Summer Songs by Becky Broderick

To make it feel like summer, a song doesn’t necessarily have to be specifically about summer. That helps, of course, but it’s more important that the music actually mentally transports you to a place without responsibilities or worries, where the longest days of the year are yours to fill with all the sun and fun that will fit. These are the songs that capture the essence of an entire season in just a few minutes.

Thunder Road - Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band

Summer is road-trip season, and there is no better road-trip song than this one. Some might argue that "Born to Run" takes top honors in that category, but it has a certain grittiness that doesn't properly reflect the beauty and warmth of summer. In "Thunder Road," however, Springsteen's lyrics make the season palpable. You can almost see Mary's dress waving in the breeze. You can smell the salt air along that dusty beach road. And, best of all, you can feel that cool wind blowing through your hair as you drive on through the night with the windows down.

Summertime Girls - Y&T

If springtime is when a young man's fancy turns to thoughts of love, it could be said that summertime is when a young man's fancy turns to T&A. "Summertime Girls," a horny man's ode to scantily-clad girls, expertly conveys that idea without coming off as crude. It's a harder-rockin' alternative to the Beach Boys' "California Girls," yet melodic and accessible enough to reel in folks who never developed a taste for hair metal. And for those who think the song objectifies women, ask yourselves why women's bathing suits have gotten skimpier and skimpier over the years? Girls aren't hitting the beach in full makeup and thongs to not be looked at!

Rio - Duran Duran

Although this song's tale of a woman dancing on the sand is summery enough on its own, it's the video that really conjures up images of the season. Since Duran Duran were the poster boys of MTV back in the '80s, most people can't hear "Rio" without immediately picturing the video. Shot in Antigua, it depicts a fairly "high-end" summer vacation that the average person couldn't afford. Still, there are plenty of girls (and guys) who would start up a special savings account for the chance to spend a week cavorting on a yacht with five beautiful British boys in bright, candy-colored suits!

Soak Up the Sun - Sheryl Crow

This is kind of a no-brainer, isn't it? When this debuted six summers ago as the leadoff single from "C'mon C'mon," it became an instant summer classic that probably angered a lot of dermatologists. Sure, Crow makes a quick reference to putting on her "45" (as in SPF), but it's the happy refrain about basking in the UV rays that everyone remembers!

Red Dragon Tattoo - Fountains of Wayne

Oddly enough, this tune sets the seasonal mood much better than "It Must Be Summer," another track from the same album (Utopia Parkway). This song's comical lyrics, hooky melody, '80s-style swagger, and all-important hand claps make it an irresistible nugget of pop goodness that just makes you feel good to be alive. On a more personal note, I went through a short period of unemployment last summer, so one Monday I decided to hit the beach to pull me out of the doldrums. As I was taking that ride on the N train down to Coney Island, I realized that I was living these lyrics, which pleased me to no end. Now when I hear "Red Dragon Tattoo" I can't help but smile, thinking about the day my life became a song. Well, sort of. I'm happy to report that I'm still tattoo-less.

What are your favorite summer songs? Make a comment!