encourages us to cast aside all fears and apprehensions in the pursuit of opening up to another person fully.

There are times I listen to this song over and over.

Yesterday (cover), by Marvin Gaye

I prefer this soul stirring cover to Paul McCartney's original, especially having an idea of the impassioned backstory. Marvin was more than likely singing about Janis -- the woman in and out of his life, seventeen years his junior who inspired some of his greatest works. They loved each other so much, both troubled individuals, that their intense connection had a way of becoming volatile in every sense. The love between them would cross the fine line turning to hate, then to love, and back to hate again. I find within the song he references her with his added use of 'little girl' -- "Oh, why did she have to go?.. I don't know! Tell ya, I don't know! The little girl wouldn't say..."

When I listen to this record, I can feel it -- his loss, anguish and regrets that permeate each note, all of it. We have all made past decisions which haunt us, things we wish we could reclaim and change. To me, that is why Gaye's cover is beautiful, serving as a poignant reflection of the human condition.

Close The Door, by Teddy Pendergrass

This is undoubtedly one of the most alluring songs ever, performed by a sexy man. This song exudes sensuality and soul, the perfect blend for lovemaking.

I'll close the door, provided you give me what I've been waiting for...

Bookends

A Hazy Shade of Winter, by Simon & Garfunkel

All throughout summer 2024, I listened to this brilliant song while traveling across Europe. Although the song title and lyrics refer to wintertime, I found the melody and lyrics ironically evoked the distinct feeling of summer.

Art Garfunkel and Paul Simon rank among my all-time favorite lyricists. Their lyrical craftsmanship is brilliant... The storytelling, reflective existential musings, the various interpretations found within a single meticulously crafted verse, the symbolism, the poetry, the artistry!

This song captivated me from the very first listen with its commanding, emphatic, harmoniously folksy beginning of... "Time, time, time..." I love that, brilliant.

Still, my favorite verse within this song goes... "Hang on to your hopes my friend... That's an easy thing to say, but if your hopes should pass away simply pretend that you can build them again... Look around... The grass is high, the fields are ripe, it's the springtime of my life." This verse speaks to me with every listen. There have been quite a few poignant times in my life where all my hopes had passed away, and I pretended I could build them again from brokenness until I actually did. Look around, the grass is still high, the fields are still ripe even after the autumn season. Just as the now ripened grass and fields, all your hardships will soon pass as your season changes for the better...

Love Her Madly, by The Doors

I am obsessed with the instrumentals in this song, and Jim Morrison's voice telling of this deliciously intoxicating yet toxic relationship with the woman we all at some point have loved madly!

Don't we love her face? Don't we love her ways? Don't we need her badly?

Au pays des merveilles de Juliet

Au pays des merveilles de Juliet, by Yves Simon

Au pays des merveilles de Juliet translates to In Juliet's Wonderland in English. The first time I heard the song was as I was disembarking from a French airline's plane summer 2024. The raw and rugged country instrumentals paired with Yves Simon's French coolness instantly caught my attention for all the right reasons.

I'll confess that I am not particularly fond of the lyrics when translated to English, nonetheless this song always sounds great.

Hotel California, by The Eagles

I would be remiss to put together a summer playlist, and not include Hotel California. This infamous song is quintessential badass. I need not state anything more.