As a new season rolls around, I turn to Spotify to create my annual summer playlist. Every year, I collect songs that I’d like to think will be the soundtrack to my lazy days in the sun and exhilarating, hazy nights.Â
In my 2026 edition, I’ve realized that there are reliable songs I always turn back to. They’ve been staples through awkward teenage “canon events,” unforgettably amazing vacations, and all the days in between. I hope these songs will seem as perfect to you as they do to me.
- “A World Alone” by Lorde
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Honestly, I could put every song on Lorde’s Pure Heroine album on this list. The New Zealander’s music has always held a very special place in my heart and has gotten me through even the roughest spots of adolescence. I chose “A World Alone” because it feels like summer is a time I can ignore all my responsibilities and really soak in the last bits of adolescence alongside my best friends, literally living in a different world than the rest.
- “Hey Jude” by The Beatles
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Released as a single in 1968, “Hey Jude” has stood the test of time as one of the most popular songs ever written. Personally, The Beatles’ discography has always had a nostalgic factor for me because my mom would always play the Greatest Hits CD in our minivan in summers past. “Hey Jude” is undeniably upbeat and definitely a pick-me-up when I’m feeling the summer blues.
- “Paper Planes” by M.I.A
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“Paper Planes” is seriously the best summer hype song known to man (in my humble opinion). The electronic beat created by the masterful Sri Lankan artist M.I.A is so distinct, I could recognize it within the first couple of seconds and already be up dancing. Coming off the Matangi album, this song is one of M.I.A.’s greatest hits for a reason, with a timeless quality thanks to its lyrics that criticize imperialism and capitalism.
- “Hand in My Pocket” by Alanis Morissette
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I discovered “Hand in My Pocket” during a very uncertain time of my life, and (along with the entirety of the album Jagged Little Pill) I relied on it to remind myself that I don’t have to have everything figured out so soon. In the summertime, without the structure of school, I always feel a bit lost, but Morissette’s lyrics bring me back down to earth. Her powerful vocals are also no joke, making this a top-tier karaoke song (even if I don’t compare in the slightest).
At the end of the day, the songs that stick are the ones that make the biggest emotional impact on your life, and I’m no different.
It’s time to jump into summer with my headphones blasting!
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