Get Ready for Fun in the Sun With These Summer Songs
Is anyone else counting down the days until the first day of summer? It's the season of opportunity, and you can bet those opportunities will be taken—fun beach trips, eventful 4th of July cookouts, refreshing summer cocktail parties, and all. The only thing missing from such an experience is a summer playlist. Music makes everything better, and yes, that includes all those seasonal summer parties. So while you're planning your next three months of sun and bliss, you might want to make sure you've got a list of songs ready to carry you through. You can get a little help from this list of best summer songs.
So many of these summer songs truly romanticize the beauty of being outside. "Soak Up The Sun" by Sheryl Crow is just one example! Other songs on this list are beach songs, summer country songs, or songs about summer love. It doesn't get more magical than Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta's "Summer Nights" from Grease. Whether you're looking for songs from the '70s, '80s, or today, just one listen to these summer tunes, and you'll be ready to surf, tan, and take *all* your vacation days. Scroll through this list of best summer songs, and let us know which ones are your favorite.
Read more fun summer content:
"Summertime Blues" by Alan Jackson
Got the summertime blues? Head to the beach to cure them. Doctor's orders! Alan Jackson's country cover of this classic hit is what summer should be all about.
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"Dancing in the Streets" by Martha & The Vandellas
Dancing in the streets sounds like a perfect summer activity if you think about it. Nothing feels more freeing, and Martha & The Vandellas agree.
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"I Gotta Feeling" by Black Eyed Peas
"I gotta feeling..." that this summer is going to be a good one. The upbeat tempo and encouraging lyrics to this 2000s anthem is just what everyone needs going into the season.
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"Good Vibrations" by The Beach Boys
Ah, there's nothing like basking in the California sun during the warm months. Listening to this one will give you good vibrations all summer.
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"Sunroof" by Nicky Youre, dazy
"I got my head out the sunroof, I’m blasting our favorite tunes." That line alone single handedly described all of suburban America during summertime—how can you not want to blast it after that?
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"Island In The Sun" by Weezer
Even if the only words you know to this song are "hip-hip," there's no denying the chill vibes this one exudes. It's perfect for when you just want to relax in the breezy air.
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"Chicken Fried" by Zac Brown Band
Don't know about you, but sweet tea, pecan pie, and homemade wine (all mentioned in the song) is the epitome of summer. Oh, and chicken fried, of course.
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"Under the Boardwalk" by The Drifters
Ah, to be barefoot along the boardwalk on a cool summer evening. The Drifters know how to embody the summer experience for those who love a little adventure.
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"Mr. Blue Sky" by Electric Light Orchestra
Blue skies and sunlit terrains, that's summer for you. Honestly, playing this one in the background of your everyday life might be just what you need to be successful in the summer. Can someone conduct a study on this?
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"Watermelon Sugar" by Harry Styles
Watermelon is arguably the fruit of summer, so of course Harry Styles' 2019 hit song had to make this list. Listening to this while drinking any sort of watermelon concoction seems like a great way to spend those lazy summer days.
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"Espresso" by Sabrina Carpenter
Sabrina Carpenter practically created an endless summer hit. The music video alone will convince you to call up your friends right now for a road trip to the nearest coastline. The lyrics and the groovy melody basically seal the deal.
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"Hey Ya!" by Outkast
André 3000 is the star of this music video. He plays every member of the band, showing up multiple times throughout—and that's both brilliant and hilarious. It helps that the chorus also has a way of raising moods immediately.
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"A Summer Song" by Chad & Jeremy
It's titled "A Summer Song" for a reason. Add this to your playlist of best summer songs, or add it to your playlist of songs you want to listen to when you're missing summer.
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"Viva La Vida" by Coldplay
Those violins in the intro will get you every time! "Viva La Vida" translates to "Long Live Life", but can we change that to be "Long Live Summer"? The season should never end.
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"Perfect Places" by Lorde
Like Lorde, you can discover some perfect places in the summer. Whether that be sunflower fields, your local ice cream joint, or a hidden spot that no one needs to know about—this song channels that sentiment.
