What Was the Summer Hit the Year You Were Born?
Every summer seems to come with its own unforgettable soundtrack. While we wait to see which song will take over this year, I thought it’d be fun to look back and celebrate some favorites from summers past.
This list shares the biggest summer hits all the way back to 1950. Since Billboard started officially tracking “Songs of the Summer” in 1958, I’ve used their charts from that point forward. For the years before that, I’ve chosen the songs that truly captured the vibe of those early summers.
Check out my (clean) Spotify playlist for all these summer jams in one spot!
1950s
1950 – “The Fat Man” – Fats Domino
1951 – “Rocket 88” – Jackie Brenston & His Delta Cats
1952 – “Lawdy Miss Clawdy” – Lloyd Price
1953 – “Gee” – The Crows
1954 – “Sh-Boom” – The Chords
1955 – “Rock Around the Clock” – Bill Haley & His Comets
1956 – “Don’t Be Cruel” – Elvis Presley
1957 – “All Shook Up” – Elvis Presley
1958 – “Volare (Nel blu dipinto di blu)” – Domenico Modugno
1959 – “Sleepwalk” – Santo & Johnny
1960s
1960: “I’m Sorry” – Brenda Lee
1961: “Tossin’ and Turnin’” – Bobby Lewis
1962: “Roses Are Red (My Love)” – Bobby Vinton
1963: “Fingertips (Part II)” – Stevie Wonder
1964: “Where Did Our Love Go” – The Supremes
1965: “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” – The Rolling Stones
1966: “Wild Thing” – The Troggs
1967: “Light My Fire” – The Doors
1968: “(This Guy’s) In Love with You” – Herb Alpert
1969: “In the Year 2525” – Zager and Evans
1970s
1970: “(They Long to Be) Close to You” – Carpenters
1971: “How Can You Mend a Broken Heart” – Bee Gees
1972: “Alone Again (Naturally)” – Gilbert O’Sullivan
1973: “Bad, Bad Leroy Brown” – Jim Croce
1974: “Annie’s Song” – John Denver
1975: “One of These Nights” – Eagles
1976: “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart” – Elton John & Kiki Dee
1977: “I Just Want to Be Your Everything” – Andy Gibb
1978: “Shadow Dancing” – Andy Gibb
1979: “Bad Girls” – Donna Summer
1980s
1980: “Magic” – Olivia Newton-John
1981: “Jessie’s Girl” – Rick Springfield
1982: “Eye of the Tiger” – Survivor
1983: “Every Breath You Take” – The Police
1984: “When Doves Cry” – Prince
1985: “Shout” – Tears for Fears
1986: “Papa Don’t Preach” – Madonna
1987: “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” – U2
1988: “Roll With It” – Steve Winwood
1989: “Right Here Waiting” – Richard Marx
1990s
1990: “Vision of Love” – Mariah Carey
1991: “(Everything I Do) I Do It for You” – Bryan Adams
1992: “Baby Got Back” – Sir Mix-a-Lot
1993: “Can’t Help Falling in Love” – UB40
1994: “I Swear” – All-4-One
1995: “Waterfalls” – TLC
1996: “Macarena (Bayside Boys Mix)” – Los del Río
1997: “I’ll Be Missing You” – Puff Daddy & Faith Evans
1998: “The Boy Is Mine” – Brandy & Monica
1999: “If You Had My Love” – Jennifer Lopez
2000s
2000: “Bent” – Matchbox Twenty
2001: “U Remind Me” – Usher
2002: “Hot in Herre” – Nelly
2003: “Crazy in Love” – Beyoncé ft. Jay-Z
2004: “Confessions Part II” – Usher
2005: “We Belong Together” – Mariah Carey
2006: “Promiscuous” – Nelly Furtado ft. Timbaland
2007: “Umbrella” – Rihanna ft. Jay-Z
2008: “I Kissed a Girl” – Katy Perry
2009: “I Gotta Feeling” – The Black Eyed Peas
2010s
2010: “California Gurls” – Katy Perry ft. Snoop Dogg
2011: “Party Rock Anthem” – LMFAO
2012: “Call Me Maybe” – Carly Rae Jepsen
2013: “Blurred Lines” – Robin Thicke ft. Pharrell & T.I.
2014: “Fancy” – Iggy Azalea ft. Charli XCX
2015: “Cheerleader” – OMI
2016: “One Dance” – Drake ft. Wizkid & Kyla
2017: “Despacito” – Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee ft. Justin Bieber
2018: “In My Feelings” – Drake
2019: “Old Town Road” – Lil Nas X ft. Billy Ray Cyrus
2020s
2020: “Rockstar” – DaBaby ft. Roddy Ricch
2021: “Butter” – BTS
2022: “As It Was” – Harry Styles
2023: “Last Night” – Morgan Wallen
2024: "I Had Some Help” – Post Malone ft. Morgan Wallen
I can’t wait to see what the summer of 2025 has in store for us…
Happy practicing!
Alexis