Cool Off With These Queer Country Summertime Jams
By Christopher Treacy & Chris Bogard
Songs don’t need to be about summer to have a summery feel to them, but it sure doesn’t hurt if they mention beaches, sand, warm nights, fleeting lusty affairs, cooking outside, and all that other good stuff that comes with an increase in temperature. And like so many things, summer is also a frame of mind. Our new Summertime Songs playlist is designed to help get you there, especially if you’re having trouble finding the spirit this year.
Compiled, with love, from your friends at Country Queer.
Ty Herndon – “Till You Get There”
From Ty’s brand new album, JACOB, out last week, this tune provides a mood-lifting blastoff that’s had us giddy with anticipation since late May.
k.d. Lang – “Summerfling” (Ananda’s Sweet Bird of Summer Extended Mix)
“We ran on the beach with Kennedy flair…” From 2000’s Invincible Summer album, the original version certainly has an exhilarating, windblown feel. But we chose to highlight this clubby remix because it really maximizes the bliss and takes the tune to an even warmer dimension. Treat yourself!
Brothers Osborne – “All Night”
Channeling some serious 80s ‘big hat’ vibes here, it’s a c-c-contagious barroom grinder in the making.
Erika Jonsson – “Drunk on You”
Sweden’s Erika Jonsson is fairly new on our radar here at CQ and this track off her latest album Rootless is full of lusty imagery that screams summer romance.
Orville Peck – “Daytona Sand”
The opener on Peck’s Bronco comes galloping into focus and means business from the get-go. Even though the tryst (entanglement?) depicted is in the rearview, that guitar riff keeps us firmly planted in the contagious rush. You can practically feel the sand between your toes.
Brandi Carlile – “You & Me On the Rock”
Carlile’s latest single channels a lightweight vibe that seems inspired by her friend Joni Mitchell’s “Big Yellow Taxi.” An appearance by Lucious only ups the summery ante, and we can always use more songs that characterize stability amid worldly chaos.
Dave Audé feat. Cody Belew – “Neon Moon”
Audé and Belew take this Brooks & Dunn ditty right onto a P-Town dance floor, and the possibilities don’t end there – club remixes please!
Brandy Clark – “Get High”
Clark gives voice to a huge population with this one and it’s got warm weather spirit to spare.
Trixie Mattel feat. Michelle Branch – “White Rabbit”
From Trixie’s Blonde & Pink Albums, “White Rabbit” is one of multiple new Mattel songs that could fit on our list; we chose it over the others because of guest vocals from Michelle Branch, whose “Breathe” and “Game of Love” (with Santana) both exude shimmering summer spirit for days.
Jaime Wyatt – “Goodbye Queen”
“If you want a lover that leaves/I will be your goodbye queen/Yeah, I will be your Santa Ana wind/You can count on me to let you down again.” Wyatt’s playing the tough cookie here, but metaphors about Santa Ana winds just ooze romantic overtones. We’ll take the warm breeze, even though we know it won’t last. Some things are better felt fleetingly than not at all.
Cameron Hawthorn – “Oh Hot Damn!”
Hot Damn, we could watch Hawthorn do his little line dance for hours! Nothing wrong with a little lust in the dust.
Brooke Annibale – “Glow”
Annibale’s music doesn’t exactly scream summer vibes, but we think this tune, from her 2018 album Hold to the Light, breaks the mold.
Christopher Treacy has been writing about music and the music industry for 20 years. He’s contributed to The Boston Phoenix, The Boston Herald, Nashville Scene, and Berklee College of Music’s quarterly journal, as well as myriad LGBTQ+ outlets including the Edge Media Network, Between the Lines/Pride Source, Bay Windows and In Newsweekly. He lives in Waitsfield, VT.
Chris Bogard is an artist and visual storyteller with a focus on queer subjects and themes, from drag queens to cowboys. Besides digital and film photography, Chris also enjoys leathercraft and live music.