Stay Cool with These 10 Hot Summer Songs in English
In the past, we've explained some common English expressions related to the summer. This time, we'd like to do the same thing for songs.
Everybody loves the sunshine, and musicians from different eras and with different styles have all been inspired by the sun and feeling of freedom that summer brings. Let's take a look at 10 songs all about the hottest season.
"Summertime" - Sam Cooke
Sam Cooke is a legendary soul singer from the southern US state of Mississippi. This song has a slow pace with the feeling of a lazy summer day. Sam Cooke has a very smooth voice with clear pronunciation, which makes his English 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. "Island in the Sun" is from their third album, which is also called "Weezer."
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
Being "in the zone" means feeling as if everything you do is right and successful. This term became very 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 is 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!
To "cuddle" is to hug and be very close to someone you love. However, cuddle rhymes with another word that describes what Olaf would actually be in the summer. Do you know what it is? Go to the bottom of the article to find the answer!
"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 is well known for music with themes of romance and melancholy.
Just like Valentine's Day songs are not always about the happy side of love, summer isn't always perfect. In this song, the singer is recognizing that the relationship with her partner is coming to an end.
Think I'll miss you forever
Like the stars miss
The sun in the mornin' sky
See also: 'Not in Love? Learn English with Anti-Valentine's Day Songs!'
"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 include members of different genders and different races.
"Hot Fun in the Summertime" is one of their most famous songs. The lyrics mention several positive things people connect to the summer months.
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" is an idiom that means to be extremely happy.
I've been on cloud nine since summer vacation started.
The lyrics use this expression as a verb, which is not common.
"School's Out" - Alice Cooper
Alice Cooper is an iconic 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" represents the feelings of rebellion and excitement that many schoolchildren 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 mean sophistication and good manners.
Also, a "principal" is the highest-ranking member of the school staff. Its pronunciation is the same as "principle," even though the spelling is different. Principles are rules that people live by in order to be good citizens and good workers.
With no class and no principles, it's easy to understand what kind of student Alice Cooper was!
"Surfin' USA" - The Beach Boys
The Beach Boys are a world-famous pop and rock group that has made many classic songs. They are from California, which is often associated with beaches and warm weather. These ideas appear in many of their songs.
"Surfin' USA" is about the excitement and anticipation of surfers preparing to go 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 written by Roy Ayers, who is famous for playing an instrument called the vibraphone.
"Everybody Loves the Sunshine" 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
"Summertime" - DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince
Did you know that the famous 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 relaxed mood.
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 during the summer season. Also, "crib" is a slang word common in Hip Hop that means "house" or "home."
Bonus song!
"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 much closer to jazz. "Summer Madness" actually has no lyrics at all, but that did not stop it from becoming a classic.
Just like "Summertime" by DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince, it has a very relaxed and peaceful sound, like a calm summer night. In fact, if you listen closely to "Summertime," you will 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 an intense interest in or passion for something.
Wrap-up
It doesn't matter if you like R&B, hard rock or Hip Hop, there is a song about summer for you.
While you study the lyrics to these songs, we hope you'll also discover some new artists or genres you didn't know before. Why not make yourself a playlist to enjoy during the summer?
Or even better, go to the record store and look for these songs on vinyl! Check out our article all about vocabulary for record collectors: 'Drop the Needle! Vocabulary for Vinyl Record Collectors'
(The answer to the question above is "puddle." We didn't forget!)
