Cool Down the summer sweat
Eduardo Sabate quizzes the spin masters on the hits of Summer 2008?

When the Ex is done and your tricks are going back to school, you know summer’s cooling down. Not that it makes a difference when you’re in it for the soundtrack and not for the boys but it’s always fun to brag about the one or two sexy pulls you had in the clubs. You may have already lost their phone numbers, oops, but you’ll never forget what the DJ was playing when you first touched tongues. Hit the record store, search online, convert, stick it straight to your mp3 player and take a stroll down memory lane.

According to Billboard.com, Canada’s current musical hits come from the ladies with tracks by Lady GaGa, Rihanna and Katy Perry hitting the top three spots. But what do the local spinners have to say about the summer songs of 2008? The amazing DJ talents in T.O. share their top choices and reminisce about the summer that gave Canada 18 Olympic medals, Alexandre Despatie’s Speedo-clad package and countless randy dancefloor adventures.

Why does your number one choice turn you on so much?
My number one track “I Want To (Suck The Melody)” is a track that got me dancing the first time I heard it on my system at home and even more when I played it at the Beef Ball this year during Pride. The vocals, the sounds, the lyrics all hit home for me and delivered a new sound that peaked the night and got the dancefloor moving even harder.

Why was summer 2008 so amazing?
The summer of 2008 was a great summer for me with lots of awesome gigs travelling to IML, Califonia, Montreal for Pride (Twist 2008) and equally as exciting were the events here in Toronto including awesome parties like the Beef Ball, Comfort Zone during Pride, Tighty Whitey Car Wash, The Barn, Alibi, Byzantium and Fridays at Steamworks. Lots of playing, lots of music, lots of support on the dancefloor and as always a great vibe away from home and of course here in T.O.

Neill MacLeod goes underground every Thursday night for UNCZ at Comfort Zone.

Why does your number one choice turn you on so much?
Being a DJ with latin passion my number one is a latin song by Juanes, a very popular Colombian singer. He has mastered cumbia with a rock beat that makes all the latin people move their hips.

Why was summer 2008 so amazing?
In general 2008 has been a great year because I returned to DJing on Church Street. I had been away from my crowd for almost three years and it’s great to be back.

Celebrate the Independence of Central America with DJ Viviana at Statler’s on Sat. Sept. 13

Why does your number one choice turn you on so much?
My choice for number one is guaranteed to have every crowd moving. The bears, the artfags, the sports barbies and the FTMs.

Why was summer 2008 so amazing?
Summer ’08 – it’s been a really great time for music. A lot of great new stuff landed in the record shops.

DJ Danny B loves the Chunk at the Beaver on the first Saturday of the month.

Why does your number one choice turn you on so much?
I love Antony and the Johnsons and have listened to their albums countless times, so you can imagine my glee when I heard this track featuring Antony. His voice is incredible and with the instrumentation, it sounds so epic. Plus, it’s set to a danceable disco beat: perfection.

Why was summer 2008 so amazing?
Let’s just put it this way, the highlight of my summer was going back home to the Lucknow Reunion. My favourite teacher was a brilliant man we called Mr. C. He taught me how to play music and would even go so far to say that he also inspired me to become a performer in general. I played in his Lucknow Marching Concert Band through both public and high school. At this homecoming a month ago, I went back to march in a reunion parade where we were once again conducted by Mr. C. To return home and pay my respect to him by marching and playing in his band again was an unforgettable experience.

Shane, the eternal boy in the band, conducts his popular Foxhole event when he’s not tiptoeing through the tulips.

nik red is always ready to fluff the tracks at Goodhandy’s.

Why does your number one choice turn you on so much?
My number one song had a real “turn on” effect because of the remix Peter Rauhofer put out there. His mix was the only acceptable one in my opinion aside from the original which is flawless. Peter’s mix has had a few runs in its existence. The first version Peter gave me didn’t have a lot of vocals on it, just the first verse and chorus sampled now and again. Then shortly after his version leaked out, another DJ somewhere put more of Rihanna’s vocal on it and leaked that out online. Now just recently Peter had a new diva on the scene in NY named Shanaynay re-record the vocal over his produced track and released it on Star 69. The song is going to be timeless and should be in the Guiness Book in my opinion because it’s such a feel-good song when you’re on the floor.

Why was summer 2008 so amazing?
2008 brought good times both in and out of Toronto for me. From celebrating the one year anniversary on air at 103.9 PROUD FM as an on-air host and the assistant music director, to the chaos of Toronto Pride, then to Montreal Pride, then to Miami’s Winter Music Conference and of course living the charmed life in NYC (because NYC is my home away from home that I love to visit as often as I can).

Cajjmere Wray rides the airwaves weeknights from 7pm-midnight on 103.9 PROUD FM.

When Rihanna tells you not to stop the music, you just gotta keep keepin’ on. Days are definitely getting shorter, but that only means you can make the night under the club lights last longer. Toronto’s outdoor parties and patios may be fewer in the colder months but as long as the DJs keep packing the clubs in, it’ll still be hot enough to strip to the skins and sweat it no matter what the season.

Eduardo Sabate is currently recovering from a broken toe but has mastered shakin’ booty with a limp.