Hello everyone! We’re happy to introduce ourselves as the Lightning 100 Interns of Summer 2024 – Dylan Duffy, Natalie Smith, Zack Whisler, and Sydney Vaught. We can’t wait to contribute to this amazing team and we’ve only been met with welcoming arms. We thought what better way to introduce ourselves than sharing our summer anthems! The songs that make you spend all day outside, going to the beach, windows all the way down.
Dylan’s Pick: Childish Gambino – “Feels Like Summer”
When we decided on the summer theme, this song instantly came to mind. Released almost 4 years ago, “Feels Like Summer” comes off Childish Gambino’s summer EP entitled Summer Pack. I remember listening to it the day it came out, driving into downtown Chicago, blasting it the whole way. The song couldn’t feel any more summer.
Childish Gambino, the stage name for actor, singer, director, writer, and producer Donald Glover, provides imagery of a hot summer day, as the children run through the streets and the parents scream to slow down. The warm and summer soaking keyboards sound just like a lazy summer day and you can almost feel the summer oozing from the song. I mean, it is in the title. Also, the consistent theme between the lyrics and instrumental evokes a strong feeling of summer relaxation… Gambino executes it perfectly. Next time you’re in the car, put this song on and roll the windows down, it’ll be worth it.
Ultimately, there’s no better way to start off your summer than with this song. No matter what you’re doing, this song will transport you to summer and Childish Gambino truly makes the listener feel like summer.
Syd’s Pick: Próxima Parada – “So Many Ways to Get Downtown”
Hailing from San Luis Obpis, California, Próxima Prada has been pumping out lively, exciting tunes since early 2014. Over time they have amassed quite a following in the U.S. as well as Australia. However, I just recently discovered this band and their song “Must Have Been a Ghost”. Since then, I have had their whole discography on shuffle.
They have some of the craziest groove chemistry together I’ve seen from any band. They combine elements of soul, indie, and jazz music with bright jam-band licks, giving way to a genre all their own. Watching their live performances, you can see just how in tune they are together as a band and the fantastic musicianship they all possess. Their lead singer, Nick Larson, is incredible. His tone and annunciation are soulful, powerful, and electrifying to listen to.
“So Many Ways to Get Downtown” uses a beautiful bright guitar riff and piano to cut against a chugging bass line and crispy drum groove. The staccato melody meshed with funky low-end rhythm makes it impossible not to, at least, tap your foot when listening.
This song will continue to be on repeat for the rest of the summer for me, and I’m confident most of you will too after listening!
Zack’s Pick: Bruce Springsteen – “Sherry Darling”
Whenever the local classic rock station starts playing Bruce Springsteen four times more than normal, I realize it’s summer and I’m already at the neighborhood pool, wearing a gold chain, and calling someone Jack (even if that’s not their name at all).
“The Boss” really needs no introduction but just in case you haven’t heard; Bruce Springsteen hails from Long Branch, NJ, he has released 21 studio albums, won 20 Grammy’s, and could probably beat you in a drag race down a dead-end downtown street.
“Sherry Darling” comes from 1980’s The River, which was Springsteen’s most commercially successful album at that point. This song sounds like rolling real slow down the main drag of town while scoping out the scene (that’s something he’d say right?). The saxophone screams to create that retro 50’s juke n’ jive sound that’s perfectly fit by The Boss’ melody. The whole band is in from the start and even provide all kinds of shouts and vocals to provide a crowded street-corner atmosphere.
The song chronicles Bruce’s relationship with Sherry, and things seem perfect…except for her tag-a-long mother. She’s unemployed, has big annoying feet, and is a massive yapper. Bruce just wants some time alone on a hot summer night with his girl, some beer, and a wide open highway. This song just sounds like a melting popsicle behind the school-yard, or a lawn chair in the shade with your best friends and some ice cold drinks. Arguably, the two songs following “Hungry Heart” make the perfect summer triple threat for the album, but The River is full of incredible summertime blacktop jams.
Take a listen to “Sherry Darling” below! (There’s no official music video, so enjoy this live performance!)
Natalie’s Pick: illuminati hotties – “Pool Hopping”
illuminati hotties “Pool Hopping” was an obvious choice for me when picking my song of the summer. To be honest, it’s been my song of the summer for the past two summers.
This song introduced me to illuminati hotties and I instantly fell in love with their bubble grunge sound. They’ve become one of my top artists ever since. illuminati hotties is the project of producer Sarah Tudzin. The self proclaimed tenderpunk pioneer brings her iconic powerful vocals to the loud and fun sound that is illuminati hotties.
“Pool Hopping’ is bright and warm and is sure to put you in the summer mood. It’s all about new crushes, ice cream, and of course the pool. This tune is youthful and fun, and is sure to make you feel like a teenager having the best summer ever. It encapsulates everything summer is about.
Every summer without fail, this song will sneak its way back into my rotation. I’m sure that if you give this one a listen, you’ll find it the soundtrack to your summer as well. Check out the music video to feel the ultimate summer vibes.
