It’s cold here. At the end of January in Canada, summer isn’t even in sight.
A few years ago, I did a whole music post honouring the ukulele around this time because it is just about the most summery instrument I can think of.
This week, Helen’s mind was clearly in a similar place as she has challenged us to honour the sun.
That brought back memories of one of my favourite tapes from childhood. It was a mixed tape called Sun Jammin’:
Image source here
You can click on the image source to see the 18 summer fun hits.
At the time, I bought if for Amazulu’s 1986 hit Montego Bay. There was this girl in my class in Grade 6 who did a dance to it and I liked it so much I never forgot it. So when this album came out a few years later in 1991, well, I was sold.
But I loved the whole album.
Among other things, it was my first introduction to Bob Marley.
My choice today is Stir it Up. Written in 1967, it was released in 1972 on Johnny Nash’s I Can See Clearly Now album. It was Marley’s first hit outside of Jamaica.
You can find the full lyrics at A-Z Lyrics. But a sample gives you the drift:
Stir it up; little darlin’, stir it up.
Come on, baby.
Stir it up; little darlin’, stir it up.It’s been a long, long time, yeah!
Since I got you on my mind.
And now you are here
I say, it’s so clear
To see what we could do, baby
Just me and you.Come on and stir it up; little darlin’, stir it up.
It’s just such a relaxed, lay-back and let it flow, summer song.
But why, of all the summer fun songs on that album, did I pick that one?
Well, years later my husband and I happened to go on honeymoon to Jamaica.
They sure are proud of Bob Marley’s success there and his songs were basically the soundtrack for our holiday there.
So now when I hear Bob Marley, I think of my husband, all the hope, happiness and stuff tied up in new marriage, and a relaxed week in the sun.
In the cold of winter, I could do a lot worse for daydreaming.
What’s your favourite summer song?
Check out what others have shared on the hop by clicking over to Helen’s blog or share your own in the comments.
Warm wishes until next time!
Baby Gates Down 
Bob Marley is for sure a summer listen. This song definitely brings up images of sun and warmth. My fiance and I are considering Jamaica for our honeymoon, so thanks for sharing this. It makes me think that’s exactly where we need to go! 🙂
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Congrats on your engagement! Jamaica was a great choice for our honeymoon. As a point, we were robbed at our resort though (cash from our room – my husband forgot to lock the 2nd floor patio and they got in that way) – so do a bit of checking re: crime and watch your valuables. It didn’t ruin our trip though. It was beautiful – we’d go back.
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Thank you! We’ve been engaged for almost a year but the wedding keeps getting postponed. I’m determined to be married by the end of the year. 🙂
We will definitely do our research. Jamaica is one of the places we’ve talked bout, but might not be the one we end up choosing. Thanks for the heads up. 🙂
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I suspect you would find stories like ours at many all inclusives regardless of where. Happy researching!
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My favorite is Summertime by Kenny Chesney. It came up on my Mp3 player the first year I was dating my ex. We were on our way home from my family’s time share. The chorus basically is what was happening at that time:
And it’s two bare feet on the dashboard
Young love and an old Ford
Cheap shades and a tattoo
And a Yoo-Hoo bottle on the floorboard
My ex had a Ford pickup (not an old one), we were discussing whether I loved him or not, I had my bare feet on the dashboard, my sunglasses were not cheap, but I do have 3 tattoos, and I don’t drink Yoo-Hoo.
Every time I hear it, it takes me back to that happier time. We’re not together anymore, but I still love the song.
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Oh thank you much for sharing this song – I hadn’t heard it, went and listened and it is so delightfully summer! I love your description of your moment with it, thank you for sharing it. I did a whole post on “songs for my exes” a while back so I get still liking the song.
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There are too many summer songs for me to list! They would range from a lot of reggae classics to pop hits and R&B jams. Yes, I NEED to get away from winter, if only for a week. You have made me think I need to start looking into this now.
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Haha! Let me know what you come up with – either musically or as a flight destination 🙂
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I love the happiness Bob and his songs always brings. Sounds like some lovely memories for you. I feel like I am rubbing it in, every time I tell people my final week of January, 2017 was spent in sunny Mexico at a writing workshop. I do have a song though and may add it a week late. I was traveling back here to frigid Canada last Sunday while you guys were focusing on the sun. I do miss its warmth now that it is so cold and I am right back in the middle of it all. Thanks for this one. Cheered me up a little from missing my Mexican writing oasis.
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Lucky you for getting away for some of January to sunny Mexico! Sounds like the perfect place for a writing workshop in January. Hope you are re-adjusting to the weather here without too much difficulty.
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