We are approaching the midpoint of the month of August, which means it is soon time to accept the fact that the Summer of 2021 is coming to an end. Summer is supposed to be a fun, carefree, and enjoyable time to hang out with friends and family. For me, music is a big part of the enjoyment of summer. Whether it’s to use while going for a run, as background for a barbecue or party, or to listen to at a live concert, music can help set the tone for all your summer festivities!
As we approach the end of summer (and responsibilities start to pile up again), I start to feel nostalgic about the lighthearted days and try to enjoy every last inch of the season before Labor Day rolls around. I am a big fan of older songs, ones spanning from the ‘60s to the early 2000s. They just make me feel good and I rush to listen to them the most in the summertime because of their ability to instantly change my mood and allow for total relaxation and fun.
I’ve put together a list of songs from each of the five decades I love listening to in the summer that make me feel good! Let me remind you that summer isn’t over yet, so you can add these songs to your summer playlists to make the most of these last few weeks!
Here’s some of my favorite pop (with a sprinkle of Motown) feel good hits from the 1960s:
- “My Girl” by The Temptations
- “I Say A Little Prayer” by Aretha Franklin
- “God Only Knows” by The Beach Boys
- “Fly Me to the Moon” by Frank Sinatra
- “Runaround Sue” by Dion
Let’s move on to the 1970s, with some of the greatest guilty pleasure pop songs to blast when you need some entertainment:
- “YMCA” by The Village People
- “Play That Funky Music” by Wild Cherry
- “September” by Earth, Wind & Fire
- “December 1963 (Oh, What A Night)” by Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons
- “Don’t Stop Me Now” by Queen
Now to one of my favorite eras: the 1980s:
- “The Boys of Summer” by Don Henley
- “Purple Rain” by Prince
- “Summer of 69” by Bryan Adams
- “Take Me Home Tonight” by Eddie Money
- “Come on Eileen” by Dexy’s Midnight Runners
Next is the 1990s, with some great karaoke tracks (and an honest amount of boy band classics):
- “This Is How We Do It” by Montell Jordan
- “I Want It That Way” by Backstreet Boys
- “Doo Wop (That Thing)” by Lauryn Hill
- “Wannabe” by Spice Girls
- “U Can’t Touch This” by MC Hammer
Lastly, here are the songs that I grew up with, some classics from my childhood, the 2000s:
- “Hey Ya!” by OutKast
- “Bye Bye Bye” by NSYNC
- “A Thousand Miles” by Vanessa Carlton
- “Since U Been Gone” by Kelly Clarkson
- “The Remedy (I Won’t Worry)” by Jason Mraz
So, those are my summer go-to’s, and you know I will be blasting these songs for the next few weeks as summer comes to a close. I hope you do the same and have the most fun with the rest of your summer!
