What's Spinning: Summer Sirens
- Crystal Ellis
- Aug 16, 2024
- 4 min read
Updated: Apr 5
As I randomly rewatched the 30th Anniversary Tribute to Michael Jackson on YouTube, I was reminded that one of The King of Pop’s emotions-turned-iconic 21st-century GIFs originated from watching Shaggy perform his 2001 smash-hit, “It Wasn’t Me.”
I never related to an expression about loving music more than the “I love this song!” GIF. When you love a song, you know from the first beat drop that it’s time to get up and dance. Doesn’t matter if it’s corny, catchy, or cunty- we all have our unique perspectives and motivators to make us groove out. I wanted to show love to a few of this year’s summer bops that make me go:
If [THAT SONG] has a million fans, then I'm one of them.
If [THAT SONG] has one fan, then I'm THAT ONE.
If [THAT SONG] has no fans, that means I'm dead.
Hate edging? Scroll down to hear these songs and other hand-picked 2024 bops on CS’ Spotify Playlist! (Sorry Apple Music bbs….)
Megan is continuing to ride the wave of accumulating massive successes, from embodying thee hottest Hormone Monster in the 7th season of Big Mouth to headlining her first national sold-out tour. Megan is finally having the “Hot Girl Summer” she’s deserved since receiving judicial justice for Tory ‘Lamez’s violent assault against her, coupled with a viciously public smear campaign.
Her latest self-titled album, Megan, celebrates the internal growth she’s made through the rough times, and when you think about a reliable friend that’s always there when you need it the most, it should be your own damn pussy! “I love my pussy, and my pussy love me” is an affirming self-love mantra for fems who could win Gold (+ break a personal record) in the “Downstairs DJ Olympics!” Masturbation anthems aren’t new, but have they been this relatable to the ways hot, Black, bisexual, and nerdy women explore self-pleasure? Arguably, no! #WorldFemaleOrgasmDay falls on August 8th (8/8), and it’s no coincidence that the vulva is a portal to infinite worlds; its powerful energy is accessible to us from just the strokes of a freshly manicured hand, which Megan understands so, so well.
The re-emergence of raves, particularly ones founded by queer, Black, and Latine artist collectives, has quickly reclaimed popularity over outdated and culturally-sanitized nightlife clubs. The era of strict dress codes, “pretty-privilege” guestlists, and bottle service minimums serve no purpose within rave culture because, once again, outsiders and “undesirables” set the trends for popular culture to follow.
Named one of Pitchfork’s 50 best albums of 2023, sultry ambient-pop singer Kelela dropped RAVEN- her highly anticipated sophomore album. However, in my opinion, Kelela, RAVEN, and RAVE:N, The Remixes elevate the standard for remix projects across all music genres. The sonic-world-building electronic mixes feature fresh domestic and international talents, along with reimagined tracks from long-time artistic collaborators, such as Kaytranada and LSDXOXO. RAVE:N’s lead single, “Contact- Karen Nyame KG Remix” sends the body and spirit on an immersive, deep-house journey toward the heavens, but the lyrics are firmly grounded in pursuit of the high one experiences at a rave. Let the echoes of her voice wash away all the problems in your life, while the heartbeat of the bass brings you back to the gift of the present.
Kel-Aliens stand up!
Nothing like a sample from Nina Sky’s “Move Ya Body” to bring out the Pop Nostalgia we millennials have been yearning for! I will not go on a tangent about the creative-less samples we’re currently hearing newer and younger music artists use for unearned clout; however, Kehlani’s producers knew better than to copy/paste “Move Ya Body,” but fashion it into a queer club anthem for 2024. “I definitely thought it was fun, I like the beat,” (said in Sheree Whitfield's voice) but I also love hearing how sensual games are played between strangers who are aching to maximize their time together on the dancefloor.
Shortly after Charlie’s newest album brat painted the virtual world slime-neon green, she added more bonus tracks to feel unstoppable while pumpin’ down your average metropolitan sidewalk or to the next gym fitness machine. “Guess,” from the extended 3-track-treat feels like a new anthem just waiting to be embedded in the Gays’ brains for Pride Season and beyond.
“Guess” feels like a conversation so many sexy-as-f**k non-binary, trans*, and gender-expansive queers have when you know that they know there’s more to them than meets the eye. For my fellow pansexuals looking for lust in the club, it really doesn’t matter what’s going on “down there”. This song’s for Real Eaters ONLY; the ones who love pleasing, teasing, and eating it all; The O.N.S., “discreet,” and N.S.A’s who just wanna serve their partner(s) for the night, and take the Walk of Pride to the Lyft waiting to whisk them home.
Tinashe is a well-rounded, seasoned artist who makes her mainstream breakout moment(s) look effortless, but long-time fans know how committed she is to perfecting her craft by singing, songwriting, and dancing her ass off. After killing her Coachella debut this past spring, her single “Nasty” got the extra push from funny viral TikTok video dubs to get more streams and keep folks talking. However, its dubiously simple beat and the catchy hook’s gleeful admission of nastiness kept me “coming back” long after its virality waned. Since its release, she’s dropped a wide range of “Nasty” remixes featuring the likes of #CertifiedFreakMatcher, Chloe Bailey, and New Jersey’s finest DJ, UNIIQU3. I can’t wait to see our BB/ANG3L breakthrough into Urban Radio charts and get the flowers she truly deserves.
Keep the pool party jumpin’ and listen to our Summer Sirens Playlist below!
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