Here Is a Very Literal 80-Song Summer Playlist You Will Like

“Sunshine,” “Summertime” and “Bikini Girls With Machine Guns”

By The Editors
May 25, 2018 9:00 am

This is but one installment of 37 Things a Man’s Gotta Do This Summer, our annual compendium of everything worth seeing, doing, eating, drinking and generally making time for in your neck of the woods between now and September. Stay tuned all month for more.


Everyone has a favorite “summer song.”

But what the hell’s that even mean — summer song?

Was it released in summer? Did you first hear it while making out with someone on the boardwalk in junior high? Or does it just have that sunny, pool-appropriate je ne sais quois?

How about this: a summer song is any song that contains the words summer, sun and/or any of their derivatives in its title. Literal derivatives, sure (summertime, sunshine), but also spiritual derivatives: beach, waves, sail, horchata, bikini.

Plus the entire catalogue of any band who has devoted their career to writing summer songs (The Beach Boys, Poolside).

Without further ado, here are the 80 summer songs we’ll playing at InsideHook HQ from now until season’s end. Listen early, listen often and enjoy your summer.

Main image: Orion Pictures

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