I’d like to nominate Keri Hilson’s new single as a candidate for 2009′s Summer Anthem.

If I didn’t love  “Knock You Down” the first time I heard it, it’s because it cops a lot of moves from other hits. I mean, the sunshine-bright synths in the chorus are awesome, but they were awesome in “Umbrella,” too. And it’s always nice to have Kanye and Ne-Yo along, but damn… they’re everywhere I go.  Kanye sold me an organic plum at Whole Foods last night, and Ne-Yo was on Rosie O’Donnell’s variety show.

The more I listen, though, the more I appreciate how the song’s familiar pieces add up to mindless, scrumptious joy. Keri Hilson isn’t distinctive enough to revolutionize the sound of R&B, but she’s got good taste in producers and collaborators, and the team creates an exceptional version of the current status quo, blending the highest quality  guest rap,thumping bass hook, and electronic sound wash into a pleasurable jam.

In other words, “Knock You Down” is a song that lets you roll down your car’s window on a warm night, stick out your arm,and let your hand bounce on the wind. It’s an uncomplicated good time.

And lyrically, it’s a lot of fun. Take this section from Ne-Yo’s verse, where he admits that he loves Keri Hilson enough to stop his (apparently legendary) affairs with other ladies:

I used to be commander-in-chief
of my pimp ship
flyin’ high
’til i met this pretty little missile
that shot me out the sky

Does this mean that Ne-Yo doesn’t need his flying pimp ship anymore? Is he selling it on Craig’s List? Will you guys bid on it with me? If we take it to the mall, we’ll get a good parking space, because pimp ship parking is always by the door.

Anyway, the absurdity pleases me, and judging by the song’s music video, it pleases Ne-Yo, too. Like Keri and Kanye, he’s just goofing around, having a good time. He’s not worried, and we shouldn’t be either. We should just t let “Knock You Down” do its thing while we cruise toward the summer.