With the start of summer approaching quickly, many students start to curate their summer playlists. These playlists represent multiple changes in music taste as music choices tend to get more upbeat and carefree during the summer months. Here are some of the songs that West High students and faculty recommend for the summer that might be perfect for your summer playlist.

“If I had to listen to one song for the rest of my summer, I would choose “Golden Brown” by The Stranglers. As someone who is a part of [the] orchestra, I like the repetitive nature and polyrhythm [of the song]. It also changes time signatures at the end of each shift between the instrumental and vocal segments. The lyrics mention the sun and the song’s upbeat nature overall reminds me of summer,” sophomore Omaz Omeini said.

A polyrhythm is when there are multiple rhythms that you can hear within a song; it’s layered and nuanced, giving off the vibe of a mystical, misty summer morning. In “Golden Brown”, the words are few and far between, putting the listener in a trance. The voices start to echo at the end, like a hallucination, further giving off the impression of something magical and unknown. The mystifying, rebellious uniqueness makes it stand out in a summer mix, especially as it pulls inspiration from classical Baroque melodies, which sound nostalgic and fresh at the same time.

“If I had one song to listen to for the rest of the summer, it would be ‘Caravan’ by Duke Ellington. [He] got together [with an ensemble] and [used] 36 different brass horns and made a bunch of jazz songs. The way the horns [sound], they use dynamics and articulation to create a lot of contrast within the song. I love that so much, they did it so well. I found this song by searching up ‘horn jazz’ on Spotify and found “Caravan,” which I think is perfect for summer because it’s very emotional, upbeat and vibrant,” junior Sophia Zambrano said. 

“Caravan” brings the heat of summer to life through dynamics and articulation, manipulating emotion by changing volume to create meaning. With shifting tempos and bold contrasts, its dynamic sound feels like stepping into a bustling summer scene. While listening to the song, you are truly immersed in the music. It’s jazzy, dramatic, chaotic and full of contrast—like summer itself, with all its ups and downs. This song is something that you should listen to, even if you don’t particularly like jazz. 

“I’m a big concertgoer; I really enjoy live music. [Once], I went and saw a band called Free Throw live in Chicago. One of their songs is called “Pallet Town.” It’s a slow-paced song, but it gradually gets faster. It’s a song that I will be listening to [in the summer]. Another song that I will have in my summer playlists is “c u in the ballpit” by Camping in Alaska. It reminds me of driving in the summer with your windows all the way down, blasting music. The music is dreamy and summer-esque. If I had to listen to a song for the rest of the summer, I would choose either of them,” senior Zach Solomon said.

With just electric guitar and drums, both songs have a stripped-down, unfettered quality. You can hear the repetition in the riff and lyrics, bringing memories of lazy summer days, particularly when it feels repetitive and laid-back. “C u in the ballpit” uses layered vocals that crash into each other, like harsh waves crashing onto a beach. The singing is more unrefined, creating intense lyrics but also a sense of urgency, like the last few weeks of summer. “Pallet Town” feels like a song you’d listen to while staring at the ceiling on your bed, as the summer sun begins to fade. The song has a relatable recurring message about “not being able to get over” something and being emotionally vulnerable. Both the lyrics and music alternate between relaxed and intense moods, creating a sense of emotional struggle already displayed in the lyrics, which many people face during seasonal changes. Both songs use repetition to pull you in, making it easy to add to playlists.

“I’ve been listening to a lot of The Smiths right now. The Smiths popped up on my Spotify one day, [I] listened to it, and thought, ‘this is actually good.’ If I had to listen to one song for the rest of the summer, it would be ‘Reel Around The Fountain’, it sounds nice, it’s a song that ‘songs’. It’s very sentimental and since my senior year ended, it’s been more emotionally significant. I feel like when I listen to this in the summer, I’ll reflect back on my senior year and the memories I have created,” senior Esther Young said.

This song totals six minutes, which is the longest song out of all of the songs on this list, however, the length allows you to sink into the song. The slow, drifting quality makes it perfect for lazy summer days. It’s reminiscent of summertime longing, wanting someone who you can’t have or reflecting on a memory you can no longer relive. The lyrics are repetitive, making them easy to follow along with and remember. It’s one of those songs that is just upbeat enough for summer, while also remaining relevant to other seasons. If you’ve never heard of the Smiths before, this is a good song to listen to. 

“If I [had] to choose a song to listen to for the rest of the summer, it would definitely be ‘Don’t Stop Me Now’ by Queen. It’s loud, energetic and would definitely get me going on any summer day. I just love Freddie Mercury’s voice and how it changes pitch during the song,” business teacher Paul Schwent said. 

“Don’t Stop Me Now” is a classic, with pure summer energy bottled into the song. It’s upbeat, has a positive vibe and is recognizable. Out of all of the songs, this is the only one with a guitar solo, which is not common in mainstream music today. The guitar solo gives  “Don’t Stop Me Now” an electrifying feel, equivalent to that of a sunny summer day. The song starts slow and speeds up at an appropriate pace, capturing the feeling of accelerating down a highway on a breezy summer day. Overall, this song is an energetic summer hit, perfect for a summer playlist.