Enjoy Our Popular Songs Summer Playlist
As we eagerly approach the summer months, it seems like the weather outside can’t warm up soon enough. Online school is coming to an end and all students are looking forward to a well-deserved break.
Although some students opt out of piano lessons during their summer vacation, we believe that music should still have a role during those hot summer months. As a result, we have carefully curated a playlist of songs to get you excited for that upcoming summer vacation. You can find the link to the playlist on YouTube or Spotify at the end of this post.
- Here Comes the Sun – The Beatles https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xUNqsfFUwhY&ab_channel=TheBeatles-Topic
Little Darling, it’s been a cold and lonely Winter/Little Darling, it feels like years since it’s been here/Here comes the sun…
To set our opening mood of the playlist, we have “Here Comes the Sun” by The Beatles. Since their debut in 1960, The Beatles have remained a timeless band and rightfully earned their title as one of the most influential bands of all time. From their 1969 album Abbey Road, “Here Comes the Sun” was played more than 2 million times by 1994. For a sense of nostalgia and anticipation of the summer break to come, we recommend that you kick back and listen to The Beatles’ farewell to the cold winter months.
- I’m Gonna Be (500 miles) – The Proclaimers https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbNlMtqrYS0&ab_channel=Dig%21
But I would walk 500 miles/and I would walk 500 more/just to be the man who walked a thousand miles…
Written and performed by the Scottish duo, The Proclaimers, “I’m Gonna Be (500 miles) was released as the lead single on their 1988 album Sunshine on Leith. The song has since become one of the most popular songs worldwide, reaching #1 on the charts of Australia, New Zealand, and Iceland in 1990. It reached #3 on Billboard Hot 100 in America and #4 in Canada in 1993. Since then, this song has become known for its upbeat repetition of motifs and become ideal for listening on any long summer road trips you may be planning (whether it be 500 miles long or not).
- Happy – Pharrell Williams https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbZSe6N_BXs&ab_channel=PharrellWilliamsVEVO
Sunshine she’s here, you can take a break/I’m a hot air balloon that can go to space/Because I’m happy…
You might recognize this song from the family film Despicable Me 2. Performed by singer Pharrell Williams, “Happy” is sure to give you good vibes with its upbeat funky and soul style. It has peaked at #1 on many countries’ charts, including USA, United Kingdom, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, and 19 other countries.
- Cover Me in Sunshine – P!nk, Willow Sage Heart https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vGZhMIXH62M&ab_channel=PinkVEVO
Cover me in sunshine/shower me with good times/Tell me that the world’s been spinning since the beginning/and everything will be alright…
P!nk is best known as the influential American pop singer. However, “Cover Me in Sunshine” displays her softer and more nuanced vocals that harmonize beautifully with her daughter, Willow. This mother-daughter duo first released the song on the social media platform, Tiktok, before officially releasing it on Spotify and other big music platforms. The duo explained that they had recorded the song at home and felt happy singing together; they wished to share their happiness with other listeners.
- Dreams – The Cranberries https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yam5uK6e-bQ&ab_channel=TheCranberriesVEVO
Sunshine she’s here, you can take a break/I’m a hot air balloon that can go to space/Because I’m happy…
You might recognize this song from the family film Despicable Me 2. Performed by singer Pharrell Williams, “Happy” is sure to give you good vibes with its upbeat funky and soul style. It has peaked at #1 on many countries’ charts, including USA, United Kingdom, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, and 19 other countries.
- Dream a Little Dream of Me – Ella Fitzgerald https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j6TmogXhOZ8&ab_channel=phalenopsis1
Sweet dreams till sunbeams find you/sweet dreams that leave all worries behind you…
“Dream a Little Dream of Me” has been covered by many artists worldwide. Originally written by Fabian Andre and Wilbur Schwandt in 1931, it has been covered by singers such as Doris Day, Michael Bublé, and The Mamas & the Papas. Enjoy this version by famous Jazz singer, Ella Fitzgerald, known for her pure tone, improvisation, and excellent scat singing.
- Walking on Sunshine – Katrina and the Waves https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPUmE-tne5U&ab_channel=KatrinaTheWavesVEVO
I’m walking on sunshine/and don’t it feel good!
This 1985 hit by British rock band Katrina and the Waves was originally conceived as a ballad. However, the lead singer, Katrina, decided to belt out the song as a more upbeat style to fit with the happy lyrics. This is the perfect song to dance to in your backyard when nobody is watching!
- Dancing Queen – ABBA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFrGuyw1V8s&ab_channel=AbbaVEVO
You can dance, you can jive, having the time of your life!
ABBA is a Swedish pop group formed in 1972. Since their debut, they have remained one of the top selling artists of all time. They have released many top selling hits, such as “Dancing Queen”, “Mama Mia”, and “Take a Chance on Me”.
- Saturday Sun – Vance Joy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uKqMNQkjHmI&ab_channel=VanceJoy
Don’t care what it costs/no ray of sunlight’s ever been lost/ever lost…
Australian singer-songwriter Vance Joy released this song in 2018 as a part of his album Nation of Two. A hopeful light summer tune with tones of an optimistic romantic, “Saturday Sun” is sure to put you in a good mood this summer.
- Graduation (Friends Forever) – Vitamin C https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tz_NxOF7RB4&ab_channel=RHINO
As we go on, we remember/all the times we had together/we will still be friends forever…
Considering this crazy year, let’s not forget about all our achievements! Many students are graduating virtually this year—whether it be from kindergarten, middle school, elementary school, high school, or university. Released in 2000, Vitamin C’s “Graduation (Friends Forever)” is guaranteed to bring you a wave of nostalgia and appreciation for all the hard times we’ve been through the past year. If you listen carefully, you can hear the orchestration of Pachelbel’s famous Canon in D in the background of this song. From all of us at Upbeat Piano Studio, we’d like to congratulate all our graduating students!
Links to the playlist:
YOUTUBE: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCLAW7ckjvVvP-LTA4fDnpAcA_caIvf9u
SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/771rWvNQ33D41NcZb4OjyT?si=tU4IeoXbTJShsLKzsjLyfw
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