'Song of the Summer' is honor many artists should avoid

Summer is nearly here, although judging by the late-spring weather we’ve had it doesn’t seem like it. With summer comes the prerequisite “Song of the Summer,” an annual song that serves as the soundtrack for whatever summer it’s popular.
Last year it was Kid Rock’s “All Summer Long,” a song that mashed Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Sweet Home Alabama” and Warren Zevon’s “Werewolves of London” together in a completely unoriginal but purely enjoyable way.
The summer before the “Song of the Summer” was Rihanna’s “Umbrella,” a song I managed to completely avoid until the following summer but which was a big hit with nearly everyone else.
Other past hits that have become the “Song of the Summer” have included M.C. Hammer’s “U Can’t Touch This” in 1990, DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince’s (Will Smith) “Summertime” in 1991, The Bayside Boys’ “Macarena” in 1996, The Baha Men’s “Who Let the Dogs Out?” in 1998, Sisqo’s “Thong Song” in 2000 and the Black Eyed Peas’ “Where is the Love?” in 2003.
For the most part, though, I avoid the “Song of the Summer” on purpose, for a number of reasons.
Usually, the song, which is almost always determined by radio popularity, is a novelty song that is the artist’s one and only hit. There are exceptions to this rule, such as Kid Rock and the Black Eyed Peas, but for the most part the song becomes popular for an odd reason that resonates with the public.
For example, most people think of Hammer’s baggy pants and the entourage he danced with when they hear “U Can’t Touch This.” His entourage ultimately bankrupted him, even though the song made millions of dollars for him. The song, which freely samples Rick James’ much better “Super Freak,” hasn’t withstood the test of time, except on a nostalgic level.
“Macarena” became popular because of the crazy dance that was associated with it. To this day, it’s still a popular hit at weddings because drunk people like to prove to everybody they are masters at the dance. Good for them.
And “Who Let the Dogs Out?” was a hit mainly for the dog barks that followed the title phrase. Quick, name another song by The Baha Men, and if you say “Macarena” you’d be wrong.
“Thong Song.” A song about women’s underwear – that doesn’t smell of novelty at all.
I also attempt to avoid the “Song of the Summer” because I know that it will be one I’ll hear one thousand times in my lifetime, even by trying to avoid it.
I never want to hear “Who Let the Dogs Out?” again, but I couldn’t avoid it this past weekend while watching “The Hangover” and the song was featured in the soundtrack. I also can’t avoid it at weddings or other occasions where someone feels the need to poison peoples’ minds with it.
I also try to avoid the “Song of the Summer” for fear of actually liking it, and then buying the artist’s album it’s on, only to find out I wasted my money.
I bought the Black Eyed Peas album that featured “Where is the Love?” and then discovered the rest of the album didn’t sound anything like that song. I listened to it a few times, and threw it out years later when trying to make my large CD collection more manageable.
What will the 2009’s “Song of the Summer” be? A quick glance at the Billboard’s Top 100 chart reveals the Black Eyed Peas are No. 1 with a song called “Boom Boom Pow” (nice title), although that’s been popular for awhile now, so it probably came out too early for the summer.
Someone with the ridiculous name of Lady GaGa has a big hit with “Poker Face,” a song I’ve never heard and hope I never do. She’s on the cover of the current issue of Rolling Stone as the “Hot Artist” of the year, which gives her a little credibility but not much.
Personally, I’m a rock fan, so past rock songs that have become the “Song of the Summer” have resonated well with me, such as “All Summer Long” last year, Def Leppard’s “Pour Some Sugar on Me” in 1988, and Jimmy Eat World’s “The Middle” in 2002.
Maybe rock fans will get lucky this year and Kings of Leon’s new single, “Notion,” will become this summer’s anthem. That’s a song I wouldn’t mind hearing a thousand times.