More than other seasons, people associate a song, or songs, with summer. It’s not hard to understand why. Kids are out of school and have free time. And even when they work over the summer, they’re listening to the radio, and hearing the same songs over and over.
For those in the workforce all year, that’s when many take vacation and they associate time off with a song played during the season.
There’s a certain vibe about summer — better weather, free time, a carefree spirit, a liberating drive along the beach, partying to all hours with your best friends, new or rekindled romances. And people associate the fun, or the heartbreak, with a summer song.
To determine the song of the summer you were born in, 24/7 Tempo reviewed the highest Billboard Hot 100 ranking song released during June, July, and August for every year between 1958 and 2021. We used the total number of weeks on the Billboard chart to break ties.
Summer songs aren’t necessarily songs that have summer in the lyrics, like Eddie Cochran’s anthemic and well-covered “Summertime Blues.” It can be a song from a movie, such as “Grease,” which produced “You’re the One That I Want” that topped the charts in June of 1978.
But some of the most memorable summer songs are tunes about love that drifted away with the breezes of the season, like Frank Sinatra’s wistful version of “Summer Wind,” released in August of 1966.
Summer may be transitory, but the songs we associate with it are locked away in our memories.
1958: Poor Little Fool by Ricky Nelson (tie)
> Released: August 11
> Weeks on chart: 4
1958: Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu by Domenico Modugno (tie)
> Released: August 11
> Weeks on chart: 4
1958: Song by The Elegants (tie)
> Released: August 11
> Weeks on chart: 4
1959: The Battle Of New Orleans by Johnny Horton
> Released: June 1
> Weeks on chart: 19
1960: Cathy’s Clown by The Everly Brothers (tie)
> Released: June 6
> Weeks on chart: 17
1960: Everybody’s Somebody’s Fool by Connie Francis (tie)
> Released: June 6
> Weeks on chart: 17
1961: Tossin’ And Turnin’ by Bobby Lewis
> Released: June 5
> Weeks on chart: 19
1962: Stranger On The Shore by Mr. Acker Bilk
> Released: June 2
> Weeks on chart: 21
1963: He’s So Fine by The Chiffons
> Released: June 1
> Weeks on chart: 15
1964: Hello, Dolly! by Louis Armstrong And The All Stars
> Released: June 6
> Weeks on chart: 22
1965: Help Me, Rhonda by The Beach Boys (tie)
> Released: June 5
> Weeks on chart: 14
1965: I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch) by Four Tops (tie)
> Released: June 5
> Weeks on chart: 14
1966: Strangers In The Night by Frank Sinatra
> Released: June 4
> Weeks on chart: 15
1967: Windy by The Association
> Released: June 3
> Weeks on chart: 14
1968: Light My Fire by The Doors
> Released: June 3
> Weeks on chart: 18
1969: Aquarius/Let The Sunshine In (The Flesh Failures) by The 5th Dimension
> Released: June 7
> Weeks on chart: 17
1970: Everything Is Beautiful by Ray Stevens (tie)
> Released: June 6
> Weeks on chart: 15
1970: American Woman/No Sugar Tonight by The Guess Who (tie)
> Released: June 6
> Weeks on chart: 15
1970: Mama Told Me (Not To Come) by Three Dog Night (tie)
> Released: June 6
> Weeks on chart: 15
1971: Indian Reservation (The Lament Of The Cherokee Reservation Indian) by The Raiders
> Released: June 5
> Weeks on chart: 21
1972: The Candy Man by Sammy Davis, Jr. with The Mike Curb Congregation
> Released: June 3
> Weeks on chart: 21
1973: Tie A Yellow Ribbon Round The Ole Oak Tree by Dawn Featuring Tony Orlando
> Released: June 2
> Weeks on chart: 23
1974: Seasons In The Sun by Terry Jacks
> Released: June 1
> Weeks on chart: 21
1975: Before The Next Teardrop Falls by Freddy Fender (tie)
> Released: June 7
> Weeks on chart: 21
1975: Philadelphia Freedom by The Elton John Band (tie)
> Released: June 7
> Weeks on chart: 21
1976: December, 1963 (Oh, What a Night) by The 4 Seasons
> Released: June 5
> Weeks on chart: 27
1977: I’m Your Boogie Man by KC And The Sunshine Band
> Released: June 4
> Weeks on chart: 23
1978: Stayin’ Alive by Bee Gees
