1. The Beach Boys, “California Girls”
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.”
2. Alice Cooper, “School’s Out”
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.
3. The Lovin’ Spoonful, “Summer in the City”
The only thing better than a lazy summer day is a steamy summer night.
4. The Go-Gos, “Vacation”
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.”
5. Bryan Adams, “Summer of ‘69”
This classic anthem captures the feelings of invincibility and nostalgia that come with summer break when you’re young.
6. The Beatles, “Here Comes the Sun”
George Harrison penned this sunny Beatlesclassic, perfect for summer mornings.
7. Sly and the Family Stone, “Hot Fun in the Summertime”
County fairs in the country sun and a summer fling make up this classic.
8. Don Henley, “The Boys of Summer”
This 1984 smash was nominated for a Record of the Year Grammy. Be sure to also listen to The Ataris’ killer cover.
9. Martha and the Vandellas, “(Love Is Like a) Heat Wave”
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!
10. Eddie Cochran, “Summertime Blues”
If you’ve ever had to work when your summer fling wanted to hang out, you can relate to this!
11. Seals and Crofts, “Summer Breeze”
This 1972 song is guaranteed to make you feel fine.
12. Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong, “Summertime”
“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.
13. Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta, “Summer Nights”
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.”
14. David Bowie and Mick Jagger, “Dancing in the Street”
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?
15. Katrina and the Waves, “Walking on Sunshine”
If this song doesn’t make you start beaming, check your pulse. You may have a problem.
16. Chubby Checker, “Let’s Twist Again”
This rock classic encourages you to relive last summer in the best way.
17. DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince, “Summertime”
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.
18. Mungo Jerry, “In the Summertime”
When the weather is fine, you’re sure to hear this ad nauseam.
19. Jan & Dean, “Surf City”
This tune, co-written by The Beach Boys’ Brian Wilson, went to No. 1 in 1963.
20. Donna Summer, “Hot Stuff”
Donna Summer basically screams, well, summer, with “Hot Stuff.”
21. Frank Sinatra, “Summer Wind”
This tune, originally in German, was first recorded stateside by Wayne Newton, then Perry Como, but was made most famous by Frank Sinatra. Since Old Blue Eyes’ rendition, it’s also been covered by Shirley Bassey, Michael Bublé, Willie Nelson, Barry Manilowand more.
22. Led Zeppelin, “Dancing Days”
Led Zeppelinmay not have specifically written this song to be blasted from drop-tops and boomboxes at barbecues, but they may as well have.
23. Bananarama, “Cruel Summer”
If you’re going through a breakup this summer, this ’80s girl group classic is for you.
24. Sam Cooke, “Summertime”
Sam Cooke infuses Porgy & Bess classic “Summertime” with a bluesy flair that only he could.
25. Dick Dale, “Misirlou”
Dick Dale turned a Mediterranean song that is believed to have been first performed around the 1920s into a surf rock classic with his 1962 cover. It enjoyed a resurgence thanks to its placement in Pulp Fictionin 1994.
26. The Beach Boys, “Kokomo”
Though The Beach Boyssang of “Kokomo” as a tropical island paradise full of “afternoon delights,” the only one anyone can find on a map is actually in Indiana. (Also, check out John Stamoson the drums here!)
27. Jimmy Buffett, “Margaritaville”
Whether you love them on the rocks or frozen, Jimmy Buffettpenned the perfect tune for getting tipsy on your front porch.
28. Taylor Swift, “Cruel Summer”
No, it’s not a cover of the Bananarama classic—Taylor Swift’s “Cruel Summer,” co-written with St. Vincent and Jack Antonoff, is about a clandestine romance that heats up with the weather.
29. Nelly, “Hot in Herre”
Because, obviously.
30. Len, “Steal My Sunshine”
This one-hit-wonder combines the raspy vocals of Marc Costanzo and the sweet singing of his sister Sharon over a sample of Andrea True’s 1976 hit “More, More More.”
31. Van Halen, “Panama”
This barely-subtle bit of raunch from Van Halengets summer points for the line “I can barely see the road from the heat comin’ off of it.”
32. The Ramones, “Rockaway Beach”
This punk rock classic is an ode to the biggest public beach in the United States, right in The Ramones’ borough of Queens.
