Have Your Playlist Stocked: Summer Songs for Summer Situations

John Pham

Enjoy this upcoming summer with music, no matter if you’re a pop or country fan.

Maddy Lafollette, Staff Reporter

To immerse yourself in music that fits the summer feeling, here are multiple scenarios — with songs that match — for your choosing out of two different genres: pop and country. 

Driving with friends 

A new freedom is found when you turn 16 and can spend the summer hanging out with your friends and driving. Having the windows down, music blasting, and sun on your skin is a highlight for many people’s summer. Here are a few songs to jam out to in this scenario, no matter your music choice. 

Pop:

“golden hour” – JVKE

“You Belong With Me (Taylor’s Version)” – Taylor Swift

Country:

“Take a Back Road” – Rodney Atkins 

“Before He Cheats” – Carrie Underwood

Out on the water

Living in Oregon, there’s the benefit of having different places to spend days by the water, like rivers and lakes. Whether you’re on a boat, sitting on the shore or dock, or out on a paddle board, just bring a speaker and relax to any one of these songs.

Pop:

“Riptide” – Vance Joy

“Tongue Tied” – GROUPLOVE 

Country –

“Pontoon” – Little Big Town 

“Summertime” – Kenny Chesney 

Road Trip

Everyone knows it’s not fun to be stuck in a car for hours on end. There is always the option to read a book, sleep, or listen to music. Here are a few recommendations to pass your time in this situation. 

Pop:

“4runner” – Brenn! 

“Kilby Girl” – The Backseat Lovers 

Country:

“Good Directions” – Billy Currington 

“Heads Carolina, Tails California” – Jo Dee Messina

Camping

It’s always good to be one with nature, but sitting in a campsite without any background noise can get boring. To fill the silence, here are a few recommendations that will help bring the campsite back to life.  

Pop:

“Walking in the Wind” – One Direction 

“Mountain Sound” – Of Monsters and Men

Country:

“Tennessee Whiskey” – Chris Stapleton 

“Homegrown” – Zac Brown Band

Fourth of July

Filled with friends, food, games, and fireworks, the Fourth of July is the ultimate barbecue of the summer. Add to this enjoyment with some songs that are perfect for this holiday. 

Pop:

“Party In The U.S.A.” – Miley Cyrus 

“I Ain’t Worried” – One Republic 

Country:

“Dirt Road Anthem” – Jason Aldean

“Dirt On My Boots” – Jon Pardi

 

 

Picnics

To spend some more time outdoors in the nice summer weather, have a picnic with some friends. Pack your favorite snacks and a speaker to enjoy some of these picnic hits. 

Pop:

“Location” – Khalid

“Stubborn Love” – The Lumineers 

Country: 

“Fast Car” – Luke Combs cover 

“Right Now the Best” – Zach Bryan

Beach

Even though the Oregon Coast tends to be a bit cloudy, you can always appreciate the waves crashing on the beach. When there is a break in the clouds, having fun down on the beach, playing in the sand, and running into the water adds to the enjoyment. Blast some beach songs to elevate your experience. 

Pop:

“Sunflower, Vol. 6” – Harry Styles 

“16 Going On 23” – The Wonderlands 

Country:

“Long Hot Summer” – Keith Urban 

“Blue Tacoma” – Russell Dickerson

Bonfire

When the sun goes down and the stars appear, what better way to end the night than by a fire, whether you’re camping or down on the beach. Accompany the sound of fire crackling and s’mores roasting with these perfect bonfire songs. 

Pop:

“Summer” – Calvin Harris 

“Wake Me Up” – Avicii

Country:

“Friends in Low Places” – Garth Brooks

“Runnin’ Outta Moonlight” – Randy Houser

Pool Party/Summer Party

Summer is a time for friends and family to get together and make memories. Whether you are jumping into the pool or just hanging around talking, here are some songs to play in the background. 

Pop:

“Classic” – MKTO

“Rude” – MAGIC!

Country:

“Crash and Burn” – Thomas Rhett 

“Good Time” – Niko Moon 

For easier access to all the songs here’s a link to The Falconer’s Spotify with a playlist.