Jimi Hendrix's "Light My Fire" was partially inspired by Hendrix not being able to warm himself near a fireplace.
In music, fire and heat can be used literally or symbolically in lyrics to represent love, passion, repression or zeal. The following songs about fire and heat indirectly allude to the elements' dangerous qualities, even when they're being desired. You can include these songs on a playlist for a winter dance party to "warm things up" or celebrate the heat of the summer with them. Does this Spark an idea?
"Summer in the City"
The Lovin' Spoonful released "Summer in the City" on their 1966 album, "Hums of the Lovin' Spoonful." The song is noted for its soundtrack of city sounds like car horns and a jackhammer. The song paints a picture of a hot urban summer with stifling heat. "...people looking half dead, walking on the sidewalk, hotter than a match head." The song contrasts the sweltering days with the warm summer nights where you can find a girl and "dance all night." The song's upbeat tempo makes it appropriate for a dance party.
"Fire"
Jimi Hendrix's iconic "Fire" was released in 1967. The chorus, "let me stand next to your fire," has sexual overtones, but the lyrics actually refer to a completely difference experience. After a concert in London on New Year's Eve, Hendrix went to bassist Noel Redding's mother's home. Hendrix asked her if he could stand next to the fire to keep warm, but her Great Dane sat in the way. The song's lyrics reference this event where Hendrix pleads "roll over, Rover, and let Jimi take over." The song is certainly danceable, but also makes appropriate background music during mingling.
"Light My Fire"
The Doors released their single "Light My Fire" in April 1968. The song lyrics are sung to a woman, and fire represents a passion or love the man is looking for from the woman. "Come on baby, light my fire." The band performed the single on "The Ed Sullivan Show" that year, creating a scandal when they didn't change the line "Girl, we couldn't get much higher," despite agreeing to do so because the producers were uncomfortable with the possible drug reference. Lead singer Jim Morrison sang the original lyrics anyhow, and the band was banned from returning to the show. Song lyrics also make reference to setting "the night on fire". "Light My Fire's" slow tempo makes it a good lounging song.
"Burning Down the House"
This iconic song was released in 1983 by The Talking Heads on "Speaking in Tongues." The song lyrics don't tell a linear story, but instead consist of a collection of phrases thematically related to one another. David Byrne, lead singer and songwriter, includes phrases like, "Fightin' fire with fire...365 degrees". With its upbeat, poppy tempo and instrumentals, this number is definitely danceable.
"The Ring of Fire"
This Johnny Cash single is a country song released in 1963. June Carter, who later married Cash, wrote the tune with songwriter Merle Kilgore. The lyrics actually refer to Carter falling in love with Cash, who had a serious drug addiction at the time and who, like Carter, was married to someone else. Carter's sister, Anita Carter, first released "Ring of Fire." Six months after Anita Carter's version went nowhere, Cash recorded his own. Though not a song you can easily dance to, "Ring of Fire" is a great karaoke option.
Tags: Light Fire, Ring Fire, song lyrics, actually refer, Anita Carter, dance party