Friday Top 5: Heat-Related Songs

5. “Burning Love” – Elvis

You may not have known that this track does not originally belong to Mr. Elvis Presley; he just made it famous.  I don’t know anyone else who could pull off singing “ a hunka hunka” in a song.  “I feel my temperature rising, help me I’m flaming, I must be a hundred and nine”…pretty much how I feel being outdoors between the hours of 11am-8pm.

4. “Summer In The City” – The Lovin’ Spoonfull

Ok, it’s the only song without a descriptive word relating to the hot temperature.  However, summer in this city = hot as hell anyway.  They even featured a series of car horns and jackhammer sounds in order to give the impression of the city in the summertime.  “All around, people looking half dead, walking on the sidewalk, hotter than a match head”…wait, is this a song about zombies? Jk.

3. “Too Darn Hot” – Ella Fitzgerald

Cole Porter originally wrote this song in 1948, but I love Ella’s cover.

“Much prefers his love-y dove-y to court, when the temperature is low, but when the thermometer goes ‘way up, and the weather is sizzling hot, mister pants for romance is not”.  Well, it’s true. It’s not fun snuggling up to your loved one whilst drenched in sweat.  Sometimes it’s just way too hot for lovin’.

2. “The Heat is On” – Glenn Frey

This song hails from the wonderful soundtrack of Beverly Hills Cop.  It’s the only 80s song I felt worth including due to its awesome music video.  I know it’s more about ‘being on the move’, but when the thermometer hits 108, the heat is on.  Gotta love that saxophone riff, which was made popular again thanks to Katy Perry, Gaga and the Sexy Sax Man.

1. “(Love is Like a) Heatwave” – Martha and the Vandellas

“Just like a heatwave, burning in my heart, can’t keep from cryin’, it’s tearing me apart.” Yep, the heat makes me cry too.  This desire-crazed song has such an awesome pop introduction, and makes your skin turn hot with yearning.  These ladies were known for a harder R&B sound compared to other Mo-town successes.  It’s been remixed and remade many times. (For an updated version check out “Heatwave” by Chiddy Bang feat. Mac Miller)