The Essential Summer Playlist Recipe!
BY HENRY DARLING ‘23
It’s official! Summer! Is! Here! As the school year finally comes to a close, it’s time to apply the sunscreen, throw on the shades, toss a copy of the Milton Measure in the trash, and head on out to see what songs will help shape your summer to be one to remember! Luckily, thanks to the generous releases of some of today’s biggest artists including Harry Styles, Bad Bunny, and Lizzo, you already have a set of songs that easily blend in with whatever summer aesthetic you’re trying to accomplish. I mean, it’s “About Damn Time” that we get to blast whatever music we want without the constant approval of teachers and coaches, so here are a few ways you can start to create your essential summer playlist.
With every great playlist comes an even greater intro. I believe that the first song should encapsulate the awakening of summer and remind you of all of your personal reasons for why you’re excited for the warm weather. Nostalgic songs are quintessential. This route could lead you to revolutionary summer anthems of the 2010s, such as the worldwide hit “California Gurls” by Katy Perry featuring Snoop Dogg. As Snoop Dogg opens the song with the iconic line, “Greetings, loved ones. Let’s take a journey”, the kicking in of the bubbly production will easily transport you to an environment “where the grass is really greener”. I mean, “you could travel the world” and try to find other distinguishable hits like “Wild Ones” by Flo Rida and Sia or “One Kiss” by Calvin Harris and Dua Lipa, but “nothing comes close to the golden coast”. So, with this lyric-induced explanation complete, I strongly believe that “California Gurls”—with its solid vocal performances and sweet charisma—will have you “falling in love” with summer all over again!
Now, creating the bulk of this playlist will probably be a place where I can’t necessarily tell you which direction to go. I can’t predict your aesthetic since no aesthetics are really the same when compared to each other, and yours will most likely relate to just who you are as a person. Nonetheless, I can provide you with some music-based pathways depending on what you’re trying to accomplish. For example, if you’re trying to accomplish a playlist where your mood throughout the summer is up and down, then I suggest that your second song be a little less happy than “California Gurls” without necessarily striking down the vibe that the song accomplished. You could incorporate a mellow yet fast-tempo Drake song, such as “Time Flies” where the delivery is slightly sad but the bass keeps your head nodding. Again, this song is just one of many examples that you could incorporate into your mix, so with whatever aesthetic you’re trying to please, make sure you find those songs that fully bring out that aesthetic in all sorts of emotions, beats, lyrics, rhythms, and colors (if this last aspect makes sense). However, as you start to head into the end of your bulk, maybe it’s best to bring out one final banger before you reach the final song of your playlist. I mean, going back to Katy isn’t a bad idea, especially when “Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F)” exists, but you could also just find any other song that gets the feet moving, the heart pumping, and the arms whippin’.
Alas, we have reached the conclusion of your soon-to-be totally tubular summer playlist. In other words, it is now time to give you all one final piece advice for the song to end your playlist. Personally, when I think of the final song of my playlist, I want it to capture many feelings—such as the pit in my stomach that I get knowing that school is around the corner, the rush for completing any final summer goals, and the overall “recovery period” where I take deep breaths and prepare for the fall that unfortunately lies ahead. Therefore, I think everyone’s final song, although it’s totally up to you, should be “Brand New” by Ben Rector. Altogether, this song defines the trait “a breath of fresh air” as it takes you through a high-speed ride that truly makes you feel “brand new”, which I believe is the feeling that you should have when summer ends. You should feel brand new in the fact that you hopefully tried out new experiences, made new memories, and recovered enough to feel like a better version of yourself heading into the next academic year! Overall, while it's never a bad idea to take my advice, as long as the playlist stays true to you in your full musical form, then you should be all set! There I say, “Dare to be true”?