The 30 Best Jams For Your Summer Party Playlist
Is it really summer if your summer playlist isn’t on loop? We don’t think so
Photo: Unsplash/@homeschool
Is it really summer if your summer playlist isn’t on loop? We don’t think so. But to get the playlist on point you need to make sure it includes a mix of danceable jams, as well as mellow tunes for chilling because they are just essential as a good SPF. We are so stoked for the warmer temps and fun days ahead that we wanted to hook you up with some jams you’ll want to play at pool parties, summer dinners, BBQs, and all the other shindigs you will no doubt be taking part in this June, July, August, and September.
Of course, we had to include a lot of old school jams, and a bunch of Latinx songs, because how could we not? We also made sure to throw in some of the latest and greatest singles you’ll be hearing everywhere. Take a listen while having some fun in the sun!
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“On a Sunday Afternoon” by A Lighter Shade of Brown
You know we had to start out our summer playlist with a cool, chill Latinx jam. “On a Sunday Afternoon” is a classic, 1990 song by A Lighter Shade of Brown. It’s all about all the fun stuff you get to do on Sundays (and hopefully other days during the summer!), like chillin’, barbecuing, listening to good music, having a beer, and just hanging with friends and family.
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“Summertime” by DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince
“Summertime,” the 1991 classic by DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince, is probably the first song that pops into your head when you think of summer jams. This smooth song literally lets you know it’s “time to sit back and unwind.”It’s the perfect song to listen to when you’re “sitting with your friends cause y’all reminisce about the days growing up and the first person you kiss.”
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“Bidi Bidi Bom Bom” by Selena
If a Selena song isn’t on your summer playlist, then that’s not really summer playlist. Who else will get you get you feeling happy, nostalgic and proud to be Latinx all at the same time? The classic “Bidi Bidi Bom Bom” jam instantly invites you to enjoy the summer, while encouraging folks to get up and dance. We can just picture ourselves near the water, laying in the sun, or at a family BBQ just singing along.
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“Con Calma, (Remix)” by Daddy Yankee Ft. Snow and Katy Perry
A winning music formula is to take an old jam and give it a new life; this is especially true with revamps of ’90s songs. Daddy Yankee’s “Con Calma (Remix)” is a perfect example of this. It takes Snow’s (who’s on the jam) “Informer” and adds that Latinx sazon, and the technicolor summer sparkle that only Katy Perry can provide.
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“Contra La Pared,” Sean Paul feat. J. Balvin
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“Summer” by War
The best playlists are the perfect blend of the newest songs — to let everyone know you know what’s cool and new — and the classic jams, that also show you know your old-school essentials. So, knowing this, we had to include War’s “Summer.” It’s an oldie but goodie that depicts how amazing the summer season really is. It’s the perfect chill, time-to-unwind classic.
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“Crystal Blue Persuasion” by Tommy James & The Shondells
Once you listen to an oldies song, you have to listen to another right after that to keep that old-school groove going. “Crystal Blue Persuasion” is the song you cruise to with the top down, on Sunday afternoon, when you just want to hit the road. It’s one of those songs you take out the record to play when you want to chill and just feel good.
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“La Bicicleta” by Shakira and Carlos Vives
There’s a good chance you are going to ride your bicycle around in the warm weather during the summer. Why not have a soundtrack for it? Shakira and Carlos Vives’ “La Bicicleta” is just the song. It’s easy, breezy, and also great for just dancing to at that warm-weather BBQ or pool party, especially a Colombian one!
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“Summer Love”by Justin Timberlake
The 2000s gave us some great, danceable, perfect-for-summer jams that we often go back and listen to again and again. Justin Timberlake was on fuego during the ’00s, and one song he gave us that made it onto this dope playlist is “Summer Love.” It’s catchy, produced by Timbaland and Danja, and perfect for your party.
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“Con altura” by Rosalía, Ft. J Balvin and El Guincho
Now it’s time to fast forward the soundtrack from the 2000s straight to 2019. Rosalía gave us the summer jam we can get down to, with her song, “Con altura,” featuring J Balvin and El Guincho. It’s catchy as heck, so your only summer task is to not get this song stuck in your head.
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“Te Quedastes Solo” by Fanny Lu and Farina
At HipLatina, we are all about women’s’ empowerment and celebrating each other as much as we can. Another new song that shows that we don’t need a man to feel complete, or have a great summer (or a great life, for that matter) is Fanny Lu and Farina’s “Te Quedastes Solo.” It’s catchy, empowering, and upbeat — everything you want a song to be on your summertime playlist!
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“Sunny” by Bobby Hebb
This classic throwback by Bobby Hebb had us all pretending our name was Sunny. The ode to love can also be an ode to the sunny days that await you this summer. This song is great for laying by the pool, dipping your toes in the sand, and connecting with nature. May all your days be sunny this verano!
