“Love Generation” by Bob Sinclar

We have to be the love generation, y'all

It's the end of the week, and I want to send everyone off into the weekend with the best vibes possible. That’s why the Daily Music Picks newsletter features a weekly segment called Fun Song Fridays! Regardless of era, genre, or style, the criterion is simple: it must deliver the joy and excitement we all need in our lives.

You can access the entire Fun Song Fridays archive here. While you’re at it, add the companion playlist to your favorite streaming platform.

---

Hello! 😊👋

Welcome to a new edition of the Best Music of All Time newsletter!

Today’s music pick is a mid-2000s gem from Bob Sinclar, one of the foremost authorities on feel-good dance-pop.

Genre: Electronic, House

Label: Defected

Release Date: September 19, 2005

Vibe: 💓💓💓

In the cynical times we find ourselves mired in, “Love Generation” can play as naive or, perhaps because it’s been ubiquitous for nearly two decades, disconnected from our current reality. But, then again, in a sea of lyrical melancholy, this Bob Sinclar is a true breath of fresh air. When vocalist Gary Pine talks about the sun shining for eternity, it’s a necessary reminder that, vicious news cycle notwithstanding, there’s more reason for optimism than we may acknowledge. “I've got so much love in my heart,” he adds. “No one can tear it apart.”

The song’s primary call to arms—to be the love generation—is a consistent feature of Sinclar’s impressive body of work as a DJ, producer, and remix artist. Beginning with Paradise, his exceptional 1998 full-length debut, he’s built a 30-year career around positive vibes. He’s scored hits with “The Lala Song,” which wrings a ton of nostalgia out of a Sugarhill Gang sample, and “World Hold On,” which traffics in darker themes but, ultimately, is on the right side of the mood spectrum in the end. As Steve Edwards sings on the latter, “Instead of messing with our future, open up inside.” Though he may not be as well-known globally as David Guetta, the French legend continually returns to his self-described genre of “peace, love, and house music” time and again.

It’s hard to overstate how massive “Love Generation” was when it was released. It was all over MTV (or, in my case, Canada’s MuchMusic knock-off) and was a staple for radio stations looking for dance-pop tracks that had widespread appeal—a characteristic that, as I’ve discussed in this column before, shouldn’t be taken for granted. For many people, this one will have faded into wedding playlist innocuity by now. It’s cute and harmless and, as a result, may not be taken as seriously as I think it should. Those people may forget that it was the de facto theme for the 2006 FIFA World Cup and has soundtracked many an advertising campaign since its release. A big part of the reason for this is that call to arms. Deep down, human beings want to be a part of the love generation, whatever that means to them.

Or, that’s what I’d like to think, anyway. Naivete be damned.

👉 Don’t forget to click the album image to stream the album on your favorite platform 👈