Here are a list of the 16 Songs Summer ‘16 that make us feel some type of way. Most are country, because everyone knows that warmth, sunshine, beaches, day drinking all practically force us to turn our radio dials and pandora stations to country. However, there are some pop hits mixed in, as I am a lover of good music, which is not limited to genre. I suggest at least the courtesy of a listen for each song.

1.Send My Love (To Your New Lover)- Adele

Any good feels-related playlist must kick off with Adele. She could be improvising and something about her voice and her tone just cuts through us-- all of us. This song in particular stands out to me because it’s the bittersweet song of a past relationship in a stage of maturity. “You know we ain’t kids no more” indicates the stage of her life with said ex-lover was in a different stage of life. Although most summer love songs speak to living in the moment and having fun, I enjoyed her twist here: I recognize that you’ve found someone new, don’t make the same mistakes that you made with me.

2. Song for Another Time- Old Dominion

Speaking of those summer songs that speak to making the most of your time together, this one really tears at the heart strings. Acknowledging the fact that some summer loves are simply that, this song requests to live in the moment with someone, for very soon they will be apart and lonely. “Let’s pretend we’re brown-eyed girl, Sweet Caroline.” Could be my Boston roots, but this song speaks to a quote I am fond of, “Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.” Old Dominion requests to make the most of the end because, “pretty soon you’ll be always on my mind, but that’s a song for another time.”

3. I Wanna Know- Alesso

This song came on a pandora station I was listening to and I couldn’t stop bouncing (much like #4). Referring to “the talk” between two people either in a relationship or who simply met out at night by happenstance, this song is about being open with what you want. “I wanna know, I wanna know where do we go from here?” I liked the message this song sends, that it’s okay to address those potentially awkward conversations and shed light on what a situation really is and what each person wants out of it.

4. This is What You Came For- Calvin Harris ft. Rihanna

THE ultimate club/dance/bar/night out summer lovers song. “Everybody’s watching her but she’s looking at you.” This repeated line in the song is the archetypal love at first sight, serendipitous notion that we American’s cling to so wholeheartedly. In fact, this IS what you came for, to find someone who is just as intrigued by you as you are by them, because all of our lives are cinematic and this is definitely the norm…. Either way, its a great listen and keeps us hopeful for our movie-moments.

5. Brand New-Ben Recor

Summer is a time for fresh starts, school years end, we find new jobs and hope that our employers want to give us nights and weekends off just because, we start new relationships, we start those diets that we promise ourselves would be in full effect by now, etc. This song is about being with someone who makes you feel like you have a fresh start. I think what I like most about it is the fact that it speaks to how unexpected it was to feel so good in a relationship. It sets the standard for summer love, the way we “should” feel in these relationships: young, free, careless, fearless, fun, brand new.

6. Lush Life- Zara

This title alone certainly wraps up the summers of a struggling college student: pretending we have money and spending the very little money we have as if we could maintain a lavish lifestyles. More importantly this song talks about catching feelings and then realizing a situation might not be for us and--get this-- LETTING GO OF IT. I fear that too often we think that we need to make situations that don’t serve us last or make them work out. We don’t, as Zara suggests, live our days as if they were our lasts.

7. I Wanna Be That Song- Brett Eldredge

What better way to jump into our country feels than with a song that talks about quite literally GIVING YOU THE FEELS. We all know at least one song that reminds us of someone. FOr better, for worse, for bittersweetness, for love lost, for love found, for whatever reason. Brett Eldredge, in the most beautiful words, says, “I wanna be that song that makes you dance, makes you laugh, makes you smile. Makes you feel young, makes you believe you’re right where you belong.” I don’t know about you, but I definitely have a song that makes me feel like everything is going to be alright, everything is just right (Little Talks- Of Monsters and Men), and the day any boy makes me feel that way, I’m keeping him. Music holds such a deep connection with our souls, and Brett got everything right with this one.

8. Wasted Time- Keith Urban

This song is your break from relationship and love-y talk. This song isn’t necessarily about a relationship, but simply about the enjoyment of summertime and how in retrospect it’s always the little moments that turn into the best memories. The summer turns into a collection of “all that wasted time” that are the best to look back on. It’s the crazy, fun, adventure, be young, life free song.

9. Noise- Kenny Chesney

Very similar to #8, this song is about the dangers of getting caught up in the noise and technology around us; going through the motions of the summer without really enjoying it. There’s a constant buzz of noise but who really hears you? This song, more than anything, is relatable to anyone who lives in this society. “Trapped in our phones and we can’t make it stop,” suggests Kenny, is one of the factors that prevents us from connecting with one-another. Let this one effet you, readers, and soften the noise every once in awhile.

10. Night’s On Fire- David Nail

This is the ultimate summer date night scene song. It’s a feel of the prototype summer love, much like Danny and Sandy, where the night’s are when the relationship really comes to life.

11. Drunk on Your Love- Brett Eldredge

I don’t know who he’s writing for, but Brett Eldredge is the only double feature in this article and therefore he’s got the right idea. This song parallels #10, in the sense that they both summarize the joys of being with someone. The opening line in this song is what sold me, “the second you walked through the door I caught a buzz.” We all have that one person that makes us feel exactly that way. Even if it’s just a crush--it’s exhilarating.

12. Little Bit of You- Chase Bryant

This one also pairs with #10 in that it is about missing someone in those summer nights. It’s about making those spontaneous trips to someone because you couldn’t think of anything better in the world than spending moments with them. And get this- TELLING THEM YOU FEEL THAT WAY. I feel you, Chase. Sing on.

13. From the Ground Up- Dan + Shay

Prologue, the voices on this song are amazing, so even if you hate country and the lyrics you must appreciate the vocals. Now, first off, this song is about how someone’s grandparents’ relationship is goals. Yes, I also want to be madly in love with someone for 65 years, tell me more. And then, people, if you’re wondering it does get even better from there. This song is that ideal that you’ll fall in love forever in the summer, in the Nicholas Sparks’ “Notebook” worthy love and they sing us right through it. The song is about dedicating the time and energy to create and remaining faithful to these relationships, as we all know they don’t just happen. Great listen.

14. American Country Love Song- Jake Owen

Last, but not least, we have the song that quite literally sums up the idea of summer love in the US. Topics include: fireworks, concerts, beer, who’s going to make the first move, butterflies in our stomachs, beers in our hands, cheerleaders and quarterbacks, bad pickup lines, sitting on beach towels etc. If I missed it in any of the above songs, this one really catches everything. Sporting the line: “Hey radio DJ, can you play that song that she loves so I can turn it up?” Yes, radio DJ, this one on repeat would be perfect.

15. Just Like Fire- P!nk

For those of you who have made it this far and are waiting for the non-love focused song, here we are. P!nk motivates you to take on that summer diet, run the extra mile, crush your interview with the job you thought was above your head, follow your dreams, and most importantly succeed. Just like fire, this song is catching rapidly, inspiring everyone in its path. P!nk offers the importance of individuality in her summer hit because, “no one can be just like me anyway.”

16. Can’t Stop the Feeling- Justin Timberlake

Need I say more?