We all can appreciate a good song that just gets us in the summer mood, one that makes the seasonal depression drift away and allows us to close our eyes and imagine driving down the coast. No matter what type of music you listen to, here are a few songs to add to your summer playlists to get you excited for the season!
Summer Classics & Fresh New Finds:
We all have some classic summer songs in mind when we think about this sunny season. If you’re looking to appreciate the basics while still adding something new to your playlist, check these songs out:
“Doses & Mimosas”- Cherub
“Tongue Tied”- Grouplove
“Bad Habit”- Steve Lacy
“Puffer”- Cautious Clay
“glitter”- Zac Greer
“Good Grief”- Bastille
“Sex on Fire”- Kings of Leon
“Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)”- Edison Lighthouse
“Borrowed World”- Widowspeak
“Someday Soon”- Harlem
“Looking Out for You”- Joy Again
“Kilby Girl”- The Backseat Lovers
“Learn to Fly”- Foo Fighters
“Santeria”- Sublime
“Island in the Sun”- Weezer
“Stacy’s Mom”- Fountains of Wayne
“Summertime”- DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince
“Hey Ya!”- OutKast
“Lost”- Frank Ocean
“Jerk It Out”- Caesars
“Summer in July”- Yukon Blonde
“Sold Out of Love”- The Nude Party
“Walking On a Dream”- Empire of the Sun
“Is This Love”- Bob Marley and the Wailers
“Three Little Birds”- Bob Marley and the Wailers
“Buffalo Soldier”- Bob Marley and the Wailers
“Feeling of New”- Indi&Noons
“Young Hearts Run Free (2023 Edit)”- Candi Staton & Benji La Vida
“Upside Down”- Jack Johnson
“On What You’re On”- Busted
“Life is a Highway”- Rascal Flats
“Brazil”- Declan McKenna
“Someday”- The Strokes
“Last Nite”- The Strokes
This list has a mix of pop, alternative styles, and throwbacks you might have forgotten.
“Tongue Tied” is a windows down, someone sticking their head out of the sunroof kind of song that kicks off the season.
The Foo Fighters’ “Learn to Fly” has an intro that has you hooked from the start and a beat that gets you moving.
Sublime always makes music that gives out good vibes and “Santria” is just that.
And you can’t have warm, sunny weather without listening to Bob Marley. His songs are the epitome of summertime.
Main Character Vibes:
These songs give major main character energy and will have you feeling like you’re starring in your own 2000s romcom this summer:
“Kids in America”- Kim Wilde
“Kiss Me”- Sixpence None the Richer
“Mr. Blue Sky”- Electric Light Orchestra
“Walking on Sunshine”- Katrina And The Waves
“Teenage Dirtbag”- Wheatus
“Alright”- Supergrass
“Electric Love”- BØRNS
“bad idea!”- girl in red
“All the Small Things”- blink-182
“Everybody Wants to Rule the World”- Tears for Fears
“Cigarette Daydreams”- Cage The Elephant
“Accidentally In Love”- Counting Crows
“We’re Going to Be Friends”- The White Strips
“The Safety Dance”- Men Without Hats
Country Tunes:
These are popular country songs perfect for beachy days that will have everyone singing along and in a happy mood:
“Country Girl (Shake It For Me)”- Luke Bryan
“Knockin’ Boots”- Luke Bryan
“The Kind of Love We Make”- Luke Combs
“Broadway Girls”- Lil Durk ft. Morgan Wallen
“Neon Star (Country Boy Lullaby)”- Morgan Wallen
“Like I Love Country Music”- Kane Brown
“Toes”- Zac Brown Band
“Chicken Fried”- Zac Brown Band
“Knee Deep”- Zac Brown Band ft. Jimmy Buffett
“Margaritaville”- Jimmy Buffet
Zac Brown Band always have a feel good song that will make you want to pop a squat in the sand and watch the waves. And what is summer without Jimmy Buffet? “Margaritaville” is definitely a favorite on this list.
Summer Throwbacks:
It never hurts to add on some classic summer throwbacks that people of all ages are sure to love:
“More Than a Woman”- Bee Gees
“You Should be Dancing”- Bee Gees
“Sister Golden Hair”- America
“Everywhere”- Fleetwood Mac
“Dreams”- Fleetwood Mac
“Rhiannon”- Fleetwood Mac
“Brown Eyed Girl”- Van Morrison
“Only Wanna Be with You”- Hootie & The Blowfish
“Down Under”- Men at Work
“Dancing Queen”- ABBA
“Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)”- ABBA
“Good Vibrations”- The Beach Boys
“I Get Around”- The Beach Boys
“Sweet Child O’ Mine”- Guns N’ Roses
“Sultans of Swing”- Dire Straits
“This Will Be (An Everlasting Love)”- Natalie Cole
“Cecilia”- Simon & Garfunkel
“Raspberry Beret”- Prince
“Hooked On a Feeling”- Blue Swede
“Vienna”- Billy Joel
“Here Comes the Sun”- The Beatles
“Good Day Sunshine”- The Beatles
ABBA was a must for this list; the whole Mama Mia soundtrack screams summer. The Beach Boys have the perfect beachy music, and who doesn’t like Fleetwood Mac?
“Raspberry Beret” and “Hooked on a Feeling” are great tunes for a drive with the windows down and the breeze in your hair.
“Vienna” is a song that reminds you as a young person that it’s okay to just relax and see where the wind takes you.
These will be a fun addition to your list, especially if you’re on aux with all ages listening.
Definitely add some of these to your summer playlists or song rotation. Good luck on finals and enjoy this summer!
