Chances are pretty good that at some point in the last day or two you’ve seen a meme featuring Justin Timberlake and *NSync with the words: “It’s gonna be May!”
It’s an overused joke based on the 2000 hit song “It’s Gonna Be Me,” in which it arguably sounds like the boys are singing “May” instead of “Me.”
Point is, it’s May.
Here are four songs to get you in the spirit of the month that serves as a gateway from wet and chilly April to a sunny and warm summer.
"First of May" - Bee Gees
This song, with vocals by Barry Gibb, was released in 1969 and included on the brothers’ double album Odessa. Oddly, it mentions “Christmas” as many times as the month of May.
"Month Of May" — Arcade Fire
This track was on the Montreal band’s 2010 album The Suburbs. It’s not exactly the feel-good song of spring, though. “If I die in the month of May / Let the wind take my body away, yeah / I wish I may, I wish I might / Don’t lay me down there with my arms folded tight.”
"The Lusty Month of May" - Julie Andrews
“It’s May! It’s May! When every maiden prays that her lad will be a cad.” Yes, this ditty from the 1960 Broadway musical Camelot, written by Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe, celebrates the spring in our… steps. It’s been recorded by many singers over the years but Julie Andrews’ version is among the most beloved.
"End Of May" — Michael Buble
The end of May means “longer days, more time to sit and watch the pendulum swing.” So sings Michael Bublé in his version of the 1996 song, written by Tim Seely, that was included on the 2010 special edition of Bublé’s album Crazy Love. The Canadian singer told Seattle Weekly: “It's one of the most beautiful f**kin’ songs ever.”