16 Beach Songs You'll Want to Put on Repeat All Summer
As the summer Fridays slowly start to hit, it’s time to pack up the towels, the boogie boards, and the sunscreen, and hit the nearest beach. Whether you’re into laying out for hours, swimming until you’re pruney, or playing sports in the sand, we’ve rounded up the ultimate soundtrack to soaking up some sun this summer.
“King of the Beach” by Wavves
With an apropos title and the glorious mid-2000s emo nasal sound in California frontman Nathan William’s voice, “King of The Beach” is an undeniable addition. Cue the opening line, “Let the sun burn my eyes, let it burn my back,” for a perfect sunscreen lathering soundtrack.
“Bam Bam” by Sister Nancy
“Bam Bam” is one of reggae’s most shining flagship songs, and there is truly nothing better on a summer day than anything by dancehall queen Sister Nancy.
“Boca Raton” by Bas feat. A$AP Ferg
Giving some love to America’s southern beaches, “Boca Raton” is a swaggering summer gem from Dreamville’s Bas and A$AP Ferg, who puts on a noteworthy performance that celebrates women, good clothes, and the ever-important summertime Patron.
“Island Boy” by Akari
With a voice so deep that it’s nearly eerie, Akari’s “Island Boy” somehow tackles its dark tones with a contagious, airy beat to make a beautifully unexpected and experimental seasonal jam.
“Binz” by Solange
On “Binz,” Solange bounces in, conjuring up a dreamy sun-summoning chant in the magical way only she can. “I just wanna wake up to the suns and Saint Laurent” is the only lyric I’m okay having stuck in my head all summer.
“Con Altura” by Rosalía and J Balvin
“Con Altura” is a pop-infused reggaeton track that finds Rosalía diving deep into a sound much more commercial than she would usually go for. What ensues is an undeniable dance gem from a pair that never disappoints.
“Mango (Freestyle/Process)” by Orion Sun and Mulch
Not every beach song has to be a dance hit. On the effortlessly breezy “Mango Freestyle,” Philly up-and-comer Orion Sun sleepily dances over a lo-fi beat-a track for the long, hazy, and free-flowing days.
“Let’s Go Surfing” by The Drums
The ultimate ode for every beach bum’s favorite water sport, “Let’s Go Surfing” is a straightforward song from one of the most iconic surf rock bands.
“Beautiful” by Snoop Dogg feat. Pharrell
It might be the video with its billions of bikini-clad women, but there’s something about “Beautiful” that sounds exactly like summer. Queue it up for a quick confidence boost.
“Summer Mood” by Best Coast
While “Summer Mood” doesn’t necessarily celebrate beach days specifically, it’s the light jingling beat & the distant, muffled vocals that make it perfect for easy listening.
“Petrol Bliss” by Choker
“Petrol Bliss” seems to start off slow, only to build into a certified bop. With its infectious high-pitched ad-libs and muted lead vocals that morph into a noteworthy rap verse, it seamlessly hits the relaxed energy of summer days that have the potential to turn into something a bit more unhinged.
“Ridin Round” by Kali Uchis
“Ridin Round” finds pink-hair-era Kali Uchis mixing the sounds of R&B, reggaeton, and even some soul music for a braggadocios, fun track for summer’s sunniest, most deviant days.
“Swim Good” by Frank Ocean
Swimming-related title aside, any Frank Ocean song-that doesn't happen to be painfully heart-wrenching-deserves a place on a beach playlist. “Swim Good” is a standout track off of Frank’s debut mixtape with a scream-sing worthy chorus that rings loudly: “I’m about to drive in the ocean; Imma try to swim for something bigger than me.”
“Take Care” by Beach House
Anything by Beach House is made for the midday beach nap. Tune out the screaming kids on boogie boards with “Take Care,” the soft, rhythmic closing track from 2010’s gorgeous Teen Dream record.
“Matter of Time” by Surfer Blood
As proven more than once already on this list, the quickest way to beef up a beach playlist is to look for bands with some variation of the words “surf,” “beach,” or anything sun-related in their name. Surfer Blood is one of the finest examples-and it has a catalogue full of easy, breezy, beach-ready classics to back it up.
“D’Evils” by SiR
“D’Evils” is a song all about moving slowly and avoiding stress, which seems like exactly the kind of energy we should all be going for all season long. Spark up and lay back on the towel for the most apropos listening experience.
Listen to all of our beach-worthy picks in the playlist below. Follow Harper's BAZAAR on Spotify. Follow
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