Photo by Alex Blăjan on Unsplash
We asked Swallow Hill staffers to help us compile a Summer Songs Playlist thinking that everyone would provide two to three songs tops. Well, we should have known better as we were provided with a list of 79 songs! At first we thought we’d whittle it down to 20 songs or so, but where’s the fun in that? To that end, we have compiled all of them on one Spotify playlist, Swallow Hill Summer 2022.
There’s something for everyone, and hopefully you’ll discover some new favorites. The playlist is organized in alphabetical order by title, but we suggest playing it on shuffle for a different listening experience each time you play it.
Please note: Some songs on this playlist contain explicit language, please keep that in mind while you listen!
LISTEN HERE: Swallow Hill Summer 2022 Playlist
While it’s hard to pull a unifying theme out of these tunes beyond the shimmering idea of Summer, it’s fun to note a few threads:
- 10 songs have the word Sun in their title. We’ve got the exuberance of “Walking on Sunshine” by Katrina & The Waves, the darkness of Soundgarden’s “Black Hole Sun,” the hopefulness of George Harrison’s Beatles classic “Here Comes the Sun,” and more.
- 8 songs have the word Summer in their title, including Bananarama’s “Cruel Summer,” “Feels Like Summer” by Childish Gambino, and “Hot Fun in the Summertime” by Sly and The Family Stone.
- California makes an appearance in 3 titles – “California Dreamin’” by The Mamas and the Papas, “California Love” by Tupac ft. Dr. Dre, and The Rivieras’ classic “California Sun” as covered by The Ramones.
- As for activities, there’s always time for “Cruisin’ to the Park” with Durand Jones & The Indications, or “(Sittin’) On the Dock of the Bay with Otis Redding. Go “Nightswimming” with R.E.M., get “Hooked on a Feeling” with Blue Swede, make a big splash when you “Cannonball” with the Breeders, or simply go on “Vacation” with The Go-Go’s. Whatever you do, don’t “Steal My Sunshine.”
- If you’re feeling thirsty, Sublime’s here with “40oz. to Freedom,” and G. Love & Special Sauce are happy to offer you a “Cold Beverage.”
- 2 songs ask essential questions: Tribe Called Quest asks “Can I Kick It?” While Bonnie & The Clydes want to know “Do I Ever Cross Your Mind?”
- And speaking of Colorado artists, joining Bonnie & The Clydes, we have Bear and the Beasts with “Asian-American,” “Colorado River” by Trout Steak Revival, “Hard Out Here For a Gimp” by Wheelchair Sports Camp, and “Geraniums #2” by Bellhoss.
Whether you’re traveling or staying close to home, eating out or grilling in the backyard, we hope these songs help soundtrack your summer. Happy listening!
LISTEN HERE: Swallow Hill Summer 2022 Playlist
If you’d rather not click over to Spotify, here is a listing of the songs:
21 by Makeout City
40oz. to Freedom by Sublime
A Better Place, A Better Time by Streetlight Manifesto
All That by Oliver Tree
As It Was by Harry Styles
Asian-American by Bear and the Beasts
Bidi Bidi Bom Bom by Selena
Black Hole Sun by Soundgarden
Blister in the Sun by Violent Femmes
Boys of Summer by Love Canon
Bring The Pain by Method Man
Brunch at the Bodega by Flamingosis
California Dreamin’ by The Mamas and the Papas
California Love by Tupac ft. Dr. Dre
California Sun by The Ramones
Can I Kick It? by Tribe Called Quest
Canary Islands by Goth Babe
Cannonball by The Breeders
Cold Beverage by G. Love & Special Sauce
Colorado River by Trout Steak Revival
Cruel Summer by Bananarama
Cruisin’ To The Park by Durand Jones & The Indications (Y La Bamba version)
Cumbia de los Muertos by Ozomatli
Después De La Playa by Bad Bunny
Do I Ever Cross Your Mind? by Bonnie & The Clydes
Doo Wop (That Thing) by Lauryn Hill
Emit Remmus by Red Hot Chili Peppers
Everybody Loves The Sunshine by Roy Ayers
Everybody Loves the Sunshine by Takuya Kuroda
Feels Like Summer by Childish Gambino
Four Seasons by Vivaldi
Freeze Tag by Terrence Martin, Kamasi Washington, Robert Glasper, 9th Wonder, ft. Phoelix
FYE FYE by Tobe Nwigwe & Fat Nwigwe
Geraniums #2 by Bellhoss
Gold Soundz by Pavement
Good Day by Nappy Roots
Happy Feelings by Maze
Hard Out Here For a Gimp by Wheelchair Sports Camp
Heatwave by Martha & The Vandellas
Heatwaves by Glass Animals
Here Comes the Sun by The Beatles
Hooked on a Feeling by Blue Swede
Hot Fun in the Summertime by Song by Sly & The Family Stone
How Bizarre by OMC
I Can’t Tell by Flume
I Don’t Wanna Talk by Glass Animals
In Bloom by Neck Deep
King’s Dead by Jay Rock, Kendrick Lamar, Future & James Blake
Lovely Day by Bill Withers
Mable by Goldfinger
Money Tree by Kendrick Lamar
Mute by The Raja Kumari
Nightswimming by R.E.M.
Nowhere Again by The Copper Children
Ocean Man by Ween
Oye Como Va by Santana
Palmetto Rose by Jason Isbell
Pamlico Sound by Jon Stickley Trio
Rich Girl Mood by Dounia & Kehlani
San Francisco Knights by People Under the Stairs
(Sittin’ On) the Dock of the Bay by Otis Redding
Solar Power by Lorde
Steal My Sunshine by Len
Suavecito by Malo
Summertime by Janis Joplin
Summertime by Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong
Summertime by DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince
Summertime Thing by Chuck Prophet
Sunny Afternoon by The Kinks
Sunshine of Your Love by Cream
Surf Wax America by Weezer
Swimmer’s Delight (SOS) by Oliver Tree
The Science of Selling Yourself Short by Less Than Jake
Time Bomb by Rancid
Tints by Kendrick Lamar
Vacation by The Go-Go’s
Walking on Sunshine by Katrina & The Waves
Witchoo by Durand Jones & The Indications
Your Love by The Outfield