Resources / Home & Family

50 Summer Songs for Your Playlist


Our summers often have a soundtrack, a blend of popular songs and the sounds of your favorite places, from ocean waves to crackling fires. A song can bring back memories of summer romance or the joy of childhood vacations on the shore. 

This list will give you plenty of ideas for your playlist with songs inspired by the season and summer hits from past decades. Invite your favorite people to a cookout or pool party and play some of these tunes and your own favorites.

Pop Hits

  1. Party in the USA, Miley Cyrus- This catchy pop song will set a festive mood for your 4th of July party!
  2. Call Me Maybe, Carly Rae Jepsen - This debut hit was the song of summer in 2012, capturing the excitement of summer romance.
  3. 24K Magic, Bruno Mars - The perfect song to get a dance party started at the pool, beach or anywhere!
  4. It's Gonna Be Me, N' Sync This boy band classic will always be a sing-along staple for summer road trips and celebrations.
  5. Umbrella, Rhianna and Jay-Z - This 2007 hit will keep you rocking and remind you of the people who have you covered rain or shine.
  6. Despacito, Luis Fonsi, Daddy Yankee - The worldwide hit blended Latin pop and reggaeton - the remix featuring Justin Bieber tied a record 16 weeks at the top of the Billboard 100 charts in 2017.
  7. Sunroof, Nicky Youre, dazy - This pop song will make you want to hit the road for a summer adventure.
  8. Dynamite, Taio Cruz - Take your party or your workout up a notch with this huge hit about tearing up the dance floor.
  9. Livin' la Vida Loca, Ricky Martin - This international hit about a girl who lives on the edge launched Martin to superstardom and topped the charts for weeks.
  10. In My Feelings, Drake - This hip hop phenomenon sparked a viral dance craze in the summer of 2018.
  11. Old Town Road, Little Nas X with Billy Ray Cyrus - The song of the summer in 2019 defied genres with a blend of country and rap and became one of the bestselling singles of all time.
  12. Summertime, DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince - Before he was the Fresh Prince of Bel Air, Will Smith celebrated the joys of summertime in the city, taking time to sit back and unwind.
  13. Cool, The Jonas Brothers - The perfect song to play when you're chilling out in the summer with your crew.
  14. I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me), Whitney Houston - People around the world loved this 1987 summer hit about finding love on the dance floor.
  15. Endless Summer Nights, Richard Marx - This 80's classic captures the romance and heartbreak of summer love that doesn't last.
  16. I Gotta Feeling, The Black Eyed Peas - The perfect song to get you excited for a fun night out on the town.
  17. I Like It, Cardi B, Bad Bunny & J Balvin - It's impossible not to dance to this Latin and hip hop hit that brought the heat in the summer of 2018.
  18. Butter, BTS - This song will keep you feeling smooth like butter even when the temperature rises.
  19. We Belong Together, Mariah Carey - You may remember belting out this song that marked a comeback and first #1 hit for Mariah in 2005.
  20. The Boy is Mine, Brandy & Monica - This duet duel over a boy shot up the charts and earned both singers their first #1 hit.
  21. Summer Girls, LFO - This hit was a snapshot of the 90's with memorable lyrics about pop culture and summer love.
  22. It Takes Two, Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock - This hip-hop classic from the New York duo was a late summer hit in 1988 and has been recognized as one of the greatest songs of all time by Rolling Stone and Spin.

