Galantis – Peanut Butter Jelly

Just kidding. It’s not THAT “Peanut Butter Jelly” song. 😉

Last Sunday, I caught the premiere of Taylor Swift’s new video for “Bad Blood (feat. Kendrick Lamar)“. I dig T-Swizzle and dig K-dot even harder, and actually think the remix is an improvement on the original. But that video…

Yes, it’s stylish, action-packed, chock full of cameos and even features Taylor as a redhead, but somehow…meh. It strikes me as the sort of video that was a lot more fun to make than it is to watch.

Then, this morning, I had a horrifying thought…what if “Bad Blood” becomes the song of the summer?

NO. This cannot be. And it’s not too late to change it!

Without further ado, I’d like to nominate my candidate for song of the summer:

“Peanut Butter Jelly”.

As you listen to the joyous, melodic stylings of Sweden’s own Galantis, comprised of Christian “Bloodshy” Karlsson of Miike Snow and Bloodshy & Avant and Linus Eklöw, a.k.a. Style of Eye, allow me to explain.

The song of the summer should be upbeat, happy, and lighthearted. The most recent examples are Iggy Azalea’s “Fancy” (Summer 2014), a fun little slice of braggadocio with a Clueless-themed video, Robin Thicke’s flirty-verging-on-seductive “Blurred Lines” (2013), Carly Rae Jepsen’s irresistibly peppy puppy love song “Call Me Maybe” (2012) and LMFAO’s “Party Rock Anthem”, which is, well, THE party anthem. The list goes on.

I bet you recall most of these tunes fondly, even if you got totally sick of them at the time. They were the soundtrack to your summertime fun. Driving around with all the windows down, lounging at the shore, laughing with your friends in your shorts and flip-flops, maybe with a summery cocktail in hand…these songs are just right for these occasions.

Imagine, if you will, any of the above scenarios. Feel that fresh air and sunshine on your face, the aroma of fresh-cut grass, the ocean, or the lively scent of summer in the city. Oh yes, a whole season that’s a holiday is here, and the good times have arrived!

AND BABY NOW WE’VE GOT BAAAAAD BLOOD. YOU KNOW IT USED TO BE MAAAAAD LOVE. SO TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT YOU’VE DOOOONE.

Yeah, just no, amirite?

Now this song. THIS SONG.

From those first crazy little electro sounds at second ONE, it grabs you. The lyrics make no sense other than being maybe vaguely suggestive (although the song would not be inappropriate at a five-year-old’s birthday party), but they’re so much FUN! Mostly, it’s that house beat and those retro string samples that won’t quit, and don’t quit, the entire way through.

Stereogum tells me that the guys who make up Galantis are the masterminds behind Icona Pop’s “I Love It’ (which would have been a better SotS 2014 if it didn’t peak so early, imo) and Britney’s “Toxic”. This song has the same bright, shimmery, energetic vibe.

A song called “Peanut Butter Jelly” pretty much has to be quirky, and it is. I wonder if it’ll be too quirky for pop radio, but fervently hope that it’ll be that oddball track that catches on bigtime, like Lorde’s “Royals” or Foster the People’s “Pumped Up Kicks”.

You can sing along to it after one listen. It’ll make you smile, and it’ll make you dance. It’s even got one of those air horns. Ladies and gentlemen, it’s got what it takes to be song of the summer! Let’s make it happen!

IT’S PEANUT BUTTER JELLY TIME!!!!

Bottom line: “Peanut Butter Jelly” will make you want to spread your peanut butter jelly all over the dance floor this summer. Whatever that means.

Carly Rae Jepsen – Call Me Maybe

I refuse to post this video. Nope. I’ve definitely been rockin’ out (“poppin’ out” just doesn’t sound right) to this track for a few months now. But I have no way of proving it, so one would probably assume I heard about it from the Biebs. Dammit. Should have posted weeks ago.

For those unfamiliar with Canada’s airwaves, Canadian radio has these content requirements that require stations to play a certain percentage of music from Canadian artists. (Lots of other countries have these requirements, but because U.S.-originating music is so dominant worldwide, the U.S. does not.) One might imagine that these requirements could allow otherwise subpar music to get airplay. Surely, this is true sometimes, though I can’t think of a good example off the top of my head. But it offers Canadian artists a greater opportunity for exposure in their country – and sometimes, even across the border.

“Call Me Maybe” could be easily dismissed as one of those songs, but I think it deserves to do some traveling abroad. As Bieber and friends demonstrate, it’s a fun little song, good for dancing around one’s apartment and such.

I also love that Ms. Jepsen is bringing being ghostly pale back; on the single cover, her white socks practically blend into her legs.

The lyrical content is a bit bubblegum – throwing wishes in a well and the like – not to mention contradictory  (really, you weren’t looking for this? But you just said you’d trade your soul for a wish, pennies and dimes for a kiss!). Yet I’m in love with the shy, blushing hesitation implied by the word “maybe”. I know that feel, Carly Rae. Of course, I’m assuming it’s more than just a placeholder word used to rhyme with “baby”. But another line in the chorus supports my interpretation: “It’s hard to look right at you baby”. Yeah Carly, I get you.

Oh, and Ms. Jepsen’s an alumna of Canadian Idol! I don’t know a face on that panel, but I think they’re right on the money about her! Girl’s got potential. Watch out.