While there is a plethora of good music that is being produced today, sometimes the sound of old music is something that gives us that familiarity and comfort, which is especially necessary when wanting to relax in the summertime.
My parents always had music playing in our households and I remember my summer soundtracks being filled with the best of the previous three decades. But my dad especially made an effort to incorporate a lot of 70s music into the lineup, as this was the time when he experienced most of his youth. I think in part my appreciation comes from this exposure. Therefore, like my dad showed me, I will do the same. Here are 7 70s songs you should add into your summer mix!
ELO has to be one of my favorite 70s bands, as their material is just like nothing else I have ever heard and “Mr. Blue Sky” is no exception. While some may argue the track has been overused in movies, there is nothing like driving past the beach on a sunny day, windows down, with the song blasting on your speakers. Even the guitar solo after the first chorus has the fluidity to it like waves crashing along the ocean shore. This is a must-have in any summer mix!
Even though Christine Baranski does a fabulous cover in the movie Mamma Mia, the original “Does Your Mother Know” with the vocals of Benny Andersson still has to be one of my all-time favorites of ABBA’s. The whole song is very upbeat and I could imagine being a great dance song back in the day at any disco tech. Today I like it as a good cleaning tune or a fun song to sing and dance to when hanging out with my friends!
I remember listening to “I Wish” for the first time out in my backyard on a hot summer day in middle school, while my helping my dad with yard work. Instantly I was struck by the funky bass and use of horns. Wonder details his longing for simpler days, and especially now that I am in college it’s not hard to relate to his wish for these times as we are plagued with more and more responsibility with each passing year. The song will have you nodding your head and tapping your foot on the first listen!
This song has always been a guilty pleasure of mine. Perhaps one of the most recognizable disco songs of the 70s, the track is impossible to not make you want to dance in your seat. Plus we all know summer is a time to let go of the past year, and the song talks about moving on without looking back. So crank this track up, dance it out and let go of the past!
Listening to KC and the Sunshine band reminds me of being a little kid because my parents would always play their greatest hits album when I was growing up. Listening to “Boogie Shoes” puts me automatically in a good mood and makes me want to just be in a room full of the people I love, dancing like Elaine Benes from Seinfeld!
The unique percussion of this song and a strong bass line keep up the rhythm that you can feel take over you. The song is perfect for any party and is bound to have everyone up shaking their groove things. Truly one of my favorite songs to walk down Commonwealth Ave to any day of the week! So go ahead and add this track to your summer mix!
“Rock The Boat” is another track that I can remember always hearing playing in my kitchen growing up. The song is full love infused lyrics that are not only fun to sing to, but comforting as well. While slightly slower in pace than the previous tracks listed, this song just has such an uplifting vibe that cannot possibly be fully explained but only experienced. Also, the aquatic imagery fits in perfectly with any summer day!
I have always been a big fan of older music, as I believe there each song from a previous decade acts as a little time capsule into what that era may have been like. Some people may reject music of the past thinking it’s not “cool”, but a lot of past music can be found in current traces of music today. So next time you’re feeling fresh out of tunes add these into your mix. Who knows, you may find something you like even better than music on the radio today!
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