Liam’s Summertime Necessities
By Liam Peace on October 15, 2024
Let’s just call out the elephant in the room before we get into this blog… I can hear what you’re saying, “Liam it’s the middle of October, summer is over.” And frankly, I would agree with you. However, this blog is not specifically about the season of summer. It’s about the feeling summertime music can give you, no matter what the weather is like outside. So yes, be excited for those pumpkin drinks, the sweater weather, and those corn mazes. But right now I am going to give you 4 of my necessary songs on any summer music playlist.
- Summer of 69, Bryan Adams
Now you can’t have a summer music playlist without this song… Canadian legend Bryan Adams released that song back in 1985 on his album “Reckless”. The song climbed to number 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 in June of 1985 and pushed the album to top spot on the Billboard 200 album chart in August of the same year.
For me, Summer of 69 is just one of those road trip songs that everyone sings at the top of their lungs. Windows down, car full of friends, and music at full volume… that’s summertime to me.
2. Toes, Zac Brown Band
Now of course warm weather tunes are not limited to just the genre of rock. Of course there’s nothing like a late Albertan summer night, out by the campfire, listening to some country music. For me when I think summer country, I think about the Zac Brown Band. A little toe tapping beat as you watch the flames flicker into the night sky.
Released in 2009 as the third single from the band’s major-label debut album, “The Foundation”. The song became their second number 1 hit and their third top 10 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.
3. Margaritaville, Jimmy Buffet
I challenge you to name a song, with a more iconic opening few notes than Margaritaville. As soon as it starts, you instantly know what it is. And what it is, is an absolute summertime banger. You know I once drove down to Margaritaville in Key West Florida, truly a form of paradise here on earth. Perfect weather, great sand, and of course plenty of margaritas!!
Of course the music industry lost the great Jimmy Buffet back in September of 2023, but his 1977 hit will live forever. The United States National Recording Registry selected his island hit to become a “song for preservation”, citing it’s “cultural, historical, and aesthetic significance”.
4. Give Me Everything, Pitbull
Now I think the US state of Florida might epitomize the summertime vibes. And I mean it makes sense… it is literally summer there all year long. And of course, you can not talk about Florida without talking about Mr. 3 0 5. Yes, I’m talking about the legend that is Pitbull!! Straight off of South Beach in Miami, his music will always get the party started no matter where you are.
Released back in 2011, this was Pitbull’s first number-one single. And with 8.2 million copies sold, it’s one of the best-selling singles of all time. Fun Fact, Lindsay Lohan tried to sue Pitbull for the use of her name in the song… Ultimately a judge ruled that her name is public use, and Mr. 305 won the case.
I hope this list gave you some of those summertime vibes, and you can feel the sun on your skin the next time you hear one of them. Come back summer, we miss you already.
Adam Birkett – Unsplash