By Jennifer Jordan

As the summer heat knocks on our doors, refusing to believe that we aren’t home, we find ourselves forced to let it in. Summer, no matter which way you spin it, is one hot time. Luckily, there are songs for every season – from songs about snow to songs about wind, the world is filled with music about matters of the weather – and songs to thwart high temperatures are no exception. The following is our list of best songs to beat the summer heat, songs to remind you, if even for the briefest of moments, that summer is merely seasonal.
I’m only Happy When it Rains: This 1995 hit by Garbage may have nothing to do with the weather, but it’s a song you just might find yourself identifying with during times of extreme heat. “I’m Only Happy When it Rains” is a song that is sung from the viewpoint of someone who is only happy when they actually aren’t. This song talks about misery and only being happy when the “night’s gone black” – things that we may all feel when we are sweating the days away.
(Sitting on) the Dock of the Bay: One of Otis Redding’s most memorable works, “(Sittin’ on) the Dock of the Bay” is a song that can’t help but garner the images of the cool ocean’s mist and a welcoming sea breeze in the heads of every listener. Released posthumously in 1968, after Redding died in a plane crash, “(Sittin’ on) the Dock of the Bay” further cemented Redding’s passion and soulful voice in musical history.
Baby its cold outside: So maybe it’s really not cold outside, but listening to this song may help you with your heat denial. “Baby, it’s Cold Outside” was written by Frank Loesser in 1944; he and his wife first performed the duet at a housewarming party. A song that tells the tale of a man trying to convince a woman to stay over, and a woman who is tempted, “Baby, it’s Cold Outside” was sold by Loesser to MGM in 1948. Since then, this song has been recorded by numerous artists, everyone from Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Jordan to Alan Cumming and Liza Minnelli.
Let it Snow: Okay, okay. It may seem weird listening to a Christmas Carol in the dead of summer, but “Let it Snow” gives you a momentary reprieve from high temperatures. It also gives you hope, hope that Mother Nature just might be listening and grant you your request. At the very least, the images of a snowy day and frightful weather shouldn’t make you any hotter, even if they don’t cool you off.
Heat Wave: When you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em. There is no better summer song to surrender to than this one. “Heat Wave,” often referred to as “(Love is like a) Heat Wave,” was a 1963 hit by the Motown group Martha and the Vandellas. Though this song is technically about a “burning” love, it is also recognized as a tune synonymous with hot weather that just won’t quit (yes, otherwise known as summertime).

Jennifer Jordan is a senior editor for http://iturbocharge.com.  Possessing an infatuation with pop culture – and a gift for stalking – she keeps up on the latest news of the musical world.

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