10 Great Summer Songs for English Learners ☀️🎶
Here on the Engoo blog, we've already written about common English expressions related to the summer. This time, we'd like to do the same thing for songs. 🎧
Everybody loves the sunshine, and over the years, musicians have been inspired by the sun and the feeling of freedom that summer brings. This article will highlight 10 great examples of summer songs for you to listen to and study with.
10 Great Summer Songs
"Summertime" - Sam Cooke
Sam Cooke is a legendary soul singer from the southern US state of Mississippi. This song has a slow pace and the feeling of a lazy summer day. We think Sam Cooke's smooth voice and clear pronunciation make his English very easy to understand.
Summertime
And the living is easy
Fish are jumping
And the cotton is high
"Island in the Sun" - Weezer
Weezer is a rock band that formed in 1992 in Los Angeles, USA. The lyrics of this song are about the fun and freedom of a great holiday vacation.
When you're on a golden sea
You don't need no memory
Just a place to call your own
As we drift into the zone
If you're "in the zone," you feel great and everything you do is successful. This phrase is popular in sports, but it can be used in a variety of situations.
Jordan hasn't missed his last seven shots. He's in the zone!
I've really been in the zone at work lately. I've already met my sales target for this month.
"In Summer" - Josh Gad
Josh Gad is the voice of Olaf, the snowman from the movie Frozen. Because he's a snowman, Olaf has only experienced winter weather. In this song, he wonders what life would be like in the summer. However, he doesn't realize what the heat will do to him!
Winter's a good time
To stay in an cuddle
But put me in summer
And I'll be a…
Happy snowman!
When you "cuddle" with someone, you hold them in your arms as a way to show love and affection.
However, cuddle rhymes with another word that describes what Olaf would actually be in the summer. Do you know what it is? You can find the answer at the end of the article!
"In the Summertime" - Mungo Jerry
Although it may sound like one person, Mungo Jerry is actually the name of a band from the UK. They started in 1970 and had their biggest hit with "In the Summertime," which was released in the same year.
This is a relaxed song that expresses the carefree attitude that many people associate with the season.
We're always happy
Life's for livin'
Yeah, that's our philosophy
"Summertime Sadness" - Lana Del Rey
Lana Dey Rey is a singer and songwriter from New York City. She's well known for music with themes of romance and melancholy.
Just like Valentine's Day songs aren't always about the happy side of love, summer isn't always perfect. In this song, Lana is realizing and accepting that the relationship with her partner is ending.
Think I'll miss you forever
Like the stars miss
The sun in the mornin' sky
"Hot Fun in the Summertime" - Sly and The Family Stone
Sly and The Family Stone was an American band that made rock, funk, R&B and soul music in the 1960s and 70s. In addition to making many classic songs, they were also special for being one of the first rock groups in America to have members of different genders and races.
"Hot Fun in the Summertime" is one of their most famous songs, and the lyrics mention a variety of fun and positive things that people associate with the summer.
I cloud nine when I want to
Out of school, yeah
County fair in the country sun
And everything is true
Being "on cloud nine" means being extremely happy. In the song, this idiom is used as a verb, but that's uncommon in regular usage.
I've been on cloud nine since summer vacation started.
Related article: 14 English Idioms Based on Numbers
"School's Out" - Alice Cooper
Alice Cooper is a rock musician from Detroit, Michigan. Along with music, he became famous for his wild behavior and live concerts designed to shock audiences.
"School's Out" is about the feelings of rebellion and excitement that many kids experience when the summer approaches.
Well, we got no class
And we got no principlesAnd we got no innocence
We can't even think of a word that rhymes!
The lyrics here have a double meaning. While "class" can refer to a room for lessons, it can also refer to sophistication and good manners.
Mr. Smith is very respected for his class and intelligence.
Also, a "principal" is the highest member of a school's staff. This word has the same pronunciation as "principle," even though the spelling is different. "Principles" are rules that people live by in order to be good citizens.
We built our company on the principles of honesty and fairness.
With no class and no principles, it's easy to see that Alice Cooper probably wasn't a great student when he was in school!
"Surfin' USA" - The Beach Boys
The Beach Boys are a pop and rock group from California that made many classic songs about things like beaches, warm weather and, of course, surfing.
"Surfin' USA" is about the excitement and anticipation of surfers preparing for a trip to the beach, looking for the perfect wave.
We'll all be planning that route
We're gonna take real soon
We're waxing down our surfboards
We can't wait for June
"Everybody Loves the Sunshine" - Roy Ayers Ubiquity
This is a classic soul song from 1976 by Roy Ayers, who was famous for playing an instrument called the vibraphone.
This song has very simple lyrics about the feeling of the sun and its effect on people. Listening to this, it's easy to imagine lying in a park on a sunny day.
Sunshine
Folks get down in the sunshine
Sunshine
Folks get brown in the sunshine
RIP to Roy Ayers!
"Summertime" - DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince
Did you know that the Hollywood actor Will Smith began his career as a musician? As a rapper, his name was The Fresh Prince, and he and his partner DJ Jazzy Jeff were the first hip-hop artists to win a Grammy award.
"Summertime" is one of their most famous songs; it has a slow pace and a smooth, relaxed feeling.
The temperature's about 88
Hop in the water plug
Just for old time's sake
Break to ya crib
Change your clothes once more
'Cause you're invited to a barbecue that's starting at 4
"Water plug" is another name for a fire hydrant, which many children in the city use like a fountain on hot summer days. Also, "crib" is a slang word common in hip-hop that means "house" or "home."
Bonus! "Summer Madness" - Kool & The Gang
Kool & The Gang is an R&B, soul and funk band from New Jersey that formed in 1964. This song, however, sounds closer to jazz than those other genres. "Summer Madness" actually has no lyrics, but that didn't stop it from becoming a classic.
Just like "Summertime" by DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince, "Summer Madness" has a very peaceful feeling, like a calm summer night. In fact, if you listen closely to "Summertime," you can hear a small piece of this song in the background.
You may wonder why such a smooth song has "madness" in the title. This madness does not mean anger; instead, it refers to intense passion or interest.
Wrap-up
It doesn't matter if you like R&B, hard rock or hip-hop, there's a song about summer for you! While you study the lyrics to these songs, we hope you'll discover some artists or genres you didn't know before.
If you'd like to practice your English in a real conversation, book a 25-minute lesson with an Engoo tutor and talk about your personal favorite summer songs!
(By the way, the answer to the question above is "puddle." We didn't forget!)
