All The Summer Songs For Your Summertime Playlist (Summer Solstice, Hot Summer, End of Summer)

There are 93 days of true summer. Ninety-three days between the summer and autumn solstices.

Ninety-three days to bask in the sun and listen to summery songs that let us revel in the sweet heat of the season.

There is just something about summer songs, am I right?

Their energy. Their vibe.

Their ability to lodge in your brain like some random fact from junior high biology that you just can’t seem to forget.

Some summer songs aren’t even true summer songs.

They’ve just got that “summer song” feel. We dig those too.

So, before you start building your playlist for your days at the beach and backyard barbecues, check out our list of summer songs for inspiration.

Many you’ve probably heard of. But some we promise you haven’t.

Summer Solstice Songs

Before summer can kick off in earnest, we have to let go of the things tying us to spring and our spring responsibilities.

A lot of that may just be the weather, which, depending on where you are in the world, can hold you captive for much of fall through spring.

These songs capture the essence of the end of one season and transition into the heat and abundance of summertime.

School’s Out – Alice Cooper

Diving right in, has there ever been a better anti-formal education banger than this scathing ode by Alice Cooper?

We think not.

School’s out, Baby.

Summertime, Summertime – The Jamies

Here Comes the Sun – The Beatles

Little darling, it’s been a long, cold lonely winter…

Preach.

Summer (from Phineas and Ferb)

Summer’s Comin’ – Clint Black

Summertime – DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince

What Time is it? (from High School Musical)

For the Summer – Ray LaMontagne

Holiday Road – Lindsey Buckingham

If you’re of a certain era – that is, the National Lampoon’s Vacation era – this song will forever be tied to summer road trips.

Summertime – Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong

Pocketful of Sunshine – Natasha Bedingfield

Hot Summer Songs

Round about July is when we start to get into the true heart of summer.

A combination of good times and oppressive heat.

Often, both at once.

Our mid-summer heat songs are all about sunlight and snappy beats, summer love and having a good time while you can.

Downtown – Macklemore & Ryan Lewis

A lot of Macklemore & Ryan Lewis songs are light-hearted good times.

But this one just says “summer” to us.

Soak Up the Sun – Sheryl Crow

Get This Party Started – Pink

Party in the U.S.A. – Miley Cyrus

Sound of Sunshine – Michael Franti

Wouldn’t It Be Cool – Chely Wright

This isn’t a summer song (there’s not a single lyric that implies it is), but something about the music and lyrics gives this song a decidedly summery feel.

We’re strong believers that, if Chely’s record label had released this song as a single right about this time of year, it would have been a huge hit.

Walking On Sunshine – Katrina & The Waves

Summertime Blues – Eddie Cochran

Sweet Summer Lovin’ – Dolly Parton

Summer Heat – Solidisco

Under the Boardwalk – The Drifters

Dancing in the Street – Martha and The Vandellas

If this doesn’t get you to want to do a little sweating in the summer heat, nothing will.

Summer Rain – Carl Thomas

In the Sun – Blondie

Summer in the Street – Menudo

In the Summertime – Mungo Jerry

If this song sold as many copies as is rumored, it’s one of the best-selling singles of all time.

Maybe it did, maybe it didn’t.

But there’s no dispute it’s super popular on Muzak.

Wave – Ateez

Boy band.

Summer tune.

Typically a winning combination.

Rockin’ With the Rhythm of the Rain – The Judds

Summer on You – PRETTYMUCH

Summer in the City – The Lovin’ Spoonful

IT’z SUMMER – Itzy

Hot Stuff – Donna Summer

Or anything by Donna Summer really.

Honestly, her name is almost categorical, because a whole lot of her popular disco songs have that summer vibe.

For a truly deep dive, and a top-notch summer road trip album, track down her VH1 Presents: Live & More Encore! album and give yourself a full Summer disco break.

via GIPHY

Don’t Stop Believin’ – Journey

Chasing the Sun – The Wanted

Uptown Funk – Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars

Black Velvet – Alannah Myles

Blisterin’ heat of summer captured in a lyric and sultry beat?

Done and done.

Summer Sunshine – The Corrs

Sometimes summer is a time of fond memories.

Others it’s a time of painful reminiscences.

