As finals are coming to a close and summer is quickly approaching, we should all start getting excited. There is nothing like that drive home from school to hype you up for the next two to three months that are going to be full of, yes, maybe a little work, but also a lot the beach, tanning, Netflixing, summer flings (which everyone knows is the best kind of fling) and much more! It's crucial that the playlist on your drive home from school be representative of the summer you're going to have. So, in no particular order, here are my top favorites and the most summer-fun lyrics, upbeat sound or just new cool songs I've found recently to get you thrilled!
1. "Vacation" - Thomas Rhett
This song (and music video) just screams summer. It talks about all the best parts of a vacation: drinking on the beach, adventuring, wearing your hot new bathing suits, exploring a love interest ... We all know anything that Thomas Rhett does is great. And this half-country, half-pop, half-hip-hop (kinda) song is no different.
"Put a little liquor in my coconut water / party all day like you're at your alma mater / put a little liquor in my coconut water / ice has started melting so I'll take another swallow"
2. "Toothbrush" - DNCE
This song isn't about summer at all, but it is so catchy! It's also super cute and sort of sexy in a modest way, and it will surely get you in the mood to explore a new (or old) love interest. And Joe Jonas's voice is just a privilege to listen to anyway ... And if you're not a DNCE fan, then it will transport you back to the Jonas Brothers days.
"Maybe you don't have to rush / you could leave a toothbrush / at my place / we don't need to keep it hush"
3. "This Summer's Gonna Hurt (Like A Motherf***er)" - Maroon 5
This song is about a girl who is definitely going to break the singer's heart at the end of the summer, but he knows it and he knows she's worth it. Adam Levine's voice talking about summer is enough of an incentive to enjoy it, and while you're at it, you might as well imagine you're the girl he's singing about.
"Her body's hot / her body's like the summer / I'm in a trance or something"
4. "Ride Wit Me" - Nelly
This song is just a classic. It is definitely the best song to listen to when you're driving around with your friends in your neighborhood. It'll throw you back to those high school days when you were just getting ready for college and wondering who's going to ask you to prom. The song actually has nothing to do with any of those things, but my friends and I used to know all of the words in high school, and driving around and singing them just takes us right back.
"She can be 18 with an attitude / or 19 kinda snotty actin' real rude / Boo as long as you're thicky thick thick girl you know that it's on"
5. "Boys in the Summer" - Jessie James
This song is not very well-known, but it will surely get any girl excited for summer. Jessie James, beloved wife of Eric Decker, sings about all of the sexy things that boys do in the summer, while simultaneously throwing out all of the other best parts of the season. It's a country-style with a little pop twist that will surely hype you up.
"The reason for July / skinny dipping and checking out tanlines / making out underneath the moonlight"
6. "Feeling Myself (feat. Beyonce)" - Nicki Minaj
Every summer playlist needs Nicki Minaj ... and Beyonce is good any time of day, season, year. This song just makes you feel like the coolest human on earth. Not only is it a good song to play while you're getting ready to go out or in the car, but it's a great song to play when you're just having a girls night in your room.
"Changed the game with that digital drop / know where you was when that digital popped / I stopped the world / male or female it make no difference / I stop the world"
7. "Red, White & You" - Steven Tyler
Oddly enough, Steven Tyler went country. Yes, you heard me correctly. But weirdest of all — it's actually a great song! It's about being American and young on the Fourth of July, and if there is anything that summer college students love more than anything ... it's patriotism on fourth of July!
"All those bad girls rocking them cut off jeans / and good ol' boys driving big machines / and you can kiss my ass / can't help but say / it's good to be born in the USA"
8. "Best I Ever Had" - Drake
This is a total throwback, but Drake's first major breakthrough into the top 40! This song brings me back to ninth grade when I first started wearing makeup and when this song came on, I felt like a grown 20-year-old ready to meet my boyfriend. Drake just makes you feel so good, as if he's singing about you. It's the perfect way to start your summer — and when Drake sings ... God bless.
"Sweatpants, hairtyed, chilling with no makeup on / that's when you're the prettiest / I hope that you don't take that wrong"
9. "Cool for the Summer" - Demi Lovato
When this song came out last summer, I probably played it on repeat 500 times in one day. It totally captures the essence of finding someone and having a fast-paced and sexy fling just for the summer, which I think would be one of everyone's favorite part of the season.
"Take me down into your paradise / Don't be scared cause I'm your body type / Just something that we wanna try / Cause you and I / We're cool for the summer"
10. "Wasted" - Tiesto
If I could put the season of summer into song form, it would be this song. There is just something about it that is so free, fun and sexy — just like summer!
"The only time we really talk / Is when our clothes are coming off / I like us better when we're wasted"
