Awesome Summer Songs for All Sorts of Summertime Scenarios

Just a couple of weeks ago I published a piece featuring ten great albums for summer listening. Writing the piece got me to thinking about all of the great summer songs that are out there. Since there are way too many good ones for a top ten or even a top twenty list, I've decided to suggest some great songs to go along with different summer scenarios. The party starts with Alice Cooper's classic, '˜School's Out,' and it just gets hotter from there.

Softer Songs for a Summer Evening

There are lots of songs that serve as a nice background to an evening walk on the beach, dancing under the stars, or cuddling with your loved one while sitting on the front porch. Songs like these make for a perfect setting on a warm summer's evening.

Summer Rain '" Belinda Carlisle

Cruel Summer '" Bananarama

Suddenly Last Summer '" The Motels

Summer Breeze '" Seals and Crofts

Under the Boardwalk '" Bette Midler

Summer of 69 '" Bryan Adams

Hot Fun in the Summertime '" Sly and the Family Stone

Endless Summer Nights '" Richard Marx

Up on the Roof '" The Drifters

I Can See Clearly Now '" Johnny Nash

Margaritaville '" Jimmy Biffet

Kokomo '" Beach Boys

Summer Nights '" John Travolta and Olivia Newton John

Check out the audio for one of my favorite, relaxing, summer evening songs, Frank Sinatra's '˜Summer Wind,' right here.

Celebrating the Summer Sun Songs

One of the nicest things about summer is the big, beautiful sun high up in the summer sky. There are several songs that beckon the sunshine give you that warm, happy feeling that comes with a sunny summer's day.

Sun is Shining '" Bob Marley

Sun is Up '" Inna

Here Comes the Sun '" The Beatles

Soak Up the Sun '" Sheryl Crow

Walking on Sunshine '" Katrina and the Waves

Celebrate the summer sun with Natasha Bedingfield's '˜Pocketful of Sunshine' right here.

Beach Songs --

Of course summertime is beach time, and there are plenty of songs that celebrate the season and are great to listen to while surfing (well not really while surfing!), playing volleyball, or just laying out on the white hot sand.

Remember (Walking in the Sand) '" Shangri La's

Boys of Summer '" Don Henley

Summer Girls '" LFO

Summertime Blues '" Eddie Cochran

Wipeout '" Fat Boys / Beach Boys

Summer Love '" Justin Timberlake

Summer Jam '" Underdog Project

Summertime '" Will Smith

Summerboy '" Lady Gaga

California Girls '" Beach Boys

You're the One that I Want '" John Travolta and Olivia Newton John

Surfin' USA '" Beach Boys

Summer in the City '" The Lovin Spoonful

Heat Wave '" Martha and the Vandellas

All I Wanna Do '" Sheryl Crow

Check out John Fogerty's ode to the boys of summer, '˜Centerfield,' right here.

Summer Party Songs

Of course, during the summertime there are plenty of outdoor parties to jam to. These summer songs are perfect for some great dancing under the summer sun or the summer stars!

Summer Moon '" Africanism All Stars

Let's Get Loud '" Jennifer Lopez

We Like to Party '" Venga Boys

In the Summertime '" Mungo Jerry

Rock the Boat '" Hues Corporation

The Locomotion '" Little Eva

Hot Blooded '" Foreigner

Wild Thing '" The Trogs

Wild Thing '" Tone Loc

Vacation '" The Go Go's

We Got the Beat '" The Go Go's

Take a look and a listen at last year's hottest summer jam, Katy Perry's '˜California Gurls,' right here.

Well, there are enough songs here for you to get started on your summer fun, no matter what activities you enjoy. I'm sure there are lots more songs in your catalog that hearken images of this most active of seasons. If you have any you'd like to share, please leave them in your comments.