Summer is so close, you can practically taste the mouthwatering chocolate ice cream and the salty beach water. As you get ready for summer, here’s our Top Ten summer song playlist to get you into the spirit. 

10. Firework by Katy Perry

You can’t have a summer without the Fourth of July, and you can’t properly celebrate without “Firework.” It’s easy to imagine yourself at a summer barbeque singing along. Even if you start off feeling like “a plastic bag drifting through the wind,” you always end up feeling like you can do anything. Though a bit overplayed, it’s become a Fourth of July staple.

9. Cool for the Summer by Demi Lovato

Though a Virginia summer is usually in the mid 90 degrees (aka not “Cool”), Demi Lovato captured the feeling of a late summer night right with the incredible vocals and beat. The iconic piano chords sprinkled throughout the song can’t be missed and is a throwback to summer of 2015. We definitely recommend “telling your mother” about this summer song (even if Lovato sings otherwise).

8. Summer Feelings (feat. Charlie Puth) by Lennon Stella

This new, cheery song makes you smile and dance along. These two make a great duo, as their voices blend very well. Even if it’s on the soundtrack of the controversial Scooby Doo remake, Scoob! (seriously have you seen the new animation?), it is no doubt a perfect summer song that gets you moving and grooving and in that summer feeling.

7. Summertime Sadness by Lana Del Ray

For all the alternative music lovers out there, this song cannot be missed during the summer. It perfectly describes a rainy summer day (which, by the way, I quite enjoy). Whether you leave your summer camp love or your ice cream fell off the cone, Lana Del Ray has you covered with an incomparable, all encompassing sad summertime song.

6. Our Song by Taylor Swift

After the rainy April/May season, there’s nothing better than soaking up the long-lost sunshine, whether on the beach or driving through downtown McLean, and “Our Song” is the perfect accompaniment. Taylor Swift catches the country feel of summer when your hair is undone in the front seat of your car with original lyrics and a solid backbeat. Fun fact: Swift wrote this song when she was in high school!

5. Classic by MKTO

There’s nothing wrong with liking something classic, and this song captures that with an upbeat tune, never failing to get its audience in a good mood. It’s easy to let loose to this song as seen in Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life, a movie worth seeing. Take note from Rafe Khatchadorian and don’t be afraid to have some fun and bend the rules a little with this song as the theme music.

4. Deja Vu by Olivia Rodrigo

Car rides to Malibu and strawberry ice cream sounds like the picture of summer to some: the beach and ice cream is the ideal combination of hot and cold. While “Deja Vu” may not be as upbeat as some of the other songs on this list, the echoing effect has a calming vibe that is ideal for driving or sunbathing. We had a tough time choosing a song from Sour since it has several other worthy songs, so we recommend that you listen to the rest of her hit album. 

3. Watermelon Sugar by Harry Styles

Harry Styles delivered the feeling of “Strawberries on a summer evening” with “Watermelon Sugar.” The mix of slow and faster beats simultaneously captures the excitement and relaxation of summer. This Grammy winning song can’t be left out of our top three summer songs.

2. Levitating (feat. DaBaby) by Dua Lipa

The feeling of freedom when summer comes is a lot like levitating, a weight lifted from your shoulders. Dua Lipa’s most recent hit, “Levitating,” currently No. 3 on The Hot 100 chart, is an exhilarating song that can effortlessly get you pumped up.

1. What Time is It (Summertime) by the Cast of High School Musical 2

As soon as the last bell of the year rings, “What Time is It” will be blasting in my head. The endless and all too relatable excitement of an “education vacation” is perfectly showcased by this Disney Channel classic. From the upbeat backing track, to the unmissable horns, to the iconic lyrics, this song creates an unparalleled feeling that will surely make you groove. This song is key to a seamless transition from school to summer.