Shazam Around The World: In Search Of The Summer Song
Summer’s already here. Millions are packing their stuff in order to get a well deserved rest in sunny latitudes around the world, the perfect targets of the many contenders for the title of Summer Song 2009. Dozens of dance crazes, Uber cheesy Europop or pseudo reggae numbers will compete against each other to become part of the holiday experience of many. The lucky ones will be inescapable and may turn into global smashes after the season finishes and holidaymakers recall their pleasant memories.
Shazam wants to give a glimpse at this year’s candidates, currently breaking the airwaves and clubs in all the usual places. Beginning with the perfect novelty record, Mexican film star Gael Garcia Bernal’s tongue-in-cheek Spanish cover of Cheap Trick’s rock classic “I want you to want me”, as included in the soundtrack of his latest film “Rudo & Cursi”.
The film tells the story of two brothers who become big football stars, although Cursi’s real dream is to be a singer. Showcasing his enthusiasm, yet lack of artistic talent through this fake promo for “Quiero Que Me Quieras”, Originally it was just one of the jokes in the screenplay, but thanks to Garcia Bernal’s star power is already hitting radio stations across the Latin World.
SHAKIRA-La Loba
2009 has already been declare the year of the female singer, and rightly so! In its first months an avalanche of new ones (La Roux; Little Boots; Florence & the Machine; Pixie Lott; etc…) has invaded the charts. The warm season, though, looks time for more established divas to strike back and renew their positions at the top. During the aestival months new albums by Mariah Carey; Madonna –who will release another compilation including a new track with Lil Wayne-; Nelly Furtado’s Spanish project and, above all, Shakira are coming our way. Shakira’s first single ‘La Loba (She-Wolf)’ shows a trendy nu disco direction. Her new album, to be released simultaneously in both Spanish and English versions, will undoubtedly count as one of this summer’s heavy-weights.
MAJOR LAZER FEAT. MR LEXX & SANTIGOLD- Hold The Line
Visiting the Caribbean and teaming up with the locals, trendy producer Diplo has joined forces with Switch to make a dancehall infused album under the moniker Major Lazer. “Guns Don’t Kill People…Lazers Do” with its constellation of vocal stars from Jamaica and the US sounds like the choice of hardcore urbanites who may prefer not to leave the safety of their cities, but still want to enjoy a taste of hotter places at a club near them.
INNA-Hot (Romanian)
Back in Europe, cheesy Europop production teams got their weapons of mass assault ready to be dropped over any Mediterranean beach worth its salt. Among the potential winners, Romanian starlet Inna, who with her cheesy brand of pop house sounds like she could have been a proud representative of her nation in the latest Eurovision song contest. Having failed that, “Hot” seems perfectly suitable to be a hit among those who will get exposed, defences down by the heat, to its repetitive mantra.
JUAN MAGAN-Verano Azul
And for those of you who will choose the tried and tested Spanish destinations, two records seem to be ahead in the race for this year’s “Canción del verano”. Barcelona DJ Juan Magan adds some soca touches to this rather ordinary house ditty, with some whistle hooks that bring to mind Bob Sinclar’s former smash “Love Generation”. “Verano Azul” (Blue Summer) is hotly tipped to be a fixture through the speakers of every bar from Catalonia to Andalusia.
PACO PACO PACO _Johnny Demoni (House Mix 2009)
The second summer nightmare visitors to the Iberian Peninsula are likely to face is this cover of Spanish Achilifunk Classic “Paco Paco Paco” by Johnny Demoni. A lacklustre house version, helped by a Locomia-like choreography using fans, is currently the toast of many TV variety shows. The superior original from the seventies, performed by Encarnita Polo, has also been a local youtube sensation synchronized with Beyonce’s stunning video for her smash “Single Ladies.”
PACO PACO PACO (Encarnita Polo/Beyonce)
