Do you constantly curate the ideal beach mix, or perhaps a playlist for every vacation? If music is always a part of your adventures, then keep reading.
When heading to the beach, it’s especially enjoyable to build a playlist that you can listen to even when you’re not there. For example, if you're spending winter in a cold place, you'll probably appreciate some tropical music as well when experiencing the colder weather!
If you're planning a peaceful vacation, we’ve compiled a selection of 100 songs that would be ideal for a beach playlist. Upbeat, breezy, easygoing, and pleasantly mellow sensations pervade these tracks. They're exactly what you need to reach the pinnacle of relaxation and feel as if you've gone to paradise.
Start Building Your Beach Playlist
Before the term "song of the summer" became an official superlative used by critics, it was simply a gut reaction. What characteristics distinguish a fantastic summer song? For starters, it's just as much about the mood and the feel as it is about the lyrics.
The right songs can set the whole tone for your summer and become a reminder of the memories you made during the warmer days so that when you listen to them down the road you’re transported back to the summer you were listening to the songs.
We've put together a list of the top 100 songs that will be perfect for your new summer playlist. There is something for everyone, and they are sorted by category.
Oldie Favorites
Music from the past has a special place in just about everyone's heart. There are some songs that, no matter how old they are, sound fantastic at the beach. Here are some of our favorite old-school songs that never fail to put us in a good mood.
- Africa – Toto
- All Night Long – Lionel Richie
- Brandy – Looking Glass
- Brown Eyed Girl – Jimmy Buffett
- Cruisin’ – Smokey Robinson
- Dreams – Fleetwood Mac
- Drift Away – Dobie Gray
- Easy – The Commodores
- Free Fallin’ – Tom Petty
- Hotel California – The Eagles
- Margaritaville – Jimmy Buffett
- Message In A Bottle – The Police
- Mrs. Robinson – Simon & Garfunkel
- Ooh La La – Faces
- Red Red Wine – UB40
- Roxanne – The Police
- (Sittin’ On) the Dock of the Bay – Otis Redding
- Sweet Home Alabama – Lynyrd Skynyrd
- Take It Easy – The Eagles
- The Joker – Steve Miller Band
- Under the Boardwalk – The Drifters
- Wouldn’t It Be Nice – The Beach Boys
Beachy Pop
Many mainstream songs include reggae and Latin influences, making them ideal for a relaxing beach day. These are a few favorites that should go on your playlist.
- Better – Khalid
- BICHOTA – KAROL G
- Cheerleader – OMI
- Cheers (Drink to That) – Rihanna
- Dakiti – Bad Bunny, Jhay Cortez
- Despacito – Luis Fonsi (feat. Daddy Yankee)
- Don’t Matter – Akon
- Feels – Calvin Harris
- Girl From Rio – Anitta
- Girl Like Me – Black Eyed Peas, Shakira
- If It’s Lovin’ That You Want – Rihanna
- I’m Yours – Jason Mraz
- July – Noah Cyrus feat. Leon Bridges
- MIA (ft. Drake) – Bad Bunny
- Peaches(ft. Daniel Caesar, Giveon) – Justin Bieber
- telepatía – Kali Uchis
- Waves – Robin Schulz Radio Edit – Mr. Probz
- We’re Good – Dua Lipa
Reggae
To convey those feel-good sentiments, every beach playlist requires a dash of reggae. There’s nothing like an amazing island rhythm for transporting you to the calm waters of the Caribbean.
Obviously, we’ve included a lot of Bob Marley, who could practically be considered his own category. Without his songs, no tropical playlist is complete, and honestly what’s a vacation until Bob Marley starts playing? The following tunes go best with rum punch.
