My Summer Playlist

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As Kenny Chesney says in his song “Summertime,” “Perfect song on the radio. Sing along ’cause it’s one we know. It’s a smile, it’s a kiss. It’s a sip of wine, it’s summertime. Sweet summertime.” Though this year with all the over one-hundred-degree weather and the high humidity, I’m not so sure about the sweet.

Despite the heat, summer brings to mind certain activities. Boating on the lake (as a teenager I water skied on the Mississippi River), road trips, vacations, lazy beach days, picnics, hanging out with friends, and family reunions. And of course, summer needs a playlist. Here are some songs that are on my eclectic summer playlist.

  • “Margaritaville” Jimmy Buffett
  • “Waves’ Luke Bryant
  • “It’s Five O’clock Somewhere” Alan Jackson and Jimmy Buffett
  • “Knee Deep” Zac Brown Band and featuring Jimmy Buffett
  • “Firework” Katy Perry
  • “Pink Sunglasses” Miranda Lambert
  • “Buy Me a Boat” Chris Janson
  • “No Shirt, No Shoes, No Problems” Kenny Chesney
  • “Cruel Summer” Bananarama
  • “Cruel Summer” Taylor Swift
  • “Water Brad” Paisley
  • “Sunrise, Sunburn, Sunset” Luke Bryan
  • “Good Directions” Billy Currington
  • “Summer Breeze” Seals and Croft
  • “Toes” Zac Brown Band
  • “One Margarita” Luke Bryan
  • “Beers and Sunshine” Darius Rucker
  • “Vacation” The Go-Gos
  • “Watermelon Crawl” Tracy Byrd
  • “Under the Boardwalk” Otis Redding
  • “Wipe Out” The Surfaris
  • “California Gurls” Katy Perry

A few trends became apparent when I started my list. The first was that Jimmy Buffett features predominantly in summer songs. (I’d only noted five songs and he was part of three!) I hear you gasping. Yes, I know. I had that same reaction. Shocking that Jimmy Buffett and summer are linked. ? The other trend I spotted was various beverages being mentioned. Imagine, margaritas, beer, wine, and summer. Another huge shock.

I hope the rest of your summer is safe and filled with days that become warm memories, and I’ll leave with you a summer tip. Take some advice from the Zac Brown Band’s song “Knee Deep.”

“Gonna put the world away for a minute
Pretend I don’t live in it
Sunshine gonna wash my blues away

“Mind on a permanent vacation
The ocean is my only medication
Wishing my condition ain’t ever gonna go away

“Cause now I’m knee deep in the water somewhere
Got the blue sky breeze blowing wind through my hair
Only worry in the world is the tide gonna reach my chair
Sunrise there’s a fire in the sky
Never been so happy
Never felt so high
And I think I might have found me my own kind of paradise”

To be entered in my random giveaway for an ebook of Aiming for His Heart, my book in the Pink Pistol Sisterhood series, leave a comment telling me about your favorite summer song.

 

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Julie Benson has written five novels for Harlequin American, and her Wishing, Texas series is available from Tule Publishing. Now that her three sons have left the nest in Dallas, when she isn't writing, Julie spends her time working on home improvement projects, rescuing dogs, and visiting Texas wineries with her husband. Visit her at www.juliebenson.net.

31 thoughts on “My Summer Playlist”

    • Denise, thanks for being here this morning! That is a good one.

      I’ve been thinking about you as summer winds down. How long until your kiddo heads off to LSU? How are you handling it? For me, it was easier when the first left for college because I still had two boys at home. When number 2 left, I still had my youngest. But when he left for college it was brutal.

      Enjoy the rest of your summer.

      • Leaving on the 10th. I might be a mess by mid-August.

        Right now he’s being a pain about getting the last things. Not as bad as the middle was…

  2. It is a bit of an old one but I’ve always liked “Turn Out Your Light Mr. Moon Man.” It is from the Broadway show “Little Miss Fix-It,” from 1911.

    • David, I’m going to have to check that one out, along with what the musical’s about. It’s got me interested with the title.

      Thanks for being here today. Enjoy the rest of the summer and stay safe.

