The practices of listening to music and going to the beach date back centuries. No wonder they work so well together.
And whether you live by a coast or travel miles every year to dip your toes in the ocean, it goes without saying: Every successful beach outing is inevitably accompanied by a perfect waterside playlist, usually filled with vibe-y classics from generations past on whatever hits are currently in contention for the song of the summer title. The hot season has proven to be an abundant source of inspiration for musicians over the years, who have embraced everything from the warm weather it promises to the opportunities it offers for vacations, outdoor excursions, parties and cookouts — but if there's a summer staple that appears most fondly in such seasonal routes is undoubtedly the beach.
Here's why Advertising sign has compiled the 10 best songs that music of the last century has to offer on the subject, featuring contemporary pop stars like Miley Cyrus and Katy Perry to visionary groups like The Drifters and, of course, the Beach Boys. Some of them are just as fun and free as they appear on the surface, while others are written with deeper metaphors inspired by the many mysteries of the ocean in mind. Whatever floats your boat, as they say. (All puns intended.)
Without further adieu, grab your umbrellas, towels and sunglasses, stake your claim to a spot on the shore and dive into the following songs about sun, sand and surf — ranked in reverse order below.
-
Rupert Holmes, “Escape (The Piña Colada Song)”
Holmes' oft-cited, coconut-flavored classic reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1979.
The most beachy verse: “You like piña coladas/ And you get caught in the rain
And the feel of the ocean/ And the taste of champagne/ If you like to make love at midnight/ On the dunes at the cape/ You're the lady I've been looking for/ Come with me and run away.” -
Social House feat. Lil Yachty, “Magic in the Hamptons”
Social House's 2018 hit is the sonic equivalent of warm sunshine hitting your face. It reached No. 25 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 in 2020, largely thanks to its resurgence on TikTok.
The most beachy verse: “And you look so classy/ Come with that magic/ You know I'm gonna break it, it's true/ I can go to the room, I can take you to the beach…”
-
Miley Cyrus, “Malibu”
Cyrus reached No. 10 on the Hot 100 with this breezy love song, which remains one of the most effortless and dreamy tracks in her entire catalog.
The most beachy verse: “I never came to the beach or stood by the ocean/ I never sat on the shore in the sun with my feet in the sand/ But you brought me here and I'm glad you did.”
-
Jimmy Buffet, “Oldest Surfer on the Beach”
This relaxed piece is best enjoyed with a Hawaiian shirt and a Corona beer in hand.
The most beachy verse: “I stopped looking for perfection many waves ago/ What really matters is the here and now and that's all I know/ I'll be caught by a big roller, the sun is setting on the sea/ Riding on her glassy shoulder, the water runs gray like me.”
-
Lorde, “Solar Power”
The moody queen of Gen Z did a 180 in 2021 with the release of “Solar Power,” the lead single from her equally summery third studio album of the same name. The track peaked at No. 64 on the Hot 100.
The most beachy verse: “Acid green, teal/ Girls dance in the sand/ And I throw my mobile device in the water/ Can you reach me? No you can not”.
-
Weezer, “Island In The Sun”
The idyllic “Island in the Sun” has proven to be one of Weezer's most enduring hits, reaching No. 11 on the Alternative Airplay chart in 2001.
The most beachy verse: “When you're in a sea of gold/ You don't need a memory/ Just a place to call your own/ As we drift in the zone.”
-
Ziggy Marley, “Hawaii Beach”
Ziggy channeled all the good vibes he inherited from his dad, Bob Marley, into this serene composition.
The most beachy verse: “I wish you were here with me/ Walking on the beach in Hawaii/ Playing on the golden sand/ Looking at the ocean now I understand.”
-
Katy Perry feat. Snoop Dogg, “California Gurls”
Technically, this 2010 crash is about the female population of the Golden State in general — but according to Katy Perry, that demographic's main activity is going to the beach (along with wearing daisies and bikini tops). The pop star spent six weeks atop the Hot 100 with the track, one of her five historic No. 1s Teenage Dream album.
The most beachy verse: “Sex on the beach/ We don't mind sand in our stilettos.”
-
The Drifters, “Under the Boardwalk”
This iconic 1964 track by The Drifters combines all the charm of a retro teen summer rom-com into a two-and-a-half-minute soul-pop classic, reaching the top five of the Hot 100 the year it was released.
The most beachy verse: “Yeah, down the boardwalk, down by the sea/ On a blanket with my baby is where I'll be.”
-
Beach Boys, “Surfin' USA”
No beach list would be complete without the band that helped define surf rock in the early 60s. The Beach Boys reached No. 3 on the Hot 100 with this timeless 1963 ode to the waves they catch.
The most beachy verse: “If everybody had an ocean in the US/ Then everybody would be surfing like California.”
from our partners at https://www.billboard.com/lists/best-songs-about-beach/