- Buffalo Soldier – Bob Marley & The Wailers
- Could You Be Loved – Bob Marley & The Wailers
- I’m Still in Love with You (feat. Sasha) – Sean Paul
- Is This Love – Bob Marley & The Wailers
- Jamming – Bob Marley & The Wailers
- No Letting Go – Wayne Wonder
- One Love – Bob Marley & The Wailers
- Three Little Birds – Bob Marley & The Wailers
- Turn Me On – Kevin Lyttle
- Waiting in Vain – Bob Marley & The Wailers
- You Don’t Love Me (No, No, No) – Dawn Penn
Rock & Alt Rock
Every beach playlist should have some rock music. To begin with, many bands, such as Sublime and No Doubt, have a reggae sound. Then there are bands with a more mellow sound, which are as suitable for lounging by the sea. Many of the songs listed below are certified fan favorites that’ll work on your beach playlist year after year.
- All For You – Sister Hazel
- Amber – 311
- Can’t Stop – Red Hot Chili Peppers
- Clocks – Coldplay (Rhythms De Mundo album)
- Dashboard – Modest Mouse
- Flake – Jack Johnson
- Float On – Modest Mouse
- Island in the Sun – Weezer
- Jackie and Wilson – Hozier
- Lay Me Down (feat. Rome) – Dirty Heads, Steve Fox, The Dirty Heads, Stan Frazier & Roman Ramirez
- Love Song – 311
- Only Wanna Be With You – Hootie & The Blowfish
- Riptide – Vance Joy
- Santa Monica – Everclear
- Santeria – Sublime
- Semi-Charmed Life – Third Eye Blind
- Sit Next to Me – Foster the People
- Someday – Sugar Ray
- Someone New – Hozier
- Stolen Dance – Milky Chance
- Two Princes – Spin Doctors
- Underneath It All (feat. Lady Saw) – No Doubt
- Walking on a Dream – Empire of the Sun
- When It’s Over – Sugar Ray
Country
It may seem strange to put country and hip-hop on the same list, but trust us on this. While country might not be on your daily playlist, it can be a fun genre to listen to from time to time. Adding a few to your beach playlist will definitely liven it up.
- Chicken Fried – Zac Brown Band
- Cruise (Remix, ft. Nelly) – Florida Georgia Line
- Daddy Lessons – Beyonce
- It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere (ft. Jimmy Buffett) – Alan Jackson
- Knee Deep (ft. Jimmy Buffett) – Zac Brown Band
- No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems – Kenny Chesney
- Pirate Flag – Kenny Chesney
- Slow Burn – Kacey Musgraves
- Summertime – Kenny Chesney
- Tennessee Whiskey – Chris Stapleton
- When the Sun Goes Down – Kenny Chesney & Uncle Kracker
Hip-Hop
Hip-hop frequently uses island beats, and there are many songs in this genre that have a strong tropical atmosphere. In our opinion, a beach playlist isn’t complete without at least a little hip-hop. These tunes aren't always the most soothing, and they're probably not the best for unwinding. They are, however, a lot of fun at the pool or while tossing a football in the sand.
- American Boy (feat. Kanye West) – Estelle
- Controlla – Drake
- Guatemala – Rae Sremmurd
- Miami – Will Smith
- One Dance (feat. WizKid, Kyla) – Drake
- Ready or Not – Fugees
- Sunflower – Post Malone & Swae Lee
- Unforgettable (feat. Swae Lee) – French Montana
Everything Else
This last section is essentially the singer/songwriters who don't fit well into any of the other categories. These peaceful tunes are perfect to finish a relaxing beach day!
- Beyond – Leon Bridges
- Budapest – George Ezra
- Give Me One Reason – Tracy Chapman
- Over the Rainbow – Israel Kamakawiwo’ole
- Unaware – Allen Stone
- Waterfalls – TLC
Conclusion
With all these suggestions, all you need now is some sunscreen, a killer new suit, a stylish cover-up, and you're good to go! Explore the La Blanca website for all the vacation attire you need.
Sources:
Hip Hop History: From the Streets to the Mainstream | Icon Collective
A Brief History of Reggae Music: First Jamaica, Then the World | Sunset At The Palms