If you live in the Midwestern, Eastern and Southern United States, you are likely either in the midst of, or just finished up one of the worst heatwaves in recent history. My current residence, Baltimore, just broke a temperature record that’s been on the books since the 1880s. When my family and I went to the Tigers vs. Orioles game earlier this month, even my parents, two of the most obsessive baseball fans in the universe, couldn’t stay outside for the whole game. I was the only one in our party who did, and I sustained a nasty sunburn for it.
Normally when the mercury is climbing in Baltimore, I make some quip about how as a native Michigander I’m used to “hot” meaning in the 80s (Fahrenheit) and can’t handle the summers here. But I checked the weather in Detroit on those super-hot days, and it was just as bad! So, in honor of the ridiculously high temperatures, I decided to make a heat-themed playlist. If you’re burning up under the relentless sun, hopefully these sweet tracks will cool you down.
via climate101withjason.blogspot.com
STREAM THE PLAYLIST ON 8TRACKS HERE
(Love Is Like a) Heatwave – Martha and the Vandellas
Blister in the Sun – Violent Femmes
Fire – The Jimi Hendrix Experience
This Fire – Franz Ferdinand
A Question of Temperature – Balloon Farm
White Light/White Heat – The Velvet Underground
London’s Burning – The Clash
Serpentine Fire – Earth, Wind & Fire
Bushfire – The B-52’s
Summer in the City – The Lovin’ Spoonful
Long Hot Summer Night – The Jimi Hendrix Experience
Hot Fun in the Summertime – Sly and the Family Stone
Burning Down the House – Talking Heads
Heatpocalypse 2012 from Autostraddle on 8tracks.
Add your favorite sweltering world tracks in the comments below!
Want to suggest a playlist theme? Hit Crystal up on Formspring and someone from the team will make it for you.
Baltimoreans unite! It’s supposed to get up to 104 today. Excuse me while I go weep in my barely-air-conditioned office.
104 plus our lovely Maryland humidity sounds like a wonderful way for the world to remind me that the A/c in my car doesn’t work.
“Hot in Here” by Nelly or gtfo tbh
I did consider it for this playlist, but it didn’t really seem to fit.
“Take off all your clothes” is ALWAYS my answer to anyone who says “Oh wow it’s hot in here!”
Conveniently, my place doesn’t have A/C. Sup ladies.
Perhaps the cover of said song by JOY…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kwuIIsDjgZg
Thank god I live in the “comfortable zone”, but its still way too hot!
Fiya by tUnE-yArDs also!
Jamming so hard at my ten millionth day of 100 in Denver. xoxo to this list!
It’s ‘only’ 85 F out here where I live, but I still feel too warm to function.
I would like to add Hot Hot Hot by Buster Poindexter (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eiZdygKwe-8) and Hot In The City by Billy Idol (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_brVtFvZQfw).
80s galore, y’all !
I love that this starts with a Motown song, in true Michigander style.
also related: http://8tracks.com/fiction_suit/driving-in-hot-weather
Hell yeah! When I went to Camden Yards for the aforementioned baseball game, they played a lot of Motown and it made me happy – I wonder if it was intentionally there as a treat for the Tiger fans in attendance.
come to sin by bananafishbones
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMINapwaeiw
remember it from a commercial back in the late 90s. gosh I’m getting old :D
Alaska has been cool and rainy all summer staying in the mid to upper 50’s. I’d love to trade some of that weather with anyone who’s interested.
Great playlist! I love me some Franz Ferdinand.
I would gladly trade with you. I can’t wait for the summer to end…
Awesome playlist! I really appreciate The Lovin Spoonful on here.
It gets up to 113 during a normal summer where I live. Thank god it’s not humid anyway.
On the opposite end of the temperature scale, I’d recommend Rasputina’s “1816, The Year Without A Summer” as a sure-fire cure to wishing for a real-world reenactment of The Day After Tomorrow.
Hot Like Fire – Aaliyah
its not heat related, but it’s for the autostraddle orioles fans!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=spfCR7g21vE
and to my fellow straddlers in the heat zone: hydrate and take care of yourselves!!!!!
Tropical Ice Land by the Fiery Furnaces!!
“Fire” by the Ohio Players: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmZU8Q-f9wA
Yell Fire – Michael Franti and Spearhead
Fire With Fire- Scissor Sisters
Cat People (Putting Out Fire)- David Bowie
Into the Sun- Sean Lennon
Horse With No Name- America
Summer in the City- Regina Spektor
living in florida I suppose I should have these songs on repeat all year.