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Greetings to all,
It’s hard to believe, but June is already upon us. Speaking of June, one might think of rhymes: moons, spoons, or even tunes. However, Joni Mitchell’s song “Both Sides Now” captures the essence of love being just as cliche as those nursery rhymes:
Moons and Junes and Ferris wheels
The dizzy dancing way you feel
As every fairy tale comes real
I’ve looked at love that way
Even by 1923, the Tin Pan Alley satirist Billy Murray had grown tired of clichéd rhymes and included the line, “Oh I’m so sick of all these ditties about ‘moon’ and ‘spoon’ and ‘June’” in his song “Stand Up and Sing for Your Father.”
In today’s playlist, we’ll move past the moon/June/spoon pattern with a collection of tunes that reference the month of June or evoke the early summer days. Two of the songs on the list are by artists with “June” in their names, but we’ll overlook that and enjoy Johnny Cash’s duet with June Carter.
June is a time of joy, with events like Juneteenth and Pride, and the end of the school year. However, many songs about June evoke melancholy feelings. Whether it’s related to the June Gloom phenomenon in Southern California or the inherent sadness of transitional moments, today’s playlist will lift you up with tunes from the Kinks, the Everly Brothers, the Decemberists and more, and help you embrace the light.
To listen, follow the playlist on Spotify.
1. Nina Simone: “Memphis in June”
Nina Simone’s slow and swooning 1961 version of Hoagy Carmichael’s song captures the early summer heat that makes us lightheaded and content. The song’s sparse arrangement and tempo enable listeners to absorb each line, which Simone delivers as an imagistic poem: “Memphis in June/A shady veranda/Under a Sunday blue sky.” It sounds divine. (Listen on YouTube)
2. The Everly Brothers: “June Is as Cold as December”
The Everly Brothers’ 1966 single “June Is as Cold as December” warns us to stay away from that icy lady June, who according to the duo “doesn’t have a heart to offer anymore.” Although the Beatles, the Beach Boys, and the Byrds have all been influenced by the duo’s harmonies and arrangements, this tune demonstrates the brothers have something to learn from their students with the rich and chiming guitar sound. (Listen on YouTube)
