Melody Monday - Vol. 2

The Sundays - Summertime

Harriet Wheeler may be my favorite 90s female vocalist. This past weekend I had an opportunity to revisit The Sundays’ brief catalog of music and although most of their songs leave much to be desired - when they hit, they hit hard. Most notable example for me is “Summertime” off their third and final album Static and Silence. Harriet’s voice is a literal dream. Where most of The Sundays song’s lack in memorable arrangements – they make up for with beautiful free-form vocal melodies. “Summertime” is that rare moment where everything falls into place. Jangly guitar licks, tasty mid-90s effects and harmonized vocals throughout the verse that explode into an unforgettable chorus. They even throw in a trumpet layer in there to set it over the top.

From what I’ve researched about this band it sounds like making music has been more of a way to pass time with friends and family than a real serious career move, and that resonates with me. The two main members of The Sundays are a couple and have cited wanting to raise their family as the reason for their prolonged (and indefinite?) hiatus. Music is certainly a passion of mine, and on the backs of my much more talented friends has even afforded me the opportunity to see parts of the world I wouldn’t have otherwise. Summer 2017 I ventured abroad with a few of my closest friends for a tour around Europe, and this summer saw the birth of my son James Michael – two monumental life events I can’t even begin to describe with words. So, while everyone’s praising the return of their pumpkin spice everything and waiting for their clocks to roll back, I’ll be here reminiscing about Summertime and how much difference a year makes with friends and family. Happy Melody Monday!