Last weekend I was driving in the sunshine when a song from the early ‘90s came on the radio. Within seconds I was transported back in time to a summer when my entire existence revolved around a certain boy. That boy is no longer in my life, but the fact that he was the first thing I thought of when that song started playing got me thinking about the crazy relationship between music and love. So with that in mind, here are some ideas for amping up your love life with music this summer, no matter where you might fall on its elusive spectrum.
Newly Dating
There’s nothing sweeter than new love in the summer. With the warm weather and longer nights, summer is the perfect time to step out of the “dinner-and-movie” rut that can sometimes come with new relationships and amp things up by taking those dates outside. For the romantically inclined, grab a bottle of wine, some cheese and crackers, a blanket, and some portable Bluetooth speakers, and head out to a park for a mid-afternoon picnic, or to the beach to watch the sunset. With speakers like Bose’s SoundLink Colour, you can bring the romance with you no matter where those outdoor dates might take you. I can picture it now … sunset, the smell of the ocean, and your favourite tunes. Bliss!
If the whole “sunset and wine” thing isn’t really your cup of tea, you can still take your summer dates outside and amp up the romance with more active pursuits like a hike on a local mountain or a weekend camping getaway; and with a wireless Bluetooth speaker like Beats by Dr. Dre Pill 2.0 you can bring your loved up playlist along with you. Even if your new boo is killing you on the hiking trail, the Pill lets you listen to your favourite music from up to 30 feet away. Plus, the battery lasts 7 hours, which is ideal for an evening around a campfire.
Long Term Relationship
When you’ve been with someone for a long time, it’s easy to lose sight of the romance, especially when there are dishes to wash, lawns to mow, and repairs to make. But to amp up the love, take a cue from my brother and sister-in-law. They’ve been together for an eternity, but every once in a while they’ll take a step back, wait until the kids are asleep, open a bottle of wine, and sit outside listening to music and chatting. I’ve been told that those simple evenings have turned into loved up dance parties between the two of them, but I asked for no more details than that, because, well, it’s my brother. All you need to make a night like that happen is a little spontaneity and a set of all weather wireless outdoor speakers like these ones from Fugoo. Not only are they equipped with Bluetooth, but are waterproof and wireless, so even if a storm rolls in, you won’t have to run inside. How romantic J
Single
You might wonder why I’ve included “single” in this list, but as someone who has been unattached for quite some time, I’ve come to believe that to be open to love you first need to love yourself; which can sometimes be difficult when all your friends are off getting married and procreating. But rather than curse those friends for their happy unions (behind their backs of course), do what I do and keep yourself pumped up with some killer “feel great” songs. Whether you’re en route to work, hiking a local hill, reading on your patio, or heck, even grocery shopping, you can easily amp up the love for yourself though whatever songs make you want to sing out loud. So once you’ve got your “I love myself” play list nailed down, take it with you wherever you go with a set of wireless Bluetooth headphones like Beats by Dr. Dre Powerbeats 2 In-Ear Headphones or Sony’s Over-Ear Bluetooth Headphones. Side note: I may have solicited a few stares this afternoon when I was waiting for the bus with a giant smile on my face, feeling awesome, and dialing in to the lyrics of Rachel Patton’s “Fight Song.”
So there you have it folks. To amp up your love life this summer, turn to music and the outdoors; the combination of the two is sure to please, and who knows, maybe in twenty years you’ll be driving in the sunshine, hear a song come on the radio, and transported back in time to the summer of 2015 when romance was in the air.
