Sunshine soundtrack // 10 songs that scream 90s summertime

Oh, the 90s gave good summer song. Maybe it was the wave of head swaying, fringe-flopping-in-face, bouncy Britpop (we’re looking at YOU, Alex from Blur) or maybe it was the chav-tastic RnB choons or the anthemic RAWK songs or the fact that it seemed to be sunny FOREVER back then, but they just don’t make summer songs like they used to.

Here are ten of Le Blow’s ultimate 90s summer songs – for more, swing by my Spotify playlist of the same name.

Mariah Carey – Dreamlover (July 1993)

Does it get more 90s summer than a smiling (skinny) Mariah Carey in denim shorts and a knotted shirt (and in wearing-old-skool-sneakers-NOT-wedge-heels SHOCKER), frolicking in a field? No. No, it does not.

Take That – Pray (July 1993)

Don’t tell me you haven’t ever tried to recreate Take That’s peek-a-boo dance moves whilst pissed-up with your girl pals amongst some crumbling architecture in The Algarve? What I hadn’t noticed first time round is that each of the band members gets with a gal relating to one of the four elements in the vid – Air (Mark), Fire (Jason), Earth (Robbie) and Water (Howard) – except for tubby Gaz. Not only that, he has to stay in black and white cos it’s more flattering. LOL.

Peter Andre – Mysterious Girl (June 1996)

Look, I’m not saying I LIKE this song (nor even liked it at the time, for that matter) but the video (and Andre’s greasy 90s curtains hairstyle) surely SCREAMS 90s summer? Job done.

Fugees – Killing Me Softly (June 1996)

Aside from Skinner and Baddiel’s Three Lions for a certain low-key football tournament, this was THE song of the summer. In fact, it was the biggest-selling record of the YEAR. They used to be on Top of the Pops every week. Altogether now: ONE TIME! TWO TIME! THREE TIIIIIIIIIIMES A LADY! Er, wait. What?

Ocean Colour Scene – The Day We Caught the Train (June 1996)

In fact, looking back, 1996 was the BEST SUMMER EVER. As the top YouTube comment surmises:

Always takes me back to that long summer of 96, what a year – it seemed to be hot and sunny for about 9 months…

This was the summer I was in a band, had found football and permanently wore Adidas Gazelles and flares. I HAD ARRIVED.

Finley Quaye – Sunday Shining (September 1997)

Ahhhh, YEAH! This is tune is more summery than stealing tropical Calippos from the local shop with your school pals. Er wait, if you’re reading, mum, I NEVER did that. As one the top YouTube comment says:

15 years old and fresher than Febreze!

Stardust – Music Sounds Better With You (August 1998)

Oh blimes. Without going into too much detail *cough* surfing instructor *cough* this reminds me of sordid summer romances. Young teen love aside, this is a CHOON, and perfect for 90s summer nostalgia. Evidently, my crush thought his LIFE was better without me and dumped me before the clocks went back *sigh* I’m totally over it, though. NO, REALLY I AM YOU BASTARD *wails uncontrollably*

Sun Is Shining – Bob Marley vs. Funkstar De Luxe (August 1999)

This summer was when the roads of Britain got that bit more dangerous: I’d just passed my driving test and was busy tearing up da streetz in my pimped-up ride (a clapped out Vauxhall Nova) and blasting this out on my cassette stereo, pink fluffy dice a-swinging in time from the rear-view mirror. And what is summer without a birrov Bob Marley, eh?

New Radicals – You Get What You Give (May 1999)

Ah, yes. This was the summer I permanently wore a bucket hat like Alex’s in the video (though I was trying to be more Liam Gallagher, but anyway) and had this song on repeat for the school summer trip to Italy. This song isn’t just a 90s summer song; this song IS the 90s.

DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince – Summertime (June 1991)

As if I could leave this off the list? ironically, Will Smith was getting all nostalgic about summer time in 1991, as we are now. HOW IS THIS SONG 22 YEARS OLD?!!

Share your 90s summer songs with us @le_blow.