This summer, all I wanted to do was dance, and I think that definitely showed in my music.
What a good summer. There’s just something about an ice-cold sweet tea, sunglasses on, sitting by the pool, and a good, upbeat house song playing in the background. That was my summer. I wanted music that made me feel good, made me want to move, and made even the most ordinary day feel like something worth remembering.
My summer playlist was basically a reflection of that: a little dance, a little house, a little romance, and a lot of songs that I played way too many times at work while wishing I were driving down the highway with the windows down.
There were some songs I listened to almost daily this summer. If you saw me, there was a pretty good chance one of these songs was playing from my phone, my car, or my headphones at full blast.
And now that it’s fall, I’m supposed to let them go?
I just can’t.
Just because the weather is getting colder and I’m trading pool days for lectures doesn’t mean I can’t take a dance break. So, goodbye summer. These are the songs I’m bringing with me.
“Midnight Sun” – Zara Larsson
“Midnight Sun” feels like summer in song form. It genuinely feels like the dolphin meme. It’s so upbeat and fast-paced that it makes me feel like summer should never end. This song feels like a ray of sunshine. Zara Larsson is summer.
This was one of those songs that immediately put me in a good mood. It has the kind of energy that makes me want to get dressed in bright colors, cover my body in glitter, put on teal makeup, and go out and jump around.
Honestly, I think that’s what I loved most about my music this summer. Everything felt fun. I wasn’t looking for songs that were going to make me overthink my life. I just wanted to dance.
“Show Me Love” – Robin S.
This song is probably one of the biggest examples of my summer music personality.
“Show Me Love” could pull me out of a deep sleep, and I’d immediately start busting a move. The first few seconds, before the song really starts, are so funky. They’re everything. It’s an instant fist pump to the sky.
I remember my first party of the summer. It was hot, of course. The music was loud, the grills were going, and then it happened: “Show Me Love” came on. Life-changing. Seriously.
Ever since then, I’ve been listening to “Show Me Love” nonstop. I love a good house beat.
“10%” – KAYTRANADA
I feel like KAYTRANADA just understands when it comes to making music that makes you want to dance. Like I said before, I love house.
“10%” was another song that somehow worked for everything. Getting ready? Play it. Driving? Play it. Cleaning my room? Play it. Sitting around doing absolutely nothing? Still play it.
This is definitely one of those songs that’s coming with me into fall because I refuse to believe that a change of season means I suddenly have to stop wanting to dance.
So many times this summer, I was in my car with this song on full blast, wind in my hair, on the way to the beach with my friends. I’m going to miss the sun beaming on my face, but this song brings back so many summer memories. I can’t wait to be in the library catching up on work, listening to this song.
“Pinky Up” – KATSEYE
KATSEYE had to be on this list.
“Pinky Up” took over the summer, honestly. It has its haters, and I’m not one of them. KATSEYE is one of those groups to look out for.
I also think this song represents something I really loved about summer this year: not taking everything so seriously. The song was silly, but all I wanted to do was dance.
“So Easy (To Fall in Love)” – Olivia Dean
“So Easy (To Fall in Love)” by Olivia Dean brought a completely different feeling to my summer playlist. It’s romantic and warm, and it makes me feel like love is truly simple. This song feels like a first date.
Maybe that’s another thing I loved about summer: I let myself enjoy the little things that feel so simple.
This song fits that feeling perfectly. It makes being a little delusional about love feel harmless and fun, and honestly, sometimes that’s exactly what a summer playlist needs.
Goodbye, Summer
As summer comes to an end, I mourn the loss of the songs that just don’t fit the vibes of fall. But these? I can’t leave behind. Soon I’ll be stressing about finals and clubs, and dealing with that usual winter sadness when the fun ends and the weather drops below 60. But at least my summer playlist can bring me back to the sun