Summer

Need a summery playlist -- whether you're beach- or playground-bound? We've got you covered. (Credit: Mikhail Nilov, Pexels) The scene is, in a word, summer perfection. With joyful, effervescent music coursing through my headphones and directly into my spirit, I lazily stretch my limbs from my spot on an especially fluffy beach towel. I’m wearing a cute bathing suit that’s most assuredly not the same tired one I’ve worn for the past decade, and sipping an adult beverage without having to worry about keeping it out of tiny hands. It’s utter tranquility – my bare toes wriggle in the impossibly soft granules of sand beneath me as an ocean breeze softens the heat from a bright and unobstructed sun. I sigh in contentment. And then my son's voice breaks through my soft, lazy dream, waking me 10 minutes shy of 6:30 a.m. with his 5.4 billionth performance of "Steve's Lava Chicken" from "A Minecraft Movie." We can’t all escape for the summer – at least not physically. But with the right soundtrack, we can still carve out a space of sorts to relax ourselves, wherever we are. Whether you’re sunning yourself in some warm, scenic idyll, or just looking to take a mental vacation while simultaneously cooking dinner and watching "Is It Cake?" on Netflix for the millionth time, these 10 tracks will create, or enhance, the perfect summer mood. (Note: Some songs contain explicit lyrics.) (This post, originally published June 21, 2023, has been updated for 2025.)

Summer

10 Songs for Summer Vibes, Even If You Can’t Actually Get to the Beach

The Story Exchange

Summer

10 Songs for Summer Vibes, Even If You Can’t Actually Get to the Beach

The Story Exchange

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