Episode 191: 2018 Summer Jams

Episode notes

Between the VMA’s and Yom Kippur, we’ve got our own version of the high holidays here at Pop Rocket: The SUMMER JAMS episode! We will anoint OR NOT anoint the title of Song of the Summer to the most banging artist of the past few months. And yes, the band is back together again. The full panel – Guy Branum, Karen Tongson, Wynter Mitchell (don’t forget) Rohrbaugh, and Margaret Wappler – put on their Grammy judge hats and measure up the best cuts from music makers this past season.

What criteria make a tune a summertime anthem? Is it the dance beat? The song’s ubiquity? The convertible factor? A dark city feeling? Does the magic of Cardi B’s “I Like It” rest solely on its sample of Peter Rodriquez’s I Like It Like That? Is Zedd, Marren Morris, Grey’s “The Middle” too much negotiation and not enough sex, love, and urgency? Find out which song made Silas get down like no one was watching and which panelist has a knack for converting jams into pet cat lullabies. Shout outs also go to honorable mentions and listeners’ suggestions that didn’t quite make the cut.

All Abouts

Margaret is all about Mandy Moore’s newly remodeled mid-century modern home in Pasadena.

Wynter is all about TV writer and producer Linda Bloodworth Thomason’s op-ed in The Hollywood Reporter where she channels a glowing fury and details the misogynistic bullying she faced from disgraced former CBS CEO Les Moonves. Les Moonves, Go fuck yourself!

Karen is all about the post-BBC reboot of The Great British Baking Show.

Guy is all about Cynthia Nixon’s appearance at the old school, crusty Brooklyn gay bar The Metropolitan before the New York Governor Primary.

With Guy Branum, Karen Tongson, Wynter Mitchell-Rohrbaugh, and Margaret Wappler.

Summer Jam Finalists:

Cardi B – I Like It

Zedd, Maren Morris, Grey – The Middle

Ariana Grande – R.E.M.

Maroon 5 – Girls Like You

Lizzo – Boys

Years & Years – All For You

Migos – Walk It Talk It

Drake – In My Feelings

Drake – Nice For What

Calvin Harris feat. Dua Lipa – One Kiss

Troye Sivan – Bloom

Summer Honorable Mentions:

Big Freedia feat. Lizzo – Karaoke

Years & Years – If You’re Over Me

Matt Rogers – Be A Bitch To Your Friends (This Pride)

Aloe Blacc – Brooklyn in the Summer

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Produced by Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org. Edited by Shana Daloria.