Top Ten Songs of the Summer
#4 – The Rolling Stones – ‘(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction’ (1965)
Songs of the Summer tend not to be all-time classics. Remember, The Beatles never managed to earn the title. But my #4 is one of the rare iconic songs by a legendary artist to make the cut.
Buoyed by one of the greatest guitar riffs of all-time, The Rolling Stones’ ‘(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction’ gave the band their first U.S. #1, reaching the top spot in July of 1965 and spending a month there that summer.
The Stones would have four more songs in the running for Song of the Summer in subsequent years, including ‘Honky Tonk Women’ coming in second to Zager & Evans’ ‘In the Year 2525’ in 1969. The great ‘Jumpin’ Jack Flash’ made it to #8 in 1968, behind a bunch of songs that are long forgotten.
It goes to show how the frivolity of summer can amplify songs that might not register at all in a different season.
I’m glad sometimes a great song like today’s SOTD sneaks through.
I can’t get no satisfaction
I can’t get no satisfaction
‘Cause I try and I try and I try and I try
I can’t get no, I can’t get no
[Verse 1]
When I’m driving in my car
And that man comes on the radio
And he’s telling me more and more
About some useless information
Supposed to fire my imagination
I can’t get no, oh no, no, no!
Hey, hey, hey! That’s what I’ll say!
[Chorus]
I can’t get no satisfaction
I can’t get no satisfaction
‘Cause I try, and I try, and I try, and I try
I can’t get no, I can’t get no
[Verse 2]
When I’m watching my TV
And a man comes on and tells me
How white my shirts can be
Well he can’t be a man ’cause he doesn’t smoke
The same cigarettes as me
I can’t get no, oh no, no, no
Hey, hey, hey, that’s what I say
[Chorus]
I can’t get no satisfaction
I can’t get no girl reaction
‘Cause I try, and I try, and I try, and I try
I can’t get no, I can’t get no
[Verse 3]
When I’m riding ’round the world
And I’m doing this and I’m signing that
And I’m trying to make some girl
Who tells me baby, better come back, maybe next week
‘Cause you see, I’m on a losing streak
I can’t get no, oh no, no, no
Hey, hey, hey! That’s what I’ll say!
[Outro]
I can’t get no, I can’t get no, I can’t get no
I can’t get no satisfaction
No satisfaction, no satisfaction, no satisfaction
I can’t get no
Meet Me In Montauk 
Not to elevate “Espresso” to the level of classics like “Honkey Tonk Woman” or “Jumpin’ Jack Flash,” but I would argue the two songs vying for Song of the Summer for 2024 will be long forgotten years from now. This is the problem with applying rigid criteria like being number 1 on Billboard. There is arguably an intangible ubiquitous quality to some songs like “Espresso” that truly make them Songs of the Summer, charts be damned!
This is a great song. Love it !