When Summer’s a Bummer

Between this summer’s relentless rain and suffocating humidity, my face melts off daily and I’m in a piss-poor mood. What’s a girl to do? Stick head in freezer, sit in front of fan and crank up these tunes. Presenting Wittyburg’s Summer Playlist:

1. Big Pimpin’, Jay Z. Let’s get this started with a bang and ri-i-i-i-i-ide.
2. Cruel Summer, Ace of Base or Bananarama. I prefer the AoB version, but whichever tickles your pickle will be just fine.
3. Margaritaville, Jimmy Buffett. Classic, classic, classic. Best enjoyed on the rocks with salt.
4. Summertime, Kenny Chesney. Any song that mentions bare feet, bikinis and Yoo-hoo is a winner in my book.
5. All of the Lights, Kanye West. From the sick thumping beat to Kanye’s classic way with words, this is my latest iPod fave for summer workouts.
6. Boys of Summer, Don Henley or The Ataris. I love both versions and will happily raise a glass to these boiz.
7. Summertime, Sublime. The livin’s easy in LBC (Long Beach County), and the boys of Sublime are just too cool.
8. Tonight, Tonight, Hot Chelle Rae. I can’t get enough of this upbeat hook and melody. Currently obsessed!
9. Summer Girl, Jessica Andrews. Her bumper sticker reads, “Drink till he’s cute.” Hello, life motto.
10. Hot in Herre, Nelly. You can put a Band-Aid on my face anytime, Cornell Haynes, Jr.
11. Summer Nights, Rascal Flatts. I may or not be biased with the Daytona reference … but it’s still a great tune.
12. Summer of ’69, Bryan Adams. It’s the quintessential light-rock song that you know every (fifth) word to.
13. American Honey, Lady Antebellum. Sickly sweet lyrics and a heavenly voice make it a go-to.
14. Summer Girls, LFO. Those Lyte Funky Ones sure know how to drop a rhyme. Bonus points if you like ruby-red slippers and a bunch of trees; the great Larry Bird, jersey 33.
15. Steal My Sunshine, Len. The video was filmed in Daytona (biased again), but the beat is more infectious than Herpes Simplex I.
16. Blister in the Sun, Violent Femmes. Heard at every bar all summer long, you can’t argue with this classic. Now, what the lyrics are about … well, that’s debatable.

What songs keep your summer spirits up? Am I missing any that are must-haves when temperatures rise?

“I don’t know about this KAN-yee West guy, Frankie.”