Jun 21, 2022
5 Reasons Why House Music Is The Beat of the Summer
Oooooh, yes. Dance, funk, and disco are back in a big way this summer.
Thank Beyoncé, Drake, Calvin Harris, Lizzo, and Love Island for driving us all to the dancefloor for a hot summer.
Let’s review.
1.
Beyoncé just dropped her first solo single since 2016 and it’s funky as hell. This dance track, called “Break My Soul”, comes from the star producers behind “Single Ladies”. It heavily samples Robin S’s 1993 hit “Show Me Love” and rails on the bad vibes of a 9-to-5.
And damn, it is absolutely the first song you play when you hop in the car on an 83-degree weekday after your last work meeting, speeding to the closest rooftop bar with friends for an icy cocktail.
2.
But three days before Beyoncé released that first song from her upcoming album Renaissance, Drake randomly dropped his own house music album titled Honestly, Nevermind. And it was a shocker, as he forayed into a genre he hadn’t really explored much of before, save for a few collabs with various DJs.
WaPo called it an album of “ecstatic repetition” and a “52-minute astral projection into clubland.” But don’t worry, his feelings aren’t hurt if you’re not a fan (yet). “It’s all good if you don’t get it yet. It’s all good,” said Drake.
3.
All I’ve been talking about for months is Calvin Harris’ Funk Wav Bounces Vol. II. So where is it?! It’s time to drop! The first single, “Potion” with Dua Lipa and Young Thug, dudded hard. Sorry. Lazy lyrics, awkward rap addition, and formulaic nothingness.
But I understand the balance the Scottish DJ’s trying to strike—maintaining the vibes and rhythms of Vol. I while grabbing at whatever originality he can.
4.
Speaking of singles, Lizzo’s “About Damn Time” remains an underrated, certified bop. Think retro, old-school R&B across a disco beat that’ll splash the strobe light all over what could’ve been a boring club night. It’s confident with a killer groove, and naturally has a catchy chorus that you’ll be happy to have stuck in your head.
5.
It’s not just musicians influencing our summer music. Love Island UK, a very important passion of mine, shapes the charts for the two months it airs every year. Artists find their big break when songs are featured, and dramatic moments made even more memorable with on-the-nose tracks playing in the background.
Obviously, I’ve missed a lot. But that’s my top 5. Let me know your thoughts.
Is house/disco/funk the music trend of the summer? What other artists and moments of culture will influence our Spotify playlists over the next couple of months?
Cheers!
Casey
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