What makes a summer song a "summer song"

Living in Vermont, in April, I am the victim of constant "false springs", where we have a beautiful day -  tee shirt and shorts weather - and the next day there is a snowstorm. So now, more than ever, I am dreaming and waiting for summer to begin. Summer has always held a special spot in my heart - it is the season in which my happiness soars and my heart thrives. Aside from the beautiful weather, lack of school, lack of obligations, and time to spend however I please, another aspect I adore about summer is the music. Since starting college, my love of music has only grown, so it shouldn't be a surprise that summer songs are constantly on my mind. I have to stay warm somehow! So, here is a categorized list of summer songs, and the way they make me feel, to help you accomplish that perfect summer experience in these cold and snowy times. 

Note: Some of these songs are cross-listed. Therefore, I will include a symbol with every category, and when a song has that symbol beside it, you know it's in both of those categories :)

There are your straight-forward summer songs - that both feel like summer and have an undeniably summer title ☀

Soak Up the Sun - Sheryl Crow

Island in the Sun - Weezer 

Spring into Summer - Lizzy McAlpine

Sunroof - Nicky Youre & Dazy

All Summer Long - Kid Rock ❀

Cruel Summer - Taylor Swift

Here Comes the Sun - The Beatles

All Summer Long - The Beach Boys

Then there are the songs that feel nostalgic like summers past ☺

I'm Yours - Jason Mraz

Riptide - Vance Joy

Tonight Tonight - Hot Chella Rae

Upside Down - Jack Johnson ✩

Perfect Day - Hoku ✩

Unwritten - Natasha Bedingfield ✩

Run-Around - Blues Traveler

One Original Thing - Cheyenne Kimball ✩

Beach Boys songs!

A summer song that makes you feel like you're in a 2000s movie ✩

Free to Decide - The Cranberries

Swap Spit - Emma eek

Girl All the Bad Guys Want - Bowling for Soup

Blur - Riff Wood

Lifestyles of the Rich & Famous - Good Charlotte

Pushing Daisies - Ashe & Suki Waterhouse

Loser Like Me - Sixpence None the Richer

Don't Dream It's Over - Crowded House

All I Want is You - Barry Louis Polisar

Flagpole Sitta - Harvey Danger

Can't Behave (without DJ Quik) - Courtney Jaye

Shooting the Moon - OK Go

Doin' Time - Sublime

The chill songs, for lying on the beach (or sitting on the bus, wishing you were on the beach) ❇

Home - Jack Johnson & Stick Figure

Beast of Burden - The Rolling Stones

(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay - Otis Redding

Dancing in the Moonlight - King Harvest

Crash - Dave Matthews Band

Oh - Dave Matthews Band

One and Only - Teitur

Sweet Emotion - Aerosmith

Ocean Man - Ween

Country summers ⛵︎

all Zac Brown Band songs - specifically from these albums: (but I'd suggest listening to them as a whole)

    You Get What You Give

    The Foundation

    Uncaged

Also, all Jimmy Buffett!! highlighting: 

    Margaritaville

    Boat Drinks

    Fins

Only Wanna Be With You - Hootie and the Blowfish

The Way You Love Me - Faith Hill 

Summertime - Kenny Chesney

Drink In My Hand - Eric Church

Chattahoochee - Alan Jackson

Feathered Indians - Tyler Childers

On the Boat Again - Jake Owen

Stuck Like Glue - Sugarland

Angel Eyes - Love and Theft

other artists, like Luke Bryan, Florida Georgia Line, Tim McGraw...

Finally, the songs you can dance to - or blast out of the car windows ❀

Sweet Home Alabama - Lynyrd Skynyrd ⛵︎

Dynamite - Taio Cruz ☺

She's So High - Tal Bachman ✩

Layla - Eric Clapton

Just a Girl - No Doubt ✩

Please Please Please - Sabrina Carpenter 

Somebody Else - Role Model

I Don't Want to Know - Fleetwood Mac

Good Luck, Babe! - Chappell Roan

Sunday Morning - Maroon 5