Every year, I like to make myself a summer playlist. As the weather has been warming up, this year’s playlist has been in the works. My sister and I have made a playlist titled “dad rock summer” that has really encapsulated the spirit of summer to me this year. The following list has the top 15 songs that create that summer feeling more than others.
15. “Jack & Diane” by John Mellencamp
This song is somehow nostalgic to me even though I do not remember hearing it that often growing up. The way that John Mellencamp tells the story and sings this song creates that feeling though, and that is part of what makes it a top summer song for me.
14. “Amber” by 311
I do not know a single other song by 311, but this song is something that always feels like summer no matter when I listen to it. The background of this song sounds like heat waves and a day on the lake. Whenever I hear it, I can picture a sunny summer day.
13. “Take The Money and Run” by Steve Miller Band
“Take The Money and Run” is a perfect song for driving with the windows down for me. It is fun, upbeat, and perfect for blasting from my speakers in the car. On long drives or just driving to work, this is a classic summer tune.
12. “Ramble On” by Led Zeppelin
“Ramble On” is a classic at my house. It is collectively one of our favorite songs as a family. I can picture this song playing as we are sitting around a campfire and chatting with friends at the end of a great summer day.
11. “Sweet Child O’ Mine” by Guns N’ Roses
If this song comes on during the summer, I will be turning the volume all the way up. That opening guitar is so catchy, and it has that feeling of wind blowing through my hair and the sun shining on an 85 degree perfect summer day.
10. “Even Flow” by Pearl Jam
This is a more recent addition to my summer collection. However, “Even Flow” has the upbeat feeling and energy of a perfect summer song. It has the feeling of getting home from running errands and rushing to change into a bathing suit and put on sunscreen before running down to the lake.
9. “American Girl” by Tom Petty
American Girl is another song that feels extremely nostalgic to me. I remember my parents playing this song on drives to the beach or in the backyard while my sister and I swam in our kiddie pool. Summer and “American Girl” fit together hand in hand to me because of that nostalgic feeling.
8. “The Song Remains the Same” by Led Zeppelin
As a huge Led Zeppelin fan, truthfully the entire Houses of the Holy album feels like summer to me. However, this one in particular reminds me of a summer morning when we are having people over later in the day. I can picture the snacks and coolers being prepared and the smell of sunscreen throughout my house as the family prepares for company. I’m not sure what exactly about this song creates that feeling, but I love it.
7. “Panama” by Van Halen
Similar to “Sweet Child O’ Mine,” the opening guitar of this song just instantly feels like summer to me. The guitar, the vocals, everything about it feels like a hot day on the lake to me. I love the energy of this song and the way it captures the feeling of summer.
6. “Over the Hills and Far Away” by Led Zeppelin
This song combines the chill and slow energy with the fun and upbeat times of summer. The beginning starts more acoustic and slow, but it builds up into an energetic masterpiece. This is a favorite song of mine anytime of the year, but it feels the most like a summer song to me.
5. “In the Meantime” by Spacehog
This is usually the first song I play when I get off of work over the summer. When I am leaving that parking lot, this song feels like freedom. It’s catchy, energetic, and an ultimate summer tune. I remember hearing this song almost every summer since I was a little kid, and that is why it is not only in the top 15, but my top five.
4. “Just What I Needed” by The Cars
“Just What I Needed” is another song that is full of nostalgia for me. I have so many memories of my mom and dad singing this song as a kid around the house and on the boat over the summer.
3. “More Than a Feeling” by Boston
I have a very distinct memory of riding in the car with my sister when this song came on. The bluetooth in our car was broken so we were scrolling through the radio channels and we heard a snippet of the intro to this tune and immediately stopped, turned the volume all the way up, and sang this song with the windows down. Since then, I have probably done that a thousand times, but every time, this song feels just as special to me. It has such great energy and is almost a perfect summer song.
2. “Hold On Loosely” by 38 Special
I do not think there has been a summer in my life where I have not heard this song. Boat days, up north trips, driving to a 4th of July party, this song is going to be played. This is a song that perfectly sums up an energetic summer day.
1. “Mary Jane’s Last Dance” by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Talk about a classic. This is the summer song to me. As soon as that opening guitar hits, this song sounds like a perfect summer day. This song is perfect for every aspect of summer: boat rides, long drives, late night bonfires, drinking lemonade, beach days, and the smell of sunscreen. My parents have played this song a million times, and I never get tired of it. If you want to give any of these songs a listen, I would say that this is one of the best.
These are my top 15 summer songs that are probably on your dad’s playlist, and I highly recommend them all.