Best Beach Songs for Your Summer Playlist in Rock and Metal
Here are some of the best beach songs to get on your summer playlist – Author Anne Erickson, Photo via Anne Erickson
Summer means hitting the beach, which is always a good thing. But, it also means you have to bring some of the best beach songs to rock while you’re soaking up the sun. You have to have a pretty great summer playlist. I live in Michigan, so we’re certainly not at a loss for great beaches. One of my favorite things to do in the summer is hit the beach and listen to some of my favorite music while taking in all the sights.
Summer Playlist: Best Beach Songs in Rock and Metal
While summer songs like “California Girls” from The Beach Boys and “The Boys of Summer” from Don Henley are great summer anthems, you can also go heavier with the music. Of course, if kids are around, you might want to make sure the songs you pick are clean. But, if you’re just adulting, you have more options. Here are some of the best beach songs to get on your summer playlist for rock and metal fans. You can also follow, or “save,” the Spotify playlists, one rock and metal and one pop and hip-hop, below for a range of songs.
The Beatles, “Here Comes the Sun”
The Beatles are not metal, and some of their music I wouldn’t even really call rock. But, I would be remiss to leave “Here Comes the Sun” of any summer playlist, so it absolutely deserves a place here. It’s a summer pop-rock classic and one of the best beach songs ever.
The idea of a jungle certainly brings some summer scenes to mind. In that spirit, metalcore band Bad Omens has a great summer track with “Concrete Jungle.” It starts off soft, but the breakdown is as heavy as it gets.
Off The Who’s rock opera “Quadrophenia,” “Sea and Sand” is a perfect summer song. It tells the story of a character named Jimmy who is looking for answers in life. He finds peach on the beach.
Of course Alice Cooper and “School’s Out” has to be on this roster of the best beach songs in rock and metal. It’s a summer classic. As soon as that last school bells ring, you have to crank this one as loud as possible.
Judas Priest, “Last Rose of Summer”
Judas Priest’s “Last Rose of Summer” arrived in their third studio album, 1977’s “Sin After Sin.” Even though it doesn’t have a super summer vibe, that title is epic, and it’s just a great song. So, you can’t go wrong with it on your summer rock and metal playlist.
There’s something about all of Sublime’s music that just screams summer. Even though the lyrics of “Santeria” by Sublime don’t really discus summer or beaches, this is really a must-listen at the beach. It has a relaxing vibe that feels like a summer breeze. It’s one of the best beach songs from the 1990s.
Weezer’s “Island in the Sun” is a standard pick for any summertime or beach playlist. It’s one of the band’s biggest songs and brings that summer feel to any pool or beach party.
Nu-metal icons Deftones have a seminal summer song in “My Own Summer.” This is one of the band’s greatest tracks of all time, and the music video for the song really fits summer, too. If you don’t like sharks, don’t watch the video, though.
Does any other song belong more on a summer playlist than Soundgarden’s “Black Hole Sun?” Probably not. This song is iconic and is the most recognizable Soundgarden song of all time. Since I’m a radio host, I’m a bit sick of playing “Black Hole Sun,” but that doesn’t take away from the fact it’s one of the greatest songs from the grunge era. The late, great Chris Cornell and company are perfect for a summer playlist with this gem.
Follow, or “save,” my Spotify playlists below for some new jams. Contact me at anne@audioinkradio.com.
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