But, don’t worry, whichever it is it’ll still come with uptempo enough of a beat and enough electric guitar to slide seamlessly into the season.

Summer Night City – ABBA

In the Summer – Arashi

Fishin’ in the Dark – Nitty Gritty Dirt Band

Happy – Pharrell Williams

Fun, Fun, Fun – The Beach Boys

Or, you know, pretty much pick an album and put it on.

The Beach Boys loved them some summer.

Ain’t Nothing Wrong With That – Robert Randolph and The Family Band

Bringing some serious funk into summer, this song is a damn delight.

The Animal Song – Savage Garden

Hot Fun in the Summertime – Sly & The Family Stone

Don’t Worry Be Happy – Bobby McFerrin

Footloose – Kenny Loggins

Down On The Corner – Creedence Clearwater Revival

Again, it’s pretty hard to go wrong with a Creedence album this time of year.

End of Summer Songs

Welp. Here we are.

It happens every year.

Summer must come to an end, the cold blows in, and it’s just another season for the history books.

This is when many of us start waxing nostalgic about the dwindling season and trying to reintegrate ourselves back into our non-summer lives. (i.e. It’s almost time to rake those leaves and shovel that snow again.)

These songs are about making the most of the last days of summer and easing into the memories left behind.

They’re a little more somber, a little more nostalgic, and a little more early fall.

Or at least they capture that vibe.

Chocolate on My Tongue – The Wood Brothers

Cheap Seats – Alabama

Road Trippin’ – Red Hot Chili Peppers

Summertime Of Our Lives – Cody Simpson

Cinnamon Park – Jill Sobule / Saturday in the Park – Chicago

Jill Sobule’s Cinnamon Park samples Chicago’s classic Saturday In The Park.

As such, they capture a similar vibe.

Down at the Twist and Shout – Mary Chapin Carpenter

What summer list would be complete without an ode to hurricane season?

Margaritaville – Jimmy Buffett / Two Pina Coladas – Garth Brooks

One song that’s a straight-up classic.

And one song that blatantly copies its vibe.

It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere – Alan Jackson (with Jimmy Buffett)

And another Buffett song that takes you to the same place.

Take It Easy – The Eagles

Summertime – New Kids On The Block

A boy band reuniting to sing a song about summer nostalgia?

Are you kidding me with this late-summer perfection?

Paradise to Me – Niko Moon

Ice Cream – Sarah McLachlan

Last Dance – Donna Summer

Yup.

It’s Summer time again.

Age Six Racer – Dashboard Confessional

Something Like That – Tim McGraw

Circle – Harry Chapin

A Summer Song – Chad & Jeremy

Summertime Sadness – Lana Del Rey

Back to School Again – The Four Tops (from Grease 2)

Summer of My Dreams – Kathy Mattea

21 Summer – Brothers Osborne

Summer’s End – John Prine

Songs with Summer in the Title

To finish us off, here are some songs with “summer” in the title that don’t as neatly fit into one of our above categories.

If you’re looking for songs that cover the entire span of summer and summer nostalgia, here are some to try.

• Summertime – Beyonce ft. P-Diddy
• That Summer – Garth Brooks
• All Summer Long – Kid Rock
• Summer Nights (from Grease)
• Summer of ’69 – Bryan Adams
• Summer Wind – Frank Sinatra
• Beat This Summer – Brad Paisley
• Summer in Siam – The Pogues
• It’s Summertime – The Flaming Lips
• Summer Soft – Stevie Wonder
• Long Hot Summer Night – Jimi Hendrix
• Lies of Summer – Aimee Mann
• Summer Babe – Pavement
• My Summer Love – Ruby & The Romantics
• Sunshine and Summertime – Faith Hill
• Summer Girl – HAIM
• The Boys of Summer – Don Henley
• Summer Madness – Kool and The Gang
• Cruel Summer – Bananarama
• The Other Side of Summer – Elvis Costello
• Endless Summer Nights – Richard Marx
• Cool for the Summer – Demi Lovato
• Summer – Calvin Harris
• Suddenly Last Summer – The Motels
• Hot Girl Summer – Megan Thee Stallion
• That Summer Feeling – Jonathan Richman & The Modern Lovers