PBS Series AMERICAN EXPERIENCE Debuts Weekly 'Songs of the Summer'

Roll down the windows, turn up the volume and prepare to sing along as AMERICAN EXPERIENCE celebrates the music of the season with "Songs of the Summer." Every Friday from June 2 through August 18, "Songs of the Summer" will reveal one iconic song that hit the charts, accompanied by commentary from some of AMERICAN EXPERIENCE's favorite music writers. 1958 was the year Billboard kicked off its Hot 100 List, so it's only appropriate that "Songs of the Summer" debuts with "Volare," not only the biggest song of that summer but of the entire year. Originally known as "Nel Blu Dipinto di Blu" and performed by Domenico Modugno, "Volare" was -- as guitarist and music historian Elijah Wald writes -- "the most successful foreign-language hit in U.S. history."

Join "Songs of the Summer" every week as noted music critics, authors and scholars explore music ranging from rock to country to hip-hop. Writers include Elaine Andres, Regina Bradley, Nate Chinen, Jewly Hight, Keven McAlester, Ismail Muhammad, Mark Anthony Neal, Ann Powers, Tim Riley, Alfred Soto, Elijah Wald and Marco Werman.

Travel through time from 1958 to the present with AMERICAN EXPERIENCE to explore what Top 10 lists reveal about musical trends and events that were happening during that year. While the way we listen to music may have changed, it's still a powerful reflection of our nation's culture and history.

You can listen to "Volare" and read the rest of Elijah Wald's comments here:
1958 | Volare by Domenico Modugno

Check back each Friday to discover the next "Songs of the Summer."

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