Just in time for the warm weather, we compile the best sun-drenched tunes since 1991, in Bigger Than the Sound. By James Montgomery Photo: Universal Think back to every awesome/romantic/borderline-insane thing you’ve ever done during the summer. Chances are, there was music playing when you did it. And it was probably playing very, very loudly. That’s because, perhaps more than any other time of the year, summer is practically made for music. It’s when we pump up, strip down, make terrible decisions and basically have the times of our lives. And, somewhat fittingly, music is always there with us. It’s the soundtrack to our every hookup, breakdown and tanning mishap. It’s what’s in the air at the beach, the time-share or the club (well, either that or Axe body spray). It’s part of our memories, along with that terrible tattoo you got down in Panama City. So for a song to become a summer jam, it’s got to be great (and slightly stupid, but that’s a column for another day). And since the official kickoff of summer 2010 is right around the corner, I’ve decided to compile a list of the greatest of the great — the best, brightest, dumbest, funnest, lightest, loosest, freakiest, goofiest summer songs of all time. All of them are special, all of them are classics. And yes, I spent waaay too much time working on this. What can I say? I freaking love the summer. Anyway, rather than just prattle on, I reached out to some of my favorite writers — all of whom are certified summer-jam experts, btw — and had them contribute their favorites too. The only thing I told them was that the cutoff point was 1991 (that’s when Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince released their epochal “Summertime,” after all), and then I sat back and watched the brilliance flood my inbox. Here’s what they submitted, along with my picks. It’s a definitive list, as submitted by some of the best in the business. These are the Greatest Summer Jams of the Modern Era. Amos Barshad, New York magazine’s Vulture blog The Notorious B.I.G., “Hypnotize” : He died a month before it was officially released, and I think it was clear then it’d be awhile until someone else would be making this level of lyrically brilliant, commercially viable hip-hop. Also, the mermaid fish tank in the video was awesome. Young Money, “Every Girl” : Too raunchy to actually take the Song of the Summer crown, but hung around for a while last season, probably because the sentiment is so universal. Rihanna, “Umbrella” : If you don’t like “Umbrella,” do us all a favor and move back to the USSR. Third Eye Blind, “Semi-Charmed Life” : Stephan Jenkins believes in the sand beneath his toes, and so do I. Adam Stewart, MTV News house-music expert/ dude from New Jersey Ti
