My 10 Favorite Summer Songs of 2021-Part 1
Whether I’ve been sitting at home doing work, reading a book, or just looking out the window, I’ve always had music playing in the background. In May of this year, I started a playlist called ‘summer’ in which I would collect all of my favorite songs from this season. Some of these songs emanate a clear summer vibe (luminous, flowy, sanguine, sultry), and others are just songs that I discovered this summer. Regardless, here are 10 of my favorite summer songs at the moment. (Yes I listened to all of them again while writing this article)
- I Want You by Mitski
You might be confused as to why I included a sad Mitski song to this list, but let me explain. I Want You is one of the songs that I recently discovered, and let me tell you — I am obsessed. I barely know songs from this album, so when I heard this song, I was compelled to listen to the whole thing. While this song doesn’t necessarily give you a summer vibe, it’s just a Mitski song that includes emotional lyrics and a steady beat; which is always desired. I Want You is my favorite song to listen to while reading because Mitski’s soft voice allows me to focus on my book, but there isn’t complete silence.
2. Sunflower by Michele Leigh
Sunflower is a song that has gained popularity on Tik Tok recently, and it’s extremely summery. It starts off with a little voice memo lyric and then drops into the catchy beat of the song very effortlessly. The lyric “Sunflower, you’ve let me go/ You’ve let yourself fold/ Stop being so cold” makes me think of summer ending (because the sunflower folds) and the forthcoming cold weather. Since it’s currently the end of July, this song is sadly quite realistic.
3. Frou-Frou Foxes in Midsummer Fires by Cocteau Twins
I’ve recently entered a Cocteau Twins phase for the first time, so of course, I had to listen to their popular album Heaven or Las Vegas. After an hour of listening, I figured that this album has no skips, and my favorite song is Frou-Frou Foxes in Midsummer Fires. The song starts off slowly with steady vocals, but really shines through at the beat drop. Around one minute and 40 seconds into the song, all the instrumentals descend. It’s really hard to understand what the band’s lyrics are at this point, but the uncertainty makes me feel like I’m in a coming-of-age movie and something traumatic just happened to the main character. (That’s a good thing by the way)
4. Amoeba by Clairo
At first, I was reluctant to listen to Clairo’s new album because it seemed too different from her old bedroom pop music, but wow. I listened to this album fully through and love so many of the songs. Amoeba was my favorite because it was the most upbeat, but the lyrics were also so catchy. The chorus begins with a sentence I find myself singing everywhere around my house. “Aren’t you glad that you reside in a Hell and in disguise?/ Nobody yet everything, a pool to shed your memory”. Thank you, Jack Antonoff.
5. Steeeam by Shelly
I haven’t listened to any other Shelly songs, but I came across this one recently and I listen to it every day. Not even kidding. Clairo’s soft vocals on this song are obviously incredible, and the beat in the background is so unique. Just wish this song was longer!
6. WUSYANAME by Tyler the Creator (feat. Youngboy Never Broke Again and Ty Dolla $ign)
I hadn’t yet listened to the songs on Tyler’s new album Call Me If You Get Lost, but after hearing so many people rave about this song, I finally listened to it. I haven’t been in a rap phase for a while now, but this song is so dreamy. A great summer song to listen to!
7. Visions by Loving
Another song that perfectly encompasses the laid-back nature of summer is Visions by Loving. The lyrics are great, the beat is so catchy, and the song overall is soft and monotone. The first time I heard this song I thought it was by the band Wallows, so that gives you a little insight as to how it sounds. Wallows fans, this is your new favorite summer song.
8. Blondie by Current Joys
I discovered this song so long ago, but added it to my summer playlist the second June started. I love so many songs by Current Joys, but Blondie is always the one I come back to. The lyrics are so clever and strike a chord in your heart. The first few lines start with, “There are flowers/ In my heart/ They’re growing thorns/ And it hurts.” So, so good.
9. Gay Bar by Rosie Tucker
One day I was stalking my Spotify friend activity, as one does, and I saw one of my friends listening to this song over and over again. I had never listened to Rosie Tucker before so I gave this song a try, and I loved it immediately. There have been songs that I need a few listens to get used to, but I loved this song from the first time I heard it. It is very unique (I haven’t heard anything like it), and it also is very summery. The lyrics “Baby isn’t this the afterlife?/ Singing karaoke in a dive”, are followed by odd sounds for a good minute. I love weird songs like this, and it’s definitely different.
10. Time Machine by Willow
Willow’s eponymous album is one of my favorites, regardless of the fact that there are only eight songs on it. Although my favorite song on it is Female Energy Pt. 2, Time Machine is the most dreamy song, which is perfect for summer.