33. Betty Who, “Glory Days”
Betty Who delivers the perfect song to reminisce on high school memories being “stuck in a summer haze.”
34. The Kinks, “Sunny Afternoon”
Being broke isn’t so bad when the weather is beautiful.
35. The Drifters, “Under the Boardwalk”
The Drifters really nail a day at the beach, right down to the smell of the boardwalk snacks, in this classic tune.
36. Sheryl Crow, “Soak Up the Sun”
Sheryl Crowwrote the perfect anthem for lazy summer days when you just want to catch some rays and relax.
37. Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee Feat. Justin Bieber, “Despacito (Remix)”
Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee already had a smash with “Despacito” before Justin Bieberhopped onto the remix, but when he did, the song took on a whole new life. The track was absolutely inescapable during summer 2017.
38. Daft Punk Feat. Pharrell Williams and Nile Rodgers, “Get Lucky”
“Get Lucky” became an instant classic and earned Daft Punkand collaborators Pharrell Williamsand Nile Rodgers several Grammys, including Best Pop Duo/Group Performance and Record of the Year, in 2014.
39. Chic, “Good Times”
“Good Times” by Chic has irresistible instrumentation (the bass line, guitar riffs and piano melody are legendary) and is quintessential summer: It makes you dance and encourages you to leave your cares behind. It’s also the most sampled song ever in history, being used in hits including “Rapper’s Delight” and Janet Jackson’s “All For You.”
40. The B-52s, “Rock Lobster”
This song is basically nonsense, but in the best way, evocative of 1960s surf hits.
41. Chicago, “Saturday in the Park”
Few songs better encapsulate a sunny, beautiful afternoon that may or may not have been on the Fourth of July.
42. Blondie, “In the Sun”
Debbie Harryopens this adorable ditty about hot weather, hurricane eyes and Hawaiian influences with a terse “Surf’s up” and closes asking, “Where’s my wave?”
43. Rupert Holmes, “Escape (Piña Colada Song)”
Piña coladas are a summer staple cocktail, and who doesn’t love frolicking in the sand? It’s enough to almost make you forget this song is about spouses who each attempted to cheat on one another through a personals column.
44. Snoop Dogg, “Gin and Juice”
Not only was “Gin and Juice” one of Snoop Dogg’s biggest hits, he also broke the Guinness World Record for the largest actual gin and juice cocktail 24 years after its release.
45. Florida Georgia Line Feat. Nelly, “Cruise (Remix)”
Florida Georgia Lineand Nellyhad a crossover smash when the “Country Grammer” rapper teamed up with the country duo for the remix of “Cruise.” They’ve since toured together and FGL is slated to produce Nelly’s next project.
46. The Beach Boys, “Surfin’ USA”
Because everybody’s surfin’ now!
47. Katy Perry, “California Gurls”
This song was so hot, it melted popsicles everywhere.
48. Weezer, “Island in the Sun”
Fun fact about this massive Weezer hit: This song wasn’t going to be on their 2001 self-titled album, but producer Ric Ocasek (the late frontman of The Cars) pushed for it.
49. Public Enemy, “Fight the Power”
“Fight the Power” became the unofficial summer anthem of 1989 after Spike Leecommissioned Public Enemy to record the track for his Do The Right Thing soundtrack.
50. Guns n’ Roses, “Paradise City”
This song is great for a summer party vibe—and it’s summer baby Slash’s favorite Guns n’ Roses song to play live.
51. Blink-182, “Rock Show”
Summer concerts (Warped Tour!) mix with teenage romance in this nostalgic, pop-punk classic.
52. The Motels, “Suddenly Last Summer”
Feeling wistful about a summer love that seemed too short-lived? This is your anthem.
53. The Smiths, “Cemetry Gates”
The quintessential goth kids’ summer love song curses a “dreaded sunny day.”
54. Marvin Gaye, “Got to Give It Up”
This is the song played at every barbecue, house party and cookout that makes even the most rhythmically challenged wallflowers dance.
55. The Hold Steady, “Constructive Summer”
If you, like many others, are determined to be productive between June and September, this song is for you.
56. Sam Hunt, “Body Like a Back Road”
Sam Huntwrote an ode to curvy women that’s also a great soundtrack for slow drives and lazy summer days.
