Heliophiles Unite!

Songs about the sun and for the summer

Photo by Riccardo Pitzalis on Unsplash

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Good Morning!

Today we’re listening to songs about the sun and summer soundtracks

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Friday posts are generally lighter, so this was originally going to be a happy solstice/hurray for everything sort of post.

Except right now, everything’s on fire.

It’s not news that Canadian wildfires are destroying everything in their wake north of the border and air quality south of it. As I type this, the Air Quality Index here is 251. Before today, I didn’t know it could go that high. Looking out my window, it looks foggy even though it’s technically sunny out.

I work at an airport, and the lights overlooking the ramp stay on all day, thinking it’s still nighttime. In this part of the world, the wind is usually trying to find new ways to kill us, but this is new ground. Mother Nature is pissed.

This was taken midday yesterday. 0/10 do not recommend. Photo by me.

Working outside right now is…tough. In aviation, the meteorology code for smoke is “fu.” There’s a metaphor in there somewhere.

Summer is usually my time to shine (sorry, not sorry). I’m a shameless heliophile, spending as much time as possible outside. This past week the vibe has been unsettling and a little punchy. It turns out that being able to taste the air is not fun.

I miss the sun.

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I first put this playlist together a couple of years ago as part of a writing challenge on another platform. The prompt was “Songs about the sun.” Some of these are pretty obvious picks. Some connections are much more tenuous. And some only make sense in my head. It’s been reworked and evolved since I first put it together.

Hopefully, your air is clear, and you find—or rediscover— a new favorite or two here.

If you have a “sun song” or track that only makes sense during the summer, share it below!

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Listen:

Thanks for being here,

Kevin—

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