The Rundown: Summer Jams

Last year, it was Umbrella ella-ella-eh-eh-eh.

Who could forget "Steal My Sunshine" and creepy, way-too-close brother and sister from the video?

Every year there is that song that is the soundtrack of the summer and since we haven't really had that song yet this year - at least as far as I know - why not look back at some classic, at least in my books.

All-Time Top Five Summer Songs

5. "Summer Girls" - LFO
Yeah, it's super cheesy and the fact that the group is called Lyte Funky Ones makes it even more horrible. All that being said, everyone knows the words to this song and was singing it (rapping it?) while cruising around town in '99. Best line? "There was a good man named Paul Revere / I feel much better baby when you're here." What the hell does Paul Revere have to do with picking up tourist chicks in the summer? Priceless.

4. "Summertime" - DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince
This one we've touched on before, as it made an appearance in Soundtrack of My Life a few weeks back now. Still to this day, I hear it and think of being a kid riding my BMX around the streets of Chatham, Ontario, trying to convince Jennie Bishop and Shannon DeWolff that I was the coolest kid the neighbourhood.

3. "Big Pimpin" - Jay-Z feat UGK
In 2000, Big Pimpin became the soundtrack of our Wednesday night ritual when me, Pauly, Tommy, Fisk, Stu, Irish, Cori and Dre would get together at the house, make some dinner and watch the first season of Survivor. At least two of us always did battle to see who could finish their Colt 45 first. And yes, we drank it from the brown paper bag it came it too. There isn't a more bouncy, summery jam in Jay-Z's catalogue than this one. Rest in Peace Pimp C.

2. "What I Got" - Sublime
If this song doesn't make you think of summer and hanging out drinking a few beers with your closest firends, I don't know what would. The really crap part of this song, of course, is that lead singer Bradley Nowell overdosed before the song and album came out. Still, the catchiness of this song and the memories it envokes for me reminds me of good times and really, that's what you want in a summer song.

1. "No Diggity" - Blackstreet
THIS IS THE JAM RIGHT HERE!
I remember when this song came out, seeing the video for the first time and instantly knowing that it was going to be the biggest song of the year. For the entire summer, every mixtape and CD we made featured this song. Hell, some of the mixtapes I still make now feature this song and I used to drop it unexpectedly to huge cheers every so often back in the Sha-Na-Na's days. An absolute classic.

What's on your list?