What was the song of the summer in the year you were born?

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Whether you’re hooked on Sabrina Carpenter’s Manchild, Sombr’s Back to Friends, or Alex Warren’s Ordinary, these songs are expected to dominate streaming platforms and radio airwaves this summer.

In this feature, we’ll take a look back at the songs of the summer through the decades, giving you a taste of the music that defined each era—and maybe even the year you were born. From backyard BBQs and pool parties to summer nights out on the town, these were the tracks the U.S. couldn’t get enough of between 1960 and 2024. These lists come courtesy of those published by Billboard.

1960s Summer Hits

From Sweet Caroline by Neil Diamond to Good Vibrations by The Beach Boys and Aretha Franklin’s Respect, the 1960s delivered countless timeless classics. But as with many iconic songs, their lasting popularity doesn’t necessarily mean they dominated the summer charts—or even charted highly at the time.

Take Ben E. King’s Stand by Me, for example. It’s been covered by over 400 artists, including Otis Redding and Tracy Chapman. Despite its enduring legacy, the song’s highest position on the Billboard Hot 100 was number four, reached on June 16, 1961. Surprisingly, it didn’t even make Billboard’s summer list that year. Below, you’ll find the songs that did.

Notably, The Beatles—despite their massive influence—don’t have a single song on the summer chart list. Still, many of the tracks that did top the charts have proven to be just as timeless, enduring far beyond the summers they once defined.

1960’s Songs of the Summer

1960 – I’m Sorry – Brenda Lee
1961 – Tossin’ and Turnin’ – Bobby Lewis
1962 – Roses Are Red (My Love) – Bobby Vinton
1963 – Fingertips – Pt 2 – Little 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 & Evans

Bilboard

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1970s Summer Hits

In the summer of 1970, the Carpenters’ (They Long to Be) Close to You topped the charts, accompanied by Stevie Wonder’s Signed, Sealed, Delivered, I’m Yours, which landed at number nine.

The following summer, the Bee Gees’ How Can You Mend a Broken Heart claimed the number one spot, beating out James Taylor’s You’ve Got a Friend and John Denver’s Take Me Home, Country Roads.

Toward the end of the decade, Donna Summer’s classic Last Dance reached number seven on the summer charts in 1978. The following year, she returned to the top with Bad Girls, joined by Earth, Wind & Fire with The Emotions, whose hit Boogie Wonderland reached number nine.

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

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1980s Summer Hits

From Prince to Madonna, Billy Joel to The Police—even if you weren’t born in the 1980s, you’re bound to know some of these iconic summer hits.

In 1982, Survivor’s classic Eye of the Tiger claimed the top spot, while Don’t You Want Me by The Human League landed at number five.

The summer of 1984 was especially competitive. Prince’s When Doves Cry took the number one position, joined by Tina Turner’s What’s Love Got to Do with It? at number three, Bruce Springsteen’s Dancing in the Dark at number four, and Lionel Richie’s Stuck on You at number five.

In 1987, Alone by Heart beat out Whitney Houston’s I Wanna Dance with Somebody for the number one summer song. I mean, I love Alone—but song of the summer over I Wanna Dance with Somebody? Really??

1980 – It’s Still Rock and Roll to Me – Billy Joel
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 – Alone – Heart
1988 – Roll with It – Steve Winwood
1989 – Right Here Waiting – Richard Marx

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1990s Summer Hits

Though Mariah Carey claimed the number one spot in 1990, Poison’s Unskinny Bop also made it into the top ten during the summer.

In 1992, Sir Mix-A-Lot’s Baby Got Back was the definitive song of the summer, joined by Boyz II Men’s End of the Road and Billy Ray Cyrus’s Achy Breaky Heart—the latter performed by the father of future pop star Miley Cyrus.

In 1994, the popularity of The Lion King helped Elton John’s Can You Feel the Love Tonight become a staple on many summer playlists, although the number one song that year was I Swear by All-4-One.

Los Del Río’s Macarena took the U.S. by storm in 1996, becoming so iconic that it was even played at the Democratic National Convention. The video from the event shows many prominent party members dancing along to the famous routine.

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 Rio
1997 – I’ll Be Missing You – Puff Daddy & Faith Evans feat. 112
1998 – The Boy Is Mine – Brandy & Monica
1999 – Genie in a Bottle – Christina Aguilera

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2000s Summer Hits

During the 2000s, the first artist to secure two number-one spots on Billboard’s Song of the Summer list emerged: Usher. His hit U Remind Me dominated the summer of 2001, and Confessions Part II earned him a second summer chart-topper in 2004.

A few years later, Katy Perry achieved the same milestone. Her breakout hit I Kissed a Girl reached number one in 2008, and she repeated the feat in 2010 with California Gurls.

Rihanna earned her first number-one summer hit in 2007 with Umbrella. However, she had already made her mark in previous years, landing in the top ten with Pon de Replay in 2005 and Unfaithful in 2006.

2000 – Bent – Matchbox Twenty
2001 – U Remind Me – Usher
2002 – Hot in Herre – Nelly
2003 – Crazy in Love – Beyoncé feat. Jay-Z
2004 – Confessions Part II – Usher
2005 – We Belong Together – Mariah Carey
2006 – Promiscuous – Nelly Furtado feat. Timbaland
2007 – Umbrella – Rihanna feat. Jay-Z
2008 – I Kissed a Girl – Katy Perry
2009 – I Gotta Feeling – The Black Eyed Peas
2010 – California Gurls – Katy Perry feat. Snoop Dogg

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2010s to now

As we approach the present day, it becomes increasingly difficult to predict which summer hits will continue to dominate playlists in the long run.

Back in 2014, the undisputed song of the summer was Fancy by Iggy Azalea featuring Charli XCX, edging out Calvin Harris’s aptly titled Summer.

The following year brought a surprise: Cheerleader by Jamaican artist OMI claimed the top spot. Despite being his most recognizable track, it beat out heavyweights like Taylor Swift’s Bad Blood, which landed in third place.