10 Awesome Songs about the Beach
Whether you’re a beach bunny that soaks up the sun of a tropical paradise year-round or simply a fan of the sandy shores from afar, nothing quite says fun in the summertime as a favorite tune that feels like a cool heatwave. Who are the kings and queens of beach music that are simply too irresistible to ignore? Aside from the infamous Beach Boys, who else has risen to the occasion to bring forth the beachiest songs to rock the music industry? From blues to country, to folk, to jazz, and to rock, each genre has covered something “beachy” at least once. Beach parties, even if it’s simply in the backyard of a home in the concrete jungle, are at their best when there’s a solid theme of beach hits on the agenda, regardless of genre. From timeless classics from the godparents of beach music themselves to the newcomers of today, any time is as good as any to make it beach party time.
10. Summer Nights
In the 1978 hit film (Grease), John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John perform this duet to their on-screen friends at Ridgemont High School as they share their summer experience. Worldwide, the song charted at its best with the UK’s Singles Chart, peaking at number one. With the US Billboard Hot 100, at #4. As a single, (Summer Nights) sold over 3 million copies worldwide, earning itself Platinum Certification with the UK’s British Phonographic Industry (BPI), and Gold Certifications with the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), Music Canada (MC), and France’s National Syndicate of Phonographic Publishing (SNEP).
9. Summertime
DJ Jazzy Jeff and Fresh Prince have some fun with their 1991 single (Summertime), which is from their album (Homebase). It was the first of their songs to achieve worldwide success as it charted clean around the globe above the top 40 mark with the exception of Germany, which ranked the song at #52. With the US Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop chart, Summertime heated up all the way to number one.
8. Rockaway Beach
Coming from The Ramones is (Rockaway Beach), a 1977 punk-rock contribution toward any beach music party. The album (Rocket to Russia) was the band’s third studio recording, which received mixed reviews by the critics. While the song doesn’t have any other chart ranking than #66 on the US Billboard Hot 100, it still makes the cut as an awesome beach song to punk up to.
7. Some Beach
Blake Shelton releases his 2004 album (Blake Shelton’s Barn & Grill), along with the single (Some Beach). The song peaks at number one with the US Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, as well as #28 with the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. The single also became certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). While the song focuses more on an issue revolving around road rage, it’s still about some beach, somewhere.
6. Soak Up the Sun
Sheryl Crowe has the right idea, telling everyone to lighten up in her single (Soak Up the Sun), which was released in 2002 with her album (C’mon, C’mon). The single was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). While in flight from a city doused with rain to one of sun, this concept behind this song began. Crow’s album earned nominations at the 2003 Grammy Awards, as did Soak Up the Sun. With the American Music Awards, she won Favorite Pop/Rock Female Artist.
5. Margaritaville
Jimmy Buffett is best known for his 1977 hit (Margaritaville), which comes from his album (Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes). The song completely revolves around a margarita cocktail and its beach location, serving as an anthem for all beach enthusiasts since the day of its first release. As of 2016, the Grammy Awards indicted Margaritaville in the Hall of Fame for its cultural influence and significance.
4. Good Vibrations
The year is 1966 and the ultimate beach hit (Good Vibrations) by the Beach Boys serves as a reminder of what an awesome beach experience is supposed to be about. Aside from reaching number one on most of the highest respected music charts worldwide, the hit was also certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and the UK’s British Phonographic Industry (BPI).
3. Toes
The Zac Brown Band comes up with the single (Toes), which was released in 2009 from the album (The Foundation County) and is the overall favorite beach style music coming from the country genre, at least according to most of the fans as they continually make comments about how much they simply love this song. According to the number one rankings, it achieved on the US Hot Country Songs and US Billboard Country Airplay, as well as triple Platinum certification with the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and Music Canada’s (MC) Gold certification.
2. Under the Boardwalk
In 1964, The Drifters release (Under the Boardwalk) and remains to this day a cult classic. Shortly after its original release, it charted to fourth on the US Billboard Hot 100 and has become a cult classic worldwide. Many artists have covered this song, including Billy Joel, Bette Midler, and Bruce Willis but nothing beats the original.
1. Kokomo
It only makes sense that one of the most awesome beach songs should come from the Beach Boys, as well as it happening to be one that covers the favorite beach playgrounds such as Aruba, Jamaica, Bermuda, Bahamas, Key Largo, Montego. Martinique, and Port au Prince. Upon its 1988 release (Kokomo), this song was written for the movie Cocktail, starring Tom Cruise as a bartender. The focus of the song was on a fictional beach that was located somewhere along the shoreline of the Florida Keys. This song charted at number one with the US Billboard Hot 100, as well as with Australia’s ARIA. This worldwide smash also earned Platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
