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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Sunday, August 5, 2007

Verdict is in on top 10 tunes of summer 2007

By Cary Darling and Preston Jones
McClatchy-Tribune News Service

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Sean Kingston's "Beautiful Girls" is an anthem for geeks who get the cold shoulder at the beach.

JIM COOPER | Associated Press

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Which song will you remember from summer 2007?

These 10 tracks, now in heavy rotation, are perfect for chilled-out pool days, sunny drives with the top down and relaxed evening barbecues:

  • Kenny Chesney, "Never Wanted Nothing More." Chesney reaches back to a misspent youth on this single from his forthcoming release, "Just What I Am: Poets & Pirates." In his smooth baritone, he reminisces about driving around with the fellas and meeting that special someone.

  • Sean Kingston, "Beautiful Girls." The rhythm's lifted from R&B chestnut "Stand by Me," but Kingston's geeky, heartfelt plea to all the lovely ladies who won't look his way is THE anthem for all the concave-chested guys getting sand kicked in their faces at the beach.

  • Rihanna (with Jay-Z), "Umbrella." It's one of 2007's inescapable singles. Featuring a serviceable Jay-Z cameo, the track really blossoms when Barbados native and "little miss sunshine" Rihanna lets her petite pipes grab hold of the emotional lyrics about a relationship surviving ... something.

  • Justin Timberlake, "Summer Love." Back in the stone-age days of pop — say, 40 years ago — a summertime love song might have been a languid, tear-stained paean to all that might have been. Think "Sealed With a Kiss." Those days are long gone in JT's funky ode to a "freaky" hot-season romance.

  • Plain White T's, "Hey There Delilah." Who'd have guessed the T's would have the summer's huge rock ballad? In a few years, listeners might look back and asking two questions: "Hey, remember the summer of '07?" and "Whatever happened to those Plain White T's guys?"

  • Mark Ronson (with Amy Winehouse), "Valerie." Stomping, Motown-ready pop with a 21st-century edge, this funky retooling of a song by obscure British group the Zutons is a showcase for Winehouse's husky vocal brilliance.

  • Fall Out Boy, "Thnks Fr Th Mmrs." Typically wry, propulsive pop-rock from the emo poster boys. Trip-hammer drum hits, layered harmonies and the flamenco-flavored instrumental break all complement the surging chorus, which is about getting dumped via a text message. You'll want to fling yourself into the nearest body of water by the song's conclusion.

  • Maroon 5, "Makes Me Wonder." Yes, it came out in the spring, but it's still hanging around with all its faux-Stevie Wonder effervescence.

  • Avril Lavigne, "Girlfriend." This zesty call-and-response slice of punk-pop practically goads you into singing along with its obnoxiously catchy chorus; Lavigne sneers, pouts and head-bangs her way through this sleek piece of radio gold.

  • Silverchair, "Reflections of a Sound." This Aussie trio goes old-school on this single, an unabashed distillation of Beach Boys harmonies and Beatles pop smarts, shot through with hope and heart.