For those of us who don’t live in tropical splendour year-round, the arrival of summer brings with it a certain set of seasonal enjoyments: from holidays spent by the beach to sunning yourself in the backyard – all of which are soundtracked by the warm, airy and carefree songs of summer.
Before the ‘Song of the Summer’ became an official superlative by the music industry, it was merely measured by an instinctive feeling. What makes a great summer song? Well for a start it’s all about the vibe, the feel, every bit as much as it’s about the lyrics.
Ever since the Billboard Hot 100 was christened in 1958, the seasonal hits of each summer have stood as a snapshot in time. A nostalgic mix of memory and sunshine that transport you back to the summers of your youth. Whether it’s Nat King Cole’s feel good, ‘Lazy, Hazy, Crazy Days Of Summer’ in 1963 or the official block party anthem ‘Summertime’ by DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince in 1991, there’s a summer song for every era.
For some, it’s all about escapism. From the steel drums of Bob Marley’s ‘Jamming’ to the Bossa Nova rhythms of ‘The Girl From Ipanema’ by Stan Getz, João Gilberto and Astrud Gilberto, each creates an atmospheric vibe that’s geared towards maximum relaxation when it’s too hot to move. Other times it’s about celebrating the buoyant and boundless energy of a sunny day on quintessential hits like: Martha & The Vandellas’ ‘Dancing In The Streets’, Katrina And The Waves ‘Walking On Sunshine’ or ‘Hot Fun In The Summertime’ by Sly & The Family Stone.
Speaking of reggae, while Marley is the unequivocal king of sun-soaked island fare, there are endless other summer-ready tunes that stoke good vibrations including Black Uhuru’s ‘Chill Out’, 10cc’s ‘Dreadlock Holiday’ and Aswad’s poppy cover of Tina Turner’s ‘Don’t Turn Around’.
Another hallmark of summer songs is summer loves. They burn hot, bright and fast just like the season, but are immortalized in song. From Richard Marx’s ‘Endless Summer Nights’ to Mungo Jerry’s lascivious skiffle song, ‘In The Summertime’ and the more indie, ‘Girl’ by Beck, these fleeting dalliances inspire some of the best songs.
While some great summer songs are less lyrically explicit about summer, others embrace the theme head on with endless variations. There’s ‘Long Hot Summer’ by The Style Council, Eddie Cochran’s ‘Summertime Blues’, ‘Summer In The City’ by The Lovin’ Spoonful’…you get the idea.
Not all summer songs are about ‘Sunshine, Lollipops and Rainbows’. Some capture the bittersweet feeling of summers gone by are more reflective in nature. Whether it’s The Motels’ mysterious, new wave hit ‘Suddenly Last Summer’, or the beautiful harmonies of ‘A Summer Song’ by UK folk-duo, Chad & Jeremy, these are best saved for the end of a summer playlist, so you don’t bum everyone out at your party.
Tell us what your quintessential summer song is and follow our playlist of The 100 Greatest Summer Songs.
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‘Our Last Summer’ – Abba
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what about “ON the beach” by Chris Rea
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Sinatra — Summer Wind.
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Summer Nights by Survivor!
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“Summertime” by Janis Joplin. Why it is not on this list I find unbelievable.
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Blue sky by The Allman brothers band.
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Blue Sky the Allman brothers Band. Great summer song.
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“Summer in the city” by ABBA
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great list but how in the world did “beach baby” by first class and “summerfling” by kd lang not make the list.
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Beach Baby my favorite summer song & Things We Did Last Summer, Summer Breeze by Seals & Croft, Pina Colada Song, not listed.
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Hot Summer Day by It’s A Beautiful Day and Summer Breeze by Seals and Crofts
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Everybody Loves the Sunshine by Roy Ayers, Golden Lady by Stevie Wonder
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Where’s “Under the Boardwalk”???
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What about “Lonely Summer” b/w “Slow LocoMotion” by The Four Buddies? ? ? ?
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I’d include “Starless Summer Skies” by Marshall Crenshaw; but no one asked me.
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can’t hear a thing
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Summer of 69 -Bryan Adams,love it when he sings it at gigs
In the summertime -Mungo Jerry
Summertime (from Porgy and bess) -Jack Jones
Summerwind- Frank Sinatra
here comes summer- Jerry keller
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One rare but one of the best summer songs is The Pretty Things-Summertime
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All Summer Long-Beach Boys
LoveLand-Charles Wright and The Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band
Friends- Beach Boys
Summer in the City-Lovin’ Spoonful
A Summer Song- Chad and Jeremy
California Nights- Lesley Gore
If you Will-Cold Blood
I Drove All Night- Cyndi Lauper
Sunset Grill-Don Henley
Florida Room & Walk Between the Raindrops-Donald Fagan
Summer Wind-Frank Sinatra
I Get the Sweetest Feeling-Jackie Wilson
Sittin’ in the Park-Billy Stewart
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Summer Heat by Chunk! No, Captain Chunk
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Where’s Mr Blue Sky??? It ain’t summer without Mr Blue Sky!!
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Hear come,s summer Craig Douglas.
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Like Ice in the Sunshine Beagle Music Ltd.
Happy Hawaii ABBA
Walking on Sunshine Katrina and the Waves
Let your love flow Bellamy Brothers
Rio Maywood
Sunshine Reggae Laid Back
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“The Heat Is On” by Agnetha Faltskog
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The Most Wonderful Summer of My Life
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Summer Means Fun–Bruce and Terry
The ultimate summer surfin’ song ’63
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Under the Boardwalk.
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Surfin USA & California Girls – Beach Boys
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Saw a lot of my favorites although the list was a little too long and seemed forced with some of the selections. Others have noted some oversights. I would add the Doors “Light my Fire” that may not have had a ‘summer’ reference but was played from spring thru summer. Below are my favorites from the Best Songs list –
Summer in the City
Groovin’
Sunny Afternoon
Summer Rain
Dock of the Bay
Sloop John B
Summer Nights
Sunshine Superman
Under the Boardwalk
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Spanky / Our Gang – Lazy Day
Hermans Hermits – Sunshine Girl
Dino Desi / Billy – Under A Beach Boy Moon
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San Francisco – Scott McKenzie
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Theme From A Summer Place by Jackie Rae (a vocal version)
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JJ Grey & Mofro: The sun is shining down
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Nothing from the “king of summer music” Jimmy Buffett! What’s a summer play list without Margaritavillle??
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San Francisco. Scott Mckenzie
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As a diehard Deadhead, let me offer a couple of Grateful Dead summer classics: U.S. Blues & Sugar Magnolia.
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No Paper Sun by Traffic? Released in the Summer of Love 1967! Also Bummer in the Summer by Love, same yeat