Top Ten Songs Of Summer

IGN Entertianments Top 10 Songs Of Summer. Sweet music to make your BBQ rock and your summer evening sizzle

10. "Summertime" - George Gershwin
With lyrics like this, how could we leave this perennial classic off the list (granted it skews to a slightly older demo, but every party has to cater to the adult sector before it really gets going):

9. "Summer In The City" - The Lovin' Spoonful
Any song that beings with "Hot town, summer in the city…" is made for hot sauce encrusted lip smacking and fried chicken finger licking. I think.


8. "Thong Song" - Sisqo
Okay, so this is kind of a novelty inclusion, but one cannot deny that at one point in time this song was HOT. It may also have been the downfall of Sisco since we haven't really heard hide nor hair from the man in a long, long, long time. Who's to say and who's to blame? At any rate, any song that glorifies the least amount of clothing a woman (or a man, for that matter) can legally get away with wearing, definitely earns a place in the Summer Song Hall of Fame.

7. "Summertime" - DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince
If you've ever seen the classic video from this hit, then you know what the song is all about: bein' with your friends and family and soaking up the rays and good times. Borrowing from seminal funk outfit Kool & The Gang, Jeff and Will slip the good will to any who will listen.

6. "Summer Of Love" - The B-52's
Whether they sing about Rock Lobsters or Love Shacks, the B-52's mastered an infectious blend of kitsch and pop brilliance, making them one of the most enduring bands of the New Wave and Post New Wave eras. This little jammy combines the best of both worlds, being driven by a steady beat, electronic synth pulses and the infectious vocals of Kate Pierson and Cindy Wilson.

5. "Summertime" - Downtown Science
Comprised of rapper Bosco Money and super producer Sam Sever, Downtown Science released only one album during their short-lived career. But damn if it wasn't a doozy. Thanks to Bosco's smooth, velvet toned baritone and Sever's intricate production, their self-titled album is a long, lost classic that any self-respecting true blue hip-hop head will have lurking in their crates (if you don't, well then you really don't know what you're missing). Chock full of great tracks like "Room To Breathe" and the electro shock therapy of "Radioactive" the album also contains the sizzling slow burn mid-tempo jammy simply called "Summertime."

4. "Low Rider" - WAR
While the song may not outwardly appear to have anything to do with summer, this anthem is all about getting out and interacting with folks, whether it be cruisin' the boulevard in your '64 or flippin' burgers on the Weber in the backyard. WAR unleashed many classics, but this one has become timeless, passing from one generation to the next with oil slick ease.

3. "Summer Madness" - Kool & The Gang
This is one for the end of the party, you know when everybody except your closest friends have left. It's a slow burn, mellow aperitif that goes down as easy as the setting sun. It's also the song that DJ Jazzy Jeff and Will Smith jacked for their hit "Summertime," thus making it a sampling staple amongst the hip-hop elite. We suggest you sit back, relax and max with the original gem.

2. "Hot Fun In The Summer" - Sly & The Family Stone
What the hell kind of summer would it be without a little sonic lovin' courtesy of Sly & The Family Stone? A pretty dull one, you could very well imagine. This is a stone cold classic. Period.


1. "Summertime Rolls" - Jane's Addiction
Perry Farrell and company may best be known for their acoustic transvestite love song "Jane Says," but this gem is by far one of their greatest achievements. Farrell's voice is a haunting warm weather banshee of hallucinogenic serenity while the rolling bassline provided by Eric Avery, the languid rhythms from Steven Perkins, and the liquid guitar from Dave Navarro round out the piece perfectly. While perhaps best suited for a picnic with your significant other, it will also serve as a wonderful detox from a raucous party.

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