    • I didn’t realize there were so many songs with summer in the title. It would be interesting to see how many of them there are. Grease is filled with great summer songs and if just a fun summer movie/musical. One thing I forgot to add to my list of summer “activities” is a summer romance!

      Thanks for being here today. Stay safe and enjoy the rest of the summer.

  5. I just listened to Summer Nights from Grease! Heh. But, I’m going with anything by The Eagles. Especially The Long Run and I Can’t Tell You Why. That album came out while I was dating my husband in 1979. We married in June 1980. I can’t tell you why, but it’s been a long run! Hehehe..

    Julie, I loved this post. Thanks for memory lane! And getting hooked on a few this morning! I enjoyed your book Aiming for His Heart. You can cross me out for the chance since I have read it. Have a great day!

    • Tracy, I kept thinking of Don Henley’s “Boys of Summer” but forgot to add it to my list! How could I have forgotten that song?! I love the Eagles. (Side note: Did you see that Randy Meisner just died? I can listen to Eagle songs but since Glenn Fry died, it makes me sad to watch their videos. Now Randy’s gone, too.)

      Oh, wow. My hubby and I started dating in December of 1979 and we listened to the Eagles all the time. I’m right there with you on the album/song “The Long Run” and “I Can’t Tell You why.” We were married in August 1981.

      I’m so glad you enjoyed the post and Aiming for His Heart! And thank you for the walk down memory lane. Take care, enjoy the rest of your summer, and crank up those Eagle songs!

    • Teresa, I’ve been loving Little Big Town songs lately. How did I miss that one, and how sweet of you to post a link so I can check it out.

      Take care in this awful heat and enjoy the rest of your summer. Thanks for being here.

  7. My favorite song to leave the windows down and blare is Summer of ’69 by Bryan Adams. I love jamming to that song.

    • Naomi, that’s another great summer song that I missed. Thanks for mentioning it. I’m so glad you stopped by today. Take care and have a super rest of the summer.

  8. I am not a music person and do not remember names of songs. I listen to contemporary Christian music and don’t remember if any are about summer.

  9. My all time favorite summer song is…..Old Time Rock n Roll by Bob Seger. I know – that dates me! I turn the volume up and dance to that song. And I can’t really dance – but I think I can rocking out to that classic tune! The older I get, the crazier I want to be. Life is short – live in the moment.

    • Kathy, that song makes me want to move, too! And you’re right about life being short. Every moment needs to be savored. Thanks for being here. Enjoy the rest of your summer and stay safe.

  10. I love Under the Boardwalk, Summertime Blues, Watermelon Crawl, It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere, Good Directions, Chattahoochee, Chicken Fried, and a lot of the Beach Boys songs fit summer, too.

    • Trudy, you listed great songs. I can’t believe I forgot to add Chicken Fried to my list! I love that song and a bunch of their Zac Brown Band’s songs. Another biggie for me is Good Directions. I think it tugs at my romance author heart strings. Thanks for being here. Have a wonderful rest of the summer and stay safe.

    • Megan, those are great songs for summer. I also realized I didn’t add any Bon Jovi to my playlist. Boy, was this knew it was short and incomplete but this is ridiculous. Thanks for stopping by today. Enjoy the rest of your summer and take care.

  12. Saturday In the Park is my favorite summer song. I enjoyed reading your post. Thank you for sharing it. Have a great day and a great rest of the week. (not entering this ebook giveaway, but thank you. I am not tech savvy at all so I dont read ebooks(

    • Alicia, I’m glad you enjoyed the post. Saturday in the Park is a great summer song. Though we can’t even be at a water park here it’s so hot. We may get all the way down to 98 next week for a couple days before we’re around 108 again like today.

      Thanks for being here. Have a super test of the summer!

  13. I have to go with Night Moves by Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band, love their songs. Yep going back to the 70’s.

  14. A hit from 1058, “Summertime, Summertime” by The Jamies. this was a very energetic and catchy tune.
    I loved my music from the 50’s and early 60’s. I am very much still a teenager at heart. Bee Bop aloosa.

    • Judy, I think it helps to be a teenager at heart. No one wants to hang around with someone who acts old. ?

      Thanks for stopping by and have a great rest of the summer.

  15. My favorite Summer song is Take Me Home Country Roads by John Denver. Thank you so much for sharing. God bless you.

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