> Released: June 3
> Weeks on chart: 27
1979: I Will Survive by Gloria Gaynor
> Released: June 2
> Weeks on chart: 27
1980: Call Me by Blondie (tie)
> Released: June 7
> Weeks on chart: 25
1980: Another Brick In The Wall (Part II) by Pink Floyd (tie)
> Released: June 7
> Weeks on chart: 25
1981: Keep On Loving You by REO Speedwagon
> Released: June 6
> Weeks on chart: 28
1982: Chariots Of Fire – Titles by Vangelis
> Released: June 5
> Weeks on chart: 28
1983: Beat It by Michael Jackson
> Released: June 4
> Weeks on chart: 25
1984: Hello by Lionel Richie (tie)
> Released: June 2
> Weeks on chart: 24
1984: Against All Odds (Take A Look At Me Now) by Phil Collins (tie)
> Released: June 2
> Weeks on chart: 24
1985: Everybody Wants To Rule The World by Tears For Fears
> Released: June 1
> Weeks on chart: 24
1986: On My Own by Patti LaBelle & Michael McDonald
> Released: June 7
> Weeks on chart: 23
1987: Always by Atlantic Starr (tie)
> Released: June 6
> Weeks on chart: 22
1987: Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now by Starship (tie)
> Released: June 6
> Weeks on chart: 22
1988: Wishing Well by Terence Trent D’Arby
> Released: June 4
> Weeks on chart: 25
1989: Wind Beneath My Wings (From “Beaches”) by Bette Midler
> Released: June 3
> Weeks on chart: 26
1990: Hold On by Wilson Phillips (tie)
> Released: June 2
> Weeks on chart: 24
1990: Black Velvet by Alannah Myles (tie)
> Released: June 2
> Weeks on chart: 24
1991: One More Try by Timmy T.
> Released: June 1
> Weeks on chart: 25
1992: Save The Best For Last by Vanessa Williams
> Released: June 6
> Weeks on chart: 27
1993: Informer by Snow
> Released: June 5
> Weeks on chart: 25
1994: The Sign by Ace Of Base
> Released: June 4
> Weeks on chart: 35
1995: Creep by TLC
> Released: June 3
> Weeks on chart: 32
1996: Macarena (Bayside Boys Mix) by Los Del Rio
> Released: June 1
> Weeks on chart: 37
1997: Un-Break My Heart by Toni Braxton
> Released: June 7
> Weeks on chart: 42
1998: Candle In The Wind 1997/Something About The Way You Look Tonight by Elton John
> Released: June 6
> Weeks on chart: 42
1999: …Baby One More Time by Britney Spears
> Released: June 5
> Weeks on chart: 32
2000: Smooth by Santana Featuring Rob Thomas
> Released: July 31
> Weeks on chart: 57
2001: Angel by Shaggy Featuring Rayvon
> Released: June 2
> Weeks on chart: 28
2002: How You Remind Me by Nickelback
> Released: June 1
> Weeks on chart: 49
2003: In Da Club by 50 Cent
> Released: June 7
> Weeks on chart: 30
2004: The Way You Move by OutKast Featuring Sleepy Brown
> Released: June 5
> Weeks on chart: 39
2005: Let Me Love You by Mario
> Released: June 4
> Weeks on chart: 36
2006: You’re Beautiful by James Blunt
> Released: June 3
> Weeks on chart: 38
2007: Say It Right by Nelly Furtado
> Released: June 2
> Weeks on chart: 30
2008: Low by Flo Rida Featuring T-Pain
> Released: June 7
> Weeks on chart: 40
2009: Just Dance by Lady Gaga Featuring Colby O’Donis
> Released: August 16
> Weeks on chart: 49
2010: I Gotta Feeling by The Black Eyed Peas
> Released: June 27
> Weeks on chart: 56
2011: Just The Way You Are by Bruno Mars
> Released: August 7
> Weeks on chart: 48
2012: Party Rock Anthem by LMFAO Featuring Lauren Bennett & GoonRock
> Released: June 4
> Weeks on chart: 68
2013: Thrift Shop by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis Featuring Wanz
> Released: June 1
> Weeks on chart: 46
2014: Dark Horse by Katy Perry Featuring Juicy J
> Released: June 7
> Weeks on chart: 48
2015: Shake It Off by Taylor Swift
> Released: June 6
> Weeks on chart: 50
2016: Sorry by Justin Bieber
> Released: June 4
> Weeks on chart: 42
2017: Closer by The Chainsmokers Featuring Halsey
> Released: August 20
> Weeks on chart: 52
2018: Perfect by Ed Sheeran
> Released: June 2
> Weeks on chart: 51
2019: Girls Like You by Maroon 5 Featuring Cardi B (tie)
> Released: June 9
> Weeks on chart: 52
2019: Sicko Mode by Travis Scott (tie)
> Released: August 18
> Weeks on chart: 52
2020: Circles by Post Malone
> Released: June 6
> Weeks on chart: 51
2021: Blinding Lights by The Weeknd
> Released: June 6
> Weeks on chart: 89