Invite friends to a cookout with an online sign up. View an Example

Classic Songs

  1. Lovely Day by Bill Withers - This classic brings out the sunshine and sets a happy vibe for your gathering or an afternoon on the porch.
  2. Sitting by the Dock of the Bay by Otis Redding - The sound of the ocean waves intros this song about finding peace by the water even when life is stormy.
  3. Escape (The Pina Colada Song) by Rupert Holmes - Don't we all want to drink pina coladas and get caught in the rain? This yacht rock favorite always sets a chill mood and pairs with fruity drinks.
  4. Dancing in the Street, Martha and the Vandellas - Whether you're dancing in the streets or by the pool, this classic will get you and your friends grooving.
  5. Let's Twist Again, Chubby Checker - A follow up to Checker's #1 hit "The Twist", this song will bring you back to the time when twisting was all the rage.
  6. Summertime is Calling Me by The Catalinas - This beach music classic will inspire you to get out of town to find bliss at the beach.
  7. Summer in the City, The Lovin' Spoonful - This rock classic laments the brutal heat and celebrates the romance of summer in the city.
  8. Born to Be Wild, Steppenwolf - Whether you're heading out on the highway to the beach or the airport, this song will inspire us to embrace a little wild this season.
  9. Sweet Caroline (Good Times Never Seemed So Good), Neil Diamond - This classic gets people singing along whether you're at a sporting event or in the car heading to the beach.
  10. Brandy (You're a Fine Girl), Looking Glass - A 1972 yacht rock favorite about the waitress adored by sailors and her love lost to the sea.
  11. Got To Give It Up (Part 1 & 2), Marvin Gaye - This disco-era track about finding freedom on the dance floor reached number #1 in June 1977.
  12. Good Vibrations, The Beach Boys - This ultimate summer anthem sets a good vibe for any gathering.
  13. Changes in Attitudes, Changes in Latitudes, Jimmy Buffet - The song captures Buffet's "island escapism", inspiring us to set out for the coast to find a sunnier outlook on life.
  14. Good Times, Chic - Summer is all about good times with your favorite people, and this song makes it easy to leave our cares behind.
  15. Where Did Our Love Go, The Supremes- This Motown classic topped the charts in the summer of 1964, as the Supremes toured with Dick Clark's American Bandstand Caravan of Stars.

It's easy to plan a pool party with an online sign up. View an Example

Country

  1. Cruise featuring Nelly by Florida Georgia Line - Roll the windows down and play this massive hit on a drive with your summer love riding shotgun.
  2. Man! I Feel Like a Woman!, Shania Twain - This girl power anthem makes you feel like nothing can stop you from living your best life.
  3. Wagon Wheel, Darius Rocker - Rucker earned a Grammy award for this cover of the song about a hitchhiking trip across the South.
  4. Strawberry Wine by Deana Carter - This 90's hit is an ode to the first summer love that stays with you forever.
  5. Chicken Fried by Zack Brown Band - This hit song pays tribute to the simple things that make life the sweetest during summer and all year.
  6. Long Hot Summer, Keith Urban - This favorite written by Urban and pop star Richard Marx captures longing for love in the summer heat.
  7. Chattahoochee, Alan Jackson - In this iconic song, Jackson croons about learning "a lot about livin' and a little 'bout love" over a steamy summer by the river.
Fun for Kids

  1. In Summer, Josh Gad- In this lovable tune, Olaf the snowman celebrates his ironic of love of warm weather.
  2. Can't Stop the Feeling, Justin Timberlake - If you need an instant mood boost, this song from the Trolls movie will get little ones and grown-ups dancing.
  3. How Far I'll Go, Auli'i Cravalho - Moana yearns for adventures on the high seas in this song from the hit Disney movie.
  4. Don't Worry, Be Happy, Bobby McFerrin - This one hit wonder has a simple and uplifting message for our summer mantra.
  5. School's Out for Summer by Alice Cooper - This rock classic celebrates the freedom of summer in head-banging style.
  6. Baby Shark, produced by Pinkfong - This rendition of the nursery rhyme about a shark family is now a preschool tradition thanks to its catchy tune and lyrics.
Turn up the music and enjoy these songs this summer whenever you need a boost of sunshine.

Ashley Kaufman is a marketing strategist at SignUpGenius. She loves telling (and reading) compelling stories and bringing people together.

©2024 SignUpGenius, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Privacy Policy     Terms of Service