When the summer rolls around, you know it’s time for a few things: beach vacations, eating ice cream, chilling by the pool, rolling the windows down, and blasting your favorite bangers while the wind blows through your hair. We all know that in the days of Spotify, you can’t rely on just the radio as your sole source of tunage. For a truly personalized summer vacation, you need a personalized audio playlist.
That’s where I come in.
I’m going to give you my top 10 songs to include on this year’s summer playlist. Before I get into the songs themselves, I’ll give you the criteria I used to craft this playlist. For bonus points, I’ve also created the playlist on Spotify that you can add by clicking here!
- No explicit content (Mostly)
- Songs can come from any time period
- All genres welcome
There you have it! We’ve got songs to jam to, songs to fall in love to, and songs to dance to. Let’s get into the list (In no particular order)!
Steal Me - Jupiter Sunrise
If you were looking for deep cuts, I’m hitting you with the deepest cut right out of the gate. This beautiful song came from an obscure band’s playlist way back in the early 2000s. Still a great song!
Colors - Black Pumas
This song is everywhere right now, and for good reason! The chord progression is perfect, the melody sticky, and the beat oh so groovy. You can listen to this song anywhere and feel better!
Interspace - Starcadian
This weird song has a groove that I can’t get out of my head when I listen to it. Watching the music video will only leave you confused. Just enjoy the jam and don’t ask questions.
Winter Everywhere - Slaves
Usually an emo outfit, this band wrote a heck of song with Winter Everywhere. The slow buildup to a cracking snare is perfect for bobbing your head to. If you’re like me, you’ll find yourself listening to this song over and over again.
A Praise Chorus - Jimmy Eat World
I’ve never heard a more upbeat song with a perfect bridge in my life. “Crimson and clover, over and over” is just absolute music perfection.
Tongues - Joywave
Joywave is a weird band, but this song is a classic. Poppy and upbeat with a weird psychedelic undercurrent, you can sing along to this song with ease. You’ll even find yourself boop beep bopping with the little electronic riff throughout the song.
At the Beach - The Avett Brothers
If you’re at the beach, you should probably listen to a song called At the Beach. This song is vintage Avett Brothers with poppy rhythms punctuated by snappy bluegrass influences. Get to dancing already!
Sunflower - Post Malone ft. Swae Lee
Swae Lee is amazing. So is Post Malone. If I had my druthers, I would have included a more inappropriate song by this bunch, but this song will do perfectly. The melody is still stuck in my head, and the last time I heard it was last week!
Bad Guy - Billie Eilish
Can I say anything about Billie Eilish that hasn’t already been said? She’s probably a musical genius.
California Gurls - Katy Perry ft. Snoop Dogg
This is the most summer song ever written, and nothing will convince me otherwise. I’ve seen the most manly looking bikers with beards down to their waists singing this song without hesitation.
Good Vibrations - The Beach Boys
Go back to the beginning with The Beach Boys! All we want are good vibes!
Super Freak - Rick James
Rick James was a treasure. We should all honor him by blasting this tune by the pool this summer.
Baby Got Back - Sir Mix-A-Lot
Is there a song that gets everyone at the party more excited than this song? I’ve never met someone who doesn’t instantly get a smile on their face when “Oh my God, Becky” blasts on the speakers.
Coffee Breath - American Wolf
American Wolf isn’t a very popular band, but they write some great music. Coffee Breath mirrors the hazy brain feeling of waking up the next day after a perfect night out with friends.
Happy Together - The Turtles
Everyone can sing this song, especially at the end. Ba ba ba ba ba ba ba ba ba ba baaaaaa. See? We did it! Just don’t ever watch the music video.
So Strange - Polyphia ft. Cuco
This upbeat song is written by some of the most talented musicians in the game right now. Usually this kind of song would be annoying and pretentious, but So Strange has a great groove and a really catchy hook.
Blinding Lights - The Weeknd
The Weeknd is one of the best musical acts since Michael Jackson. If you disagree, I’ll fight you.
210 Lilac Sky - Goody Grace
Goody Grace is a crossover singer songwriter whose songs run the gamut from hip hop to folk. 210 Lilac Sky is a lazy reminiscing tune that will fill you with silky vibes.
All the Small Things - Blink 182
I could have chosen a boy band song here, but why not go with the anti-boy-band boy band instead? This song hits all the right notes for a summer banger.
Jealous (I Ain’t With It) - Chromeo
Chromeo is one of those bands that are blessed with a gift for melody. Their mix of infectious rhythms, charming lyrics, and (sometimes too blunt) honesty make them perfect for including in this playlist. Who hasn’t felt jealous when you see your ex at the pool lookin’ good with someone else while you’re stuck at Subway making sandwiches? Just me?
Like my playlist? Think I should have included something else? Let me know!
