What makes a great summer song? Reggae icon Bob Marley remains the unequivocal king of sun-soaked island fare. Can you dig it? The majority of summer songs are about cutting loose, hitting the streets and other winsome activities, but Eddie Cochran created a song for all those who have to work for the man all season long. Sly and co deliver exactly what the title promises with this psychedelic soul gem.
1975: "One of These Nights" — The Eagles
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Subscriber Account active since. Every year, there's a battle to see which song can claim the title of "the song of the summer. It can become a point of contention as people argue over whether or not Carly Rae Jepsen is beating Justin Bieber or why Rita Ora isn't getting her due recognition, but it's a fun accolade to give an artist. The jury is still out on which song will be this year's biggest hit, but we used Billboard's charts to choose the highest-ranking summer song for each year. Whether or not you agree with the top song, here are the No. Listen on Spotify. Watch the video. Watch him on YouTube.
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Summer is a season unlike any that have come before it, but even in uncertain times as the coronavirus pandemic continues on, some things haven't changed. Folks are still flocking to beaches or staying put in their backyard inflatable pools , road tripping , and trying to live some normal approximation of the warm weather months. While so much looks and feels different right now, this turbulent year has gifted us with some first-rate summer songs from artists around the world that will be a welcome addition to any playlist. Genres like K-pop , Afrobeat, and reggaeton have found eager audiences in the United States, while homegrown hip-hop continues to dominate charts. And plenty of progressive pop stars are putting their own spin on the carefree summer anthem, leading to a robust mix of music you can queue up for your next socially distanced cookout , lake house getaway, or windows-down drive. If you're the kind of person who wants to take the aux cord and turn your friends onto something new and unexpected, check out the athletic raps of Rexx Life Raj "Rose Bowl" , the infectious guitar distortion of Shamir "On My Own" and The Beths "I'm Not Getting Excited" , or the hypnotizing house tunes of park hye jin "Can you". An ideal day means something different to everyone, but we're confident that at least one of these best songs of summer will be the perfect soundtrack for whatever that looks like to you this year. Crunchy guitar and textured percussion give the song a lo-fi charm, while his crystalline countertenor vocals cut expertly through the fuzz. Seamlessly transitioning from breathy vocals on the opening verse to a kind of hushed rap after the chorus, Sawayama is in complete and total control of this runway-ready record.
We hope your favorite wireless speaker is charged and ready to go, because it's time to sing along to the best songs of summer through the years. From heart-wrenching ballads to upbeat dance hits, these songs may not sound alike, but they all seem to capture a the mood of a certain summer, and they'll surely bring back some memories. Whether it was the Beach Boys, Madonna, or Mariah Carey you remember jamming out to on a hot summer night, get ready to turn up the volume — and we're still waiting to see what the most iconic song of summer will be. Set up your beach umbrella , roll out your beach towel , and get ready to take a musical walk down memory lane. We've created the ultimate summer playlist for you, which features the best summer songs from up until today.
