Weekend Listomania's Greatest Hits: Special Is It Warm in Here or Is It Just Me? Video Edition

[I riginally posted this one in 2008, back when your humble scribe and the world were young, but I thought it behooved re-upping. In the interest of full disclosure, I should add that I've made a couple of changes and/or substitutions -- goodbye, Smashing Pumpkins -- just to keep my hand in. -- S.S.]

Well, it's Friday and you know what that means. Yes, my Oriental amanuensis and dumpling consultant Hop-Sing and I are off to the beautiful mall in Washington D.C., along with ten or thirty million other patriots (weather permitting) for the big American Spring Break. We are very irked with the current regime, and we plan to make our displeasure known with the most powerful means at our dispoal -- i.e., the usual crudely lettered and misspelled signs.

Incidentally, I don't know what bathroom facilities are being provided, so if you can let me use those at your place, give me a call on my cell. I thank you in advance for your courtesy.

But for those of you who won't be attending (and we know who you are, commies) here's a fun little project to occupy your time till we come for you:

Most Memorable Post-Elvis Song or Record Whose Title or Lyrics References High Temperatures or Combustion!!!!

No arbitrary rules this time. Unless you don't have AC, in which case just have a drink.

In any case, my totally top of my head Top Seven would be....

7. Shoes -- Hot Mess



Because a) we like to have something recorded in this century; b) it's a great fucking song and c) I saw these guys for the very first time last Saturday and I was blown away.

6. A tie:

Jimi Hendrix -- Fire



and

The Crazy World of Arthur Brown -- Fire



I personally prefer the Arthur Brown "Fire," but that's mostly because he wore a bunsen burner on his head when he sang it.

5. Another tie:

Dwight Twilley -- I'm on Fire



and

Bruce Springsteen -- I'm on Fire



Funny that both of these are rockabilly-inflected. I have no idea if that has any larger meaning, I just think it's interesting.

4. The Move -- Fire Brigade



I've said it before and I'll say it again -- these guys were right up there with the greatest Brit bands of the 60s. I'm talking Beatles/Stones/Who/Kinks great.

3. Bubble Puppy -- Hot Smoke and Sassafrass



The first heavy rock band in Texas, and a surprisingly good song if you can get past the really dopey lyrics and the awful group name.

2. Sly and the Family Stone -- Hot Fun in the Summertime



The political irony of this song is less apparent in 2014 than it was back in the day, but on its other, less fraught, level it remains as joyous and uplifting as ever.

And the number one HOT HOT HOT!!!! song, don't contradict me because frankly I'm dying here and I don't have the energy to smack you, is....

1. The Beach Boys -- The Warmth of the Sun.



Brian Wilson has said this was inspired by the Kennedy assassination, although I've never really gotten the connection if truth be told. In any case, there are days I think it's the most beautiful song he ever wrote, regardless of what prompted it.

Awrighty then -- what would your choices be?