Spring should lead to many things. The return of warm weather and sunshine allows plants to bloom and people to run free in the wild. Beautiful young folks will fall in love at first sight and go on adorable picnics and excursions. Butterflies will flutter to and fro, children will leap and bound through meadows and everything will be simply fabulous.
Yet, as the recent 40-degree-and-rainy weather has brutally reminded us, most Dartmouth students are in the middle of a season that is very different than the spring they've idealized their whole lives. Even so, I've assembled an eight-song play list to fuel the springs of those who still idealize the season.
1) "Family Reunion (Featuring David Banner)" by Kid Sister
Kid Sister's playful, sassy flow perfectly matches the instrumental on this track, and subtle percussion pushes the song in a light-hearted direction. Banner's nasal delivery on his guest verse even hints at spring-related allergy issues. Everything about this song makes the listener want to frolic outdoors and live out dreams of idealized family life with everyone from their parents to their third cousins.
2) "Lemonade" by Gucci Mane
The third single off of Gucci's sophomore LP "The State vs. Radric Davis" is as summery a song as any. Cheerful keys punctuated by snaps set a tone so carefree that even Gucci's harsh voice sounds every bit as innocent as the children's choir that sings the chorus. And of course it's hard not to associate a song that mentions lemonade with summer, even if Gucci Mane spends the vast majority of his time boasting about his "yellow rims," "yellow livin' room set" and the various other yellow status symbols he owns.
3) "Walking on Lightning (U-Tern Blend)" by Kris Menace and The Dream
U-Tern is an enormously respected name within disco house, a genre perfectly suited to the return of spring's warm weather due to its quick tempo and cheerful tones. Here he blends pop genius The Dream's "Walking on the Moon" with fellow producer Kris Menace's "Lightning" to create a tasteful edit with a dizzying number of warm vibes. The Dream's voice absolutely glows and sparingly used echo effects perfectly complement lines about obsessive love such as "you've got me walking on the moon."
4) "Sometimes (Shazam Remix)" by Miami Horror
Oddly enough, two Aussies have teamed up to craft one of the most pleasant tracks of the spring despite being stuck in the middle of fall. Then again, perhaps it's not that surprising considering the typical Australian autumn is just as delightful if not more so as a Hanover spring. Here, the two producers made famous by dance blogs such as BIGSTEREO and Discobelle use pattering percussion and smooth synths to create an uplifting, energizing track.
5) "What Am I Supposed To Do" by Treasure Fingers
Like U-Tern, Treasure Fingers is a household name in the disco house community. Rolling synths filter in and out throughout this track. Much like other disco house artists, Treasure Fingers samples vocals from a disco classic, speeds them up and increases their pitch. The end result is an invigorating track tailor-made for pool parties and hipster kid picnics in Echo Park.
6) "The Worse It Gets (R.A.C. Remix)" by Penguin Prison
Penguin Prison one of the fastest-rising disco producers created in "The Worse It Gets" a song that was decidedly uplifting while still harboring serious undertones. R.A.C. retains all of the giddiness of the original while eliminating the few menacing instrumental vibes in the original mix. Though the lyrics are far from uplifting, the R.A.C. remix of "The Worse It Gets" still manages to be all sunshine, silliness and giggles. The final product may be 2010's best song to drive to.
7) "Saturday Night" by Matt Van Schie
Much like a Hanover spring, "Saturday Night" features cold and warm spurts throughout. While somewhat dull and dreary throughout the verses, the vocal and instrumental work alike assume a charming almost adorable tone during the chorus. This rotation between cheery and dreary tones perfectly matches the moods of the many seniors who are both a) enjoying their last few moments with the friends they've made over the past four years and b) trudging begrudgingly through senior Spring because they haven't yet realized that it is in fact possible to have fun post-graduation.
8) "Coma Cat" by Tensnake
German producer Tensnake pairs assorted maracas, cymbals and snaps with bouncy synth work to mold the ideal summer anthem. Granted, it's the sort of anthem you'd hear at a barbecue in Brooklyn with a smattering of beatnik youngsters wearing colorful Wayfarers and grilling veggie burgers, but it's an anthem nonetheless.
