Summer of '17

As the follow-up to my blog entry series Twenty Years of Summer (1996-2016), - which consisted of 21 summers, actually - here is the recap of yet another Verano, that is, of 2017.

While Ed Sheeran is still dominating the charts all over the world, in 2018, he was also there in the sunny times of 2017 with songs like Galway Girl or Shape of You.

On the other hand there was a wave of spanish-language songs featuring Despacito by Luis Fonsi, which received support from Daddy Yankee and Justin Bieber. Further "remarkable" latino hits were Subeme La Radio by Enrique Iglesias, Mi Gente by J. Balvin, Reggaeton Lento by CNCO & Little Mix and - a nice one indeed - Tu Conmigo by French electronic music artist Vitalic.

Internationally Kendrick Lamar ruled with Humble; French Montana was Unforgettable; Jason Deluro teamed up with Nicki Minaj for Swalla; Ed Sheeran wrote Your Song for Rita Ora; DJ Khaled & Rihanna sampled Santana's Maria Maria on Wild Thoughts; Calvin Harris featured Pharell Williams, Katy Perry and Nile Ridgers on Feels; Charli XCX was thinking of Boys; Miley Cyrus was in Malibu; DNCA were Kissing Strangers; Liam Payne stripped it down for Strip That Down and there was nothing holding Shawn Mendes back with There Is Nothing Holding Me Back. :)

Also, newcomer Dua Lipa had two hits at the same time: Lost In Your Light and New Rules.

In terms of alternative music, there were some gems and comebacks by The Killers (The Man), Foster The People (Sit Next To Me), Depeche Mode (Going Backwards), Everything Everything (Desire) Weezer (Feels Like Summer) and Gorillaz (Let Me Out).

Dancefloor anthems included Be Mine by Ofenbach, You Don't Know Me by Jax Jones, Real Life by Duke Dumont, Came Here For Love by Sigala, Go Up by Cassius & Pharell, Sun Comes Up by Rudimental, 2U by David Guetta, Almost Mine by Wankelmut, Little Hollywood by Alle Farben, Hot2touch by Felix Jaehn, Mama by Jonas Blue, All Stars by Martin Solveig & Alma and OK by Robin Schulz & James Blunt.

Finally, other artists who contributed to the summer of 2017 include Pink (What About Us), The Script (Rain), George Ezra (Don't Matter Now), Coldplay featuring Big Sean (Miracles), London Grammar (Oh Woman Oh Man), Haim (Want You Back), Parcels (Overnight), and Vance Joy (Lay It On Me).