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“Suavecito” by Malo
Malo’s “Suavecito” has been called “The Chicano National Anthem.” It’s the classic you hear on the radio during Sunday Night Oldies, cruise to in the car, and that makes you proud to be Latinx. Malo, the San Francisco Chicano rock group, featured Mexicano Jorge Santana on guitars.
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“Maria Maria” by Santana Ft. The Product G&B
Jorge Santana’s brother, Carlos Santana gave us the next summer jam on our playlist. “Maria Maria.” It was another song that had us pretending our name was Maria. She was the star of this 1999 ode, from the guitar legend, and The Project G&B. This song serves as part of the perfect middle ground for our playlist, a sound right in between the chill oldies and the dance bops.
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“The Girl From Ipanema” by Astrud Gilberto, João Gilberto, and Stan Getz
Old school Brazilian music has a great balance of sophistication and chill vibes that makes it so cool and timeless. Just take “The Girl from Ipanema,” for example. The bossa nova and jazz song by Antonio Carlos Jobim, and interpreted here by Astrud Gilberto, João Gilberto, and Stan Getz was released in the early 1960s and became a worldwide hit. This is the song you want to drop when it’s time for poolside lounging with a martini in hand.
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“Mais que nada” by Sergio Mendes and Brasil ’66
We weren’t about to stop the Brazilian music groove right there. On our verano playlist, we are also including the equally-iconic “Mais Que Nada,” by Sergio Mendes and Brasil ’66. Let the song play while you keep sipping that martini, getting your tan on, and looking glamorous at the same time. This is definitely a song for celebrating the sun, sand, pool, warm weather, and all other summery things.
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“Sun is Shining” by Bob Marley and the Wailers
It wouldn’t be a happy, relaxed, feeling-good music playlist without some Bob Marley on it. His music, and reggae in general, just completely puts you into another, way more positive mindset — almost immediately. Especially if the song is “Sun is Shining.” How can you not get happy with lyrics like these?
“Sun is shining, the weather is sweet
Make you want to move your dancing feet”
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“Is This Love” by Bob Marley
The relaxed Bob Marley mood continues with “Is This Love.” One of the reggae legend’s best-known and best-loved songs, it celebrates the best thing in the entire world — love. Just mentioning this song brings to mind warm weather, Red Stripe beer, lounging in beautiful surroundings, soaking up the sun, and just remembering to be happy. That’s why it was a must-add classic song to this list.
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“Groovin” by The Young Rascals
The good vibes continue with the oldies jam, “Groovin.” A song that also shouts out Sunday afternoons. You can feel free to play this classic any day of the week. This song, as well as “Crystal Blue Persuasion,” was actually sampled in the A Lighter Shade of Brown hit, “On a Sunday Afternoon.” All three songs are chill, remind you to slow down and live in the moment.
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“Latin Active” by A Lighter Shade of Brown
Speaking of A Lighter Shade of Brown, the Chicano rap duo provided another timeless jam to our summer playlist — 1990’s “Latin Active.” More uptempo than “On a Sunday Afternoon,” this is a song you’ll most likely want to get up and dance to. And, it features a Latina MC, Teardrop! Don’t blame us when you get “let’s jam, let’s jam (Latin activity),” stuck in your head. “It’s that Latinnnnnnn Activvvvvity!”
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“Vivir Mi Vida” by Marc Anthony
Salsa music goes hand in hand with warm weather and summer vibes, so we had to include some on our playlist. Marc Anthony, arguably the King of Salsa, reminds us to enjoy our summer and LIVE OUR LIVES with his hit, “Vivir Mi Vida.” He’s living his best life, so live yours, mijas! Play this whenever you need to remember that your happiness is mainly a choice, no matter what else is going on.
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“Bailando” by Enrique Iglesias, Ft. Descemo Bueno, and Gente de Zona
When a song dominates the Billboard Hot Latin Songs chart for over 40 weeks, it’s safe to say it’s going to be a classic. Enrique Iglesias and Gente de Zona’s “Bailando” literally makes you want to, well bailar. And that’s why we dropped it into this fabulous playlist of songs for the summer. Seriously, you are going to have the best, varied ensemble of jams for any summer gatherings you’ll want to be a part of!
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“Head to Toe” by Lisa Lisa and the Cult Jam
When Nuyorican Lisa Lisa stepped on the freestyle music scene as Lisa Lisa and the Cult Jam, we realized had a queen in the music genre who delivering great hits and some major orgullo Latino. Her 1987 song, “Head to Toe” is impossible to not dance to, and it’s the perfect dose of upbeat and old school for this summer playlist.
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