2 pick-me-up songs boost music lovers’ morale

Animated versions of Puth and Stella in music video of “Summer Feelings”

You can forget the disposable animated movie (“Scoob!”) from which it’s culled, but Lennon Stella and Charlie Puth’s feel-good duet “Summer Feelings” is the spirit-boosting groovesome fluff we all need as we await what lies ahead of us beyond life in quarantine.

In a recent interview with Apple Music about her music, the 20-year-old singer-actress (“Nashville”) described it best. “We all need a pick-me-up summer song right now to make us feel good,” she said. “It’s lighthearted and fun, and reminds me of warm weather with the windows down.”

And it’s just what the doctor ordered to lift us out of the doldrums!

In the song, while Charlie “touches the stars and drags them down to earth,” Lennon’s feelings are more anchored on earthbound sentiments, enthusing about just seeing the sunset from the roof and “the rhythm of the waves telling me to relax. I’m not good at that, but now I know I need it.” Don’t we all?

Kristoffer Martin

On the local front, let’s turn the spotlight on Kristoffer Martin, a fine but underrated Kapuso celebrity. Just as musically appealing as the abovementioned tune are Kristoffer’s readily relatable thoughts in song—particularly in his radio-friendly single, “Lagi Na Lang.”

Its lyrics talk about a lovestruck guy’s musings on romance and heartbreak: Ilang beses nang pag-ibig ko’y ipinakita/ Ngunit kahit anong gawin, ano mang pagpapapansin/ Wala pa rin, wala pa rin.

Despite its character’s downbeat mood, the easygoing music framing it brims with suggestive “better luck next time” optimism. And while Kristoffer isn’t really known for his singing chops, he pulls off a number that is surprisingly easy on the ears—and with just the kind of positive message we need.

The guy doesn’t really say it out loud, but as his never-say-die actions demonstrate, it’s like saying why we shouldn’t allow rejection or any form

of loss to let us feel bad for long.