June is Great Outdoors Month. Started 20 years ago as a
week-long observance, the celebration has escalated to an entire month
recognizing the importance of getting outside and being active. The warmer
weather the first full week of summer has brought with it this final week of
June is the perfect time to get out and enjoy nature… especially when you have the
right music to enhance the experience.
Nature is a very popular subject in music. From songs about
witnessing the natural beauty of one’s surroundings to those that urge people
to live life and feel the sun on their skin, musicians have been singing about the
outdoors for centuries.
In honor of Great Outdoors Month, Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s
music outlet, is taking a look at songs about being outdoors and experiencing
nature. Here are six that will have you running to your nearest park to sit out
and watch the clouds pass by.
1.
John
Denver, “Country Roads”: A love letter to the beauty of country life and
the Midwest, John Denver’s “Country Roads” finds the singer yearning for the mountains
and rivers that make the countryside feel like “home.” (video)
2.
Blur, “Country House”: Sometimes you just need
to get away from the hustle and bustle of city life and head out to the country
for a little R & R. Blur’s “Country House” was written about former Food
Records founder David Balfe’s sale of the company and subsequent move to a
farmhouse in Bedfordshire to get away from it all. Though it’s not expressly
about nature, it does mention (albeit a bit sarcastically) the mental healing
properties and “rural charm” of the countryside and living the “simple life.” (video)
3.
Louis
Armstrong, “What A Wonderful World”: It’s not hard to hear the beauty of Louis
Armstrong’s classic “What A Wonderful World” and think about the beauty of its
subject matter. Through the colorful imagery of green trees, red roses, blue
skies, white clouds and pretty rainbows, the song extols the joys and wonders
of the world. Just the thought of it all brings a smile to one’s face. (video)
4.
Weezer, “Island In The Sun”: With lyrics like “when
you’re on a golden sea / you don’t need no memory” and “on an island in the sun
/ we’ll be playing and having fun,” and a laid-back island melody, Weezer’s “Island
In The Sun” just feels like sunshine. The imagery created by the song puts you
in that summer mindset, making you want to head out to the beach and relax in
the sand. (video)
5.
U2,
“Beautiful Day”: There is something about a bright blue sky on a beautiful day
that makes you want to get out and seize the day. U2’s 2000 hit “Beautiful Day,”
though political at its core, exemplifies this. The song’s lyrics remind you
that no matter what is going on, you might as well enjoy a beautiful day before
it’s gone, saying “it’s a beautiful day / don’t let it get away.” (video)
6.
Woody
Guthrie, “This Land is Your Land”: What list of nature songs would be
complete without Woody Guthrie’s classic tune about nature and nationalism, “This
Land Is Your Land.” The song (at least the verses that people commonly know) celebrates
the bountiful wonders of America’s land, sea and sky. Lyrics like “sparkling
sands of her diamond deserts,” “endless skyway” and “golden valley” produce
clearly vivid imagery of nature’s beauty, making you want to go out and
experience it for yourself. (video)
Music has always been fascinated by nature and outdoor
imagery, with artists writing about everything from sun-filled island skies to
the mountainous and tree-filled wilderness of the west. Songs like those above are
perfect for celebrating Great Outdoors Month and heading out on your own nature
adventure.
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Find music from these nature-loving artists and more at
Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s favorite new independent record shop. We have a
wide selection of titles in a variety of genres to choose from. Browse our
collection of new and used vinyl records, CDs, cassettes, music DVDs,
memorabilia and more in store at our Plainview location or online at
vinylbay777.com. With more titles being added to our selection all the time,
you never know what you might find at Vinyl Bay 777.
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