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September 7, 2004
Where is the Summer Hit?
Now that summer has ended and we can no longer wear white in respectable company, I am compelled to ask: Where was this year's Totally Ubiquitous Summer Hit? Every summer for the past few years, there has been one song that is impossible to avoid, that you hear pulsing out of car stereos, clothing store PA systems, in bars, clubs, and grocery stores. Even if you never listen to the radio or watch MTV, you will be unable to escape The Song. In 2001, (the first year I started noticing the phenomenon of the Totally Ubiquitous Summer Hit, or TUSH) that song was "Get Ur Freak On" by Missy Elliot. In 2002, it was "Hot in Herre" by Nelly. Last year it was "Crazy in Love" by Beyonce. Each of these singles came out in the early part of the summer, and within weeks were absolutely everywhere. You'll also notice that they are all very accessible hybrids of pop, rap, and R&B.
Which brings us to this year. Where is our Summer Hit? I can think of no clear song that everyone on the planet has heard a thousand times, and--this is a key identifier of the TUSH--everybody kind of likes. Regardless of how high-brow your musical tastes may be, you will on some level be powerless to resist the TUSH. The winter and spring had a few obvious ubiquitous hits, both of which have long since crested, including "Milkshake" and please please no don't make me listen to it again "Hey Ya". The closest thing I can come up with for this year's TUSH is "Yeah!" by Usher (featuring Lil Jon and Ludacris). I have heard this song a billion times, despite not listening to the radio or MTV, which seems to suggest the inescapability of a true Summer Hit. However, the single was released in March, so was already a bit stale by the time summer came around.
The void of the TUSH 2004 seems to have left DJs and corporate in-store music programmers with no choice other than replaying TUSHes of years past. I've heard both "Hot in Herre" and "Crazy in Love" over and over this summer, which I suppose is preferable to some lesser song that came out more recently but didn't quite attain TUSH status, like that Ashlee Simpson song. It is possible that I am shamefully out of touch, and have simply missed this year's Summer Hit, but I don't think so. If you feel certain that there is an undeniable TUSH 2004, please let us know in the Comments. Serious contenders only.
Comments
Take Me Out by Franz Ferdinand
else
Meat Hook Sodomy by Cannibal Corpse
Posted by: Coin at September 7, 2004 4:19 PM
I live in Berlin. Here in Europe, there is a clear TUSH. It is called 'dragostea din tei' and not one, but two (indentical) versions have been planted at the top of the charts since the summer began. (The original version is by O-zone and the cover is by Haiducii) I hear it everywhere I go. Even if I'm not near a radio or tv, I hear little kids singing it. It is a huge hit all over Europe. In fact, I was going to link to the O-zone website, but they had exceeded their bandwidth!
Posted by: terrified at September 7, 2004 6:04 PM
I agree with Terrified.
Ich liebe dich, O-Zone!
Ik hou van jou, O-Zone!
Yo te amo, O-Zone!
Je t'aime, O-Zone!
Posted by: Pamsterdam at September 8, 2004 7:59 AM
I can't believe I didn't think of 'Dragostea Din Tei' myself. I've been obsessed with that song for months now. Those mind-arrestingly catchy Moldovans! Between the efforts of Trashrock and myself, I expect that O-Zone will have transformed the US pop scene by the autumn equinox.
Posted by: Amy at September 8, 2004 9:40 AM
It should have been "Hey Ya" but it was released way too soon.
Posted by: Ted at September 8, 2004 4:42 PM
I submit for your consideration...
1. Lean Back by Fat Joe and The Terror Squad
2. Sunshine by Lil Flip
3. Why? by Jadakiss
Yeah doesn't count. It was a hit well before the summer summer summertime.
I'll just sit back and unwind.
Posted by: Jason at September 7, 2004 3:13 PM