I think we can all agree that if they haven’t already begun, road trips to the beach, summer bonfires, and pool parties are all about to be happening in full force. Obviously, this calls for a playlist to match, and continue to fuel, the energy behind these events. These are a few of the best summer songs I’ve come across so far, and most of them haven’t been so mainstream, which is just another reason to love them.
1. "Stepping Stone" -- Lamaitre
The beat behind it... sick. The intro drew me to the song, but the rest of it is just as worthy of a summer playlist track to heat things up even more so than the sun already has.
2. "Sex" -- Cheat Codes feat Kris Kross Amsterdam
Remember in "Pitch Perfect" when they brought this baby out in the battle? That was okay. This is the more-than-okay version. The version that looked at Pitch Perfect’s version and threw up a middle finger and ended with a mic drop.
3. "Don’t Look Down" -- Martin Garrix feat. Usher
This one really doesn’t need much explanation, honestly, because it’s incredible. But even more than that? URRRSHER IS BACK, BABY!
4. "Work" -- R3hab Remix-Rihanna
Ok, hold on, don’t condemn me just yet. Work is the most terrible song I’ve heard in a long, long time. I’m not even going to try to defend it, because it’s the work of the devil himself. However, this remix is fire. It kills every attempt Rihanna ever made at the original song. THIS should’ve been the original. Just give it a try, it sounds like a totally different, normal version of the original song that crawled out of the deepest depths of hell.
5. "Stop" -- Harry Hudson
Yep, this one gets me every time. Something about Harry Hudson’s voice, and Harry Hudson’s… everything, honestly. If you don't love it at first, just wait until the chorus of this one… necessary for summer jumping around a bonfire with a beer in your hand giving zero shits about life. Just don’t fall into the fire you’re jumping around.
6. "Gold" -- Kiiara
I literally have no idea what’s going on in this song. I don’t know what she’s saying for the most part, and I love that about it. The beat is good, I like her voice, and it’s the perfect song for when you’re too drunk to remember your own name.
7. "Be Right There" -- Diplo & Sleepy Tom
And this is the song I’d be blasting in my car on the way to the beach, windows down, sunglasses on, ready for the night to get a little crazy. Just trust me on this one.
8. "Into You" -- Ariana Grande
Buckle up, people, because this one is gonna hurt some feelings. I do not like Ariana Grande. Not even a tiny bit. But, as much as it pains me to say it, this song is definitely one you need to hear. Listen to it while your headphones are in, sunbathing in the sand. Or, listen to it while you’re eye-f*cking the guy across the beach. I don’t care how it enters your ears, just make sure it does.
9. "When We Were Young" -- The Wild Wild
I think I like this one because it actually does remind me when I was young. It’s chill, it’s got a great beat, and it gets a little more hype as the song hits the chorus. Imagine the type of song you’d see on an opening of a reality TV show that doesn’t suck.
10. "Heartbeat Song" -- Kelly Clarkson Skrux Remix
Stop traffic, because is one I would’ve never expected to be good. If you absolutely can’t make it through the first couple seconds, fast forward to 1:20 and wait for the magic to happen.
11. "Rock My DNA" -- One Direction/Little Mix Mashup
I don’t love One Direction, and I can’t say I know much about Little Mix, but this remix is actually a good mashup of the two songs without trying too hard.
12. "F*ck With U" -- Pia Mia ft G-Eazy
I mean, I think the title speaks for itself. Her voice is sexy, the song is obviously provocative, and the beat behind it is good. It gets the job done, plus some.
13. "Stayin Out All Night - Boys of Zummer Remix" -- Wiz Khalifa feat. Fall Out Boy
Just listen to it. It’s worth it, I promise. “Imma leave all my problems out on the floor, Imma drink so much that I can’t make it home.” This song kills it, and it’s the one you can turn to if you think the party might be dying down a little bit. Believe me, it’ll put that summer partying flame right back where it belongs.
