Top singles from the past
3 June 2026
This day 60 years ago, on 3 June 1966, Brit-pop-rock legends THE KINKS,
featuring the siblings Davies, released one of their biggest hits with their
everlasting summer-juiced earworm SUNNY AFTERNOON.
Ray Davies said he wrote the song when listening
continuously to Frank Sinatra, Bob Dylan and Bach.
The song’s story is actually not a happy one.
Davies: “The only way I could interpret how I felt was through a dusty, fallen aristocrat
who had come from old money as opposed to the wealth I had created for myself. In order
to prevent the listener from sympathizing with the song’s protagonist I turned him into a scoundrel who fought with his girlfriend after a night of drunkenness and cruelty.“.
Save me, save me, save me from this squeeze
I got a big fat mama tryna break me
And I love to live so pleasantly
Live this life of luxury
Lazin’ on a sunny afternoon
In the summertime
In the summertime
