This week on Stereothematica, we decided to walk directly into the fire—or maybe just uncomfortably shuffle toward it—by sharing the songs we love that are, well… problematic. You know the ones. They’re catchy, they’re nostalgic, beautiful even, but the lyrics, the context, or just the vibe haven’t aged well. Maybe it never sat right to begin with. And yet… here we are, still humming, albeit uncomfortably, along.
Christine shared a French summer classic that has stuck with her since a hot, languid road trip through the south of France in 2018.
Joe Dassin’s 1975 “L’été Indien” is dreamy and hypnotic, but also carries the baggage of a title rooted in colonialism and a lyrical tone that feels possessive and exoticizing. It’s a song that glides along on nostalgia and lalalas, even as it romanticizes an outdated concept.
Christina brought in a different flavor of problematica with Jimmy Soul’s 1963 hit “If You Wanna Be Happy.” It’s upbeat, wildly catchy, and just… mean. Based on a 1934 calypso song, it layers misogyny and superficiality into a bouncy beat that dares you not to sing along. And the cherry on top? Jimmy Soul’s follow-up track was even worse. Thanks for pointing that out, Dr. Winston!
Still, the song’s playfulness and musicality are undeniable, and it’s been featured in films like Mermaids, which somehow makes it feel both dated and immortal.
We’re not here to cancel songs, but to complicate them. Music isn’t static—it carries the weight of the time it was made, the people who made it, and the way we hear it now. This episode is our messy attempt to hold all of that at once with curiosity, honesty, and, of course, varying levels of discomfort.
ALSO, if you’re looking for the link to add songs to our “Get Up and Dance!” playlist, you’ve come to the right place. You can become a contributor to the Spotify playlist by clicking here. Please bless us with your best dance songs.
Stereothematica 