Staff Picks

6 Throwback Summer Anthems

Warm air, sunshine and nothing but free time stirs up the perfect combination for magical music. Some songs scream “summer” without having anything to do with the season…at all. Here are Beyond The Stage’s 10 favorite throwback summer anthems.

1. Somebody That I Used To Know- Gotye

Gotye hasn’t produced much new music since the viral song “Somebody That I Used To Know,” was released in August of 2011, but the song is arguably the Australian artist’s best work. Somehow the song, which is about to lovers becoming strangers, has turned into a fun and carefree melody. How can you be sad when listening to a xylophone? Although released more than a decade ago, “Somebody That I Used To Know,” can still be heard along the boardwalk at every beach, every summer.

2. California Girls- Katy Perry

While Katy Perry was in her wild and free era of Teenage Dream, the pop artist released several universally loved songs and one of our personal favorites, California Girls. Featuring the one-and-only Snoop Dog, “California Girls” quickly became the song of the summer in 2010. It’s one of those songs that just makes you want to go to the beach and pretend that you’re in California.

3. How Deep Is Your Love- Calvin Harris & The Disciples

House Music has been slowly, yet surely weaving its way into the mainstream media. “How Deep Is Your Love,” was one of those songs that opened the door for house music. The electrifying song produced by Calvin harris with vocals from The Disciples had released in July 2015, right in the epicenter of the Summer. What drew some of the most attention to the song was the famous model, GiGi Hadid’s, celebrity appearance in the music video. Seeing GiGi Hadid party on a beach made us all want to do the same.

4. 3 Nights- Dominic Fike

Back in 2018, “3 Nights,” was Dominic Fike’s first hit song and the start of his career as we know it. The acoustic beat and catchy chorus make the song truly exceptional and a great listen. The song’s vibe makes listeners feel almost as if they’re sitting around a campfire, or even better, running under the streetlights on a warm summer night.

5. Passionfruit- Drake

Drake has a handful of summer anthems including some songs from his newest album Honestly, Nevermind. “Passionfruit,” has been a go-to summer song for 5 years straight and is music to our ears – literally. Despite having lyrics about the troubles of long-distance relationships, the song serves as a feel-good anthem. The unique fusion of piano, guitar, flute, and cowbell creates a melody that never gets old.

6. Under The Boardwalk- The Drifters

We couldn’t finish our list’s throwbacks without an honorable mention of a real throwback. All the way back in 1964, R&B band, The Drifters, released what can be considered the summer song of the century. The nostalgic tune was also the band’s biggest hit. I mean- who hasn’t heard the song about summer love?

What are your favorite summer songs? Let us know on Twitter or in the comments!

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Beyond The Stage

Beyond The Stage

Beyond The Stage Magazine is a digital music publication based out of the United States. With more than 25 issues, the publication has covered artists like Noah Cyrus, Logan Henderson and more.