Otago Daily Times reporters search their playlists to find some of their favourite songs for summer activities.
1. Maggie May.
The lyrics of Rockin' Rod's early hit carry inherent nostalgia and given the singer's forthcoming Dunedin concert is at Forsyth Barr Stadium, are likely to prompt a rise in the heart rates of young and old alike.
2. I Can See Clearly Now.
Johnny Nash's reggae-inspired ode to optimism might be the perfect antidote to the aunt who's always whingeing.
3. Stand By Me.
Be it a 50th wedding anniversary or a small family get-together, soul master Ben E. King celebrates love and stickability on a timeless track that is perhaps best played later in the evening.
4. Coconut.
If nothing else, Harry Nilsson's efferverscent tune should lift the mood and lower the blood pressure as all and sundry debate which character from
The Muppets sang the line, ''doctor, is there nothing I can take?'' (hint: ''to relieve this flipper ache... ''
5. Heart Attack and Vine.
One of Tom Waits' best, this is bound to have know-it-alls swearing that this is a long-lost Louis Armstrong song.
Yet by the time Waits lets loose with the killer line, ''Lord, you know there ain't no Devil; that's just God when he's drunk'', the experts will probably have forgotten what they began arguing about.
- Shane Gilchrist