My Top Songs of Summer

I have a Summer Songs playlist on my iPhone.  I listen to these songs each summer, but only in the summer, because listening to them at any other time is a little painful.  Stirring up too much summer-fun longing in the dead of winter can be dangerous to your mental health.

I hear today is Memorial Day, I wouldn't know because I worked a regular day today while all of you were at pool parties and cookouts and basking in the sun. But since Memorial Day is the official opening of summer, I thought I'd share with you my most favorite summer songs, in no particular order.

Summertime's Calling Me by the Catalinas

We Stuckeys grew up listening to beach music each summer. I think it was part of my dad's attempt at making us northern transplants more southern.  I definitely remember hating the whole genre for a period of my life, but now, summer's not complete without these dulcet tones.

Sample lyric

"I remember this past winter, I told myself to settle down. And I seriously tried to do just that.

But here I am with everything so beautiful and green and I don't believe I told myself what I mean.

Maybe someday soon I can feel this way year round. But it's summertime and I don't want to stay in this town."

Pontoon by Little Big Town

A relatively new song, but it does capture the slow-mo summer spirit.
Sample lyric
"On the pontoon.
Making waves and catchin' rays up on the roof
Jumpin' off the back, don't act like you don't want to
Party in slow motion, out here in the open."

Summer Thing by Troy Olsen

A little known gem, I got this song as a free download from the iTunes store, but it's likely my number one favorite summer song. It combines the classic drinking song and the classic summer song in one.
Sample lyric
"Well the sun is getting ripe and the water's getting warmer
The days are getting longer and them shorts are getting shorter
You won't hear me complain.
It's a summer thing."

Summertime by Fresh Prince and DJ Jazzy Jeff

A classic from way back in 1992.
Sample lyric
"It's late in the day and I ain't been on the court yet.
Hustle to the mall to get me a short set.
Yeah, I got on sneaks, but I need a new pair.
'Cause basketball courts in the summer got girls there."

All I Want to Do by Sugarland

And lest you be confused, not every great summer song needs to actually describe the physical attributes or activities of summer with their lyrics. Sometimes, they capture the essence of summer just with a catchy melody or the timing of when a song was released and how heavily you played it during the summer months (see example: Call Me, Maybe.)
Sample lyric
"I don't want to get up, baby, let's turn off the phone.
I don't want to go to work today, or even put my make up on."

This list is just a sampling. There are many more great summer songs. My summer list has a lot more beach music, some Kenny Chesney, some Jimmy Buffet, some Beach Boys, etc.You get the picture.

So, let's celebrate summer together. What's your favorite summer song?