The 10 Best Songs of Summer

The quintessential Summer Album

 

First of All, Covid Sucks

Don’t worry, I’ll get to the top songs, I just wanted to set the scene here. I think we can all agree that Summer 2020 has not been anything like our summers of the past thanks to the specter and hysteria of the Corona Virus. Being cooped up for months, with so many of our pools, beaches and parks closed – it’s disheartening, it’s maddening.

Because of this, I haven’t really gotten into any kind of summertime groove, the happy sunshiny vibe I usually get by June every year just hasn’t been there. When I think of summer, I think of going to the pool, swimming with friends, the beach, taking family vacations, amusement parks, Splashtown, going to 4th of July Festivals, kids playing at the park, going out to get sno-cones or to the ice cream shop, taking the kids to indoor attractions (when the temps hit 100 here in Houston) like Main Event or Dave & Busters, and on and on.

This graphic depresses me right now, tbh

The Good News

After that downer of an intro here, it’s time to bring the mood up a bit. I made myself a Summertime Playlist so that even if I feel like a prisoner in my house, I can at least get a feel of the vibes of summer through my senses. Nothing has stopped us from going to our back deck for grilling and chilling on all our new patio furniture (with fans blowing and huge patio umbrellas to boot, of course, this is Texas), nothing is stopping us from setting up our speakers to enjoy summertime tunes while monching (yes, “monching”) on some fajitas or burgers or whatever else we’re in the mood for.

This photo is unrealistic, as it doesn’t show big arguments or whiny kids

The Top 10 Best Summer Songs of All Time, Non-Negotiable Edition

I present to you the top 10 summertime songs of all time, with links to their corresponding YouTube videos. If you disagree, you’re wrong (just kidding, let me know what’s missing or which ones you hate on my Twitter).

1. Summertime – DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince
2. Margaritaville – Jimmy Buffett
3. Summer Breeze  – Seals & Crofts
4. In the Summertime – Mongo Jerry
5. Dancing in the Street – Van Halen
6. California Girls – The Beach Boys
7. Catch a Wave – The Beach Boys
8. Good Vibrations – The Beach Boys
9. Summer In The City – The Lovin Spoonful
10. The 10th rank is a tie between The Boys of Summer, by Don Henley, and Cruel Summer, by Bananarama (But the best music video of these two is without question The Boys of Summer).

I can’t make my mind up between the two choices I’ve tied for #10 on my list, but I can say they’re the only depressing summer songs on the list, so I don’t listen to them often, only when I’m feeling blue and want to wallow in it a bit (come on, you do that too, we all do).

But I hope numbers 1 through 9 might spark some happy memories – you might even be inspired to make your own playlist to cheer you up on the worst days of feeling cooped up this summer.

If you have any songs I left out, let me know on Twitter, I’d love to add more to my playlist!