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"Walking on Sunshine" by Katrina & The Waves
Cue the first 10 seconds of this song, and we, too, are walking on sunshine! There's just something so giddy about this song by Katrina & The Waves that we can't help but move a little every time it plays!
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"Summer Breeze" by Seals & Crofts
Seals & Crofts created an ever-nostalgic tune with "Summer Breeze." Put it on, and you'll instantly be transported back to the '70s, whether you were around then or not.
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"Summer Nights" by Olivia-Newton John and John Travolta
Does it get any more summery than this? Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta sing one of the most memorable duets from the movie Grease, and it's been a summer anthem since it came out.
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"Saturday in the Park" by Chicago
Mentions of the Fourth of July, strolls in the park, and a general smile on people's face—we're feeling like it's summer just after one listen to this song by Chicago!
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"In The Sun" by Blondie
Things are simply just more fun in the sun! We don't make the rules... Blondie does!
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"Summer Of '69" by Bryan Adams
"Summer of '69" has us reminiscing on all the fun we had in past summers. Well, here's to making all the future ones just as good!
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"Suddenly Last Summer" by The Motels
You know what they say: Time flies, especially when you're having fun! "Suddenly Last Summer" reminds us that the season leaves as fast as it arrives.
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"The Boys Of Summer" by Don Henley
Another song about the nostalgia of summer memories... who would've guessed! This time, however—the Don Henley classic focuses more on aging, using summer as a metaphor for youth.
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"Vacation" by The Go-Go's
If there's a time to reset, it's summer! The Go-Go's let us know that if there's something (or someone) we're trying to forget, summer is the perfect season for it.
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"That Summer Feeling" by Jonathan Richman
Jonathan Richman reimagines what summer means with his melancholy tune.
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"Here Comes The Sun" by The Beatles
"Here comes the sun, and I say it's alright." If summer could be summed up in one line, it's that!
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"Rock Lobster" by The B-52's
The lyrics don't really have to make sense when you're a summer hit like this! We're sure people had questions in 1978, but they still danced away, charting this song on Billboard's Hot 1oo.
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"Cruel Summer" by Bananarama
Heartbreak in the summertime is a "cruel" feeling, as Bananarama puts it. Here's to hoping that none of us have to experience what that means! 😅
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"California Girls" by The Beach Boys
Don't be confused, "California Girls" was a summertime classic way before the Katy Perry song! Put this on, and we can promise that you'll be singing along almost right away.
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"Lovely Day" by Bill Withers
We're ready for all of the lovely days summer will bring. We'll be grooving to this Bill Withers song all season long.
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"Summer Wind" by Frank Sinatra
Frank Sinatra singing about anything summer related is all we need to get ready for the sunny season.
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"Dancing Days" by Led Zeppelin
"Dancing days are here again, as the summer evenings grow." That line alone explains our feelings as summer creeps its way closer!
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"Rockaway Beach" by The Ramones
Don't mind our shoulder, it just kinda does *that* every time this song by The Ramones comes on.
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"Good Times" by Chic
This list would not have been complete without "Good Times" by Chic! It's a classic that still gets played at all the summer barbecues!
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"Summertime" by Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald
Louis Armstrong on the trumpet and Ella Fitzgerald's vocals are all we need to ensure ourselves that miracles do exist.
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"Cruel Summer" by Taylor Swift
Only Taylor Swift could make sad lyrics sound so, so catchy. (She's really a mastermind at that! 😉)
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"Springsteen" by Eric Church
We don't know how to explain it, but this song sounds just like summer. And we'll leave it at that!
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"Soak Up The Sun" by Sheryl Crow
You can count on us belting out this chorus on our way to every beach trip we take this summer.
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"Summer" by Calvin Harris
"When I met you in the summer..." Those seven words sung, followed by the iconic electronic beats gets us going every time.
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"Cruise" by Florida Georgia Line
This song is *meant* to be listened to during the summer, in your car, driving with your windows down.
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