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Enjoy a curated collection of classic and contemporary tracks that capture the spirit of summer, from Harry Styles to Kylie Minogue. Whether you're looking for beach vibes, road trip tunes, or nostalgic hits, this playlist has something for everyone.
- Tim Lowery
- (Sittin’ on the) Dock of the Bay’ by Otis Redding. Okay, so this lazy-day masterpiece, recorded mere days before Redding’s death in a plane crash, doesn’t specifically single out that it takes place during summertime.
- Under the Boardwalk’ by the Drifters. This song is deceptively simple – there aren’t many verses, and there’s a pretty long instrumental interlude right in the middle – but few tunes are as evocative of summer as this one.
- Summertime’ by DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince. Before rushing the stage at the Oscars and proving himself the ultimate Wife Guy, Will Smith just wanted to kick it in the park in a Speed Racer shirt with half the population of Philadelphia around him and reminisce about chasing girls, driving slow and eating barbecue at the family reunion.
- Summer in the City’ by the Lovin’ Spoonful. The Lovin’ Spoonful begins its brilliant rock portrait of urban mood swings in a prelude of pent-up anticipation.
- The Beach Boys, "California Girls"
- Alice Cooper, "School's Out"
- The Go-Gos, "Vacation"
- Bryan Adams, "Summer of '69"
- Don Henley, "The Boys of Summer"
- Martha and The Vandellas, "(Love Is Like A) Heat Wave"
- Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong, "Summertime"
- Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta, "Summer Nights"
- David Bowie and Mick Jagger, "Dancing in The Street"
- Dj Jazzy Jeff and The Fresh Prince, "Summertime"
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Before Katy Perrywas a twinkle in her dad's eye, The Beach Boysdelivered the ultimate ode to summer and the babes who relish in it with "California Girls."
Whether you're thrilled about this as a kid or dreading it as a parent, Alice Cooper's classic is sure to be stuck in your head every June. Related: 50 Best Summer Movies of All Time
Props to this all-girl band for making one of the most enduring summer songs ever, thanks to its classic and simple hook: "Vacation, all I ever wanted / Vacation, have to get away." Related: Fun Summer Date Ideas
This classic anthem captures the feelings of invincibility and nostalgia that come with summer break when you're young.
This 1984 smash was nominated for a Record of the Year Grammy. Be sure to also listen to The Ataris' killer cover.
When you're about to gripe about boob sweat and electric bills from your air conditioning, play this song and learn to love the heat!
"Summertime" may sound like an anthem to a lazy August day, but the George Gershwin classic from Porgy & Bess has a deeper and more haunting meaning in the context of the opera: A sweet lullaby during a time of extreme fear, oppression and tragedy. Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong's version of it might be the most beautiful one we've ever heard.
This classic tune, sung by Greasestars Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta along with their ensemble cast, is a great ending to summer track, when you're reminiscing with your friends about "splashin' around."
This cover is as good as the original but with more of a rock than a pop vibe—and it's David Bowie and Mick Jagger. Who can say no?
Will Smith raps alongside DJ Jazzy's Jeff's breezy beat about everything from barbecues to basketball games to the mall, capturing all the best things about the hottest season of the year.
Find out the top songs about summer from classic crooning to rock anthems, from beach parties to heat waves. This list covers the best summer songs of all time, from The Beach Boys to David Bowie and Mick Jagger.
- Brett Milano
- 16
- 2 min
- Martha & The Vandellas: Dancing In The Street. When Martha Reeves sent out her “invitation across the nation” to get people on their feet, she had no idea it would evolve into a civil-rights anthem.
- The Beach Boys: California Girls. What other band has embodied surf, sand, and sun more than The Beach Boys? Any number of their recordings can rank among the best summer songs of all time.
- Nelly: Hot in Herre. “It’s getting hot in here, so take off all your clothes” – a summer sentiment if there ever was one. With this good-natured come-on, Nelly found the magic formula that appealed to hip-hop heads, old-school R&B fans, and even the party veterans who were well familiar with the “roof is on fire” chant.
- Louis Armstrong & Ella Fitzgerald: Summertime. There are hundreds of versions of this Gershwin chestnut – even R.E.M. made a pretty nice go of it – but nobody ever handled it more lovingly than Ella and Louis.
Jun 25, 2022 · A list of 50 essential songs for the summer season, from rock to hip-hop, from Chubby Checker to Cardi B. Find out which tunes made the cut and why they are perfect for hot fun and hot nights.
Grab a drink, hit the beach and get silly in the sun with the ultimate collection of summer anthems.
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