Music Roundup: Summer Hits

Ten Summer Jams from the Quail Bell Crew

By Joanna Patzig

I asked the writers at Quail Bell Magazine what they are listening to this summer. Here is an eclectic list of our favorite summer tunes in no particular order. Enjoy the music, and let us know your favorite summer songs in the comments!

1. Soulmate by Lizzo (explicit)
   

Lizzo is the talented, hilarious, and body positive, inspiration that may define all of 2019. Soulmate is powerful bop, but all of the songs from her album Cuz I Love You belong on this list, as shown by the fact that multiple Quail Bell contributors suggested Lizzo!
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2.   "You should see me in a crown" by Billie Eilish ​

Billie Eilish’s creepy, thrilling music is the perfect balance to summertime sweetness. You should see me in a crown is a refreshingly dark and sultry banger that will haunt you. Our executive editor Gretchen Gales recommended this song as well as “bad guy” by Eilish - another spooky good song.

3.     Jet Black (feat. Brandy) by Anderson .Paak (explicit)

Anderson .Paak's latest album Ventura has been the soundtrack to a lot of car trips for me this summer, for good reason. Jet Black really embodies summer with piano baseline and steamy lyrics. Wait for the chorus - Brandy’s idyllic vocals are so infectious.

4.      Evelyn by Kim Tillman and Silent Films

​I hadn’t heard this artist before Jessica Reidy, a Quail Bell contributor, suggested it, and they are so good! Evelyn is a dark rock ballad full of powerful chord and vocal moments, and poignant lyrics. If you’re struggling with a crush this Gemini season, this song is for you.

5.      Mister (feat. 21 Savage) by Young Nudy, Pierre Bourne, 21 Savage (explicit)

This song is the perfect pace for summer, it’s super chill and immediate at the same time. Young Nudy is a rising hip hop artist from Atlanta whose last album has collaborations with Playboi Carti, Pierre Bourne, and Lil Uzi Vert and more.

6.        Love Yourself by Sufjan Stevens

This isn’t a self love anthem or power ballad that you might expect to find on a list of summer songs. It’s soft and ethereal at first, but when the horns come in it becomes an intimate celebration of self love and confidence.

7.       I Wanna Keep Yr Dog by the illuminati hotties

My fellow intern Ryan Brunt described this song as “peak summer” and it totally is. It has a carefree and beach pop/punk kind of sound, with solid upbeat power chords that make it a hit.

8.       Flower Moon (feat. Steve Lacy) by Vampire Weekend

This song has an unusual structure, and I’m all about it. Steve Lacy (who you may know from the Internet) collaborated with Vampire Weekend on their last album Father of The Bride, and the result is super chill and summery. Just sit back and enjoy Steve Lacy and Vampire Weekend crooning about “coca-cola and red wine.”

9.        Cattails by Big Thief

Big Thief is one of my favorite bands for their emotionally sensitive lyrics and artful compositions. Cattails is a feel good folk song that takes me back to summer traveling and hanging out on the river. It’s a quiet song with equal joy and sadness where Adrienne Lanker sings “With the windows wide by your side, and you don’t need to know why when you cry.”

10.       All American Girls by Sister Sledge

Finally, while most of this list are contemporary songs, I would be remiss if I didn’t include a classic 80’s dance number. This is the kind of song they play at bowling alleys and roller rinks, and what’s more summer than that? Enjoy this classic girl power throwback from the killer Sister Sledge.

​​Want more of our summer picks? Let us know in the comments!