57. Pavement, “Summer Babe”
This alternative classic references Stockton, California, where the band is from.
58. LFO, “Summer Girls”
What other song besides LFO’s “Summer Girls” references Cherry Coke, The Beastie Boys, Shakespeare’s sonnets and Abercrombie and Fitch?
59. Nicki Minaj, “Starships”
Aside from a great beat, the song starts with “Let’s go to the beach.” Whether or not you can actually go to the beach now, it’s a surefire summer pop bop.
60. Starland Vocal Band, “Afternoon Delight”
We all know what this song really is about, but it can apply to watching fireworks too, right?
61. Violent Femmes, “Blister in the Sun”
“Blister in the Sun” was one of the Violent Femmes’ biggest hits even though it was never a single. Bassist Brian Ritchie told Rolling Stone, “Through a long process of word of mouth, playing the gigs, other people doing covers of it, radio stations going rogue and playing it anyway even though the record company didn’t want them to, it became a standard before it was a hit.”
62. Kid Rock, “All Summer Long”
Kid Rocksampled Warren Zevon and Lynyrd Skynyrd’s respective classics “Werewolves in London” and “Sweet Home Alabama” for this quintessential warm-weather tune.
63. Little Big Town, “Pontoon”
Little Big Town dropped a great soundtrack for relaxing on a boat this summer.
64. Megan Thee Stallion Feat. Nicki Minaj and Ty Dolla $ign, “Hot Girl Summer”
Remind yourself that this song, yes, is for you.
65. Eric Church, “Springsteen”
Not only does this tune evoke nostalgia for younger July Saturday nights, it also references a ton of songs by The Boss himself.
66. Cardi B Feat. J Balvin and Bad Bunny, “I Like It”
You can hear the heat coming from this song, largely thanks to the Pete Rodriguez sample and Cardi B’s rhymes: “I run this s**t like cardio.”
67. Brian Hyland, “Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini”
Don’t feel self-conscious in your swimsuit!
68. Prince, “Raspberry Beret”
Lazy summer days spent “doing something close to nothing” are perfect for dancing along to this Princeclassic.
69. Alan Jackson Feat. Jimmy Buffett, “It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere”
Alan Jacksonand Jimmy Buffett sing the perfect serenade for those of us stuck working on summer Fridays…and Saturdays, Sundays, Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.
70. The Eagles, “One of These Nights”
The guitar riffs and falsetto vocals in The Eagles’ “One of These Nights” are perfect for one of those crazy old nights.
71. Chad & Jeremy, “A Summer Song”
If Grease isn’t your thing, this 1964 folk-driven classic is a more wistful tune about summer love that ended too soon.
72. Richard Marx, “Endless Summer Nights”
Before Richard Marxbecame a beloved Twitter personality, he was a guy with a mullet who wrote some killer soft rock jams, including this one, inspired by a trip to Hawaii with a former love.
73. Garth Brooks, “That Summer”
Garth Brooks’ tune about a cougar teaching a teenage employee something he’ll never forget over the summer is, in reality, a #MeToo story, but its imagery of summer storms is particularly compelling.
74. Jake Owen, “Beachin’”
You can practically smell the saltwater and boardwalk snacks in Jake Owen’s hit, the video of which was filmed in Daytona Beach.
75. Johnny Rivers, “Summer Rain”
This tune, released in the fall, reminisces on the Summer of Love and even references The Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.
76. Dixie Chicks, “Wide Open Spaces”
This Dixie Chicksclassic is great for days when you just want to run through an open field.
77. Mariah Carey Feat. Miguel, “#Beautiful”
Just as the music video suggests, Mariah Careyand Miguel blend their smooth vocals together for a great soundtrack to a leisurely ride on the back of a motorcycle.
78. Demi Lovato, “Cool for the Summer”
Demi Lovatodelivered on this song about summertime experimentation, released shortly before they “officially” came out as bisexual.
79. Kool and the Gang, “Summertime Madness”
This instrumental hit is great background music for a party on the beach.
80. Lana Del Rey, “Summertime Sadness”
Lana Del Rey and Jaime King star in the video for this song about a summer love that makes you feel alive, even if its brevity makes shatters you in the end. Not sure where to actually tune in to these great songs of summer? Check out our list of the best music streaming services and find the one that’s right for you.
