Song Details
- Album Release Date: 2012
- Genre: emo
Song Meaning of “Cruel Summer (Bananarama Cover)” by Superchunk
The 1981 hit song ‘Cruel Summer’ by Bananarama was covered by the American indie rock band Superchunk in 1999. The song captures a searing sense of loneliness and nostalgia. It is an ode to summer love and the heartache that often comes with it.
The song starts out with a simple guitar line accompanied by a mellow bass line which creates a dreamy atmosphere which conveys a feeling of longing and loneliness. The chorus is full of angst as the lyrics describe a longing for a past summer love that can’t be relived. The line ‘Summer’s passing by and I just can’t believe it’s true’ speaks to a loneliness that can be felt when the season is ending and one is left alone.
The longing and the feeling of loneliness is accentuated by a mournful guitar solo full of emotion. This solo is a representation of the raw heartache felt at the end of a summer love. It speaks to the fact that summer romances are often short-lived and that it can be difficult to move on after they have ended.
The song speaks to the power of memories and their ability to resurface even when the time they were formed has passed. Summer love may be fleeting, but it can also leave a lasting effect. Superchunk’s cover of ‘Cruel Summer’ captures the agonies and ecstasies of summer love perfectly. It speaks to how quickly these moments can come and go, but still remain indelibly etched in our memories.